Hello and welcome back to another season of STAMPED! By now schools are back in full swing and the start of this episode makes our third fall semester ? I guess you could say this is our junior year! This year we hope to build out STAMPED in a way that provides more foundational information on study abroad while continuing to share impactful international education stories! So for today we’re starting off with the basics. 1. What is study abroad? 2. What types of study abroad exist? 3. Where can you learn more? Be sure to share this episode with someone you think needs to study abroad (or their parents lol)!  Until next…YOU’VE BEEN STAMPED! ---------------------------------------------------- Follow the FUN! Instagram Linkedin --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stamped/support

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Study Abroad: The Basics

STAMPED is pleased to welcome Tyvi Small, Vice Chancellor of Diversity and Engagement at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  Our interview starts with Tyvi's early travel experiences as well as his introduction to the world of study abroad! He recounted that while in undergrad he was very engaged in various campus programs, but the one thing he didn't do was study abroad. Now, a higher education professional, Tyvi works diligently to provide international opportunities for all students.  During this episode we discuss study abroad as one of AAC&U's High Impact Practices and what that means for students of color. Through the sharing of stories, Tyvi reminds us that we must be intentional about our work to diversify study abroad as it relates to participants and employees. He also shares information about the UT Success Academy, a program designed to maximize the transition to college for Black and Latinx male students.  This epsiode is full of great tips; we hope you enjoy "A Conversation from the Field with Tyvi Small".  To learn more about Tyvi or UT, visit Diversity and Engagement .  Follow the STAMPED fun on Instagram or Linkedin. Until next time...You've Been STAMPED! 

A Conversation from the Field w/Tyvi Small

It is my pleasure to welcome Phelicia Price to STAMPED! I love when the experiences of friends and family align with the mission of STAMPED. Phelicia has been a dear friend of mine for roughly 20 years, so it was only natural that I wanted to share her story on STAMPED. While obtaining a second bachelor’s degree, she did something rare…she read her email (lol). On that particularly day she found exiting news, an email about a study abroad program to Italy offered by the communication’s department at East Carolina University. She shared the opportunity with her parents and with their assistance she was off! Spending the summer in Italy really increased her love for travel and quickened the desire to travel internationally. During our conversation about her study abroad experience, Phelicia talks candidly about taking in aspects of each location and really becoming a part of the way of life in each community. We also touch on intersections between race, gender and age and how that impacted her experience as well. Since her college days, Phelicia has continued to explore new places and has even incorporated them into her life as a yoga teacher. In fact, she earned one of her certifications in Costa Rica! Check out her IG @fit.phe.yoga for the amazing photos. Lastly, this episode is also extra special, today is her 5-year kidney transplant anniversary! Learn more about life after transplant and how working with the National Kidney Foundation has enabled her to travel and rep the USA at the same time! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us Phelicia. Until next time…You’ve Been STAMPED! STAY CONNECTED Connect with Phelicia on Instagram  Learn more about her life after transplant at Syndei the Kidney For more inforamtion on her virtual platform, visit https://www.patreon.com/fitpheyoga Connect with STAMPED at TravelGeneLLC

It’s Worth It! Study Abroad, Yoga and Life After (Kidney) Transplant with Phelicia Price

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Devin Walker, Director of Global Leadership and Social Impact at the University of Texas at Austin. Devin is also the CEO and founder of The World Walker Foundation, a 501(c) (3), which provides educational and financial resources to help students of the African diaspora participate in service-learning trips to the African diaspora. Early travel experiences facilitated by his parents spurred his interest in people and places. He says with each trip his confidence grew as a result of the exposure he gained a new outlook on the world. During this episode, Dr. Walker takes us on a journey not only through his multiple study abroad experiences, but through his self-reflective process as well. You’re in for a treat! We also discuss Dr. Walker’s research on Black male division 1 student athletes. A personal experience led to his dissertation that examined the intersection of race, sports, and education among this unique group of students. He says their study abroad experiences offered an opportunity for students to examine their identities from a lens that is separate from their athletic affiliations in their home country. Lastly, he shares some tips for creating inclusive study abroad programs! Relationships are important! Telling students why they need to study abroad and then get to the how! When creating programs, think outside of the box when promoting study abroad especially as it relates to students with limited or no experience with travel. Be flexible and open to responding to students’ needs. Stay in touch with Dr. Walker: Instagram Twitter Facebook Check out his recent article for Diverse Issues: Black Students Must Experience Black Life Outside the U.S. You've Been STAMPED!

