The University of Tennessee’s Division of Global Engagement welcomed more than 1,000 students to this year’s Fall Vols Abroad Fair in the Student Union Ballroom on September 29.
More than 70 tables provided information and support from faculty leaders, affiliate ambassadors, and staff members alike, helping students plan their next academic adventure outside of the country.
The goal of the biannual Vols Study Abroad Fair is to introduce students to study abroad programs where they can experience different countries and customs while continuing their studies, introducing them to a new educational approach.
Aidan Cottar is a junior supply chain major and has had multiple study abroad experiences. This year he attended the fair in search of scholarship opportunities to help fund a winter program in Vietnam. He explained that studying abroad is a unique experience that has been positive in his life.
“You will get a global perspective like no other,” Cottar says. “It is one of the greatest joys of life to travel and meet new people, try new foods, and learn about yourself and build your character through just traveling abroad.”
Freshman animal science major Mae Jones came to the fair to search for more information about a program that was mentioned in one of her classes. While attending the fair, she found information about something she hadn’t known before. “I learned that Germany has a semester-long program that is much more specific than I thought.”
Vice President of Campus Partnerships for World Strides, Zach Macinnes, attended the fair to share the opportunities World Strides offers and the benefits of students studying abroad. “Not only can students take classes when they’re abroad, they can do an internship, they can do community engagement, they can do research,” says Macinnes. He also noted the advantages study abroad provides for career readiness, with studies showing higher earning potential and job placement.
Professor and Director of the Linda & David Bohan Center for Global Engagement, Laura Miller, Ph.D., represented the program she leads in communication studies, Communicating Across Cultures in Dublin, Ireland. Miller said studying abroad, “broadens someone’s worldview that they can only do if they immerse themselves in a place.” She encourages studying abroad for its ability to change the way students learn. “You can teach Irish history here on campus but when you’re there it just is so much more impactful.”
Andy Pulte, Ph.D., Teaching Professor and Director of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, highlighted the personal growth that students gain from study abroad opportunities.
“We really see students come out of their shell, and for us in our programs that we’ve run for so many years, we see huge confidence building more than anything,” he said. “So, I love seeing a student who maybe starts a little unsure and leaves confident in their own ability.”
Students who missed the fair this fall can still attend the Spring Vols Abroad Fair on Thursday, January 28, 2027. They can also learn more about study abroad opportunities at any time by visiting the Vols Abroad Lounge on the first floor of the International House or browsing the Programs Abroad website.
By Eberle Mayes and Gabby Giles
