University-funded study abroad opportunities tailored primarily for Black and Latinx students will cease this year following revised restrictions stemming from the implementation of Senate Bill 17.
The initiative, led by American history professor Leonard Moore, organized study abroad trips supported by the Global Leadership and Social Impact agency, a component of the Division for Campus and Community Engagement (formerly the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement). The upcoming trip to Cape Town will mark Moore’s final leadership role in such ventures, as future excursions will require external funding due to the ramifications of SB 17.
Moore’s initial foray into organizing student trips abroad began in 2013 with a trip to Beijing, China, driven by a desire to provide additional support for Black students.
“While Black students gained admission to the institution, their educational experiences remained disparate,” Moore explained. “My aim was to devise initiatives that could offer African-American students an advantageous edge.”
Since then, Moore has led numerous trips, predominantly comprising Black and Latinx students, to destinations seldom visited by Americans, including Beijing, Dubai, and Cape Town.
“I aimed to expose them to places rarely explored by their peers, locales that would undoubtedly spark conversation during future job interviews,” Moore remarked.
Many participants, like neuroscience junior Jordan Calbert, seized the opportunity to engage in international internships. Calbert’s experience working at a company specializing in mobile pharmacies constructed from shipping containers in Cape Town broadened his understanding of healthcare beyond the United States.
“It was enlightening to witness how people adapt and innovate when healthcare systems become overwhelmed,” Calbert noted.
Furthermore, the cultural significance of the trips resonated deeply with students like Calbert, who visited historical sites such as the House of Slaves on Senegal’s Gorée Island, prompting introspection about his own cultural identity.
Thaïs Bass-Moore, director of the Fearless Leadership Institute and Moore’s spouse, collaborated in recruiting Black students for these journeys. She emphasized the familial atmosphere that developed among students and faculty during the trips.
“Once abroad, it felt like a tight-knit family,” Bass-Moore reflected.
Highlighting the importance of such opportunities, Bass-Moore, drawing from her undergraduate experience at the University of California, Los Angeles, underscored the significance of ensuring accessibility to study abroad experiences.
“I grappled with a sense of belonging and a lack of awareness about available resources during my time at UCLA,” Bass-Moore shared. “I want to ensure that students in our program feel empowered to seize these opportunities.”
Moore expressed dismay at the dwindling resources for study abroad programs due to SB 17, sentiments echoed by Calbert, who believes the legislation hampers the efforts of educators like Moore and Bass-Moore.
“They not only provided opportunities but also served as mentors readily available to their students,” Calbert emphasized.
