First name: Kerry
Pronouns: she/her
Nationality: American
Hometown/city: Dayton, Ohio
Current location: Luxembourg
Occupation: Education Abroad Coordinator
Meet Kerry
Sitting in my first French class as a freshman in high school, I became fascinated by the multitude of cultures, customs, and languages that lay beyond my Midwestern hometown. My undergraduate education at Kenyon College encouraged curiosity above all else, and alongside my French major I dove into Spanish, history, gender studies, and political science.
When I studied abroad in Paris, I was intrigued by the mechanics and planning that go into running a study abroad program and chatted with the staff to learn more
A lightbulb went off, and now seven years later I work as the coordinator of Miami University’s European campus in Luxembourg. On the American side, I recruit and prepare students for their experience abroad, and I also work onsite in Luxembourg a few times a year!
Education questions
How did you choose your program? Did your decision change over the course of your time at school?
After graduating from Kenyon, I spent a year teaching English in the French countryside. When researching graduate programs that would help start a career in study abroad, I stumbled upon the Professional French Masters Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which offered a mix of courses in French alongside an internship and training in a specific professional area. I entered a great network of people who shared my passion for French, and got to spend six months in Montreal working at a business school.
In your opinion, what makes travel uniquely “educational”?
I think travel can and should be educational, but it is also up to the traveler to make the effort – it’s easy to only stick to touristy areas. A local historical museum will reveal the ways in which that culture tells its own story. Ask your AirBnB host or the hotel/hostel staff where they enjoy spending time. Go to authentic, small restaurants rather than chain restaurants that you can get at home.
Did you study at a university outside your home country? If yes, why?
I studied abroad in Paris and I did a hybrid program – half of my courses were in French but with other Americans, and the other half were at the University of Paris with students from France and all over.
The first day of class at the university, the professor asked us to write an essay about the German debt crisis of the 1930s. I panicked and looked around as everyone else confidently wrote in their beautiful French cursive. I was a spring semester student, but had apparently enrolled in the second half of a year-long course! It was a challenge to catch up and adjust to the different educational approach, but I’m glad I pushed myself to stay in the class even though it was uncomfortable.
Professional questions
Would you say travel or living abroad have impacted your career path? How?
I can confidently say yes, because I work in study abroad! Students will often ask me how to get into the field, and studying, working, or living abroad is honestly the best place to start – all related jobs require some international experience.
Even if you want to work in a completely different field, I firmly believe that going abroad can help you achieve your professional and personal goals
At a job interview when you’re asked about a time that you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone or worked with someone from a different background, you will have many experiences to pull from.
What sorts of challenges do you face in the workplace? How has travel prepared you to deal with these challenges?
Working in international education, you have to be ready to respond to unknown crises. Our office had been closely monitoring COVID back in January and February, and encouraging students to avoid traveling to the emerging hotspots in Europe. One night in March, President Trump abruptly announced the closure of American borders to European flights.
I went to work at midnight, and by 4 am we had cancelled our program and informed the students and parents that they would have to immediately fly back to the US. Every traveler has had misadventures that force us to change our plans on the fly, and I’ve found that agility to be useful in the workplace.
Lifestyle questions
Why do you enjoy traveling?
The world is so much bigger than we realize and I want to experience as much of it as I can. We share a common humanity through art, food, music, language, and so much more. Traveling teaches us to step out of our own worldview and experience empathy for others who live differently.
Do you think that everyone should study abroad? What are the benefits?
I do! I also think it’s important to clarify that study abroad can look very different from the traditional model. There are short-term programs led by your professors, field research programs, internship programs, and more.
Also, don’t be discouraged if you don’t speak another language fluently or if you don’t want to leave home for a full year – you can absolutely still have a valuable experience. Students who study abroad get to look at their home culture from a distance, which helps provide a more nuanced view of their place in the larger context of the world.
Closing Question
What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
Don’t hesitate.
You don’t need to know how it fits into your future path yet – it can even help you form your future path!
I’ve never heard anyone say that they regretted traveling/living/studying abroad, but I’ve heard many people wish they would have when they had the opportunity.
Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.
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If you connected with Kerry’s story, she invites you to connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrystrader/ .
Thank you for reading! Fearless Friday Features are posted every Friday evening France time. If you have any follow-up questions or comments about the feature, please feel free to leave them below. Until next time – a bientôt !
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