“Meet Them Where They Are”: Supporting Students of Color & First-Time Travelers in Study Abroad

The Toucan Abroad Podcast

We are back! In Season 2 of the Toucan Abroad Podcast we will delve into issues around supporting under-represented students in study abroad, hear from our alumni, and learn about developing programs in music, agriculture & health promotion.

In this first episode, Dr. Jessica Pincham-King and Dr. Desiree' Melonas of Birmingham Southern College discuss their experience supporting students of color who were embarking on their first study abroad experience. The conversation covered issues from student motivation & support needed, dealing with parental concerns, addressing students’ reflections on black identity along with advice for other faculty and staff in study abroad offices that work with students of color & first-time travelers.

Dr. Jessica Pincham-King is a director of experiential learning and instructor of sociology at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. Specifically, Dr. King assists faculty and students with designing collaborative undergraduate research projects, internships, and service-learning integrated courses with intentional integration of critical reflection. Dr. King teaches Introduction to Sociology, Oppression & Social Justice, and has co-taught Dialogues Across Differences: How Do We Engage in Challenging Conversations.

Dr. Desireé Melonas is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. Before that, she was Visiting Assistant Professor at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. She received her PhD in Political Science from Temple University and earned a certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. Her research and teaching interests include: black political thought, critical geography, black feminist thought, phenomenology, and black existentialism. Outside of campus, she serves on the Young Supporter's Board of Alabama Possible, an organization that has its aim removing barriers to poverty through education and advocacy. She's also a yogi and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.