A Conversation from the Field w/Dr. Devin Walker

This was an exciting first for STAMPED; this episode was done live!  As a part of ISA by Worldstrides February 2021 Live Expo, we had the opportunity to interview Malaika Serrano, VP of Diversity and Inclusion. Malaika is a powerhouse in the industry and someone I look up to in the field.  For nearly 20 years, Malaika has led diversity and inclusion initiatives in academic, non-profit and private sector spaces. In her current position as the VP for diversity and inclusion at WorldStrides, she works closely with Senior Leadership to define vision and strategy. This includes a number of education and organizational initiatives designed to foster a community of inclusion and a diverse workforce. During Malaika's tenure at the University of Maryland, she created and taught several international service-learning and social justice courses. Students were invited to examine their social identities in both domestic and international contexts, as well as challenge assumptions around race, class, ability, and gender.  We hope you enjoy "A conversation from the field with Malaika Serrano".  Follow the Fun on Instagram and LinkedIn 

A Conversation from the Field w/Malaika Serrano

Moving abroad comes with a lot of adjustments. From learning a new language to making new friends the early days can be a bit traumatic. In Part II of Facing Fears Kenny describes his early experiences living in China and the adjustments he had to make to successfully navigate his new home. Towards the end of the convo, we dive into his entrepreneurial journey. It’s one thing to start your own business in the States, but could you imagine starting one in a foreign country? Well Kenny used his skills in education, policy, and HR to open a consulting and management company where he helps people prepare for work related relocation as well as local students who seek to relocate abroad for educational purposes. His business recently celebrated its 1 year anniversary! Kenny also talks about his own podcast, where he interviews people from all different backgrounds on their experiences in China, so for more of Kenny be sure to tune in to Mama K's Adventures in China.  Thanks everyone...You've Been STAMPED!

Facing Fears: The Decison to Move Abroad Part II (Kenny Taylor)

You may remember our guest Kenneth (Kenny) Taylor from our episode "Quarantine Conversations". As we shared last year, we had such a good time catching up, we ended up on the phone for 3 hours!! Our chat was too good not to share, so we're offering it in small doses throughout the month of February.  Kenny's story brings a new set of identities to our STAMPED stories. This episode, "Facing Fear" is an open and honest conversation about life as a Black gay man and how these identities played into his decision to move abroad. Two of Kenny's mottos are "live your most authentic life" and  "fear is meant to be a warning not a wall". In this first half of Kenny's story we learn about his early travel experiences, the importance of education and exposure, and what led him to ponder moving abroad.  We hope you enjoy "Facing Fear: The Decision to Move Abroad".  If you want to hear more from Kenny, check out his podcast Mama K's Adventures in China.  Be sure to favorite us on anchor so you never miss an episode!  Until next time...you've been stamped!

Facing Fear: The Decision to Move Abroad with Kenny Taylor

I met Henrietta (Henrie) while teaching in China nearly five years ago and I'm so delighted we've remained in contact. She has a lovely spirit and it definetly shines through on this episode.  Henrie's  experiences working in a bank highlighted the language barriers that existed between employees and foreign visitors. Recognizing this gap in service led her to research teaching English abroad. Initial findings related to being Black in China deterred her, but years later she revisited the idea and followed through...a decision that would lead her to teaching English in Shenzhen, China.  During the interview we discuss the application and training process related to teaching English as a Second Language as well as her transition to life in China. Yes we cover the well documented experiences of having your photo taken or being stared at, but we also discuss the interesting facets of identity abroad.  While in China, Henrie didn't just stick to teaching, she also found a way to continue one her passions....dance! Check out her moves on  IG or her new YouTube channel.  She reflects on how all of these experiences shaped her into the person she is today and is sharing them with us in her book Quiet Confidence.  We hope you enjoy "Quiet Confidence: Teaching and Dancing Abroad with Henrietta Akindele" -C Phrases you may here on this epsiode Wǒ shì yīngguó rén (I am English) Wǒ shì měiguó rén (I am American) Shénme (What?) ........................................................................................................ This episode was brought to you by Green Leopard Sports! Follow the fun on Instagram 

