This March CDR Director Dr. Charlene Berquist received Missouri State’s Award for Excellence in Study Away Programming in the Cultural Competence category for her work teaching COM 597/698: Northern Ireland – Conflict, Peace, and Reconciliation.

The Award for Excellence in Study Away Programming was established to recognize faculty who demonstrate excellence in designing and leading short-term Study Away programs that influence the development of tomorrow’s global leaders. The Cultural Competence category of this award focuses on faculty members whose programs directly address the recognition and respect of multiple perspectives and cultures.

The course “Northern Ireland – Conflict, Peace, and Reconciliation,” which is co-led by CDR Associate Director Heather Blades, has been offered in spring/summer of 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The 3-credit hour program includes pre-departure work as well as 10-11 days of travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland, with students visiting Dublin, Ireland, as well as Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, and Balleycastle, Northern Ireland, as they explore the history of the Troubles and subsequent peace efforts.

In the award application, many of Dr. Berquist’s students shared how the course impacted them. In the words of student Tina Pham, “As an undergraduate student then a graduate student, I always recommended this trip to my fellow peers because of its lasting impact that it has on me. It was a trip that changed how I viewed others around me and how I stay up to date on world news. Dr. Berquist provided an immersive experience that taught us about Ireland’s history, but also how to view the world beyond our side of the pond.” Another student, Sherri Eldred, said of her experience, “I cannot be more grateful to Dr. Berquist for the opportunity to grow and learn about the Troubles in Ireland.  It has had a profound influence on my life. Through a deeper understanding of the centuries long conflict in Ireland, I am able to better understand the impacts of conflict on the world stage as well as right here at home, in a small town, in the middle of the United States. ” 

Read more about past course offerings on the CDR’s blog. Interested in taking part in future offerings of this course? Email CDR@MissouriState.edu to be put on the contact list for future Study Away courses!