Advancing Career Exploration in Accra #HogsAbroad (Virtually) in Ghana

Honors College Fellow Megan Sattler, a math major from Bentonville, originally planned to spend the summer studying at the American College of Greece in Athens, but as with so many others, COVID-19 changed her plans. Honors College staff helped her land an internship with the Play and Learn Foundation, a non-profit in Ghana that empowers underserved youth. There, Megan helped to develop a new program, drawing on local connections to provide tools for career exploration.

Article from the Honors College blog

I wish that I were able to begin this blog with an entertaining anecdote of witnessing Jamestown’s famous boxing arenas or Accra’s highly symbolic monuments, but this sadly is not the case. I had landed an internship with a nonprofit based in Accra, Ghana, but the summer of quarantine caused this opportunity to be completely virtual. The University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) matched me with the Play and Learn Foundation (PAL), an organization that seeks to empower underserved Ghanaian youth to become leaders of their community through academic and athletic development. My role was to aid the development of a new program called Learning on the Go which aims to introduce kids to experiential learning and job shadowing opportunities within Accra.

Much of my work involved researching similar initiatives so as to further improve our current program proposal. I initially tried to tackle this project by coming up with strategic Google searches to produce promising results. It was difficult for me to find exactly what I was looking for this way, but I soon recognized that I had completely disregarded all the groups I had personal connections with. Despite this internship being my first professional endeavor, I realized that I knew many people that could be helpful towards my research. I was then able to contact my former school district, my current place of work, and the large corporation based in my hometown to gain insight on their academic programs. My limited experience in the professional world did not necessarily hinder my ability to be successful as I previously anticipated it would. I have gained a better recognition of connections that could prove useful in my future ventures, and I believe this awareness has also encouraged me to be more optimistic when going into new situations.

Through my research, I was able to create a partnership between the Play and Learn Foundation and the Myers-Briggs Company. The Myer-Briggs Company is now going to provide PAL with access to VitaNavis, a platform where students can explore vocational pathways. Before embarking on job shadowing opportunities, the kids will take VitaNavis’ SuperStrong Assessment to discover their top three occupational themes as determined by the RIASEC Model. These occupational themes will help educate the kids on careers that align with their interests. The platform can further be utilized to map an education path to a career by providing information about academic institutions as well as a feature for resume building. This personality/career assessment was a new idea I had proposed to my supervisor, and we hope that this addition will encourage students to make informed career decisions.

Though I was not able to gain any in-person experiences in Ghana, I was still able to learn about Ghanaian culture through my meetings with the Play and Learn Foundation. A cultural aspect that was difficult for me to navigate was the lack of deadlines. In fact, the program I was helping develop did not even have a target start date. It was stressful not knowing whether I was working too fast or too slow, but I was never criticized for my pace and eventually adjusted to this. My meetings also exhibited informalities in that my supervisor would dress very casually and be in and out of our meetings. I found that my organization was structured more lateral than hierarchical due to their leadership style, emphasizing consideration and sensitivity for everybody. This was very different from the style of corporate America, but I appreciated Ghana’s easygoing mentality.

Megan featured on PAL’s intern page.

I thoroughly enjoyed carrying out my internship through USAC, and I would highly recommend virtual internship seekers to look into their Global Perspectives Virtual Internship Program. In addition to my supervisor at the Play and Learn Foundation, USAC provided me with a couple of other mentors who were readily available for any means of support. USAC also complemented my internship with weekly seminar sessions that allowed me to deepen my understanding of my professional and cultural experiences. These seminars were completed by other students engaging in various virtual internship programs, granting me even more peers offering assistance and encouragement. Though I did not gain the international experience I thought I would when I originally planned to study abroad, this virtual internship still brought professional and cultural insights that further developed my character.

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This summer, although the COVID-19 pandemic suspended study abroad programs, students participated in a Study Abroad and Honors College pilot program to complete virtual international internships.

