Learning Without Borders

At the heart of Rollins is our mission to cultivate globally engaged leaders and problem solvers, and this past summer, Tars once again made their mark by learning and contributing across the globe. From exploring the intersection of tradition and innovation in China to collecting turtle samples in the Dominican Republic, Rollins students expanded their perspectives through hands-on experiences around the world.

Our commitment to a rich, diverse collection of international education programs and field study opportunities is a big reason why Rollins is consistently ranked as one of the best colleges for study abroad. Additionally, research from the American Association of Colleges & Universities shows that executives and hiring managers are more likely to hire candidates with experience in a field-based project in a community with people from diverse backgrounds, so these hands-on opportunities not only enrich the Rollins experience but are also essential preparation for the workforce.

As last spring turned to summer, we asked students to keep us in the loop as they readied their passports and set out into the world. Here are a few of our favorite field study and study abroad stories from summer 2026.

Farrell Donnelly ’27 visited museums and cultural sites and experienced community engagement initiatives while on a field study in South Africa. Donnelly and her cohort gained a firsthand understanding of the country’s socioeconomic conditions, global challenges, and history that shapes its communities today.

“This field study offered a unique opportunity to examine the intersection of environmental and governance challenges,” says Donnelly, a political science and environmental studies double major. “Throughout our trip, my classmates and I observed issues such as limited access to clean water, inadequate housing, and shared community infrastructure in the townships.”

“My biggest takeaway was gaining a greater appreciation for the challenges many Indigenous communities face in preserving their cultural identities in an increasingly globalized world. This experience allowed me to move beyond the classroom and engage directly with the people, places, and histories we studied throughout the semester. By immersing myself in a different culture and gaining a deeper understanding of South Africa’s past and present, I developed a broader global perspective and a greater appreciation for the importance of informed and engaged citizenship.”

While on a field study in China, anthropology major Max Van Alphen ’29 experienced cultural activities and visited modern and historical sites to gain a stronger appreciation for Chinese culture.

“We visited sites like Lingyin Temple, one of China’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temples, and hiked through the Longwu tea terraces outside Hangzhou, where tea has been cultivated for centuries,” says Van Alphen. “We also experienced the modernity of Shanghai, like seeing the Pudong skyline, meeting the team at Deep Robotics who showed us one of their robots up close, and riding up the Oriental Pearl Tower.”

“As an anthropology student, seeing firsthand how China embraces centuries-old traditions while also leading technological advancement helped me connect concepts to real-world experiences and broaden my understanding of cultural diversity and globalization.⁠ Seeing thousand-year-old traditions like paper-cutting and tea farming existing right next to robotics companies and glass-floor skyscrapers changed my idea of what traditional and modern even mean. The temples we visited are still active places of worship. Tea is still hand-picked on the same hills it’s always grown on. Paper cutting is still taught by hand. China isn’t picking between old and new; it’s holding onto both at once.”

By showing the connection between culture, innovation, and international business, the experience strengthened his interest in anthropology and motivated him to pursue a master’s in business.

Marine biology and economics double major Sophia Fondenaer ’27 traveled to the Dominican Republic on a field study, where she and her classmates hiked national parks and collected samples from roughly 150 turtles from multiple locations.

“This experience has been one of the most valuable parts of my college education because it allowed me to apply concepts from the classroom in a real field research setting,” says Fondenaer. “It also gave me hands-on experience with wildlife sampling and data collection while providing the foundation for my honors thesis research, which will investigate pathogenic bacterial species in free-living aquatic Haitian and Dominican slider turtles.”⁠

“Being involved in sampling and data collection gave me a much better understanding of the research process. Working with Dr. Pieczynski and Dr. Fokidis while also learning from local fishermen and conservation professionals showed me that protecting biodiversity requires collaboration, field experience, and an understanding of the people who interact with these ecosystems every day.”⁠

The field study experience confirmed her plans to pursue a master’s degree in marine science after graduation and eventually a career in marine biology research, with a particular interest in marine microbiology.

International business major Mary-Michael Compton ’29 says her Verano Español experience helped her meet new friends and improve her Spanish language proficiency through immersion.

Now in its 66th year, Verano Español is one of the oldest American study abroad experiences in Spain, where students spend six weeks immersed in Spanish language and culture through coursework, excursions, and guided activities led by Spanish professor and native Spaniard Alberto Prieto-Calixto.

“I chose Verano Español because it gave me the opportunity to study Spanish in Madrid while also experiencing the culture of Spain,” shares Compton. “Being able to explore Candelario and Segovia, smaller cities in Spain, was incredible. My personal favorite was hiking in Candelario, a small town in the mountains, and seeing the more rural areas of Spain.”

The interactive coursework gave the students in the program ample opportunities to speak, listen, and write in Spanish, especially while living alongside locals in the heart of Madrid.

“My professors only taught the material in Spanish, and in one class, my professor and I only spoke in Spanish, learning about what we each like to do, where we were from, and who we are, which was a real bonding moment.”

“Being in a different place with new people can be scary, but it was worth it. The first few weeks of living in Spain I was scared to talk to locals and get their feedback; however, as the trip continued, I was able to talk confidently and learn more about their culture. This experience helped me become comfortable with trying new things and adapting to new places. After being in Spain, I realized how much culture affects people and that everyone is uniquely different, which will help me in my future career in business.”