The University of Akron

UA students build skills amid Greek ruins This summer, 32 students from Greece, Ireland and America, including seven from The University of Akron, joined forces to perform an archaeological survey of the island of Kea in Greece. The UA students were part of a Study Abroad program led by Linda Whitman, an archaeologist in the Department of Anthropology and Classical Studies, and Dr. Joanne Murphy of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The students worked with an international team of American, Irish, Cypriot and Greek archaeologists; American and Greek Bronze age ceramic, lithic and metallurgy specialists; and a Greek photographer and illustrator — making them true collaborators in a global community. Because many of the students were first-time field school participants, the group spent the first five days touring Athens and the Argolid. "Archaeological sites begin to come alive when they are visited." says Whitman, who also takes students on expeditions in Northeast Ohio. While learning about Greek archaeology, archaeological survey methods and laboratory work, the students made a major contribution to active research on the prehistoric settlement of the northwestern part of Kea, one of the Cycladic islands in the Aegean Sea. Visit www.globaledresearch.com/study-abroad-impact.asp for statistics about the many benefits of studying abroad. Ready to take on the world "I have become more accepting of other cultures, a better problem solver, a friendlier person, and a more sophisticated artist because of my UA Study Abroad experience. By Melissa Kreider, UA '15 I've been restless ever since I was a child. So, it was no surprise I decided to study abroad during my freshman year at UA. " In high school I developed a fierce interest in fashion, especially the way it reflects the culture to which it belongs. I also became obsessed with photography, so fashion photography developed into a natural career goal. — UA art major Melissa Kreider, who studied fashion photography in Florence, Italy. I knew the most powerful way to taste the life of an international fashion photographer was to leave Akron temporarily. So, I chose to study in Florence, Italy, for a full school year. Not only did I take classes in fashion, but I savored an authentic taste of another culture and met new friends who opened my eyes to the global market I'll be competing in. Diving into the unknown flipped my life around exactly the way I wanted it to. I urge everyone to take advantage of the Study Abroad program. You'll come away with something more valuable than you ever dreamed – a new you, ready to take on the world. Photo: Melissa Kreider My studio art classes were demanding and fast-paced, including my fashion photography course that offered photo shoots with real-world companies. 9

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