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Emily Nagle - 2010 Alumna of the Year |
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A GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Participant at Mahidol University in Thailand, Nagle Wants Others to “See The Beauty In Their World”
By Stacey Hartmann
“I fell in love with Thai culture, and I just had to see it closer,” said Nagle, who earlier this month was named the 2010 winner of the Alumna of the Year/Future International Educator award by GlobaLinks Learning Abroad during the annual NAFSA 2010 Annual Conference & Expo May 30-June 4 in Kansas City.
As a result of her strong curiosity, the 23-year-old recent graduate of Elmhurst College ended up studying abroad in Thailand not once, but twice. The first time was for five months during her sophomore year, and the second time was during her senior year when she studied at Mahidol University for the spring 2010 term via the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad study abroad program.
“Those experiences had a strong impact on who I have become, and what I would like to do in the future,” Nagle wrote in her Alumna of the Year essay application. “By having first-hand experience in another culture, I was able to learn how to look at Thailand and America more objectively, which has allowed me to see the complexity and beauty in every place that I travel, from metropolis cities like Bangkok to rural southern Illinois.”
The goal of the Alumnus or Alumna of the Year award is to encourage and support the next generation of professionals working in the field, which encompasses college and university professionals developing and evaluating programs, employees and overseas staff of program providers, government employees, researchers and related service providers, among others.
“Emily embodies the true spirit of this award,” said Cynthia Banks, who as founder and executive director of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad presented the award to Nagle during the annual GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Partner Appreciation Luncheon. “She went to Thailand with a curious mind and a wide-open heart toward the people, history and customs of her host country. It is not surprising she returned to the United States after her study abroad experience with a greater understanding and appreciation for the world around her and a desire to help others know the same.”
GlobaLinks Learning Abroad this year also recognized runner-up Maddin McCord who studied abroad from February – July 2009 in New Zealand at the University of Otago through the GlobaLinks study abroad program. McCord graduated this spring with a degree in communications from Clemson University in South Carolina.
“Maddin exemplifies the power of study abroad in helping students define life and career paths that truly reflect who they are as people so they can fully realize their potential as global citizens,” Banks said.
Nagle, who was selected as the 2010 finalist by the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Council, received financial support including lodging and registration for the 62nd NAFSA annual conference, which is the world’s largest gathering of professionals in international education and exchange.
“NAFSA was amazing,” Nagle said. “In such a short period of time I met some of the most incredible and visionary people in my life. Everyone is so outgoing and enthusiastic; seeing how passionate those people are about their jobs – even when it’s tiring and overwhelming – is inspirational. It solidified my desire to enter into the industry of international education.”
In addition to general conference attendance, Nagle was recognized and gave a speech at the luncheon, shadowed experienced staff, networked with international education professionals, and assisted at the organization’s exhibition booth. She also assisted GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Director Michael Swift in leading discussions with faculty from around the United States and Canada regarding Asia as a destination for semester and year-abroad programs.
“Something that really surprised me was how large and diverse the industry is,” she said. “There are so many avenues to go into. NAFSA allowed me to meet people from those various positions to see where I think I could best fit in and be useful.”
A religious studies and philosophy double major, Nagle says her time in Thailand taught her how to think in different ways about religion’s influence in America, how Western society’s concept of time by a clock is not the norm in other countries, and how people in Thailand have different ways of using language depending on who they are addressing and their positions in society, among other cultural aspects.
“I study religion, so obviously I was there to study Buddhism as well,” said Nagle, who also served as a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad video blogger during her semester at Mahidol University. “I never really knew how much culture is influenced by religion until I saw it from a different perspective.”
Thai culture also taught Nagle the importance of worrying less.
“I apply that to my life every day,” she said. “Things go awry all of the time, but you kind of turn it into an adventure.”
Nagle’s up-close-and-personal experience of Thailand exposed her to a new culture, language and people – and more. As part of her coursework at Mahidol, she did independent research on Thai prostitution and development of gender rights through the legal system.
“One of the objectives of this research is to bring the United States to a better understanding of Southeast Asia,” she wrote in her essay, “by providing insight into a topic that is frequently discussed but little understood in the context of history and culture.”
Educational benefits aside, Thailand made its greatest impact on Nagle by completely changing her mindset.
“I believe that to build a more understanding and peaceful community, not only is education important but social intelligence is a requirement, which is why high school and college students should know how to go abroad so they can have mind-altering experiences,” she writes. “I want people to be astonished and see beauty in their world by seeing it in others.”
For this and other reasons, Nagle made efforts after studying abroad to encourage other students to do the same. She spoke at conferences, such as the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference, and gave presentations to high schools in Illinois and Iowa about Thai culture and study-abroad opportunities. She also started a website, Metta Mitta, which explores social justice issues in Asia and the United States.
Nagle applied for the Alumnus/Alumna of the Year award as her final task in completing the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad EnCompass Alumni program, a series of activities for GlobaLinks Learning Abroad alumni to reflect and share their experiences with others. The program culminates in the alumni award and its recognition of those who strongly desire to work in international education.
Nagle is the fourth recipient of the Alumnus/Alumna of the Year award. Last year’s winner was Kimberly Iona, a graduate of Chapman University. The 2008 winner was Michelle “Shelly” Jackson, a graduate of Furman University. The 2007 winner was Kelsey McNichols, a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
In May, Nagle completed her undergraduate degree.
“Right now, I’m looking for any job,” she said. “I’d love to get a job in (international education), but since I’ve just graduated, I’m looking for anything. Eventually I’m going to go to law school for international law and hopefully work in public policy.”
Her long-term goal?
“I want to be an ambassador,” she said, but added: “I’m not a big planner. I like to live life how things come at me.” |
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