What position do you hold at SU Abroad? What has been your career path so far?
Deb: I am a counselor for the World Partner programs and I help with short-term programs as well. At the start of my career I was looking for a job at Syracuse University and a friend called about a part time position at the SU Abroad office 14 years ago, I have been here ever since.
Which study abroad destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?
Deb: More than half of the world partner programs are underrated because most people don’t know a lot about some of the areas of the world where we offer these partner programs. For example, Denmark is a newer program at SU, which is getting more students but I still think it is underrated. We often don’t have as many students looking to go to programs in the Middle East or South Africa and I wish we could send more students there.
What country have you always wanted to visit?
Deb: In recent years while working with some of our newer study abroad destinations I have changed my mind about my travel wish list. I would love to go to Copenhagen and Prague, which I had previously never considered going to visit but in my research they just seem like such amazing countries that not many Americans visit, so I would love to go there.
Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?
Deb: I think it is important that anyone, no matter what culture you come from, learn a second language. You have more opportunities by learning that language. Learning a different language will help you immerse yourself in that culture. You learn more about the cracks and nuances that people who don’t speak the language would never know about. Moreover, students that do a homestay learn more about the nooks and crannies of the city than those that don’t.
What language have you always wanted to learn and why?
Deb: Italian. I have a very close friend who lived in Italy for 18 years who was my supervisor when I first started at the SU Abroad office. Hearing her speak the language was just beautiful, and I wish I had learned it.