Jackson State goes global

Jhade’ Norris
MC Contributor/Staff

Jackson State University is on a mission to produce technologically advanced, diverse, ethical global leaders who think critically, address societal problems and compete effectively.

On Sept. 29 in the JSU Student Center Theater, an audience of students, faculty and administrators screened a 45-minute documentary that details how this mission is being put into action.

The experiences of 73 students and faculty who traveled to six different countries this summer to study abroad were featured in the exciting documentary. The four-week faculty-led excursions took students to Shanghai, China; Madrid, Spain; Paris; Salvador da Bahia, Brazil; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Rio de Janeiro.

“JSU Passport to the World was designed to provide an academic experience that immerses students in cultural experiences that are discipline specific and thought provoking,” said Priscilla Slade, Special Assistant to the Provost for International Studies and Community Colleges.

The key objective of the travel abroad experience, as mentioned in the documentary, is to create global leaders and for students to make cultural connections within the country they are studying in. The JSU Passport to the World program conquers the three major obstacles that prevent students from studying abroad; cost, curriculum and culture.

In the documentary, students went into detail about the entire traveling abroad process from beginning to end. Some of the students stated that upon their arrival on foreign soil, they did not know what to expect. Some students relayed that even the plane ride to their chosen country was a first.

Shantwanza Hill, a junior forensic chemistry major minoring in sociology from Glendora, Miss. studied abroad in Rio de Janeiro.

“Traveling abroad has impacted my life with amazing information, and now I know my life will never be the same. Overall, my trip was awesome and I plan to study abroad next year,” said Hill.

Cory Davis,  a senior, mass communication major from  Vicksburg, Miss. studied abroad in Shanghai, China at East Normal China University.

“Studying abroad really allowed me to be more open to meeting new people,” said Davis.  “This experience has allowed me to view the world from a totally new perspective. I’m honored that I embarked on such an amazing opportunity.”

Jackson State President Carolyn W. Meyers, a staunch supporter of the JSU Global program, was also in attendance at the documentary screening.

“There are new worlds to explore new people to meet and I think the end of it [documentary] was very significant because it changes your perspective,” said President Meyers.

For more information on studying abroad and the JSU Passport to the World program visit: 10.14.12.245/global.

All photos by Darek Ashley.