Mathematics major Megan Sattler completed a virtual international internship in Social Welfare with Play and Learn (an NGO based in Ghana) through USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium), earning direct U of A credit and gaining valuable work experience. Virtual interns working with NGOs and other organizations on social service projects contribute to grant proposals and other fundraising activities, conduct research relevant to projects or campaigns of the organization, project management, and data entry and analysis.

Interested in pursuing a virtual international internship? This innovative program allows students to put accessibility and mobility concerns aside to develop meaningful professional connections with international companies, NGOs, health and education organizations, and so on. Although it’s not a substitute for a traditional on-site experience, these programs provide a project-based pathway for students to connect with international organizations. Learn more about options to internationalize your degree plan by adding a virtual international internship to your semester.

Teaching Projects & The Basket Market #HogsAbroad in Ghana

My name is Paige Deffenbaugh, and I am a senior honors nursing student in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. I am currently studying abroad for three weeks in Ghana, Africa with 14 other nursing students and two of our nursing instructors. The first two weeks we are spending in the northern part of Ghana in a city named Bolgatanga. The last week will be spent traveling to a city named Accra in the southern part of Ghana and stopping at multiple places along the way, including Mole Park, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. I’m going to share with you some highlights and pictures from my second week in Ghana!

To begin our second week in Bolgatanga, we actually took a short ride in the van farther north to visit a crocodile pond! When we arrived, one of the workers took us down closer to the pond so that we could see the crocodiles better. A few men began trying to coax two of the crocodiles out of the water using a chicken so that we could take pictures with them. The crocodiles were a little slow to exit the water and didn’t appear to be hungry at all, as we had been told that a bunch of people had visited the pond the day before. After a little while though, both of the crocodiles had made their way onto the land near us. First, the men taught us a little bit about what to do and what not to do around the crocodiles so that we wouldn’t get hurt. Then, we began taking turns taking pictures with the crocodiles and touching them. They were pretty calm and barely moved throughout the whole process. You could tell they knew the drill and had been around humans in this setting many times before. 

Yes, they are both real! The crocodile I am touching is over 100 years old. 

Along with my teaching project on respiratory illnesses that I mentioned in my previous blog post, I am also teaching about women’s health with my friends Maggie and Hannah. This week we had the opportunity to teach at a local girls senior high school. Along with our women’s health topic, choking, wound care, anemia, and sickle-cell anemia were also taught by some of the other nursing students. All of the high school girls were gathered in a big auditorium, which was a little intimidating to us all at first. There were close to 500 girls in attendance we were told! Most of the teaching projects we do here in Ghana are either individual or small-group teaching, so we just weren’t used to teaching such a large crowd. However, we got more comfortable as the time passed and successfully educated the young women about the different phases of the menstrual cycle, feminine hygiene, risks of infection, birth control methods, safe sex, and consent. Many of the young women came up to us afterwards with great questions, so it was encouraging to know that they were paying attention and wanted to learn more about the subject. After the entire teaching presentation, some of the girls received cosmetic bags filled with toiletries and feminine hygiene products.

Maggie, Hannah, and I teaching about women’s heath to hundreds of high school girls. 

Here in Bolgatanga, there is a basket market held every three days. This week was our third and final time to go to the basket market. On basket market day, we always woke up earlier than normal and were on the van ready to leave by 6:45 am. This was so that we could be some of the first people there and score the best baskets. We were all a little intimidated on our first visit to the basket market, as the people selling baskets began swarming up to us immediately trying to get us to buy their baskets. Before we knew it, we were all surrounded by a crowd of people coming at us from all directions. We quickly learned the best way to tell them no and to move on though. The exciting part is the bargaining. You never simply pay the basket sellers the first asking price for the baskets, you always bargain with them for the best price. We quickly caught on and were pros in no time. It became a fun little game for us all to play - who was the best bargainer and could get their baskets for the best prices? Going to the basket market was definitely something that we all looked forward to and will miss, so we had to get our fair share of it in. Most of us have accumulated quite a haul of baskets during our stay in Bolgatanga, as they make great gifts for family and friends. Now we just have to figure out how to get all of our baskets home!

