Learning on the road: Bobcats explore the world on spring break

OHIO’s study away programs allow students from all majors to travel to different locations around the U.S. and the world for educational programs. Students involved in these programs gain knowledge and experience while taking part in meaningful programs that stay with them for life.

Over spring break, for example, OHIO students took part in these study away experiences (in addition to other programs):

• OHIO Honors Program (OHP) students traveled to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.
• Students from the College of Health Sciences and Professions traveled to London for the Comparative Health Systems, US and UK program.
• OHIO students traveled to Northern Ireland for the Human Rights, Law and Justice program
• OHIO students traveled to Greece to take part in a speech and debate competition and to take part in learning experiences.

You can find more information on study away programs offered throughout the year, including semester-long programs, spring break programs and summer programs,  on the Office of Global Opportunities website.

OHIO Honors students traveled to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky over spring break to participate in a two-credit hour honors course taught by Geoff Buckley, associate dean of the Honors Tutorial College, and Michelle O'Malley, executive director of the Office of Experiential Learning. 

The course was designed by Buckley and O'Malley to engage students with the ecology, the economy and the culture of the place that is Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, while also instructing them in the establishment as well as the complexity of the National Park system.

The whole course was four days long. The first day began in Athens where students were introduced to the national parks and environmental leadership before boarding vans for the 5 1/2 hour journey to Mammoth Cave. The next three days were spent in Kentucky.

While onsite, the 17 students enrolled in the class were treated to an after-hours tour of the historic main entrance, a private tour of the Great Onyx Cave, a visit to the Bransford African American Cemetery, and another private tour—this time via the Carmichael entrance—on the last day of the trip. In addition to cool cave formations, they saw bats, salamanders and plenty of crickets. 

Along the way, students learned about the region’s geology from Park Service Ranger Rick Toomey and Dr. David Kime from Northern Kentucky University. Toomey's wife, Elizabeth Winkler, incidentally, is not only an accomplished caver herself but also an Ohio University graduate and Athens native. Meanwhile, Dr. Katie Algeo from Western Kentucky University delivered two wonderful lectures on the cave’s early exploration and tourist history.

As sophomore Alex Hendrickson noted in reflecting on the experience, "I had this recurring thought the whole time we were there... that Mammoth Cave...and all the caves in the area - the National Park - has an effect on everything in the region, the culture, economics, the research... all aspects of life for someone who lives there."

On the final full day of the trip, the class participated in a community service project that involved cleaning the flooring and handrails at the Wondering Wood Cave before it opened for the season. Who knew that crickets and bats could make such a mess?

“We could not have been happier with the way the trip turned out,” commented Buckley. “Several of the students had never been to a national park before, and many had never been inside a cave. They were nervous at first but brimming with confidence and enthusiasm by the end.”

OHIO students had a transformative experience during spring break through the Human Rights, Law and Justice study abroad program in Northern Ireland. Over nine days, 25 OHIO students engaged deeply with the region’s complex legacies of conflict, political imprisonment, contested memory and ongoing struggles for justice.

The program was led by Larry Hayman, director of legal engagement and pre-law programs at the Center for Law, Justice and Culture, and Haley Duschinski, director of the School of International Studies and Languages and professor of anthropology.

During the visit, students met with lawyers, community leaders, human rights advocates and former political prisoners who are directly involved in post-conflict accountability and peacebuilding. These conversations offered firsthand insight into how legal systems, political institutions and community-based initiatives continue to shape justice in a society emerging from decades of conflict.

Students explored key sites across Belfast, Derry and the North Coast, including the Peace Walls, Crumlin Road Gaol, Milltown Cemetery, Glasnevin Cemetery, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich Irish language center, the Apprentice Boys Museum, the Peacemakers Museum and the Museum of Free Derry. Walking tours of Falls Road, Shankill Road, and Free Derry Corner provided important context for understanding how history, identity and memory are embedded in everyday spaces.

In addition, the group engaged with leading community organizations such as the Pat Finucane Centre, the Rainbow Project Northern Ireland and the Committee on the Administration of Justice, gaining exposure to ongoing advocacy efforts around human rights, equality and reconciliation.

“Our students brought incredible curiosity, sensitivity and thoughtfulness to the trip,” Duschinski said. “These kinds of experiences are essential for helping students understand how law and justice operate in real-world contexts—especially in places shaped by conflict. They learn about institutions and policies as well as people’s lived experiences, legal engagements and the ongoing work of building a more just society.”

Through these immersive experiences, students developed a deeper understanding of the relationship between law, politics and power, as well as the ethical and practical challenges of peacebuilding in divided societies. The program emphasizes critical reflection, encouraging students to connect what they learn abroad to broader global issues and to their own future careers in law, public service and international work.

The program also reflects OHIO’s long-standing commitment to international experiential learning and global engagement. By connecting students directly with practitioners and communities, it prepares them to navigate complex global challenges with insight, confidence and a strong sense of responsibility.

Faculty from the Department of Social and Public Health in OHIO’s College of Health Sciences and Professions led a trip to London over spring break titled “Comparative Health Systems, U.S. and U.K.”

The nine days in London focused on understanding the nature of health services in the U.K. and how they compare to the U.S. system and were filled with eye-opening learning experiences for 19 OHIO students.

A few highlights of the trip included:

• Meetings with Cleveland Clinic London president, CFO, and other leaders to learn about differences and similarities between their US and UK operations.
• Meetings with King's College London public health faculty and graduate students for insights on their curricula and public health career options in the UK.
• Guided walking tours focused on the history of medicine, diseases, social services, public health and environmental health conditions in the UK, both past and present.
• Seeing the famous Broad Street water pump, which signifies a critical milestone in the history of epidemiology.
• Visiting the Florence Nightingale Museum of Nursing, The National Covid Memorial Wall and the Wellcome Museum, exploring health and the human experience.
• A networking dinner with local public health professionals.

The OHIO students also enjoyed an informal social evening with OHIO alumni who are currently living and working in London, and learned from them about their experiences and career paths. 

According to Dr. Cristina Popescu, one of the faculty co-directors of the trip, the London destination was selected to expose health sciences students to the National Health Service (NHS), England's publicly-funded, single-payer healthcare system. In the process, the students also learned about and observed social, environmental and urban factors that greatly impact individual and public health outcomes.

For many of the students, this program was their first travel abroad, making the experience even more special.

"Participating in study abroad opportunities is so important and life changing for our students," said Popescu. "In addition to the academic learning, students develop self-confidence, learn to navigate new surroundings independently, bond with fellow travelers over shared experiences and create lifetime memories."

As one student put it, participating in the program "was easily one of the most meaningful and impactful parts of my college career so far."

Dr. Cory Cronin, who also served as a faculty co-director for the trip, added that the trip was a great opportunity to see the students engage not only with academic concepts and ideas about health and health care, but also with the whole travel experience.

During spring break, 14 members of the Ohio University Speech and Debate Team traveled to Athens, Greece to compete in the 35th International Forensics Association Tournament.

The students competed against students from around the world and excelled in the competition. The students also took part in cultural experiences and grew professionally and personally during the trip.

The trip was made possible in part by support from the Scripps College of Communication, with additional contributions from Dean Scott Titsworth.

You can read more about the trip and see more photos here.