Quiet Confidence: Teaching and Dancing Abroad with Henrietta Akindele

Our first guest of 2021, Courtney Tucker, brings us a unique twist on travel and sports and how these efforts combined led to a budding new business! Courtney began playing fastpitch around age 10. Family vacations soon merged into travel associated with softball tournaments! Participating in travel softball teams led to opportunities to play the sport she loved while seeing other parts of the U.S. In this episode we talk about balancing athletics and academics and the importance of building a relationship with faculty to ensure smooth transitions during the seasons. We also discuss her international travel opportunities to play sports. Courtney traveled abroad for softball…twice! Her first trip took her to Germany, Amsterdam, and Holland and in 2008, she traveled to France, Amsterdam, and Holland. Playing against teams from Puerto Rico and Switzerland was cool, but seeing the Louvre ranked as a top tourist experience for her! She got her start in collegiate coaching through s a graduate assistantship. Her experiences coaching opened her eyes to gaps that existed in the game of softball. This led to the creation of her new business Green Leopard Sports (GLS), a softball development company. GLS currently provides one-on-one lessons for softball players at all levels. Recognizing mental toughness as a need, her company differentiates itself by focusing on the mental aspects of the game in addition to fundamental skills needed to be an all-around player. In an effort to diversity in softball, Courtney is building a nonprofit, Diamond Life, which seeks to help underrepresented female youth in the sport of softball. A new addition to her business is her activewear line which can be found at www.g-l-sports.com or on IG at @GreenLeopardSports. Trust me, you’re going to want one of these beanies; they are so cute! We hope you enjoy “Sports Abroad”.

Sports Abroad: A Conversation with Courtney Tucker, Founder of Green Leopard Sports

Hello and happy first day of September!  If you've been following our journey you know that we had the opportunity to pitch STAMPED at the Diversity Abroad conference. Even better than pitching was actually winning 3rd place! For those who weren't able to attend, I thought it would be fun to share my pitch with you. In this version I took the liberty of explaining things in a little more detail but overall this is the pitch! Again it was such an honor to present at the Diversity Abroad Innovation Competition. Thank you to Andrew Gordan and the DA staff as well as CAPA who sponsored the competition. I also need to shout out my dad, sister, and friends for listening and kindly critiquing my pitch! ANNOUNCEMENT Follow us on IG at Travel Gene LLC to see teasers for our first professional development! 

The Pitch!

Growing up in a military family, traveling was something Alieshia was accustomed to doing, so when the opportunities presented itself in the form of a high school trip to Paris, she jumped at the opportunity. Once in college, she knew she wanted to travel to a Spanish speaking country, but hadn't thought about doing so to earn academic credit. Fortunately, a representative came to one of her classes to talk about a study abroad program to Panama. This presentation coupled with insights she gained from previous participants was enough to seal the deal! During the summer after her junior year, she was able to study abroad again in Trinidad and Tobago. As luck would have it this experience would lead to a chance to go from participant to study abroad assistant at which point she was able to assist with the recruitment, planning, and in country experiences for undergraduate students! Find out more about her exciting experiences in today's episode!  For more of Alieshia's Adventures, be sure to follow her using the info below! Instagram: @AlieshiasAdventures Blog: https://alieshiasadventures.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEzTSpnX-siX8gjcZnxW3Dw ________________________________________________________ Keep up with STAMPED on Instagram @TravelGeneLLC or on Facebook at Stamped by Travel Gene. 

From Study Abroad Student to Program Leader (Alieshia)

Have you ever looked at a business name and wondered "how'd they come up with that or what does that mean"?  I think this all the time, so today I'm letting you in on the back story of Travel Gene LLC. Learn what inspired the company and the meaning behind the name.  In this episode, you'll learn about our new project! I’m so excited to announce that Travel Gene LLC is launching the first ever course on Black travel. Think of it as the really cool elective class you needed, but wasn’t offered in school (If it was let me know; I want to check it out)! Because we're piloting the program, we're offering it at a discounted rate. We're looking for between 5-10 participants for round 1.  This course is for you if you work in international education, the tourism industry (DMOs, Tourism boards, etc) or you're simply interested in this topic! To learn more schedule an inquiry by emailing Ms. Charis Tucker at CharisT18@gmail.com.  Continue to follow the fun on Instagram @TravelGeneLLC or Facebook at Stamped by Travel Gene. 