Showing off our basket haul at our first basket market. It was a little rainy, but that didn’t stop us from going!

Another entertaining part of our trips to the basket market was figuring out how to get all 15 of us + our baskets into the van for the ride back to the hotel!

Those are just a few highlights from my second week in Ghana! Stay tuned for more updates.

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Paige Deffenbaugh is spending the summer 2019 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing in Ghana program.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Afrikids & Community Health Fair #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Hi everyone! My name is Maggie Temofeew and I am also a senior honors nursing student in Ghana for a few weeks! I am going to share some different highlights from my time here thus far.

I was at Afrikids for the first week in Bolgatanga. It is a clinic here in Bolgatanga. I have enjoyed it so much. My first day was spent with my friend Gracie in the maternity ward learning to detect a heartbeat, assess the position of the baby, and measure the fundal height! I loved this day because I have not had my OB clinical yet, so I did not know any of this before coming to Ghana. The women are so kind and eager to teach us as well as learn from what we know.

This is a picture of me finding fetal heart tones with Porcilla, a nurse at Afrikids!

A baby who was handed to me in the maternity ward—so precious!

One of my other favorite days at Afrikids was spent in the pediatric ward. I want to be a pediatric nurse someday, so this was an amazing experience. The matron, or charge nurse, showed me all of the supplies they use when starting IVs, what specific medication they use as protocol for malaria and other common diseases. They make do with so little in this country. It makes me so thankful for the resources we have in the US.

Here is a picture of the pediatric ward!

My specific project on this trip was to test for and teach about anemia. We had a health fair for the community and I tested around 130 people with the help of my group. Many people were dangerously anemic and did not know it! I enjoyed getting to talk to them about how to increase iron in their diets and even had to refer some to the hospital. Besides the health fair, I tested almost 70 more at Amiah’s clinic.

Testing blood out in the community for anemia.

Testing blood out in the community for anemia.

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Maggie Temofeew is spending the summer 2019 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing in Ghana program.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Afrikids & Home Visits: Highlights from Bolgatanga #HogsAbroad in Ghana

My name is Paige Deffenbaugh, and I am a senior honors nursing student in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. I am currently studying abroad for three weeks in Ghana, Africa with 14 other nursing students and two of our nursing instructors. The first two weeks we are spending in the northern part of Ghana in a city named Bolgatanga. The last week will be spent traveling to a city named Accra in the southern part of Ghana and stopping at multiple places along the way, including Molé Park, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. I’m going to share with you some highlights and pictures from my first week in Ghana!

While in Bolgatanga, we spend every weekday morning at one of the local clinics. This past week I have been at a clinic called Afrikids. Some parts of it that I was able to explore in depth included the consulting rooms, the maternity ward, the pharmacy, and the laboratory. In the consulting rooms, I was able to observe a doctor assessing patients and making diagnoses, as well as learn how to document the patients’ diagnoses in their computer system. In the maternity ward, I learned how to perform the different components of a prenatal assessment. In the pharmacy, I was able to see the kinds of medications that are used and prescribed most commonly in Afrikids. In the laboratory, I learned how to test for malaria and typhoid fever, as well as how they take blood samples from patients. While we were there, we observed the way their healthcare system works and how it is different from ours in the US. All of the staff at Afrikids were so welcoming and willing to teach us all that they could, as well as learn from our nursing school knowledge as well. I enjoyed getting to learn more about the jobs of many different members of the healthcare team, not just the nurses.

Abbey and I on our last day at Afrikids! This is outside of the emergency department waiting room. 

