2023: A Year of Milestones
It's hard to choose favorites, but we have done our best in this recap of great memories from this year, including: inspiring site visits, recent custom faculty led programs, EdOdyssey new hires, the impact of First Year Experience programming, and so much more:
Amazing Site Visits:
Exploring Ireland
In April EdOdyssey participated in Education In Ireland’s country site visit and tour of five Irish universities; Maynooth University, University College Dublin, University College Cork, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Limerick. Touring each college and university was fascinating and helped Program Operations Manager, Maddie Reeves, evaluate EdOdyssey’s programming options in the country. The experience of the trip contributed to the decision to add Ireland as one of of our new programming destinations!
Adventuring in Peru
June kicked off with an exciting site visit to Peru with study abroad colleagues from the University of Massachusetts Boston and Fitchburg State University. During this unique trip attendees were able to gain insight into both EdOdyssey’s short term and semester programming in the country. University staff were also able to experience Peru’s history and culture first hand. Notable visits included checking out our partner campus and meeting with host families to hear about their experiences welcoming and engaging study abroad students.
EdOdyssey Peru Program Director, Luis García, helped lead the way and inform trip participants during each excursion. Luis says his favorite part about coordinating this year’s site visit in his home country was being able to design the trip so that study abroad advisors experienced traveling in the same way their students would. Luis shares, “One of our study abroad visitors mentioned how our work is really an asset to the overall student's experience, as they have someone they can turn to for information, advice, and support while they are here.”
Program Operations Manager, Maddie Reeves, agrees and says “my favorite part about hosting these kinds of visits is getting to show EdOdyssey's values, heart, and uniqueness in action to study abroad professionals who normally would not get to go on our programs. Bringing the experiences that we speak about with professionals to life is so rewarding, and it’s fun to see the participant experience through their eyes!”
She also commends Luis on the passion he has for Peru, “he made every moment a teachable one in a way that welcomed all of us in to experience things for ourselves firsthand. It really goes to show just how special our team is and our programs are.”
Custom Programs:
Unique Experiences
Late spring and the summer months were packed with custom and faculty led programs! These specially tailored excursions are always fun to coordinate and watch take place because students get so much out of each uniquely focused trip while also connecting closely with their peers and school staff.
Atlanta Classical Academy in Italy
This program provided students with a deep understanding of Mediterranean culture, including it’s people, history, cuisine, and multiculturalism.
Salisbury University Honors Program in Sicily
Salisbury students exploration of Sicily included visiting the Neapolis Archeological Park and Greek Theatre, hiking Mt. Etna and Taormina, and learning the art of pasta making. This was the second Salisbury Honors Immersion program and we look forward to helping coordinate their third program to Sicily in 2024!
Loyola Blakefield in Peru
Loyola Blakefield high school students had a full spectrum experience in Peru! They visited wonder of the world Machu Picchu. Students also had the opportunity to connect with the local Amaru community to learn about textile production and agriculture. Another favorite stop was being able to visit a local school to meet with Peruvian students!
Meet Up and Team Work In Chicago
In July, EdOdyssey Manager of Program Operations, Maddie Reeves, Director of Program Operations, Sarah Reid, and Founder/President, Peter McGovern, traveled to Chicago to collaborate during coworking sessions. This meeting was exciting and significant not only because great work was going to happen, but also because the trip provided a fun chance for Maddie, Sarah and Peter, normally remote coworkers, to finally meet in person.
Peter describes the Chicago meet up as “a perfect blend of productive work sessions at the office and fun-filled adventures exploring the city.”
While EdOdyssey is a remote company, our team knows the value of special in person meet ups to refresh team energy and reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional educational experiences.
EdOdyssey celebrates 9 years!
In August EdOdyssey blew out 9 candles and celebrated many wonderful years of providing transformative study abroad programming!
Over these years, we have grown our program locations, worked with thousands of students, and have increased our partnerships and global connections.
We are proud to do this work, excited to reach more goals, and will continue to champion the important fields of international education and study abroad.
First Year Experiences:
Adventuring From Coast to Coast
Domestic First Year Experiences are intended to help freshman college and university students bond with each other and feel a sense of belonging in their new environment. During these experiences, students explore off campus around their local community and go even further afield while on interesting day trips.
This year in September and October EdOdyssey partnered with Northeastern University to facilitate experiential learning opportunities for both their Boston and Oakland campuses.
East Coast: Boston, Cape Cod, Portland and Providence
Students who attended these trips were able to visit different parts of New England and learn more about each place’s local cities, history, sights, as well as agriculture and geography. Highlights from these trips included: checking out art in Providence, taking a coastal ecology lesson on the beach in Cape Cod, and traveling by train in Portland for a lighthouse visit.
Oakland
Gaining a greater feel for California’s Bay Area was on the agenda for NU Oakland students. During a few trips students engaged in cultural experiences and participated in outdoor activities. Particularly fun for students was getting to trek through Muir Woods and visit Alcatraz Island.
Expanding The Team: Welcoming New Hires
September and October brought with them new faces and new additions to the EdOdyssey Team!
Kylie Arrieta joined as Marketing and Communications Manager. She is from New Mexico. Kylie has previously worked as both a Communications & Event Coordinator for degree seeking international students, as well as a Study Abroad Advisor for domestic students. In her free time, she enjoys road trips, practicing yoga, and searching out new music.
Isaac Wittenberg, M.A., is a current part-time Program Operations Coordinator. Isaac is currently based in Michigan. He studied Japanese at Western Michigan University and received his master’s in International and Regional Studies with a specialization in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan. Isaac enjoys attending concerts, playing piano, and learning the shamisen (a Japanese stringed instrument).
Continued Thought Leadership:
contributions to the field
In November, EdOdyssey Founder/ President Peter McGovern traveled to Montreal to attend the NAFSA Bi-Regional Conference for Regions X and XI.
While there, Peter co-presented on two important topic sessions:
"Global Bridges: Unleashing Cross-Cultural Potential through Integrated Student Programs" with Noa Watkins and Payal Batra from New York University and Greg Costalas of Rutgers University.
"The Power of Place: First Year Experience Case Study" presented with Shannon Joseph Fairley-Pittman, Ed.D., from Northeastern University.
Each session was impactful, illustrating the current power and future possibilities of domestic and international experiential learning.
Peter has also recently been named Co-Chair of the Boston Area Study Abroad Association (BASAA). Peter and the EdOdyssey Team are committed to being active participants in these organizations and many other key groups dedicated to enhancing and evolving the fields of international education and study abroad.
Happy Memories & Embracing The Future:
Inspiring site visits, quality custom programs, powerful first year experiences, continued growth and connections- we are grateful for all of these moments that made 2023 a year of expansion and success.
We look forward to even more milestones in 2024 and a great year ahead! 🎇
