Q & A with Liz Havey
Chelsea Thomas
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Spotlight
Liz Havey, the GCSU Study Abroad Advisor in the International Education Office, has helped more than 900 students study abroad in the past four years. This summer alone there are 230 GCSU students traveling to distant countries around the world to explore and learn. In her spare time Havey enjoys gardening, mountain biking, reading and cooking. Her "big thing" is to live life with no regrets.
Q: Where were you raised as a child? Did you travel a lot when you were younger?
A: I was raised in the Midwest. I spent the first half of my childhood in Indiana and the second half in Illinois. My family went camping in the Midwest and visiting other places in the US, like Washington D.C. In high school, I went overseas for the first time to France.
Q: What initiated your interest for traveling the world?
A: I was interested in it for a long time before the reality of it came into fruition. The travel bug bit that first time I went to France when I was 16. From there I went to the Netherlands my senior year in high school and later spent a year in Norway. Also in high school, my family hosted an exchange student from the Czech Republic. That sparked my curiosity.
Q: So, what led you to GCSU?
A: The job! I finished my bachelor's degree in Indiana in 2003. I then went to Las Vegas to get my masters degree. While there, I began looking for jobs working with international education. I had volunteered in my study abroad office in Indiana and knew that this was what I wanted to do. In Las Vegas I did an internship with a community college working with their international education orientation class. I also did a graduate assistantship in Las Vegas for the International Students and Scholars office. I began continually applying for jobs in international education offices and finally GCSU fit.
Q: What do you find most beneficial about your position as the GCSU Study Abroad Advisor?
A: That's a hard question! But, overall, it is so rewarding to help students explore the world. I help them do things I am really passionate about doing! I get to watch that transformation from a student who has never left the South, who has never been on an airplane, to someone who goes to Belize or Italy. They have this eye-opening, "aha" moment. Watching the transformation from this insecure, unsure young student to a blossoming self-confident student is very rewarding and invigorating.
Q: So, what are all the countries you have been to? What was your favorite?
A: I've been to Norway, France, England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece and the Czech Republic. All the countries were amazing. Each possesses their own special characteristics. Still, my favorite would have to be Norway. I spent a year there between high school and college, and it was definitely the most transformative experience. My second house dad was a pilot and one day he flew my house mom and me up to the island of Svalbard, which is north of the Arctic Circle. We were there in February when they experience 24 hours of darkness. We went on a van tour to see the wildlife during the brighter hours. That was amazing. Overall, that year taught me so much about myself, the United States and other cultures.
Q: What are your future ambitions and goals?
A: As a GCSU Study Abroad Advisor, my major goal is to encourage more individuals to go study abroad. My personal goal for the program is to get more students going on longer term programs. As an individual, I am working on my PhD through the University of Georgia. Ideally, I hope to complete than soon. One day, I would like to work with more international policy and development.
Q: Where were you raised as a child? Did you travel a lot when you were younger?
A: I was raised in the Midwest. I spent the first half of my childhood in Indiana and the second half in Illinois. My family went camping in the Midwest and visiting other places in the US, like Washington D.C. In high school, I went overseas for the first time to France.
Q: What initiated your interest for traveling the world?
A: I was interested in it for a long time before the reality of it came into fruition. The travel bug bit that first time I went to France when I was 16. From there I went to the Netherlands my senior year in high school and later spent a year in Norway. Also in high school, my family hosted an exchange student from the Czech Republic. That sparked my curiosity.
Q: So, what led you to GCSU?
A: The job! I finished my bachelor's degree in Indiana in 2003. I then went to Las Vegas to get my masters degree. While there, I began looking for jobs working with international education. I had volunteered in my study abroad office in Indiana and knew that this was what I wanted to do. In Las Vegas I did an internship with a community college working with their international education orientation class. I also did a graduate assistantship in Las Vegas for the International Students and Scholars office. I began continually applying for jobs in international education offices and finally GCSU fit.
Q: What do you find most beneficial about your position as the GCSU Study Abroad Advisor?
A: That's a hard question! But, overall, it is so rewarding to help students explore the world. I help them do things I am really passionate about doing! I get to watch that transformation from a student who has never left the South, who has never been on an airplane, to someone who goes to Belize or Italy. They have this eye-opening, "aha" moment. Watching the transformation from this insecure, unsure young student to a blossoming self-confident student is very rewarding and invigorating.
Q: So, what are all the countries you have been to? What was your favorite?
A: I've been to Norway, France, England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece and the Czech Republic. All the countries were amazing. Each possesses their own special characteristics. Still, my favorite would have to be Norway. I spent a year there between high school and college, and it was definitely the most transformative experience. My second house dad was a pilot and one day he flew my house mom and me up to the island of Svalbard, which is north of the Arctic Circle. We were there in February when they experience 24 hours of darkness. We went on a van tour to see the wildlife during the brighter hours. That was amazing. Overall, that year taught me so much about myself, the United States and other cultures.
Q: What are your future ambitions and goals?
A: As a GCSU Study Abroad Advisor, my major goal is to encourage more individuals to go study abroad. My personal goal for the program is to get more students going on longer term programs. As an individual, I am working on my PhD through the University of Georgia. Ideally, I hope to complete than soon. One day, I would like to work with more international policy and development.
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