From classrooms in Richmond, Kentucky, to the historic streets of Paris and Prague, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) students engage in immersive learning experiences designed to prepare them for their careers at home and beyond. During the 2025 academic year, 17 EKU English majors participated in faculty-led study abroad programs across Europe in England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, France and Germany.
“Part of being the School of Opportunity is making sure our students have chances to see and experience the world,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “Opportunities like study abroad expose students to different cultures and learning environments—setting our students apart and giving them priceless experiences for their future careers.”
Rachel Mullins, a senior secondary English education major at EKU, studied travel writing in Paris and Munich with Dr. Charlotte Rich, English professor and chair.
“It was the experience of a lifetime,” Mullins, from McKee, Kentucky, said. “I honestly never thought I would ever do something like this.”
According to Rich, navigating unfamiliar settings teaches students resiliency and collaborative problem-solving.
“EKU English faculty have a strong commitment to creating value-added educational experiences for our majors, including international education,” said Rich. “Many of our students have never traveled internationally before, and these global experiences, along with rich site-based activities to complement course content, teach our students cultural competency, flexibility and collaboration.”
Mullins, who plans to become an 11th-grade English teacher after graduating, said the program provided a broader worldview and deepened her appreciation for different cultures, which she plans to bring into her own future classroom.
In addition to the hands-on learning opportunities, Mullins experienced unforgettable moments from celebrating New Year’s Eve with her peers at the Hofbräuhaus in Munich to watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night from the top of a Ferris wheel in Paris and taking a riverboat tour to see the city’s landmarks at dusk.
Mullins’ study abroad, accompanied by two other English majors from EKU, was offered through the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS). Additional English Department study-abroad in 2025 included four students studying literature in London and Dublin with Professor Dr. Jill Parrott through the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) and 10 students focused on creative writing in Prague with Senior Lecturer Bill Mullen through KIIS.
Mullins encourages other students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities.
“Don’t wait. If you want to do something like study abroad, then go!” she said. “Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity and I want everyone to be able to experience it.”
Learn more about educational experiences offered through the English Department and opportunities for EKU students to study abroad.
By: Ethan Sirles
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