Bringing the World to Campus: King’s College Study Abroad Showcase

The King’s College Study Abroad Department invites the community to the Spring and Summer Study Abroad Showcase, held in the Widman Art Gallery. This exciting annual tradition celebrates the incredible journeys students have taken across the globe.  

Every fall semester, students come together to highlight their stories, photos, and unforgettable experiences as a tribute to the College's study abroad programs. Whether they’re curious about studying abroad or just want to be inspired, students can come see previous trips and imagine where they could go next. 

In 2010, a group of King’s professors followed a growing national of creating short-term faculty-led global programing. These programs have been steadily growing at King’s since then.  

Study abroad trips can have a deep impact on a student’s personal life, like increased independence, confidence, leadership skills, maturity, and self-efficacy. These traits benefit a student’s professional journey and translate into personal growth, adaptability, and worldliness. 

The Coordinator of the Study Abroad Department, Renata Evan, shared her professional insights from years of experience and research in the field: 

Study Abroad is considered a high-impact educational practice. Research shows that students who studied abroad are more successful in school and after graduation. Students improve their GPA, are more likely to stay in school (improved retention), and are less likely to transfer. Abroad program increases employability and career skills valued by employers, such as global-mindedness, self-awareness, communication skills, analytical and creative thinking, and self-efficacy (resilience, flexibility, and agility).  Students are more tolerant and less fearful of others and are better prepared to navigate an increasingly interconnected world. Research also shows that recent graduates with Study Abroad experience earn a higher starting salary on their first job compared to graduates without Study Abroad experience. 

“It helped me expand my views on life, and how I exist in the world,” said student Jacqueline Edoukou ‘28. “Studying abroad cracked open my shell, and in the process, helped me figure out who I truly am outside of my comfort zone, and ignited my love of travel. Studying abroad will change your life. Going out and seeing the world is a privilege.” 

Edoukou discussed how rewarding it was to visit Ireland, including the cliff of Moher along the coast. She was grateful to be able to earn credits while exploring the world. 

“There is so much to see and discover about the world,” she continued. “Talking to new people, being in a different environment change how you see yourself and how you view the world in relation to your own. These experiences shaped me by allowing me to face the unknown and let go of control.”  

“Studying abroad in Australia gave me the opportunity to see how different societal structures and cultural perspectives shape education and daily life.” said student Matthew Prudente ’25.  “Experiencing that firsthand not only deepened my academic interests but also motivated me to think more globally about how policies and systems affect people.”  

Prudente believes studying abroad pushes students to be more independent and open-minded. For instance, he shared how the Australian approach to work–life balance was very different from the U.S. Prudente said Australians placed a strong emphasis on balance, rest, and enjoying life outside of work and school, which seemed unfamiliar to the more fast-paced and “always-busy” mindset he is used to. While in Australia, Prudente learned to slow down, appreciate the value of balance, and bring that perspective into how he approaches both academics and daily life. 

“My time abroad reinforced how valuable cultural competence is, especially in healthcare administration.” he continued. “In the future, I want to ensure that patients and communities feel understood and supported, no matter their background. Studying abroad helped me see the importance of bringing empathy, adaptability, and a global perspective into my career path.”