Students Prepare for Inaugural European Spring Academy in Germany

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on March 7, 2017, No Comments

Photo Caption: East Stroudsburg University students will be traveling to Otzenhausen, Germany for a 13 day study abroad experience. Pictured from left to right: Matthew Deegan, Christopher Cummings, Anthony Honorowski, Daren Sealey, William Evans, Johalys Marte Reyes, James Gerrish, Nicholas Jauch, Sarah Kendl, Mackenzie Strunk, Dr. Leif Johan Eliasson.

Students at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania are taking part in a new collaborative program with West Chester University and the European Academy in Otzenhausen, Germany. Ten ESU students will attend the inaugural “European Spring Academy: Transatlantic Relations” seminar at the European Academy in Otzenhausen March 9 – 21.

The European Academy in Otzenhausen is a leading international center that organizes seminars on a variety of topics for universities from across the globe. “This new academic program is intended to further students’ understanding of international affairs, different cultures, global history, international economics, trade, and security,” said Leif Johan Eliasson, Ph.D., ESU professor of political science. “We want to provide ESU and WCU students an opportunity to learn first-hand from policy makers, academics, and business representatives about the world’s largest single market, the European Union, and its relations with the United States.”

The main seminar lectures and workshops will be conducted over 10 intense days at the academy in Otzenhausen, Germany. In addition, the seminar also includes visits to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France; NATO headquarters and the European Council in Brussels, Belgium; European Stability Mechanism, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, and presentations by policy makers. Dr. Eliasson will hold a half day workshop on transatlantic trade as part of the program.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me. The academic lectures and workshops will give us a chance to gain a new perspective on things we’ve typically only thought about from an American point of view,” said Mackenzie Strunk, a junior majoring in political science. “It is going to be great be immersed in a new culture personally and academically.”

ESU students attending the “European Spring Academy: Transatlantic Relations” seminar are Anthony Honorowski, a senior from Tannersville, Pa. majoring in political science, William Evans, a senior from Mountain Top, Pa. majoring in history, Nicholas Jauch, a senior from Dingmans Ferry, Pa. majoring in political science, Johalys Marte Reyes, a sophomore from Staten Island, N.Y, majoring in political science, Christopher Cummings, a senior from Effort, Pa. majoring in political science, Matthew Deegan, a junior from Langhorne, Pa. majoring in political science, Daren Sealey, a junior from Effort, Pa. majoring in political science, Sarah Kendl, a senior from Milford, Pa. majoring in mathematics, Mackenzie Strunk, a junior from East Stroudsburg, Pa. majoring in political science, and James Gerrish, an undeclared freshman from Hudson, N.Y.