An Option for Each Student: Study Abroad Day at Salve Regina University

As study abroad enrollment has been rebounding, Salve Regina University is seeing more students planning for study abroad – marking an increase of approximately 60% in their Study Abroad Fair attendance from their study abroad fair in Fall 2022 to Fall 2023!

They are also starting to see consistent interest in some new countries and places that haven’t been visited as much previously, or those that haven’t been explored in a while, and are excited to see the curiosity of students expanding. Not all students may go into college understanding the full power of study abroad but it can be a transformative experience even in the face of unexpected challenges.

After his family vacation to Italy this past summer (2024), Joe Meringolo – Assistant Director of Study Abroad at Salve Regina University – had gone to college intending to play NCAA Division 3 lacrosse at St. Mary’s College (MD) for all four years. However, he was cut from the team at the start of his second year after having “walked onto the team” – trying out for the team without
having been recruited. For spring of his Sophomore year and Junior year, he decided to take a break from competitive sports and decided to study abroad instead. He participated in fall semester study abroad and then enrolled in a short-term faculty-led summer program in England going into his Senior year, when he walked back onto the D3 team.

Collectively, these experiences inspired him to continue extending his academic and professional career into countries around the world.

After graduation, he spent time teaching English in Spain, Peru, and Baltimore, Maryland before realizing he wanted to get more involved with experiential learning and study abroad. He’s been working in study abroad at Salve Regina since Fall 2021 helping students pursue semester study abroad, manage semester study abroad partnerships and oversee the promotional and operational aspects of study abroad through social media (@global_salve) and Global Salve events on campus.

“Study abroad changed my life and has connected me with people from all around the world, and it has made me a more well-rounded person. My hope is to continue helping students find a program that fits their needs – academic, professional and personal – so they can see the uniqueness in their own identity and culture in conjunction with others around the world. There is so much beauty in shared humanity that I hope our students find in their pursuit of a global experience.”

After seeing information on LinkedIn about Study Abroad Day, in 2023 they had a couple partners do some tabling, had a study abroad expo with printed photos from their International Education Week photo contest, and highlighted some of their Global Salve Scholars from the past year. They have also been enjoying connecting with students with some fun social media engagement. While getting participation in on-campus events can be challenging, they are considering adding an “Ask Me Anything” presentation, or rerun some events from International Education Week to provide additional activities for students who weren’t able to attend the previous semester. They also like being able to recognize and highlight students who went abroad in the fall and have them share stories and moments from their experiences.

At Salve Regina University, their aim is for study abroad to be looked at as an option for each student. “Our office doesn’t want any student to graduate and later regret that they didn’t do it or that they waited too long until it wasn’t viable.”

We’re excited to see how you will celebrate Study Abroad Day in 2025!