One morning instead of going to the clinics, my friend Meredith and I went on a home visit with one of our instructors Mrs. Agana. She took us to one of the local beauty salons, as the owner of the shop had a baby who wasn’t eating enough and was malnourished. Meredith and I performed a quick physical assessment on the baby and asked the mother questions about his behavior and eating habits at home. At the end of the visit, we gave recommendations to the mother about foods that she should try and feed him in order to provide him with the adequate nutrition he needs to grow up healthy and strong. While we had been assessing the baby, a woman who worked at the beauty salon had gone and pulled her son out of school and brought him to us to have a look at also. The little boy’s mouth and jaw had been hurting for a while, so Meredith and I did a quick physical assessment on him as well. With the help of Mrs. Agana, in the end we concluded that he had an infected tonsil and needed antibiotics. Each of the students will have an opportunity to go on a home visit while we are here. 

During the initial physical assessment, I listened to the baby’s heart and lung sounds. 

At one of our first study abroad meetings right after we were accepted into the program, each of us chose one or two topics to research with a partner that we would later present as a teaching project while in Ghana. One of the topics that I have been responsible for teaching about with my friend Rachel is respiratory illnesses. Many women in Ghana do the cooking for their families and are exposed to smoke via the pots they use to cook with. Therefore, that long term smoke exposure may lead to respiratory symptoms and illnesses over time. Some of the money our study abroad group raised through FundRazor went towards buying about 70 of a new kind of cooking pot that reduces the amount of smoke produced when in use. Rachel and I will present this teaching project multiple times while we are here, giving away cooking pots to each household that attends our teaching until we run out. Our first time teaching was this past week. We went to a group of family houses behind a bakery, so some of the women we were teaching were being exposed to much more smoke than usual because of their occupations as bakers. We taught them the effects that smoke inhalation has on their respiratory system, signs and symptoms of respiratory illnesses, and ways to prevent lots of smoke inhalation and the development of respiratory illnesses (like using the new cooking pots). Some of the other students on the study abroad trip occupied the women’s children so that they would not be a distraction while Rachel and I were teaching.

During our teaching project, Rachel and I taught a little bit about the anatomy of the respiratory system. 

Some of the women who received new cooking pots for their households. 

Those are just a few highlights from my first week in Ghana! Stay tuned for more updates.

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Paige Deffenbaugh is spending the summer 2019 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing in Ghana program.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Snapshots from Community Health Nursing #HogsAbroad in Ghana

My name is Hannah Cogburn and I recently returned from my community health nursing study abroad trip to Ghana. Here are a few photos from my time in Ghana.

In a town called Paga, Ghana, crocodiles are considered to be sacred ancestors and are highly respected. This one was very patient and put up with our lengthy photoshoot!

A fun night spent watching the World Cup and eating a deliciously spicy meal with some locals in our custom-made outfits.

One of the local seamstresses in the craft market was kind enough to let us play with her beautiful daughter, Princess!

We were in awe of the overlook at Mole Park where we spent lunch watching elephants, antelope, warthogs, and monkeys in their natural habitat. 

On our safari at Mole Park, we walked deep into the foliage to watch some elephants snack on some roots.

One of our last stops was in Cape Coast in southern Ghana. We were able to spend some time on the beach and have some fresh seafood which was the perfect ending to a life-changing trip.

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Nursing major Hannah Cogburn spent the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing in Ghana program.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Community Health Nursing #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Hi, my name is McKinsea Volbrecht. I am about to start my senior year at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the U of A. I just returned home from studying abroad in Ghana, Africa for three weeks! We spent our time there teaching the community about prevalent health care issues such as malaria, wound care, sickle cell anemia, dental hygiene, alcohol abuse, and I personally taught on CPR and choking.

Along with teaching the community we also spent two weeks in local clinics shadowing the nurses and doctors. In Ghana nurse midwives are primarily responsible for the majority of births. Since I am interested in one day being a nurse midwife I was eager for the chance to shadow these nurses. So one of the most exciting moments on the trip for me was watching the birth of this little baby boy.

