Agricultural Sciences

College of Ag Sciences study-abroad leaders share their knowledge in new book

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences global education leaders took part in a book signing during the Forum on Education Abroad annual conference in Seattle in March. From left are Tammy Shannon, academic advising coordinator and course instructor for the Environmental Resource Management program, and Ketja Lingenfelter, Ag Sciences Global assistant director for student global engagement.   Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three global education leaders in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have contributed their expertise to a new book.

The trio wrote a chapter in “Sustainable Education Abroad, Striving for Change,” which is part of a book series spearheaded by the national nonprofit, Forum on Education Abroad. The “Standards in Action” series is intended to bridge big ideas and foundational principles in education abroad to the creative approaches and practical tactics that can turn those concepts into reality.

“Our goal in contributing to this book was to show that international experiences are significant for student growth and understanding,” said Ketja Lingenfelter, Ag Sciences Global assistant director for student global engagement, who helped write the chapter. “We believe that the travel necessary to study abroad can be done sustainably by being aware of travel emissions and taking steps to minimize these impacts.”

Lingenfelter and her co-authors, Tammy Shannon, academic advising coordinator and course instructor for the Environmental Resource Management program, and Rob Shannon, assistant dean for undergraduate education, drew from their expertise in organizing study-abroad experiences, most notably the course, ERM 499: Costa Rica Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, which Rob Shannon started in 2007.

“We celebrated our 15th year leading the program in 2022,” Rob Shannon said. “To help commemorate this achievement, our chapter was a case study about how an international course can focus on sustainable agriculture and natural resources and how sustainable practices can be incorporated into study abroad opportunities.”

Tammy Shannon added that they based their content on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the college’s Ag Sciences Global Sustainable and Accessible Study Abroad initiative, and the Forum on Education Abroad’s recommendations on sustainable travel as frameworks for their work.

“We showcased our sustainable study abroad practices and discussed how the ERM course had incorporated sustainable activities, such as helping farmers in Costa Rica build biodigesters, a few years before the development of the U.N.’s framework,” Tammy Shannon said.

Lingenfelter and the Shannons took part in a book signing during the Forum on Education Abroad annual conference in Seattle in March.

“Thanks to the efforts of these three, the college is realizing its goals of study-abroad sustainability, but also making it accessible and affordable through the First in Family to Study Abroad program and Global Gear Closet,” said Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global. “The college leadership thanks them for their commitment and creative energy.”

 

Last Updated May 30, 2023

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