Engage Your World

ENGAGE YOUR WORLD

IMAGINE WAKING UP IN MOROCCO. Wandering a maze of ancient alleyways in a town that’s painted blue. Studying alongside students with a variety of international backgrounds. Being on a first-name basis with your favorite kebab vendor. Watching the sunset over desert dunes from the back of a camel. Speaking Arabic with your host family. This is an example of what a day in the life of your global education could be like. To learn more, visit SEATTLEU.EDU/ABROAD.

GLOBAL EDUCATION

Each year, more than 500 students study, intern or serve in more than 45 countries. Because they can. Seattle University offers international opportunities for classes, internships and service-learning. One thing’s for sure: No matter what experience students choose, it’s never merely unique—it’s life changing. Scuba dive in the Galapagos Islands while conducting research with Ecuadorian scientists as a Marine Biology student. Intern with the UK Parliament as part of studies abroad in London. Collaborate with fellow business students and Nicaraguan coffee farmers to develop and sustain a supply chain for Fair Trade importers in Seattle. And with on-campus groups such as Professionals Without Borders, work alongside locals to enhance resources in Zambia or Belize.

But that’s not the only way students engage with the world. Esteemed faculty integrate global issues, histories and philosophies into their teaching. And students can study Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic—courses that can be taken both on campus and abroad.

As a student here, you are encouraged to become a true “global citizen.” Education abroad will open your mind in ways you never imagined. It will help build lifelong connections for the future, prepare you for the global workforce and become engaged in the world. Learn more at SEATTLEU.EDU/GLOBAL.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

What does it mean for a university to be a good neighbor? At SU, it’s our long-term commitment to the neighborhoods closest to campus, including the Central District and the Chinatown-International District. The Fr. Stephen Sundborg, S.J. Center for Community Engagement (CCE) exists as the hub of this work, connecting campus and community. We believe your learning outside of the classroom is just as vital as learning on campus.

Three out of every four students engage in service-learning opportunities—that’s 3x the national average. This engagement can be through service-learning classes, volunteering in the community and mentorship and allyship with more than 100 community partners.

Hundreds of students actively contribute to the Seattle University Youth Initiative by serving as a mentor to youth from preschool through high school and beyond. As a center committed to antiracist practices, students who work with youth are offered trainings to reflect on race and contribute to equity in classrooms and programs. Visit us in our home in the Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation.

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY

Janae Theodore, ’23, of Waipahu, HI, started her engagement with the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement (CCE) when she attended a lunch they sponsored in her first year. She saw how the office served as a space for students to be their authentic selves and how the CCE’s celebration of unique identities helped strengthen connections to the communities around campus. “I was drawn to the importance of getting out of the comfortable bubble at SU and instead, finding ways to learn and apply social justice frameworks in hopes to better the Seattle community for the next generation of youth.”

Since that first lunch, Theodore has had many impactful experiences as a dedicated student employee and regular CCE volunteer. Her time volunteering for a Seattle food bank helped her make connections between her major, Nursing, and the ways in which food insecurity can impact community health. Theodore’s favorite experience was the Washington Middle School end-of-year party: “It was a fun opportunity to celebrate Seattle youth while getting to know other community members who dedicated their time to make the event a success.”

Theodore enthusiastically recommends involvement in the CCE for all SU students. “Try your best to extend your involvement to off-campus opportunities, as there is so much more to learn and grow from out in the community!”