ASU communication study abroad program gets new leadership

Thirty years after participating in Arizona State University's Hugh Downs School of Human Communication study abroad program as a student, Kristin Dybvig is now leading it.

The school’s faculty-directed study abroad program, which takes students to London, Dublin and Edinburgh each summer, has entered a new chapter under Dybvig’s leadership following the retirement of longtime director Belle Edson. Dybvig, director of undergraduate studies in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the role, having once experienced the program herself as an undergraduate.

“This program had a profound impact on my own academic path,” Dybvig said. “Returning to it now as a faculty member and director feels incredibly meaningful.”

The study abroad program is designed to immerse students in communication-focused coursework while engaging directly with the cultural environments around them. Rather than remaining in one location, students travel to London, Dublin and Edinburgh, allowing them to compare communication practices across regions that share a language but have distinct cultural histories.

Cultural learning is embedded directly into the curriculum. All students take a British and Irish life and culture course, and museums, public speaking spaces, theater productions and everyday interactions become extensions of the classroom.

“What makes this program special is that students don’t just study communication concepts, they live them,” Dybvig said. “They see how public discourse, performance and cultural norms shape communication in ways that are difficult to fully grasp in a traditional classroom.”

The experience is especially impactful for students traveling abroad for the first time. Many participants arrive without knowing anyone else on the trip and quickly form strong connections as they navigate the experience together. Learning to get around unfamiliar cities, use public transportation and adapt to cultural differences builds independence, confidence and perspective.

“The most impactful part of the summer abroad experience for me was the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and study in a new culture within the U.K. This program has significantly shaped my academic experience at ASU by connecting me with Professor Dybvig, who has been an exceptional resource and advocate for my future aspirations,” said Carter Taylor, a junior studying communication.

“Students grow quickly,” Dybvig said. “They learn to adapt, to communicate across differences and to trust themselves in new environments.”

From a professional standpoint, the program offers a high-impact learning experience that employers value. Study abroad demonstrates adaptability, global awareness and the ability to apply academic learning in real-world settings. For communication students, the opportunity to experience intercultural communication firsthand strengthens both academic understanding and career readiness.

The program is structured to be accessible to students. Financial aid and Hugh Downs School scholarships, including the Belle A. Edson Study Abroad Scholarship, apply to the summer session, and students earn six academic credits in a condensed time frame. Faculty support throughout the program ensures students are academically challenged while also supported as they adjust to living and learning abroad.

As the Hugh Downs School study abroad program continues under new leadership, Dybvig sees the experience as one that remains deeply aligned with the school’s mission.

“There are very few times in life when students can fully immerse themselves in another culture while earning academic credit,” she said. “It’s an opportunity that often shapes how they see themselves, their education and the world.”