The mother arrived at the hospital fully dilated and started natural labor. Unlike in America, the women in Ghana do not receive any pain medication during the labor process. The nurse noticed that the baby was face up and after consulting the doctor they decided the patient was in need of an emergency C-section. I helped ambulate the patient to the operating room and watch the doctor perform the surgery. Three hours later a healthy baby boy was born. It was such a blessing to be a part of this birth. I learned so much from the midwives. I am excited to compare my experience in Ghana with my upcoming OB clinical.

All in all, my experience studying abroad in Ghana was fantastic and I truly believe it will make me a better nurse one day!

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McKinsea spent the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing in Ghana program with the help of our our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Traditional Healer #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Yesterday we all journeyed to visit a traditional healer that participates in the original religion of Bolgatanga. He was very informative, although he could not tell us everything for he has had experiences with either himself or of other healers of people trying to steal his secrets and make money (greedy people ruin it for all of us). He was extremely welcoming, and was very kind to have let us even come talk to him. It is nice to see that some of the original culture of Bolgatanga lives on, and that he helps so many people with his many herbal and spiritual remedies.

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.

Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Anemia Research #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Personally, I have been working on my anemia project here in Bolgatanga and it has been going wonderfully! I have gotten many women to interview and we got a whopping 64 patients yesterday to come be tested for anemia. We found that so far about 35% of our population size is anemic on both Ghanaian scales and those of the States. It is certainly prevalent and an issue that must be addressed.

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.

Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Just a Tad Sweaty #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Just finished our first week of clinicals!! We were able to share some knowledge about wound care, respiratory illnesses, and blood pressure with the local villages. The community of Bolgatanga and staff at the clinics were all kind, intelligent, and receptive. We are grateful to have been able learn so much from the wonderful people of Bolgatanga.

After clinicals each day, activities ranged from a well deserved nap to exploring Bolgatanga’s restaurants, shops, and markets. Every three days Bolgatanga has a street market that is PACKED with venders side by side, selling everything you can imagine. This is no ordinary market though, this thing felt like it went on for miles!! Luckily, our driver and personal hero, Charles, was kind enough to show us the ropes and how to successfully navigate the market. We came out with a variety of yummy fruit, appreciation for personal space, and a tad sweaty. We would definitely like to attend the market again.

In addition, we all picked out our favorite fabrics from a local shop and are having custom outfits made! Measurements were taken, and doodling of ideas occurred. The outfits are currently being made and hope to be in some time next week!

As a part of our evening routine, we regularly have an intense game of cards, uno, fish bowl, and phase 10 while sharing a large pizza from the hotel. We have probably eaten our weight in carbs on this trip, but who’s counting. This is a great time to unwind and get to know our professors and the other nursing students.

This upcoming week, we plan to switch clinical sites, visit a traditional medicinal shop, and tour the regional hospital. So yeah, you can say we are all pretty excited!

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.


Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/


Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Western Medicine Gets a Lesson #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Clinicals are in full swing!! We’re all getting unbelievable exposure to Ghanaian medicine in a variety of wards at Afrikids clinic and Amiah’s clinic. Experiences at the clinics thus far include seeing cells sickle under the microscope, providing wound care, participating in the birth of a baby, observing surgery, and learning about Ghanaian medicine verses western medicine. Some nurses have been nice enough to teach us some more Frafra or Farefare, also known as Gurenɛ (the language of the Frafra people of northern Ghana, particularly the Upper East Region) and let us trade our American snacks for Ghanaian snacks as well; yum. Oral hydration and respiratory illness teaching projects went great!! The community was so kind, welcoming, and receptive. We’re looking forward to more exciting adventures to come!

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.

Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Teaching & Crocodiles #HogsAbroad in Ghana

As a group we have really incorporated ourselves into the community. Many of the girls have been performing their teaching projects. Thus far, we have done dental hygiene, sickle cell anemia, and alcohol safety. They all went really well and the audiences have been EXTREMELY receptive. Bolgatanga is such a beautiful culture and the people have been so welcoming! We are all working on our Fra Fra skills and have been having such a wonderful time.

We have gone to the craft villages, seen fufu being made pounded in by long, large pieces of wood, and bought many mangos and bananas off the street. They are DELICIOUS.

