Davidson College Dean Rusk International Studies Program

📣Did you spend a semester abroad or participate in a Davidson-led Study Abroad Program? Are you an International Alum? Did you travel on a Dean Rusk Grant during your time at Davidson?  Join staff from the Dean Rusk International Studies Program, International Student Engagement, and Office of Education Abroad and Away. Connect with fellow alums and share memories about international experiences. Learn about what current students are doing to unite Davidson and the world! 🌎 Refreshments served. 🥂🍾

📆Friday, June 5th
⏰3:30PM - 5:00PM
📍South Entrance of Duke Hall (Opposite the Library)

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to support our 2026 Bliss Photo Contest Winners and Dean Rusk Summer 2025 & Winter 2025-2026 grantees today at the Verna Miller Case Research & Creative Works Symposium. 👏🎉🥳

It was absolutely amazing to celebrate our students’ experiences and to get to experience a taste of the wonderful work that is happening all over ’s campus
🖤♥️

Scroll through to see some photos from the day!

Did you enjoy the Fall 2025 lecture by former US Ambassador to China, Amb. Nicholas Burns? Are you interested in a career in foreign service?

Come to a coffee chat ☕️💬 with Jonathan Fritz (P ’28). Fritz has enjoyed a 32-year career in the US Foreign Service. 

Among many distinguished positions, Fritz has served as vice consul in Guangzhou and Chengdu in China and Guayaquil in Ecuador as well as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Enjoy the chance for conversation about his experiences & your career path! 💼

Coffee provided by the Dean Rusk International Studies Program! 😋

📆When: Tuesday, April 28th @ Common Hour (11:05-12:05)

📍Where: Nummit

RSVP at the link in our bio!

Dean Rusk Winter 2025 Grantee, Adele Oprica ‘26, recently held her senior art exhibition, “Glimpse of the Earth,” at the Smith Gallery in the Visual Arts Center (VAC). 🇮🇪

Reflecting on the overall experience, Adele expresses:
“My senior art exhibition “glimpse of the Earth” was about the awe and grief associated with the fleeting nature of our personal existence; we are witness to the vastness of this ancient Earth and then are gone, only catching a glimpse. During my time in Ireland on a Dean Rusk exploratory grant, I was able to round out this body of work, spending three weeks exploring ringforts and stone circles throughout the Irish landscape. When I first arrived at a site, immediately I was drawn into the shadows of the megalithic stones related to the time of day and the richness of the greenery surrounding them. This became an “aha” moment for me because though I had already been interested in reflections and light, I hadn’t yet connected the way in which the sun itself and the shadows it leaves are indicators of time passing. Upon my return to Davidson, I began working on two mosaic pieces, a sculpture of a European Robin and a more abstract piece on a tree stump. The Robin is seen as a messenger between worlds in Irish folklore, highlighting transience. For both, the way the glass and pebbles played with color and light represented the way that I viewed the stones and forts I visited in Ireland.“ 🌎🇮🇪

The Dean Rusk International Studies Program was quite honored to be able to witness the materialization of all Adele’s hard work and is super proud of what she has accomplished!😊

Bravo, Adele! We can’t wait to see what you do next! 🎨

Yesterday, the Dean Rusk International Studies Program held an intimate information session with students currently enrolled in the Freshman Humanities (Humes) Program! 🧠

Attendees got to much on some delicious food 🍲 while learning about grants they could pursue through our office throughout their Davidson College careers. Previous Dean Rusk grantees, Sophia Lenhart ‘28 and Andrew Nelsen ‘27, also graciously stopped by to share their experiences with the Humes students.

The Dean Rusk Program cherishes every opportunity that we get to share what we do with students and inform them about how we can help to add to their Davidson College experience through the pursuit of solo international projects 🌎.

Thank you to everyone who attended. We look forward to working with you in the future on your uniquely amazing grant proposals! ✍️