Since fall 2020, the Division of Global Engagement has partnered with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Division of Student Success, and the Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture (Smith Center) to provide first-year, first-generation University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students with a unique global experience through the Academy for Global Scholars.
The program starts on campus one week before classes begin with activities that introduce students to life at UT, including service projects and field trips with members of other campus programs.
Then, throughout the fall and spring semesters, students enroll in an interdisciplinary course that focuses on intercultural learning and critical reflection of the study abroad experience. This course includes weekly meetings and service-learning projects.
The program concludes with a study abroad experience to Costa Rica in May, which is fully funded by program scholarships.
Carrera Romanini, research assistant professor with the Smith Center, has served as faculty leader for the program for the past two years.
“We explore opportunities for students to engage in global activities on campus, in the Knoxville area, and through our study abroad program to Costa Rica,” Romanini says. “Our students leave the program as part of an engaged community of academy alumni, with an increased awareness of diverse perspectives and a better understanding of how to engage in international opportunities.”
The program is designed to push students outside of their typical comfort zones. For most, it is a long list of firsts: the first in their family to study at a university, their first year on a college campus, and for most, their first time leaving the United States.
“I watched students become more confident, curious, and globally minded individuals,” says Maddie Harvin, Spanish lecturer in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and academy co-facilitator in the 2025-26 academic year. “For many, this was their first time leaving the country, and for some, even their first time traveling on an airplane. The opportunity to interact with people from different cultures and walks of life helped them develop a deeper appreciation for our interconnected world. My hope is that they leave this experience not only with new knowledge and memories but also with a greater sense of empathy, independence, and responsibility as global citizens.”
For Lane Comstock, the program eased the pressure of being a first-generation college student. The program made going abroad an easy experience when he believed it might not be obtainable.
“I definitely understand more about what it takes to study abroad,” he says. “Throughout the year we were taught about Costa Rica and the culture there, but you can only truly learn it through firsthand experience in my opinion. Therefore, I feel like I have grown to be more appreciative of real-world experiences.”
Fatima Adnan became a more confident, globally-minded student through the program.
“Throughout the year, I have become more independent, adaptable, and open-minded,” Adnan says. “Navigating new environments and cultures pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me build confidence in myself. The program also taught me resilience.”
Kyle Spurlock also appreciated being pushed out of his comfort zone, even during on-campus programming in Knoxville. He pointed to an Argentinian tango class where he jumped in with the others and had a great time where he might not have been willing to participate outside of the program.
While the highlight of the academy is the time overseas that concludes the experience, the year-long program is designed to cultivate deeper understanding of what it means to be part of an increasingly interconnected global community. While the program prepares these students to travel abroad, it also prepares them for life at UT. For those students who don’t have siblings or parents with college experience, the soft landing when they arrive can make a big difference.
“We grow as individuals and as a cohort while navigating the challenges and successes of adapting to the culture of life on campus,” Romanini says. “The greatest change I see in our students is their confidence in interacting with people who come from different backgrounds and their self-assurance about the opportunities they want to pursue in the future. Our students leave the program with a strong understanding of the impact they want to have on their community and the world.”
The key to students making the most of the experience? Being open to it. Adnan advises students to be receptive to meeting new people, learning new ideas, and embracing the opportunities presented throughout the year. Spurlock agrees the most important thing you can do is to embrace the opportunity to its fullest.
“Give it your all,” he says, “and it’ll be the highlight of your freshman year.”
MORE FROM THIS ISSUE
