Beth Thompson has recently become the director for the Global Perspectives program at Lee. She came to Lee as a transfer student from Tallahassee Community College, where she was studying political science, with a pre-law minor. Thompson has previous experience as a peer leader and was a student worker for Dr. Suzanne Hamid for two years.

“I had always had the desire to come to Lee,” said Thompson. “My father was a pastor and being raised Church of God, Lee was always what I grew up knowing.”

Thompson has seen a lot of growth in the Global Perspectives program since she first arrived at Lee.

“It has exploded in the last four years,” said Thompson. “In the beginning, the program was taught by 30 different professors. Now we have three Anthropology professors that teach the classes. We also have the most students studying abroad annually, I don’t know if anyone could have expected such growth in such a short period of time.”

The study abroad programs have also incorporated 18 student travel guides. They help in the classes, and they also give testimonies about their trips. “They are a valuable asset to me and the professors,” said Thompson.

Thompson also has many goals and plans for the Global Perspectives program. She hopes to expand on what has already been done.

“We want to incorporate the service component, by tying the service and the program together,” said Thompson. “We want to broaden our trip base, so that we go to 37 countries, I want to see it expanded. I believe that we should make our students aware of the necessity of cultural awareness, and their need to compete in a globalized world, to answer Gods call.”

Thompson, however, is no stranger to the program. She has had the opportunity to see the program over the past four years as it has been among the national leaders for study abroad programs.

“More importantly I have witnessed first-hand hundreds of students’ lives being changed through their cross- cultural experiences,” said Thompson. “Immersion into different cultural settings impacts student’s lives in such a way that challenges them to question their place in the world, and their responsibility to that world.”