PVAMU educators make history; write chapter in first textbook that focuses on studying abroad at HBCUs

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (December 2, 2020) – While study abroad programs are largely on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, Prairie View A&M University’s (PVAMU) Study Abroad team is using this time to tell the story of international education for Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students. In collaboration with international educator Ashleigh Brown-Grier of Howard University, PVAMU educators Shadana Chaney, Marcus King, and Stephanie Tilley have written a chapter in a new textbook.

“The Half Not Yet Told: Study Abroad and HBCUs” is the first textbook of its kind, as it is the first textbook to focus on studying abroad at HBCUs. The chapter written by Chaney, King, Tilley, and Brown-Grier addresses how studying abroad affects students’ self-efficacy and identity formation, and how these factors influence students’ career paths and exploration.

“The biggest benefit is the exposure to other cultures and perspectives. Students have the ability to understand and appreciate a new world outside of their own. It also gives them an opportunity to create international friendships, understand what cultural differences are, and remove any stereotypes they may have,” Chaney said.

PVAMU’s Study Abroad team says the book chapter discusses how international study encourages self-belief within HBCU students and positively affects their identity development in a manner that directs their professional path. The authors use academic pedagogy, statistical data, student narratives, and personal storytelling to convey their message.

Participating in a study abroad program gives students access to opportunities they cannot find on campus or within their local communities. “I find that when traveling, two things are possible: either the individual will learn new ways of living that they like and implement them, in some way, in their daily lives, or the individual will discover a newfound appreciation for what they have back home. In my eyes, studying abroad is a win-win situation,” said King.

Chaney, King, and Tilley all have stories to tell about students whose lives have been impacted by the opportunity to travel internationally. King recalls hearing from a student who studied in Ghana: “A year later, I was surprised to hear from her inquiring about study abroad resources she could use in her new role as a study abroad advisor at another HBCU. She informed me that her experience had a significant impact on her decision to pursue a profession in international education.”

Study abroad programs give students the chance to submerge themselves fully in a culture and daily routine that is completely different from what they have at home. Tilley was inspired by another student who studied in Chile during a summer program: “He came from an adverse background and held many responsibilities. In Chile, he had the ability to express and explore who he was in a liberated space with minimal familial expectations and societal pressures. He was unburdened. His belief in who he was as a Black man was much stronger and healthier.”

Chaney says the program at PVAMU will grow and expand in the coming years. “I look forward to the opportunity of building a staff ambassador program. I believe PVAMU staff should participate in the study abroad trips that are faculty-led. It’s important for the students to go abroad, but it’s just as important for our staff to go as well and acquire a global competence of the world,” she said.

PVAMU’s Study Abroad program has a bright future. With leadership from these three educators, the new book will serve as a guide and inspiration for HBCU students to travel and learn in new places.

The textbook, “The Half Not Yet Told: Study Abroad and HBCUs,” is expected to be released in 2021. It will also feature a prologue from PVAMU President Ruth J. Simmons.

By Angie Frederickson

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