As a college student based in Africa in 2010, Ashley Brookes (M.A. 鈥�17, International Higher Education) studied rebuilding efforts in Rwanda and Northern Uganda. It was a remarkable semester, but at the time Brookes didn鈥檛 realize how her experience would shape her future career path.
Now, as she pursues a master鈥檚 degree in international higher education (IHE) at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College, Brookes recognizes, more than ever, the impact of that African journey鈥攁nd the importance of helping today鈥檚 undergraduates have global experiences on campus and abroad.
鈥淭here are things you cannot learn in a classroom or from a book,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or me it boils down to relationships and empathy, and understanding that someone different isn鈥檛 necessarily better or worse. We can learn from each other, and solve small and large problems together, if we can see things from each other鈥檚 perspective.鈥�
Brookes at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.
Brookes, 27, grew up in Yarmouth, Maine, and graduated from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania in 2011 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in globalization studies and peace and justice studies. After sampling a few professions, she spent two-plus years working at College Year in Athens in Cambridge, Mass. 鈥淚 decided I really loved study abroad and wanted to pursue it as a career鈥攂ut on the institutional [college or university] side,鈥� she recalls. A master鈥檚 degree seemed essential, so Brookes explored various programs and chose 51茶馆. She joined the first cohort of the IHE program, which launched in fall 2016.
One of the program鈥檚 biggest selling points, for Brookes, is its mission to develop academic practitioners鈥攖hat is, educators and policy makers who have both strong leadership skills and a deep, research-based knowledge of global issues in higher education. In her fall course on 鈥淕lobal and Comparative Systems of Higher Education,鈥� for example, Brookes had the opportunity to examine how higher education institutions in the U.S., Canada, and Europe can meet the unique needs of today鈥檚 refugees, primarily those fleeing Syria.
Practically speaking, her IHE courses complement her part-time job in the Office of International Programs, where Brookes advises undergraduates seeking to study abroad. The assistantship provides valuable hands-on experience and financial support. And the program鈥檚 flexibility in offering day, evening, and online classes makes it possible for students like Brookes to both work and learn. 聽
Another highlight: The chance to interact with fellow graduate students from around the world and with faculty leaders in this dynamic field, such as Hans de Wit, Ph.D., and Laura E. Rumbley, Ph.D., of Boston College鈥檚 Center for International Higher Education (CIHE).
鈥淚t鈥檚 been incredible to have them as resources and to have access to the Center,鈥� Brookes says. 鈥淭hey have connections in higher education, international education, and government everywhere. If I have a question about something we鈥檙e reading, I have no doubt Hans and Laura would say, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 an interesting question, let鈥檚 email the author.鈥� Being in this program is an amazing opportunity, both academically and professionally.鈥