Adding to the map

Since 2022, CAL has taken 3,568 students on 177 study abroad programs in 58 countries. In addition to carrying on the longstanding legacy of programs such as London and Ghana, the college is constantly adding new global learning opportunities for students to explore. 

Building these experiences from scratch comes with many logistical challenges, but they often emerge from faculty’s existing ties to a particular location. For Dr. Isaac Woo, Professor in the School of Communication Studies, who directs a study abroad in South Korea, "It felt natural because I grew up there and could leverage my connections to create meaningful experiences for students." 

Similarly, Dr. Elim Hernandez, Assistant Professor of SMAD, created a 10-day experience in Mexico City. “They see [these places] through the eyes of someone who grew up there, which gives them a perspective they wouldn’t get in most other study abroad experiences.”

Programs also develop from a desire to immerse students in different language practices. “Nothing can compare to discovering firsthand what another land and its people have to offer,” says Karen McDonnell, Professor of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. McDonnell is co-directing a Summer 2026 study abroad in Norway and Denmark, working with local writers to see how they approach writing differently from how we learn and practice in the U.S.

Elisabeth Kvernen, Assistant Professor of SMAD, led a cohort to Vietnam in 2025 focused on exploring cross-cultural storytelling. Partnering one-on-one with local university students deepened the immersion and allowed them to see what they perceive as “normal” — from traffic patterns to religious practices — is culturally specific. Kvernen hopes to take a second cohort in 2027, building on the success of the first program.

Offering unique opportunities tailored to student interests keeps the experience fresh. Woo’s program, launched in 2016, explores the K-pop and sports industries, two popular aspects of Korean culture. Hands-on learning about these topics is timely, says Woo, “as K-pop is at an all-time peak in global prominence, making this a unique moment to explore its cultural impact.”

Hernandez highlights that developing programs in new locations expands students' understanding of what “studying abroad” can look like. “They gain a more global, diverse view of communication, culture and the world — something I believe will make them better media professionals and more thoughtful global citizens.”