Erin Wilgenbusch
Why did you decide to lead a study abroad course?
I was invited to consider teaching a study abroad course by one of my colleagues. She had taught this study abroad the previous year and felt it might be a better fit for my public relations students than for her journalism students.
Whay did you partner with Dr. Amber Anderson, a CALS faculty member for your first study abroad?
Amber knows my colleague and invited her to join this trip last year. Upon returning, my colleague felt like it would be a better fit for my public relations students than for her journalism students. I met with Amber and we agreed to work together on the study abroad this semester. One of my sons had taken a class with Amber and really respected her approach to teaching, so I was fairly certain partnering with Amber would be a good experience for me for my first study abroad with Iowa State.
Why do you think students should study abroad?
I think students should study abroad to challenge themselves. They'll learn about the broader world, but they鈥檒l also learn so much about themselves. It's an opportunity for them to truly break away from everything they know and feel comfortable with. They will learn quickly about their adaptability, vulnerability, and self-sufficiency, which are important skills for navigating the world around them.
What are you most excited about?
I鈥檓 excited to see Costa Rica. I鈥檝e never traveled to that part of the world, so it will be an entirely new experience for me. As a lifelong Iowan, I've spent my life in and around the rural Midwest, but look forward to experiencing rural life in a country unlike any I鈥檝e ever visited.
What makes your trip unique?
This is a new endeavor for the Greenlee School so we have a lot of opportunity to shape this experience as we go. The focus for our students on this trip will be travel blogging with a specific emphasis on agritourism and farm-to-table experiences abroad. It鈥檚 a growing market segment and exposing communication students to the opportunity to travel with agriculture students will broaden their understanding and appreciation for what they experience while we are in Costa Rica.