UNC Asheville Receives $500,000 Anonymous Gift for International Studies;
Endowment Will Fund Experiences for Students

When Mary Snow arrived at the University of Copenhagen, she couldn’t have been more homesick. However, as a participant in UNC Asheville’s Study Abroad/Study Away program, she challenged herself to stay.

“I had a really hard time the first week when I realized I couldn’t just jump into my car and come home,” said Snow. “But once I became comfortable with my surroundings and fellow students, I had the absolute best experience of my life.”

Snow, who graduated from UNC Asheville in December, is planning a two-month journey to China, Vietnam and Thailand this spring. When she returns, she hopes to pursue a career as a travel writer. “Studying abroad gave me the courage to do more. I now feel like my possibilities are endless,” said Snow.

An anonymous donor is making sure that other UNC Asheville students will also have the opportunity to pursue life-changing international travel. The donor has given nearly $500,000 to the University to create the UNC Asheville International Experience Fund. The fund will provide scholarships to help students pursue a range of travel options, from one-week international trips to full semesters abroad.

Global changes in the 21st century have made an international focus in higher education imperative. The lowering of trade and political barriers coupled with astonishing technical advances have made it possible to communicate and do business instantaneously with people across the planet. Universities must prepare future leaders and citizens for this highly interdependent world by opening up the boundaries of teaching, research, service and travel.

The donor was motivated to establish the UNC Asheville International Experience Fund after learning about the successful trip of a group of eight UNC Asheville women students who traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates last spring for the first international “Women as Global Leaders” conference.

UNC Asheville junior Katherine Rozycki, of Denver, N.C., was one of the students who attended the conference.

“As our world grows smaller, our sense of awareness must grow wider,” said Rozycki. “By traveling to Dubai, I gained a depth of understanding that I would never have had simply by remaining in the classroom.”

UNC Asheville senior Katie Morris, of Boone, N.C., first thought of studying abroad during an inspiring lecture on imperial China. Her fascination with Asia grew and she sought out a fitting opportunity in Thailand. She delved into courses on Thai language and culture at Thammasat University in Bangkok for four months and then spent two months living with a family on a farm in rural Thailand.

“Traveling abroad teaches you about the world and human nature, and makes you realize that your civic duty extends far beyond your own community and country,” said Morris. “International travel makes you a citizen of the world.”

The donor couldn’t agree more. “We are now a world civilization. UNC Asheville students need the exposure and opportunity to begin to experience and understand cultures beyond our state and country. So much of industry, major news and changes in the global economy come from beyond our borders that our students must get the breadth of experience that international travel provides to succeed,” the donor said.

Currently, some 125 UNC Asheville students travel abroad each year, but many more cannot afford to pursue the opportunity. “Traditional financial aid packages often do not cover travel overseas. The International Experience Fund will be a tremendous benefit to students who often have no other means to travel,” said Pete Williams, director of UNC Asheville’s Study Abroad/Study Away Program. “We hope others in the community will share in the commitment to international education and add to the endowment so we can expand these opportunities for our students.”       

Media Contacts:

• Alex Comfort, UNC Asheville Associate Vice Chancellor for Development, 828/251-6807
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526