GELE encourages conversations between domestic and international students

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For students who have participated in Penn State’s Global Engagement and Leadership Experience (GELE), many have stated it was one of their most memorable college experiences.

Penn State attracted a record number of international students in fall 2014 — 6,569 at the University Park campus — and ranked 13th in the United States among universities on international student enrollment, according to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual Open Doors report.

As a university recognized for its dedication to diversity, Penn State welcomes students from more than 140 countries from all over the world. In September, Penn State received its second consecutive national Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

“The world is coming to you,” said Director of the Multicultural Resource Center Moses Davis. “And we want to get our students prepared for it.”

That’s how the idea of GELE, a two-and-a-half day conference that brings together international and U.S. students, came about. Initiated by Kristin Thomas, graduate assistant in the department of recreation, park, and tourism management, Gina Hurny, program director for leadership development, and the Office of Global Programs during the fall 2011 semester, GELE allows students to have open discussions about global leadership.

Davis, who first participated in coordination with GELE in 2013, has been involved ever since.

“It’s amazing to have students engage in really deep conversations during the GELE weekend. We want to create an open environment for students to share freely about anything, even things they may find intimidating to talk about in daily life, ” Davis said. “Ultimately, we want to bridge the gap between different cultures on campus and promote a stronger sense of cultural awareness to our community.”

Moses said that global leadership is an essential skill to have in today’s globally focused world. “Effective leadership means being able to work with individuals from different backgrounds and bring intercultural competence into teamwork,” he said. “It’s all about collective collaboration. Being able to step out of a comfort zone and have empathy to understand other people’s cultures are important in today’s leadership.”

Each semester, GELE accepts a total of 40 participants composed of 20 international students and 20 U.S. students from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Since its launch in 2011, GELE has welcomed students from more than 17 different countries.

Estella Obi-Tabot, a junior in studying health and human development and a recent participant, said that GELE has been an “eye-opening” experience for her. As a domestic student, prior to participating in GELE, Obi-Tabot had traveled briefly to several countries, mainly for the purpose of visiting family members, and it wasn’t until GELE that she was able to really engage in cultural dialogue and learn different cultural traditions.

“Before participating in GELE, it could seem a little bit intimidating to really reach out to international students and break into cultural groups,” Obi-Tabot said. “GELE challenged me to really step out of my comfort zone. And I learned when it comes down to an individual, there are always more similarities than differences.”

As the current president of Penn State’s Society for Biobehavioral Health, Obi-Tabot said she benefitted a lot from the discussions about leadership and would be able to apply many lessons toward the global health initiative within her organization. “In global health, if we can really engage with the people we are helping within a deeper level instead of just doing fundraising for them, it would be a big step,” she said.

Adam Virzi, a senior majoring in English education, found GELE after studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, during his junior year.

“I learned so much through my study abroad experience, ” Virzi said. “And when I got back, I wanted to find a place for me to continue conversations I had when I was overseas, enrich my experiences and share ideas with other people. And that’s how I found GELE. It’s exactly what I’m looking for.”

As a global ambassador for Global Programs, Virzi encourages students to consider studying abroad, especially to some nontraditional locations.

“Studying abroad not only helps you learn about another culture, but also learn more about yourself,” he said. “I discovered the South African identity inside of me when I was abroad.”

“Studying abroad in nontraditional locations provides you a richer cultural experience,” he added. “And it may save you money. As an out-of-state student, I paid in-state tuition when I was abroad, and the living expenses in South Africa are much cheaper.”

Virzi said studying abroad can be something for every student to consider, and he encourages students to look into financial aid and scholarship options in and out of school.

Also an active member in Cross Cultural Connections, Virzi has continued his cultural explorations on campus. “When you are abroad, explore as much as you can and immerse yourself into the local culture. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never done before,” Virzi said. “And when you are back, don’t let what you’ve learned abroad stop there.”

“We hope GELE could be a starting point for open dialogues on campus and continue to spark conversations and student leaders,” Davis said. “Our goal is to reduce the danger of a single story.”

GELE will be held Feb. 27 to March 1 at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park. The deadline to apply is Jan. 30. The application link and other information can be accessed at http://global.psu.edu/GELE.