Central College Around the World

During the past 50 years, Central students have never lacked opportunities to explore their world. From Pella to Peru, they have found rich opportunities to learn through experience. Central students continue to immerse themselves in new challenges and seize off-campus learning opportunities in Iowa and around the globe.

Students have spread throughout the world, leaving campus for various study abroad sites. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble completed a January tour in Mexico, with stops in Merida, Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Meanwhile, 83 other students are pursuing academics abroad for the full spring semester, and many more are learning, working and serving in Iowa.

This summer, students will enroll in programs such as the new social justice internship in New York City, piloted last year with the Collegiate Churches of New York. Or, they can study Islam or biblical archaeology in Turkey, performing arts in Ghana, or accounting, language or global health in Merida.

Each major at Central allows space for students to study off campus for at least one semester, earning credits toward their degrees. Most locations offer various study tracks, and they can accommodate students at multiple levels of language proficiency. Students also gain valuable work experience through internships and service learning placements, while home stays, excursions, language partners and activities help them achieve cultural immersion.

On campus, Central is also working to enrich its international community. This fall, support from the Vermeer Charitable Foundation allowed the college to hire Frederik Schlingemann as director for international student recruitment and admission. Schlingemann’s goal is to substantially increase the student population from other nations. Kat De Penning ’11 was also recently hired to support current international students, helping them to feel welcome and succeed at Central.