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I would characterize our last thee years in the CGSE at Dickinson as full of challenges AND rewards. Certainly, the pandemic changed how we think about our work and collaboration and has led us in some new and innovative directions. What has remained constant for me is the deep appreciation I have for the CGSE worldwide team: both my colleagues here in Carlisle and those around the globe. Their commitment to our team, their students and their local communities inspires me and fills me with so much hope.   

So, what have we been up to, you ask? We have created new programs and partnerships to better support our students, faculty and curriculum, and we have continued to demonstrate that we are thought leaders in the field of international education. And we have won more awards collectively and individually. This report reflects positive outcomes, exciting new opportunities and learning for our students, faculty and staff. It tells our unique Dickinson global story and demonstrates how we are moving towards our goal of creating more just, inclusive and sustainable communities.   

Enjoy, 

Samantha C. Brandauer '95

Associate Provost and Executive Director, Center for Global Study & Engagement 

You will see throughout this report evidence that we in the CGSE are connecting Dickinson’s many strengths in global, sustainable, DEI, and civic action learning and action across all that we do from support for international students, faculty development, new education abroad program development and beyond.  The work we are doing in the CGSE and across campus is also reflected in Dickinson’s new strategic plan:  

"Dickinson has developed an international reputation for our commitment to imbuing our students with an immersive global perspective, a holistic sustainability education, a community orientation and civic skillset, and the ability to think across disciplines and dialogue across differences. Through these interdependent dimensions of a Dickinson education, students are better able to connect their values to their career and civic goals. Our alumni are out in the world building more just, equitable, sustainable and prosperous communities."

In the CGSE, we have lots of evidence of our great work. But you don’t just have to take our word for it. In the last three years, we have won several awards and grants and continue to have robust data that highlights our national standing as a liberal arts college committed to international education and global learning. These awards also showcase our strengths at the intersection of global learning, diversity, equity and inclusion, civic action and sustainability. 

“Dickinson has long been a leader in global education and sustainability, but what is really impressive is the way they integrate these with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and ethical community engagement through impactful collaborations among faculty, staff, students, and partners.” 

—THE FORUM ON EDUCATION ABROAD on Dickinson winning their ADVANCING THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH EDUCATION ABROAD (2022) 

At Dickinson’s CGSE, we are well positioned to keep pushing the boundaries of what global learning looks like on our campus and beyond. Our campus culture supports innovation and our recognition around the globe gives us a platform to imagine new possibilities and make change happen. The following programs, projects and partnerships show that the work we are doing not only impacts our campus – students, faculty and staff, but also the field of international education.  

The on-going geopolitical and COVID challenges during this time frame, plus new curricular developments, shifts in student interest and ongoing faculty creativity at Dickinson spurred us to respond with new programs. These are the programs that launched from 2021-23. 

Despite our challenges mid- and post-COVID, we continued to have a lasting, positive impact on our students, faculty, our campus community and the communities in which students learn and engage with abroad.  The data and outcomes below help to tell that story. We are particularly happy to highlight high participation rates of traditionally underrepresented students in study abroad, such as students of color, high need students, first-gen students and student athletes. And we continue to ask who is benefiting and who is not?   

We continue to provide high levels of support to our diverse group of international students as they make their way at Dickinson and find a sense of belonging on our campus. We have reimagined our all-new student orientation to be more inclusive of international students, changing arrival times to better meet student needs and interspersing sessions specifically for international students to meet them where they are.  

We also onboarded and supported several international visiting scholars from Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan and China throughout this time frame.

"It's easy to point to all of the trips and sightseeing and recognize the amazing opportunities that arise while studying abroad, but being able to really learn a place all the way across the world is one of the most special parts of abroad. Making a place your home for a few months means walking the same route to class, having a campus meeting spot with friends, and using a grocery store self checkout with an accent. All of those little moments that become normal pieces of your lifestyle are so unique to study abroad because you're not only traveling to, but living in another place, which is something I love to look back on." —Vanessa Daniels '24

The CGSE faculty and staff based in Carlisle and around the world do not only do this excellent work, we share it with colleagues and the field of international education through service, scholarship, presentations, workshops and webinars, and in interviews with the media.

Check out some of what we have all been doing. 

Many of the programs and global learning that happens through the CGSE is made possible by the support of our devoted and visionary donors. The following funds explicitly support CGSE programming: 

• CHURCHILL FUND: supports global Mosaic programs 
• DURDEN ANNUAL LITERARY SERIES FUND: supports a literary series for students in the Dickinson inGermany program 
• DURDEN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FUND: supports independent student-research abroad 
• GELDRICH-LEFFMAN FUND: supports foreign-language study and the humanities 
• GOUVERNET FUND: supports programming at the intersection of global and sustainability education 
• NAUIOKAS FUND: supports programming in Cameroon 
• NILSSON SCHOLARSHIP: supports personal expenses for a high-need, high-achieving student on the Dickinson in Italy Program, allowing them to take advantage of independent travel and cultural opportunities 
• ROETHENMUND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FUND: supports science majors traveling to the Molecular Frontiers Conference in Europe
• ROSE SCHOLARSHIP: Fully funded 4-year scholarships for five Ukrainian students. 
• SAUNDERS FUND FOR THE TOULOUSE CENTER: supports the resident director position for the Dickinson in France program 
• STREGER-PRICE FUND: supports programming focusing on Israel