草榴社区

Dr. Sergio H. Lence

Major: 
Department of Economics
Program: 
Agricultural Production, Business and Trade in Argentina, Australia, France, Mexico and Spain, and Dean鈥檚 Leadership Program in Italy
I deeply believe that it is very important to explore what opportunities are out there, beyond those with which one is familiar. By leading study abroad programs I feel that I am helping students realize that it is worth learning about things they were not aware of.

, Professor, and Marlin Cole Chair of International Agricultural Economics in the has led study abroad programs in Argentina, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, and Mexico since 1999. 

  • Why do you lead programs?
    • I lead programs for two reasons:
      • First, because studying abroad changed my life. I am originally from Argentina. When I first decided to come to study in the U.S., I had never been abroad; I planned to finish my MSc degree and immediately go back to work in Argentina. However, soon after arriving in the U.S., I realized that there were many things I had never seen before and opportunities that had never crossed my mind, so my life plans completely changed. As such, I deeply believe that it is very important to explore what opportunities are out there, beyond those with which one is familiar. By leading study abroad programs I feel that I am helping students realize that it is worth learning about things they were not aware of.
      • Second, I lead programs because I feel I have a much greater impact on students by leading study abroad programs than by teaching regular courses on campus. I see students literally change and become far more mature in just a matter of days, which I truly enjoy.
  • What have you learned by leading programs?
    • I have learned a lot about agriculture and culture in other countries, and I have become more appreciative of their differences and commonalities. I have also learned about how dynamic cultures can be. For example, by periodically visiting Spain and Catalonia over many programs I led there, I witnessed great changes in the way people there feel about the independence of Catalonia from Spain.
  • What has been your favorite program that you have led?
    • My favorite program has always been the one I lead to Argentina because I take students to my farm and show them where I grew up.
  • What do you like to do in your free time?
    • Bike, read, and travel to new places.
  • Why should students study abroad?
    • Because it is an opportunity to become aware of their unknown unknowns, i.e., the things they do not know they don鈥檛 know.