Roars heard ‘round the world

By Kyle Hobstetter on November 18, 2021

Towson University students have plenty of opportunities to broaden their perspectives, whether on their home campus or at one abroad.

The Study Abroad Office—housed within the International Initiatives Office—creates high-impact educational experiences at many universities around the world by

• Providing between 400 and 500 students annual study abroad opportunities (pre-pandemic);
• Partnering with study abroad programs in more than 60 countries as well as domestically and in U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands);
• Offering almost $80,000 in scholarships each year.

“Some students may never have traveled outside the Mid-Atlantic and might think that studying overseas is not even a possibility for them,” says Melanie Perreault, provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs. “Our study abroad team is here to help make international experiences an option for all TU students, whether it is a short-term experience, a full semester or more.”

Below, meet three students taking full advantage of TU’s study abroad options.

Deja McLean ’24

Computer Science | Pikesville, Maryland |
Seoul, South Korea/Seokyeong University

When Deja McLean decided to study abroad in South Korea, she was worried about the details: where to stay, how to get around and how to deal with COVID-19 restrictions.

But by partnering with CIS Abroad and the Towson University Study Abroad Office, McLean had someone looking out for her the entire way. It also helped that her first-year experience adviser was Liz Shearer, the director of the Study Abroad Office.

“I was going to plan the whole experience myself, but through Liz and CIS Abroad, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulder,” McLean says. “Having Liz as my support system since the beginning has been amazing. I’m really grateful for her, and we still check in with each other, and I’ll send her updates and photos.”

By working with TU and CIS Abroad, McLean has had more time for her academics as well as immersing herself in the local culture. This includes visiting the Starfield COEX underground mall in Gangnam-gu Seoul, South Korea.

“It may seem like a small experience to some, but it was huge to me,” McLean says. “I got to experience the South Korean nightlife for the first time with my friends. With the people and the billboards lighting up the area, I felt so alive at that moment.”

Matthew Price ’22

History | Crofton, Maryland |
Oldenburg, Germany/Oldenburg University

Matthew Price and his family have always loved traveling, and he describes his parents as nomads.

When Price saw that Towson University offered study abroad options, he jumped at the chance. In fact, while his school year didn’t start until October, Price arrived in Germany on Sept. 6 to get a jumpstart on his time there.

“It can be scary, going to a place where you don’t speak the language and being far from your family and friends. But at the same time everything is new to you and that’s like euphoria,” Price says. “It gives you a life experience that teaches you real-world skills. While there are still those scary moments, it’s something I haven’t regretted.”

Also, as befitting his major, Price has experienced hundreds of years of history just by taking quick train rides. One memory that has made a strong impression is traveling south to the town of Dachau and visiting the World War II concentration camp museum there.

“One of the perks about being [in Germany] is there is so much history,” Price says. “There were tons of battles nearby, and anywhere you are in Germany or Europe, it’s littered with all sorts of history from hundreds to thousands of years ago.”

Kyle Powers ’22

Jazz and Commercial Composition | Kingsville, Maryland |
Seoul, South Korea/Yonsei University

Kyle Powers has always been interested in South Korea. He studied the Korean martial art form Taekwondo for more than a decade and has been learning to speak Korean since high school.

But like many, he thought his dream of living abroad would be too expensive. By working with the TU Study Abroad Office, he found that through scholarships and choosing the right program, he could follow an easy path to spending a term overseas.

“Every step of the way Liz [Shearer] and the Study Abroad Office were there to help me,” Powers says. “From filling out scholarship applications to filling out the application to Yonsei University, [the Study Abroad Office] has been there to help me.

“From the first moment I met Liz, I could really tell she loves what she does. That’s what made me excited to go through with doing the study abroad program.”

It’s also allowed him to study at one of the top universities in South Korea and meet other students from across the world. In fact, his favorite experience so far is talking with other exchange students and learning their thoughts on the United States.

“This trip really allowed me to open my mind and the way I think,” Powers says. “Getting a firsthand, outsider’s view about things going on within our country and other countries helps you open the way you think about the world.”