So much of what students focus on in CCOM is experiential. Presenting a speech, working a camera for a live stream of an NCAA Butler athletic event, administering hearing tests, tutoring other students on writing and public speaking, and, of course, valuable internships in Indianapolis and beyond. Immersive is another great adjective for the experiences our students absorb—but it fits much better when it is discussing studying, or in my case, traveling abroad.    

As a rising junior at Providence College, with much more hair on my head, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Glasgow, Scotland. It didn’t happen. My next chance came 22 years later when I was scheduled to teach a study abroad course in Rome, Italy. But the pandemic had other plans. Again, it didn’t happen. It seemed the universe decreed I would not visit Europe. That is, until I met Jill McKinney, Butler’s assistant vice president of academic affairs and director of global engagement.

Studying abroad is an art within an experience. If you’re a student you can earn credit for your journey of global engagement and enlightenment. But in my case, during two weeks in June, I collected moments and made memories steeped in rich history and accented by modern day life. Jill made these moments possible, and I was excited to learn I was able to return the favor.

“I had a little bit of a moment,” Jill said over breakfast as we prepared for a meeting at Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom. She was referring to her excitement for finally making a trip across the pond possible for yours truly. Her willingness to share that thought with me has prompted an even greater endorsement of her enthusiasm in making opportunities abroad a reality for CCOM students and faculty. Being invited to be a small part of that process is invaluable to me. 

Several months ago, members of Cardiff University visited Butler to begin developing collaborative opportunities between our institutions. During a brief thirty-minute meeting with Jill, representatives from Cardiff, and my fellow Dean, Craig Caldwell from the Lacy School of Business, several ideas began to emerge. One thing was certain—we needed to visit them in Cardiff. 

On June 6, just 26 short years after my first chance to go abroad slipped through my fingers, we were wheels up and headed on a business trip complete with several ideas that can be beneficial to our respective communities on both sides of the pond. I extended this voyage into a family vacation with my wife and son joining me for an excursion of five countries in 17 days. Here’s a glimpse into both sides of my trip.

WORK TRIP

Once again, Jill, Dean Caldwell, and I met with representatives of Cardiff University, this time in Wales, United Kingdom. For the better part of two days the momentum just kept building. I am excited about new possibilities for students and faculty as we nurture this overseas relationship. Experiential opportunities can include enhanced experiences for faculty and students in sports production, tourism, journalism, and strategic communication. It’s exciting to think that as early as next year we could have students from Cardiff in Indianapolis for a summer program, and students from Butler visiting Cardiff for one as well. There is also a terrific opportunity to share expertise and create research partnerships supporting faculty from both institutions to collaborate on scholarly projects. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities we can make real in working with our friends from Wales!

Speaking of Wales, now is the perfect spot to transition from the work trip to the family vacation. I excitedly joined our Cardiff University hosts, and my Butler peers, Jill, and Craig for a tour of the BBC Wales production facility in Cardiff. I am a big fan of the Dr. Who television series, so this aspect of the city was extra special. The show has been produced primarily in Wales since 2005, originally by the BBC and now by Bad Wolf Productions. After we wrapped up our work time together I rejoined my family and took a deeper Dr. Who dive during a walking tour in the city. That’s just the start—though I will later end this post with a French lesson from the good doctor.

FAMILY VACATION

Much like the excitement of knowing Jill, her team, and CCOM faculty members provide eye-opening experiences for young adults, I was thrilled to show my son more of the world. My family experienced a live MLB game in London, featuring my beloved Philadelphia Phillies versus the New York Mets. We visited the British Museum, the Tower of London, the Tate Modern Museum, and the mystery of Stonehenge embraced us before even arriving in Wales for the meetings. 

Following the brief work stop, my family and I traveled to Venice, Italy, and then boarded a cruise that visited Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens in Greece. From there we visited Dubrovnik, Croatia—finally doing what we planned to do a few years ago.  Despite being “off the clock,” I saw so much opportunity in these locations for our current students, prospective students, and even alumni to share these life-changing experiences. The volcanic island of Santorini. The truly religious experience of walking through the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens. And back to my love of television shows, a professionally-guided Game of Thrones tour of Dubrovnik where they filmed several episodes. These shows are shot on location in locations like this because of the architecture and history in every sight and step. Not to mention appreciating the majesty of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges Palace in Venice. Every stop presented experiences that fundamentally evolved my appreciation of the world.  

As my family traveled to these magical locations, I couldn’t help but develop an even greater appreciation for the work Jill McKinney and her team does all year round. Their enthusiasm and creativity in establishing programs across the world for our students is infectious. It’s clear that being abroad is something Jill enjoys, but creating opportunities for others to have that experience for her is a labor of love, and Butler is truly lucky to have her skills and passion.

Your French lesson to close this goes back to Dr. Who. Scottish actor David Tennant, as the Tenth Doctor, liked to say (while working on the show in Wales), “Allons-y!” The French expression means “Let’s Go!” and I hope this science fiction mantra is repeated by new waves of Butler and Cardiff students for years to come.