Who's Flying?
Each year, UIW faculty and their students FLY from the Cardinal Nest to interesting and faraway places. As part of their course or service mission program, students experience the host country’s culture, food, way of life and other experiential learning activities that further enhance the UIW course or purpose of the service mission program.
Do you want to fly?
Simply identify which faculty-led programs are accepting applications and email the faculty or send our Study Abroad team an email at studyabroad@uiwtx.edu to receive more information. If you do not see a faculty-led program within your major or minor on the list, you may still be eligible to take certain courses as electives.
Just for fun, we also highlighted previous programs and mission trips!
Who's Flown?
Dr. Segun Oyedele and Dr. Jose Moreno
March 12 - 19, 2023
Dr. Segun Oyedele, Associate Professor, International Business Professor and Dr. Jose Moreno, Associate Professor, Finance, H-E-B School of Business Administration, led a group of 16 students to Guanajuato, Mexico, from March 12 - 19, 2023. Selected participants received a scholarship that covered up to 95% of the program cost. Program was opened to all majors.
Dr. Lalon Alexander
London, U.K., from May 8 - 15, 2023
Dr. Lalon Alexander, Associate Professor, Department of Fashion Management, led 20 students to London, U.K., May 8-15, 2023. Students studied UK fashion brands and retailers while immersing themselves in the local culture.
Sr. Martha Ann Kirk and Dr. Beth Senne-Duff
Guatemala City, Guatemala, from May 12 to 26, 2023
Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, Professor of Religious Studies, and Dr. Beth Senne-Duff, Associate Professor of Nutrition, led a service mission program to Guatemala City and surrounding areas. This program offered students the opportunity to earn service-learning hours by assisting indigenous villagers through activities organized by the non-for-profit foundation, Little Angels of Mary. The mission program also included several cultural excursions, such as Antigua, a World Heritage City, Lake Atitlán (Panajachel), the ruins near Santa Apolonia, and much more!
Dr. Brian Foutch and Dr. Robert Onofre
Strasbourg, France, and Heidelberg, Germany, from May 17 - 28, 2023
Dr. Brian Foutch, Associate Professor, RSO, and Dr. Robert Onofre, Clinical Assistant Professor, led 23 optometry students to Strasbourg, France and Heidelberg, Germany, from May 17 - 28, 2023. Students completed the course while visiting important museums and facilities related to the practice of optometry.
Dr. Irene Gilliland and Dr. Briana Williams
Turkey and Greece from May 17 - 31, 2023
Dr. Irene Gilliland, Professor Emerita of Nursing along with Dr. Briana Williams, Assistant Professor FSOP, led a group of 52 pharmacy and nursing students to Turkey and Greece in May 2023. Students examed local healthcare practices, roles of pharmacists and nurses, level of professional education, and hospital systems. Students also had an opportunity to learn about the history, culture, religion and cuisines of Turkey and Greece.
Dr. Trey Guinn and Dr. Raymond Blanton
Strasbourg, France, from May 26 – June 8, 2023
Dr. Trey Guinn, Associate Professor and Program Director, Communication Arts and Dr. Raymond Blanton, Associate Professor of Communication Arts, will be led students to Strasbourg, France, from May 26 – June 8, 2023. This dynamic program invited undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students to exchange ideas in one course. During their excursions, Dr. Guinn led his class to museums, businesses and the European Parliament. All activities achieved the goal of offering a culturally rich and immersive experience that complemented the course’s effective communication and leadership lessons.
Instructor Lauren Cotner Francis
Strasbourg, France, from May 27 - June 24, 2023
Lauren Francis, a lecturer from the Department of Art and seasoned European traveler, led a group of students as they explored art history in Strasbourg. From an 18th-century château near Strasbourg, France, students conducted a survey of artworks from the Renaissance to the contemporary era. The program welcomed art majors, budding art historians and students seeking an elective or arts credit. No previous art background was necessary, and all majors were encouraged to join the multidisciplinary cultural adventure. Instructor Francis accompanied students on excursions to architectural sites, museums and a European Union art collection to witness the masterworks of art history in person. In the lectures, discussions and activities, students learned to describe what they saw and became familiar with major art styles.
Dr. Rachel Pittman, Dr. Arunabh Bhattacharya and Dr. Leticia Vargas
Antigua, Guatemala, from June 3 to 10, 2023
Dr. Rachel Pittman (Assistant Professor of Pharmacology) and Dr. Arunabh Bhattacharya (Associate Professor of Anatomy) in the Department of Clinical and Applied Sciences Education, and Dr. Leticia Vargas (Core Site Director) at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, led a medical mission program to Antigua and surrounding areas. This program offered the 16 participating UIWSOM medical students the opportunity to earn service-learning hours by assisting indigenous villagers through medical mission activities organized by DOCare physician, Dr. Thomas Shima. The mission provided a unique experience that truly encompassesed the entire spectrum of medical care with limited resources. The participants were able to personally experience both the opportunities and challenges of third world medical care medicine, and also participated in cultural excursions in the surrounding area.
Dr. Georgen Guerrero
Strasbourg, France, June 24 - July 22, 2023
Dr. Georgen Guerrero, Criminal Justice Department Chair and Professor, led a group of students to Strasbourg, France. Dr. Guerrero's course titled Contemporary Criminal Justice gave students opportunities to examine and compare the American and European criminal justice systems. Current national and international topics such as the death penalty, wildlife crimes, art crimes, environmental crimes, white-collar crimes and many more were explored. The students also had the opportunity to visit various museums and facilities related to criminal justice issues.
