A good education changes the whole person. It does more for students than just prepare them for an occupation. Instead, we learn so we can enrich ourselves personally, as well as mindfully. I get to see this every day as the director of the Office of Global Education. When they study abroad, students from all across CU Denver get to see their education in new settings and through new perspectives, inspiring confidence, innovation, and transfiguration. Now that is learning with purpose.
Approximately 400 CU Denver students travel abroad for international courses every year. These students are preparing for the interconnected and global society that is waiting for them after graduation. Their resume is automatically more competitive as they are learning cross- cultural skills and gaining experiences that shape how they utilize their education. But more than that, they are reshaping who they are as people—what they want to do, who they want to be.
I was raised overseas but settled in Colorado for an education during my youth. I did my very own study abroad program in Central America during my undergraduate schooling at CU-Boulder. It changed my life completely, both intellectually and spiritually, and led me to pursue my passions in global affairs. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my international experiences, and I want to share that kind of transformation with my students.
I’m new to the university, but I’m so excited to get to start this new journey. With the help of my team here at the Office of International Affairs, we are changing the face of international education. With many new initiatives in the works, we hope to double the amount of students who study abroad, initiate more diverse programming, create more opportunities for financial support and collaborate with other departments across campus. Learning doesn’t just take place in a classroom, just as an education doesn’t solely transform the mind. To learn with purpose involves breaking the boundaries and finding more than just knowledge. It means finding a new self.
Guest contributor: Diego Garcia, director of the Office of Global Education
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