The group also traveled to Ginza for the crocodile pond. It was so much fun. In Ghana, they believe that the crocodiles are the ancestors of the people in Ghana. If you kill a crocodile, you are charged for murder in the first degree!

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.

Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

First Few Days #HogsAbroad in Ghana

We have arrived in Ghana! It was a LOT of L-O-N-G traveling but we are here and happy to be in this BEAUTIFUL country. It has been such an adventure thus far. We have gotten settled into the community of Bolgatanga and are now starting to do our individual and group teaching projects. The first day we arrived we had a delicious meal of rice and chicken, as most of their meals consist of and saw some of the wildlife (lizards, goats, dogs, etc.) The following day we got to experience the infamous basket market that was so chaotic, but a great, raw experience for the whole group. We then visited the craft village and saw the beautiful shops that they had and artisans that painted gorgeous paintings and made intricate jewelry. They also make the most grand smoothies!

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.

Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

The Journey Begins #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Thanks for joining us!

We are fourteen students from the University of Arkansas Eleanor Mann School of Nursing who will be spending three weeks in June living and working in Ghana, a country in West Africa. We will be spending time helping to deliver babies, and teaching wound care, infant hydration, respiratory illnesses, dental hygiene, anemia awareness, malaria prevention, alcohol abuse, and CPR – all part of our community health requirement. In addition, we will be experiencing the local Ghanaian culture by learning more about traditional medicine, exploring Mole Park where we will be going on a safari, tasting exotic foods at the local markets and craft villages, and traveling to Cape Coast to tour the Slave Castle. Join in on our adventures and learning experiences by following our blog!

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Sydney and Bethany are spending the Summer 2018 term in Ghana with our U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program.

Read more from Sydney & Bethany and the Nursing program in Ghana at https://arkansasnursingscrubsinghana.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Malachi Nichols: What Study Abroad Taught Me #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Malachai Nichols
Hometown: Midland, TX
Major: Engineering with a minor in African and African American Studies

That people should not be defined by the color of their skin or their geographical location but by their everyday actions towards the betterment or hindrance of humanity. We should take the time to travel and formulate our own individual position on a subject and not always take the socially constructed views as the truth.

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Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Ghana - From Kingdom, Slavery, Colonialism, Independence, & Modern Development at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/ghana 

Read more about study abroad opportunities through the African & African American Studies Dept at http://aast.uark.edu/8329.php

Sarah Sloan: What Study Abroad Taught Me #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Sarah Sloan
Hometown: Black Rock, AR
Major: African and African American Studies and History

My study abroad experience in Ghana taught me that learning outside the classroom is just as important as learning inside it.

The opportunity to see the places first hand that I had studied helped me to connect to the experiences of the people it touched.

Studying history is more than just reading about places and events, it is understanding why things happened and who they happened to.
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Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Ghana - From Kingdom, Slavery, Colonialism, Independence, & Modern Development at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/ghana 

Read more about study abroad opportunities through the African & African American Studies Dept at http://aast.uark.edu/8329.php

LaChassity Phillips: What Study Abroad Taught Me #HogsAbroad in Ghana

LaChassity Phillips
Hometown: Wynne, AR
Major: Journalism with a minor in African and African American Studies

 My study abroad experience in Ghana taught me that a few steps outside of your comfort zone can be good for you. I learned things about myself through experiences I couldn't have had anywhere else. 

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Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Ghana - From Kingdom, Slavery, Colonialism, Independence, & Modern Development at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/ghana 

Read more about study abroad opportunities through the African & African American Studies Dept at http://aast.uark.edu/8329.php

Will Pohlman: What Study Abroad Taught Me #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Will Pohlman

Hometown: Prairie Grove, AR
Major: Honors Animal Science and Biochemistry

My study abroad experience in Ghana taught me the importance of branching out with an open mind. Going on a trip in a field far off my career path has been extremely rewarding and has taught me the necessity of diversity, even within one’s own life.

