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Undoubtedly, study abroad experiences play an important role in shaping students’ college outcomes (e.g., academic performance, satisfaction) and communication skills (Luo and Jamieson-Drake 2014). There is also a natural link between these experiences and employability (Curtis and Ledgerwood 2018). Importantly, I have found study abroad programs to also serve as wonderful tools for retention and recruitment. Through immersive international programs, students develop cross- cultural communication skills, global business awareness, and personal growth by working alongside peers, professionals, and local communities. My study abroad courses emphasize experiential learning through cultural immersion, applied business projects, service learning, and structured reflection. Whether traveling internationally or participating in virtual exchanges, students are encouraged to think critically about how place, culture, and technology shape consumer behavior, organizational practices, and their own perspectives as global citizens. Across these programs, students often discover new ways of seeing the world, and themselves, through learning that extends well beyond the classroom.
Faculty-led study abroad programs Study Abroad
Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka
Study abroad in Japan
Brazil: São Paulo, São Luís, Santo Amaro, Rio de Janeiro
Study abroad in Brazil
Virtual global exchange programs Link to News Article about virtual study abroad program Link to current year application to the Japan Study Abroad program
Designed & built by Laurel
© 2013-2026 Laurel Aynne Cook
Laurel-Cook.com
Study Abroad
Study abroad experiences play a powerful role in shaping student success, communication skills, and career readiness. Through immersive international and virtual programs, students develop cross- cultural competence, global business awareness, and personal growth by working alongside peers, professionals, and local communities. My study abroad courses emphasize experiential learning, combining cultural immersion, applied projects, service learning, and reflection, to help students understand how place, culture, and technology shape consumer behavior, organizations, and their own perspectives as global citizens.
Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka
In 2026, I will lead my third Study Abroad program to Japan, blending cultural immersion, experiential learning, and business engagement in Tokyo and Yokohama. Students explore Japan’s business culture, technology leadership, and market strategies through site visits, applied projects, and a service-learning collaboration with a local university. The program emphasizes cross-cultural communication, global business perspectives, and personal growth, helping students build adaptability, global awareness, and confidence in diverse environments.
Brazil: São Paulo, São Luís, Santo Amaro, Rio de Janeiro
From 2019–2023, I led a 12-day Study Abroad program to Brazil, centered on business, culture, and experiential learning across four regions. Students learned from firms, local communities, and Brazilian peers in São Paulo, São Luís, the Amazon region near Santo Amaro and Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, and Rio de Janeiro. Across these settings, students developed cross- cultural awareness, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of how place, culture, and business intersect in both emerging and established markets.
Virtual Programs
When in-person study abroad was halted by COVID- 19, I developed a virtual exchange with the Brazilian team at Via Mundo. The program connected U.S. students with Brazilian students, business owners, and cultural educators through live, interactive sessions focused on Brazil’s culture, regions, and business environment. Despite travel restrictions, the experience fostered meaningful cross-cultural learning, dialogue, and global connection for all participants.