Dr. Jessica Martell, associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and program coordinator for Global Studies, and Dr. Zackary Vernon, associate professor in the Department of English, led Honors College students to study “Peacebuilding and the Arts in Ireland and Northern Ireland" from June 9 to June 16, 2025. In this study-abroad course, students earned three semester hours of credits for HON 2515: Empire and Peacebuilding in Ireland and Northern Ireland and three semester hours of credits for HON 3515: Literary and Cultural Studies Abroad. They met the Honors College international education requirement, which asks students to broaden their perspectives as they consider global interconnectedness through exploring other cultures, worldviews, and frames of reference.
The Honors College international education requires students to
- Reflect on their interactions with individuals and communities from cultural backgrounds different from their own and explain how these cross-cultural experiences have supported their individual personal, academic, and/or professional growth.
- Cultivate cultural competence and humility by examining the importance of understanding, respecting, and valuing difference in building inclusive communities and addressing global challenges collaboratively.
- Apply a holistic approach to global engagement that encompasses intellectual, cultural, and social dimensions as they explore, discover, learn, and grow with others.
Aubrey Bews, an anthropology major who joined the Honors College in the Fall 2024 semester and plans to graduate in May 2028, reflected on the importance of studying abroad, stating:
It was interesting to see how I grew from the first few days we were there to the last. I started understanding better how certain things worked and what people meant when they said certain phrases… studying abroad has opened things up for me. Being in a different country can be scary, figuring everything out, worried about what will happen when you make a mistake. But studying abroad has made me realize that… I'll be able to figure things out because I did that on this study abroad.
Dr. Vernon shared that this Honors College FLEAP “focused on the role of storytelling and the arts in peacebuilding efforts in post-conflict areas. In particular, we examined the divisions that existed in Ireland and Northern Ireland, following the Irish fight for independence from British rule in the Republic of Ireland and later the so-called Troubles, a three-decade long war that fell along sectarian lines in the North. Students learned not only about conflicts there, but also how to address increasingly divisive political schisms in the U.S. Through tours and workshops led by combatants and civilians from both sides of the Troubles, students took away invaluable lessons about communication, empathy, and understanding, especially when dealing with people from different nations, religions, and identity groups.”
Emlyn Soher, a psychology major who joined the Honors College Fall 2024 semester and plans to graduate May 2028, explained that before the travel portion of the course, “We met for two weeks over Zoom, in order to cover a lot of content, so we could be prepared for when we went abroad. Then we continued this learning abroad. What I learned from these classes was the value of having prior knowledge about something and the importance of being informed.”
Karalynn McClellan, a psychology major who joined the Honors College in Fall 2024 semester and plans to graduate in May 2026, shared,
This trip forced me to confront tough topics, and as a result, I emerged from the experience much more educated about history, people, conflicts, peace, and even myself. One of the most significant things I was challenged to think about is that not everything is black and white. In other words, in our lives, we will run into things that are not clear and simple. The conflict was not simple, and the locations were not simple. I also saw that the people in these post-conflict locations were, in fact, just people. I saw that healing is a complicated process that looks different for everyone, but that the arts can play a role in everyone's healing. From written art (poems, literature), to physical art (murals, stained glass, paintings), to verbal art (singing, theater, speaking), there are avenues for healing and bringing communities back together.
Daniel Kindy, a computer science major who joined the Honors College in the Fall 2022 semester and plans to graduate May 2026, also reflected on the conflict resolution aspect of this FLEAP. He stated, “I chose this study abroad program because I wanted to learn how to solve conflicts in a constructive manner, and after completion of the program I certainly feel like I have improved in that regard.” He further reflected, “Making peace sometimes requires significant risks. The people involved in bringing peace to Northern Ireland had to be willing to not only put down their weapons, but also trust that the other side would do the same.”
Photo above features a mural about the conflict in central Belfast. The symbol on the fletching of the right arrow represents the Catholic side of the conflict, and the symbol on the left represents the Protestant side. Photo by Daniel Kindy.
McClellan further explained, “While on this program, I learned about the history of conflict in these areas and how the arts play important roles in the peacebuilding process. Physically being in these areas and getting to see firsthand the conflict scars and the peacebuilding really added another dimension to what we had been learning before. I learned a lot about conflict and how we as people can go about peacebuilding. I hope to apply what I saw and learned not only in my personal life but also in my studies and future career.”
Students from the Honors College FLEAP "Peacebuilding and the Arts" pose in front of the Derry Girls mural on Orchard Street in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, June 14, 2025. Photo submitted by Drs. Martell and Vernon.
About this FLEAP, Dr. Martell added that, “When one studies peacebuilding, it is critical to hear stories from ordinary people impacted by a conflict and its aftereffects. One highlight of this summer's program was a workshop with members of the Theatre of Witness Network, a peacebuilding group that visited the Honors College virtually in November 2024. This June, students met at the Gasyard Development Centre in Derry/Londonderry to hear firsthand accounts of the Northern Irish conflict from three women who survived it: Anne Walker, Fiona Gallagher, and Victoria Geelan. All three created public performances of their experiences of violence for the US-based Theater of Witness program when it came to the Derry Playhouse in 2010. After hearing their stories, students asked questions and delved into a discussion about inter-generational trauma, using the arts to heal, and why everyone's story matters to the peace process.”
Soher shared that,
I learned the importance of learning about and appreciating another culture and place. I also learned the importance of discovering new things. I knew that this program would focus on the arts, but not in the ways I expected… I came to appreciate the impact of getting to learn about something and then getting to see it in person. By going to the place I was learning about, I gained so many valuable experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten by learning in a classroom.
This photo was taken in the city center of Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 13th, 2025 on the SeedHead Art Tour, which the group took to study modern murals in the city. Photo by Emlyn Soher.
McClellan reflected, “This experience is one that will never be replicated for me. Study abroad is so much more than tourism; you get to see parts of other countries that tourists don't. Furthermore, because of the special mindset that you come into new countries with, you will register as much more than a tourist. Applying for International Education Scholarships is what makes this amazing experience possible.”
Many Honors College students rely upon the Honors College’s International Education Scholarship, funded by the Ron and Marilyn Mitch Fund for Academic Excellence in the Heltzer Honors Program in International Education, to be able to study abroad.
Both McClellan and Soher shared how this FLEAP experience will impact their future careers in psychology and lives over all. Soher explained, “I am a psychology major, and I am also studying dance. Getting to learn about other cultures and hearing other people’s stories has helped broaden my perspective and understanding of where different people are coming from. From the arts perspective, getting to see how different people express themselves through different mediums of art always inspires me to try new things with dance and incorporate new ideas into my work.” McClellan furthered,
In my future career, I will work with many people from many different walks of life. I will see people who have faced many different conflicts. It is my goal to use what I have learned to help as many people as I can build peace. Studying internationally has allowed me to dive deeper into how we can overcome conflict, sometimes through unexpected means. One of my broader goals in life is to always show kindness and understanding to everyone. This trip has prepared me to do this even in situations I am unfamiliar with, or even disagree with.
Dr. Belinda Walzer, associate professor in the Department of English, will take another group of Honors College students on a FLEAP “Landscapes of Post-Conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland” in the summer of 2026; that trip will be co-led by Dr. Mira Waits, associate professor in the Department of Art. Stay tuned for another news story highlighting the newest experiences of our students meeting their international education requirements through our 2026 FLEAP offerings.
Top photo features students in the Honors College FLEAP "Peacebuilding and the Arts" in front of the ornate Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin, Ireland, June 10, 2025. Photo submitted by Drs. Martell & Vernon.