My experience has helped shape my views on diversity and has broadened my horizons both literally and figuratively.

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Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Ghana - From Kingdom, Slavery, Colonialism, Independence, & Modern Development at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/ghana 

Read more about study abroad opportunities through the African & African American Studies Dept at http://aast.uark.edu/8329.php

Kim Janssen: What Study Abroad Taught Me #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Kim Janssen
Hometown: Fayetteville, AR
Major: Graduate Student in Higher Education

With this being my second trip to Ghana I was able to view the country from a slightly different perspective. The one thing that I took away from this trip was the strength of the Ghanaian woman and how vital her role is to the family structure as well as the growth and development of the economy.

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Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Ghana - From Kingdom, Slavery, Colonialism, Independence, & Modern Development at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/ghana 

Read more about study abroad opportunities through the African & African American Studies Dept at http://aast.uark.edu/8329.php

Alumnus Earns Full Scholarship to Cambridge #HogsAbroad

University of Arkansas alumnus Sabastine Arthur has earned a full scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge. The Ghana native was awarded the Cambridge Africa Scholarship, which provides an annual stipend and covers full tuition and housing, as well as initial and final travel expenses to and from the prestigious university.

Arthur, who completed a master’s degree in cell and molecular biology in May 2015, will begin the doctoral program in pathology at the revered institution in October. While at the U of A, his research on human norovirus was published in multiple peer-reviewed journals.

Arthur said his research garnered interest from a Cambridge professor, who encouraged him to apply for admission. He knew the application process would be intense and the chances of acceptance would be slim, but he said he never stopped believing he could do it.

“I knew it would be difficult, but I just kept believing in God to make me successful,” Arthur said. “Now, I’m going to the same university where Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and so many other great people have studied. It’s incredibly exciting.”

Arthur said he has no doubt his time as a graduate student at the U of A has prepared him to succeed at Cambridge.

“My experiences at the University of Arkansas have a very direct correlation to my acceptance at Cambridge,” he said. “I appreciate everything the university has done for me in my academic life, especially the support of my adviser, Kristen Gibson, my department and friends. I will always want to come back to the university and contribute in any way I can.”

Arthur has never been to the United Kingdom, but is embracing the opportunity for new experiences and wants to make the most of his time there.

“There are about 10 other students from Ghana at the University of Cambridge, so I feel like I have a small family at the university already,” he said. “Plus, I love soccer, and I’m looking forward to all the matches I’ll get to see while in the United Kingdom.”

About Cell and Molecular Biology

The Cell and Molecular Biology program is an interdisciplinary graduate program that examines various aspects of cell function, structure, metabolism and chemical functions on, within and between cells. Students examine biomolecular interactions, relationships between biomolecular reactions and observed cellular properties, molecular genetics, protein chemistry and biological structures. Students also study the use of molecular detection methods in the detection or characterization of biological states in animal and plant sciences, systematics, forensics and health care. More information about that program can be found here.

-- Article from Graduate School and International Education at http://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/cambridge.php

Ayana Gray: What Study Abroad Taught Me #HogsAbroad in Ghana

Ayana Gray
Hometown: Little Rock, AR
Major: Honors African and African American Studies and Political Science

I have been asked “How was Ghana?” since the moment I touched American soil after three weeks in Africa. It’s a question that’s still stumping me, because it seems odd to abridge three weeks like no other in life in a sentence or two; that seems cheapening.

The same feeling comes when asked to explain what my study abroad experience in Ghana taught me; I feel like I’ve learned entirely too much to fairly explain it in one day, let alone a few words.

The best way I can do just that however, is to say that my study abroad experience taught me that no matter how wide open you think your eyes are, no matter how open or adventurous you feel, you be more adventurous still, open your eyes wider and see more.
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Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Ghana - From Kingdom, Slavery, Colonialism, Independence, & Modern Development at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/ghana 

Read more about study abroad opportunities through the African & African American Studies Dept at http://aast.uark.edu/8329.php