Dr. John Kainer
Strasbourg, France, June 24 - July 22, 2023
Dr. John Kainer, Sociology Department Chair and Assistant Professor, led a group of students to Strasbourg, France in the Summer II summer session. His course, the Sociology of European Cuisine, provided students opportunities to examine, compare, and taste the differences between French, British, Italian, and Spanish cuisine. The role of appropriation, assimilation, trade, religious beliefs and other critical topics explored forces that shaped and continue to shape the cuisines of Europe. Students had opportunities to taste and see how core dishes in several of these cuisines are made through a combination of field trips and demonstrations.
Dr. Ricardo González
San Cristóbal, Guanajuato, Mexico, from July 17 – 21, 2023
Under the leadership of the Ettling Center's Director, Dr. Ricardo González, a group of 15 nominated student leaders participated in a service mission trip to San Cristóbal, Guanajuato, Mexico, from July 17 - 21, 2023. The service mission program included leadership conversations with former President of Mexico Vicente Fox and his wife, Marta Fox, who both continue to spearhead several service initiatives to help their community.
Dr. Erlinda Lopez-Rodriguez
Oaxaca, Mexico from September 2 - 10, 2023
Dr. Erlinda Lopez-Rodriguez, Associate Professor, Community Health Education Program Director, in collaboration with the Ettling Center's Director, Dr. Ricardo González, led a group of 24 students and 8 faculty from UIW health professional schools on a service mission trip to Oaxaca, Mexico from September 2 - 10, 2023.
After a year puase due to the COVID pandemic travel restrictions, the University of the Incarnate Word health professions faculty and students resumed their participation in the Quijotes of San Antonio Interprofessional Health Mission. The organization conducts an annual medical mission trip every September in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, where participants partner with local medical professionals to provide care to impoverished communities.
Dr. Segun Oyedele and Dr. Jose Moreno
Guanajuato, Mexico, from March 3 - 13, 2022
Dr. Segun Oyedele, Associate Professor, International Business Professor and Dr. Jose Moreno, Associate Professor, Finance, H-E-B School of Business Administration, led a group of 19 students to Guanajuato, Mexico, from March 3 - 13, 2022.
Dr. Brian Foutch and Dr. Robert Onofre
Strasbourg, France, and Heidelberg, Germany, from May 10 - 21, 2022
Dr. Brian Foutch, Associate Professor, RSO, and Dr. Robert Onofre, Clinical Assistant Professor, led 31 optometry students to Strasbourg, France, and Heidelberg, Germany, from May 10 - 21, 2022. Students completed the course, while visiting important museums and facilities related to the practice of optometry.
Dr. Mark Stringham
London, U.K., from May 16 - 24, 2022
Dr. Mark Stringham, Associate Professor, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, led 10 students to London from May 16 - 24, 2022. The study abroad experience complemented the student's course titled British Theatre THAR 4199.
Dr. Matthew Eaton
Guatemala City, Guatemala, from May 21 - 28, 2022
Dr. Matthew Eaton, Assistant Professor, School of Osteopathic Medicine, led a group of 10 UIW medical students on a faculty-led program to Guatemala from May 21 - 28, 2022. The mission program teamed up with iHelp Foundation, which leads mission programs to help those in need throughout various parts of the world. This was the first international program in the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Ricardo González
San Cristóbal, Guanajuato, Mexico, from May 30 – June 3, 2022
Under the leadership of the Ettling Center's Director, Dr. Ricardo González, a group of 10 students participated in a service mission trip to San Cristóbal, Guanajuato, Mexico, from May 30 – June 3, 2022. The service mission program included leadership conversations with former President of Mexico Vicente Fox and his wife, Marta Fox, who both continue to spearhead several service initiatives to help their community.
Dr. Gabriel Saxton-Ruiz
Alicante, Spain, from June 4 – July 2022
Dr. Gabriel Saxton-Ruiz, Professor, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, led six students to Alicante, Spain, June 4 – July 2022. Students were enrolled in Spanish language courses while immersing themselves in the local culture.
Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz
Mexico City, Mexico, in June 2022
Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz, Professor, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, led a group of six students from UIW San Antonio and UIW’s two campuses to Mexico City, Mexico, in June 2022. Dr. Felix-Ortiz was awarded the 2020 Mexico-U.S. Innovation Fund, Competition of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, and funding through the Partners of the Americas Foundation for a project titled Alianza Bienestar Comunitario (Alliance for Community Wellness): Cross-Cultural Collaborations for Community Mental Health.
Dr. Kathleen Tilton
Paraguay from June 6 - 25, 2022
Dr. Kathleen Tilton, Assistant Professor in the Ila Faye School of Nursing and Health Professions, led two students to Paraguay from June 6 - 25, 2022. The service and clinical observation faculty-led program allowed students to engage in experiential learning activities.
Dr. Caroline Goulet
Oaxaca, Mexico, from Sept. 3 - 11, 2022
Dr. Caroline Goulet, Interim Provost, in collaboration with the Ettling Center's Director, Dr. Ricardo González, will lead a group of 23 students and 17 faculty from UIW health professions schools on a service mission trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, from Sept. 3 - 11, 2022.
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, University of the Incarnate Word health professions faculty and students will resume their participation in the Quijotes of San Antonio Interprofessional Health Mission. The organization conducts an annual medical mission trip every September in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, where participants partner with local medical professionals to provide care to impoverished communities.