FGCU 2025–2026 Faculty-Led Programs

This 10-day program gives FGCU Occupational Therapy students the opportunity to complete their Level 1C Fieldwork at an outpatient clinic in Ecuador. Students will explore Quito, Mindo, and Ibarra while gaining hands-on experience and cultural insight. The program includes professional fieldwork hours, cultural excursions, and local immersion.

• Open only to Occupational Therapy students
• 40 hours of fieldwork at CRECER outpatient clinic in Ibarra
• Lodging in shared and private hostel accommodations

Contact Dr. Paul Brandon Arthur at parthur@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This program immerses students in Ireland’s cultural heritage of literature, folklore, music, and crafts. Students will spend time in both Dublin, the capital city, and Galway, a medieval town rich with history, while exploring sites that span from the Viking age to the present day.

• Visit MOLI, the Museum of Literature Ireland, and Martello Tower where James Joyce lived and wrote
• Attend a performance at the famous Abbey Theater
• Participate in traditional folk music jam sessions
• Bike across the island of Inis Mór while engaging with farmers, Gaelic speakers, and artisans

Contact Kitty Wahlberg at kwahlber@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This one-week spring program immerses students in the culture, language, and heritage of Quebec City, Canada. Through city tours, service-learning, museum visits, and local cooking classes, students will explore Quebec’s French-speaking identity and community life.

• Lodging in shared rooms at Qbeds Hostel or similar
• Cultural activities include a city tour, cooking class, museum visits, and Montmorency Falls
• Includes service-learning and a social impact experience with local organizations

Contact Delphine Gras at dgras@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This one-week spring break program immerses students in Mexican culture through total language immersion and homestays in Campeche. Students will engage with local families, participate in daily excursions, and complete a service-learning component at a local orphanage. The course provides three academic credits and fulfills Spanish minor requirements.

• Students stay with vetted host families and are paired with local students from Instituto Campechano
• Includes 12 hours of service-learning at El Albergue Maria Palmira orphanage
• Spanish immersion: daily interaction in Spanish with host families, guides, and community members

Contact Joyce LaOrden at jlaorden@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This two-week mobile program explores how performance, place, and identity intersect through theatre, dance, storytelling, and service. Students will visit Belfast and Edinburgh to attend world-class performances, engage in cultural tours, and reflect on the role of the arts in healing, resilience, and social justice.

• Lodging in shared hostel/hotel rooms (2–4 students per room)
• Service-learning opportunities in both Belfast and Edinburgh
• Includes attendance at the Edinburgh International Festival and Festival Fringe

Contact Gerritt VanderMeer at gvandermeer@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This program examines social and justice issues related to crimes committed during war. Students will travel to the Netherlands and Germany to explore historic sites, international courts, and memorials that reflect on justice and accountability.

• In Amsterdam and The Hague: visit the Anne Frank Museum, International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court
• In Nuremberg: tour Courtroom 600 in the Palace of Justice, the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Congress Hall and Documentation Center, and the Historisches Kunstbunker
• Visit Dachau Concentration Camp and learn how the region has confronted its relationship to this dark era of history

Contact Pamella Seay at pseay@fgcu.edu or Jan-Martijn Meij at jmeij@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This one-week summer program offers students immersive ESL teaching experience through homestays and English workshops in Campeche, Mexico. FGCU students will collaborate with local students at Instituto Campechano (IC) to design and lead interactive English-learning activities. The program emphasizes cross-cultural competence, language pedagogy, and real-world teaching practice.

• 12 hours of service-learning through student-led ESL workshops at IC
• Students are matched with host families and participate in cultural exchange activities
• Designed for aspiring educators and open to students from all majors

Contact Barbara Wright at bwright@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This program explores the rich cultural heritage of Spain with a focus on the Andalusian region. Based in Granada with excursions to Córdoba and Seville, students will experience the diverse historical and cultural influences that have shaped southern Spain.

• Guided visits to museums, historical landmarks, and local markets
• Hands-on activities such as cooking and flamenco dance workshops
• Live with local families and practice Spanish through daily interaction
• Volunteer to teach English in a local school and earn service-learning hours

Contact Marta Ramos at mramos@fgcu.edu for more information

About: This immersive two-week program explores the rich culinary, wellness, and tourism culture of Tuscany, Italy. Students will participate in winery tours, artisan cooking classes, hotel and spa site visits, and cultural excursions. The program emphasizes sustainability, hospitality innovation, and regional traditions through hands-on experiences and professional engagement.

• Mobile program with stays in Milan, Parma, Forte dei Marmi, Montecatini Terme, Chianti, Siena, and Florence
• Activities include pasta making, spa tours, winery and cheese factory visits, and a Michelin-star dinner
• Open to all majors; ideal for students interested in hospitality, tourism, or international business

Contact James Fraser at jfraser@fgcu.edu for more information