YSU student groups plan study, service trips abroad

Spring break is typically a time for college students to unwind, but seven Youngstown State University student groups will spend the first weeks of March studying and serving abroad.

A total of 75 students and 13 faculty leaders will travel to six countries for study and service during their spring break from classes, a record number for YSU. Departure dates are between Feb. 28 and March 13, and travel times range from a week to 12 days.

“International travel and study is a priceless learning experience for our students,” said Joseph Mosca, dean of the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, who worked with faculty to coordinate several of the trips. “Not only are our students exposed to other cultures, but they are also able to learn about how health care and human services are delivered in in other countries.”

Here are the group destinations, listed with their agendas and faculty leaders:

• Bahamas, geology field investigations, led by Jeffrey Dick, professor and chair, Geological and Environmental Sciences.
• Costa Rica, fitness tourism, led by Jennifer Pintar, associate provost, Academic Affairs.
• France, French perspective on communication and media, led by Max V. Grubb, assistant professor, Communication.
• Haiti, service learning and civic engagement, led by Sherri Woods, assistant professor, Social Work.
• Israel, criminal justice study, led by Patricia Wagner, associate professor and chair, Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.
• Israel, study and service, led by Nancy Wagner, professor and chair, Nursing.
• Mexico, study and service, led by Pamela Schuster, professor, Nursing.

The Nursing and Criminal Justice trips to Israel were underwritten by a $20,000 grant from the Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, with matching funds from the Bitonte College.

Two domestic study trips are also planned during the break: Geology Professor Raymond Beiersdorfer is leading a group of Geology students to New Mexico and Associate Marketing Professor Ying Wang is leading a group of Business/Advertising students to New York City. In May, Taci Turel, associate professor of Human Ecology, will lead a group of Fashion Merchandising students on a trip to England.