Eastern Connecticut State University

Nineteen English students at Eastern embarked on an annual global field course to Florence, Italy, from June 22 to August 2. Titled "Creative Writing Abroad," the course was led by English Professor Christopher Torockio and allowed students to draw writing inspiration by immersing in Italian culture and the countryside. During their six weeks abroad, students were assigned to write a short story inspired by their time in Italy. In doing so, they had ample opportunities to explore locations outside Florence.

Eight students at Eastern Connecticut State University are taking their studies abroad during the fall '25 semester. From South Korea to Ireland and many destinations in between, travelers are immersing themselves in local culture while expanding their academic horizons.

Thirteen biology students at Eastern submerged themselves in research on oceanic ecosystems as part of two global field courses (GFCs) on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas this past May 2025. The courses, titled "Oceanic Island Ecology" (BIO 319) and "Tropical Biology" (BIO 320), were taught collaboratively by biology Professors Kristen Epp, Brett Mattingly, and Joshua Idjadi.

Twenty-six students at Eastern Connecticut State University ventured to Switzerland as part of a course titled "PSY 471: Lifespan Development in Psychology," from May 22 to June 2. The global field course (GFC) was led by psychology Professors Jennifer Leszczynski and T. Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien and prompted students to compare the lifestyles of different age demographics.

This summer, 21 students from the Department of English at Eastern Connecticut State University traveled to Florence, Italy for six weeks. The annual trip is part of English Professor Christopher Torockio's creative writing abroad course.

An anthropology major with an archaeology concentration and a history minor, Eric Hohenthal '25 has long known of his interest in his chosen field. Ever since he was a child, Hohenthal has been "obsessed with the ancient world. I was naturally drawn to archaeology."

Two students from the Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES) at Eastern Connecticut State University joined Professor Peter Drzewiecki on a nine-day trip to the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain to examine the development of the area's geological features in late May.

Twelve students from Eastern Connecticut State University beheld many environments on a 12-day scientific excursion through New Hampshire and Maine in late May. Sponsored by the Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES), Professors Dickson Cunningham, Bryan Oakley and Drew Hyatt guided students through high mountains, deep caves and sprawling coastlines as a part of their "Summits and Seashores" course.

In late May, eight students from the Department of Biology at Eastern Connecticut State University went on a 12-day tropical excursion in Costa Rica. The trip, led by biology Professors Brett Mattingly and Matthew Graham, guided students through the ecosystem's natural history and ecology.

Psychology students at Eastern Connecticut State University traversed the tundra of the human psyche on a 10-day field course in Iceland this May. Sponsored by the Department of Psychological Science as part of Professor Peter Bachiochi's field course "Cross-Cultural Well-Being," the trip gave students a look at the mental health of a foreign country.

The Department of Education at Eastern sponsored a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, this past spring semester to expose students to the different educational environments between the island and the mainland United States. The trip was led by education Professor David Stoloff as a part of his course titled "Intercultural Connections among Universities."

Each semester, students travel from Eastern Connecticut State University to study at various universities across the world. This semester, 12 students studied in Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.

Just as some Eastern Connecticut State University students choose to study abroad, others come from far away for a semester at Eastern. Through the National Student Exchange (NSE) program, two students from Guam and Canada joined the Eastern community this fall while several students from Eastern studied at institutions far away.

Seventeen Eastern students traveled to Florence, Italy, for a six-week creative writing course this past summer. During their time there, students could travel around the country, seeing beautiful views and learning the history of some of the most artistically rich cities in the world.

Several Eastern Connecticut State University students traveled the world in the summer of 2023 on culturally enriching study-abroad trips.

Thirteen Eastern Connecticut State University students were introduced to theatre traditions and practices around the world by attending the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space in the Czech Republic this June.

A field trip to the Bahamas in May gave 11 students in a tropical biology course at Eastern Connecticut State University a chance to observe and collect data on the flora and fauna of oceanic islands. The field trip was an extension of a seminar on oceanic island ecology taught by biology Professors Kristen Epp, Josh Idjadi and Brett Mattingly, who joined the students on the trip.

Eleven Eastern Connecticut State University students and two faculty members in the Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES) explored the geology and landscapes of western Colorado and southeastern Utah on a 12-day field trip in May.

Biochemistry major Sydney DeNoncour accompanied Biology Professor Joshua Idjadi on a research trip in The Bahamas to study a rapidly spreading disease that is affecting Caribbean coral reefs. Stationed at the Gerace Research Center from June 8-17, the researchers conducted eight underwater surveys around the small island of San Salvador.

A cadre of Environmental Earth Science (EES) students from Eastern Connecticut State University set out on a 12-day expedition this May exploring some of the United States' great mountain landscapes. Led by Professors Dickson Cunningham and Peter Drzewiecki, 15 EES students embarked on a clockwise route out of Salt Lake City, visiting such geological wonders as Craters of the Moon National Monument, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.

Seventeen Eastern Connecticut State University students experienced the trip of a lifetime over the summer: six weeks in Florence, Italy, studying creative writing. Led by seasoned Italian visitor and professor Christopher Torockio, the Creative Writing Abroad course allowed students to explore Italian culture while writing a short story and completing a workshop with peers.

Eastern Connecticut State University senior Samantha Honeywell is studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, this spring 2020 semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Shelby Bellamy studied abroad in Limerick, Ireland, this past fall 2019 Semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University student John Ferrara studied abroad in the Czech Republic last fall 2019 semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Natalie Devlin completed a study abroad trip in Townsville, Australia, where she attended James Cook University from July 16 until Nov. 23.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Lauren Knowles studied abroad in London, England, during the recent 2019-20 winter session.

Fifteen students from Eastern Connecticut State University spent the month of July in Italy, writing short stories inspired by Italian culture and history. English Professor Chris Torockio led the group of young writers through the five-week field course titled "Creative Writing Abroad." Based in Florence, the students met for writing workshops at Studio Arts College International (SACI) and wrote stories based on their explorations of Tuscany and beyond.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Amanda Mitchell '19 traveled to Provence, France, this summer to study French at Aix-Marseille University. Mitchell is from Rocky Hill and majors in psychology.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Ashley Smith '20 traveled to Barcelona, Spain, this summer to practice her Spanish and study art and culture. Smith comes from Trumbull and double majors in elementary education and Spanish.

Eastern Connecticut State University Student Brooke Shannon '19 of Stratford studied abroad in Ireland this summer as a part of her major in elementary education.