Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?
Renee: While the world is becoming more connected through technology, there is still a need for people to be able to communicate with each other and make personal connections. Our understanding of each other’s point of view and background is critical to build and maintain peaceful international relationships.
There is no better way to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” than by living in their community, learning their language, and experiencing their culture firsthand. Technology can make the world seem like a smaller place, so we need to work harder to share it with each other, and building friendships through cultural understanding is a great foundation for peace.
Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the IFSA-Butler team?
Renee: I went to the National NAFSA conference for the first time in Boston last May, and I was amazed at the name recognition and respect people in the industry had for IFSA-Butler. We have been in business over 25 years and it really shows when people from around the country and around the world recognize IFSA-Butler and its employees.
It was literally like a family reunion in some cases, with IFSA-Butler staff running into people they had worked with for years. Knowing that people in the industry trust IFSA-Butler as a leader in the field of study abroad made me very excited to be a part of this team!