Professors’ Book on Global Citizenship Explores National Trend

As colleges and universities throughout the US, including KSC, realize the value of global connection, service, and partnerships that engage the local and international community, two faculty members have co-authored a book to give practical advice and inspiration to this important trend. Through their work with the international field course, Global Engagement, that’s required of all honors students, Geography Professor Jo Beth Mullens and Associate Professor of Education Prudence Cuper realized that the stories they were hearing and witnessing showing how important these international experiences were for students and accompanying faculty were worth telling and examining.

They sent a proposal for a book, Fostering Global Citizenship Through Faculty-Led International Programs to Information Age Publishing and had a contract within 24 hours. “I believe one of the key factors in IAP’s decision to work with us had to do with the current commitment, by colleges and universities across the country, to forwarding the idea of global citizenship by offering short-term, faculty-led field courses. This is a relatively new trend in higher education that is rapidly surpassing the more traditional study-abroad model. Our book delves into the history and trends in international education, while also providing useful curricular and logistic information for faculty new to this type of teaching,” Dr. Cuper explained.

Each chapter of the book begins with a travel tale of KSC student experiences. “The book clearly shows how our College’s commitment (within the mission statement) to forwarding global citizenship is, in fact, realized within the Honors program courses,” Dr. Cuper said.