Travel Gene LLC has an Announcement!

Sometimes I’m still amazed at the connections you can make via social media, which is exactly how I became acquainted with our new guest, Tyler Janeé. Her early travel experiences started with family RV trips. A trip to Jamaica sparked her interest in international travel and for years she's been making it happen by any means necessary! In high school, a study abroad advisor visited her class to talk about collegiate study abroad opportunities (how cool)! From that point on, she knew study abroad was something she wanted to do. Once enrolled at Clark Atlanta University, she made her way to the study abroad office. After weighing her options, she decided on a program in Costa Rica! The program representative for International Studies Abroad assisted her with the enrollment, choosing a home stay family, and so much more. Prior to traveling abroad, she began researching online. Although there weren’t many resources at the time, she (fortunately) found Oneika Raymond’s blog Oneika the Traveler!  Resources like her blog are extremely useful for Black students studying abroad; we both agreed that while this perspective has grown, there's so much more to be done especially as it relates to the study abroad sector.  During the interview we discuss her in country adventures, managing reverse culture shock, teaching abroad and how these experience led to the creation of the Turbulence Podcast and her new nonprofit Study Elsewhere.   Keep up with Tyler Janeé on Instagram @TylerJanee or on Tik Tok at TylerJanee_ Enjoy...You've Been STAMPED! _____________________________________________________ Stay Connected  Blog: STAMPED by Travel Gene  IG: @TravelGeneLLC FB: STAMPED by Travel Gene Twitter: STAMPED by Travel Gene 

STAMPED Conversations: Tyler Janeé Shares how Students can use this Time to Research, Plan, and Prepare for Study Abroad

Our latest interview took place in May with Jordyn, a Hampton University graduate. While at Hampton he studied business management and leadership. We recorded this interview in May, and initially it was slated for release in late August for our Fall 2020 season but our discussion on COVID-19 and the development virtual exchange seemed so timely that we decided to release it early. What we didn’t know was just how timely the other parts of our conversations would be. As the country continues to grapple with the recent deaths of African Americans due to systemic racism; protests, apologies, and requests for educational resources on anti-racism have seemingly filled every bit of media we consume. The sentiments shared in this episode highlight the importance of exchange and how it can be used to break down stereotypes, especially the narratives of African American/African American males. Gaining insights into the lives of others are critically important parts of the conversation that should continue in the US and around the globe. In this episode, Jordyn walks us through his own developmental process of understanding study abroad as a vital part of his future success. He talks candidly about the importance of intercultural competence for all travelers and gives us a peek into how he's been using his passion to highlight experiences like Fulbright to other HBCU students.  Episode Resources NAFSA is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education. Fulbright offers international research, study, and teaching experiences to recent graduates and graduate students.  HBCUs: Historically Black Colleges and Universities  ______________________________________ Stay Connected Blog: STAMPED by Travel Gene IG: @TravelGeneLLC Facebook: Stamped by Travel Gene Twitter: @stampedbytrave1

A Chat from the Field with Jordyn

The first episode from our “Chat from the field” series was phenomenal! In this episode we discuss Noelle’s early travel experiences to visit family in Jamaica and of course we debrief her experience studying abroad on a faculty led program to South Africa.  We also dig into our early experiences in international education. Be sure to listen for the incredible moment we shared recognizing we experienced similar situations as new international educators. (The power of storytelling!) Lastly we discuss what life has been like as an international educator in the midst of COVID-19 and the role of virtual/remote learning opportunities.  ___________________________________ Episode Resources Faculty-led Program - a study abroad program in which at least one faculty member from the home institution accompanies students abroad (Forum on Education Abroad, n.d.).   NAFSA is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education.  ______________________________________ Stay Connected  Blog: STAMPED by Travel Gene IG: @TravelGeneLLC Facebook: Stamped by Travel Gene Twitter: @stampedbytrave1  

A Chat from the Field with Noelle

The STAMPED podcast is designed to bring you episodes that highlight the study abroad stories of Black/African American students and individuals of color. Occasionally, we'll also be joined by travelers whose experiences have proven to be meaningful and influential in their lives today! Join us to hear how these travelers overcame fears, confronted their identity abroad, pursued careers in international education and so much more!

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