Follow AUM students on their adventures in Belize

Front (L to R) – Jessica M. Svjeda, Joseph E. Rodriguez, Kevin J. Taylor and Christopher C. Blair. Rear (L to R) – Dr. Winemiller, Ariel D. Lewis, Whitney Langford, Rachel M. Reader, Veronica V. Montgomery, Elizabeth Boroughs, Stephen J. Sigler, Gillian Martiny, Anne P. West and Dr. Davis-Maye.

Fifteen students from Auburn Montgomery recently embarked on a journey to Belize, a three-week study abroad program sponsored by the Office of International Affairs. The program includes students majoring in pre-social work, anthropology and nursing.

Leading the program from the Department of Sociology are Dr. Denise Davis-Maye, Associate Professor, and Dr. Terry Winemiller, Associate Professor. Before leaving, they took the opportunity to set up a blog for the trip, which will also give the students a chance to post about their adventures there.

"Belize offers an opportunity to observe very distinct cultures who have carved out their own sections of Belize, while merging aspects of their cultures with those of the other groups," wrote Davis-Maye in the blog’s first post.

As the students explore the dynamics of social developments in international societies like Belize, they’ll also receive credit hours for their studies.

In addition, the program will help prepare students to work with diverse and vulnerable populations. And it will encourage students to consider the issues affecting women within these types of populations.

To follow the students’ daily adventures, view the program’s blog at http://aumbelizestudyabroad.wordpress.com.

By Rebecca Ingram

May 21, 2012