Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) Extension and International Programs (EIP) is a team dedicated to meeting the professional and educational needs of CSUF, the surrounding Southern California community, and the global workforce.
We offer numerous resources for every stage of life, including online bachelor’s degree completion, professional development certificates and microcredentials, flexible master’s programs, online courses and career training, study abroad and exchange programs, a fully accredited arboretum, and active multi-generational learning through OLLI. We also provide university access through our Summer Session, Winter Session, and Open University programs.
This month, we’re getting to know two EIP employees from the International Programs department, Shari Merrill and Abigail Segura!
Meet Shari!
- Where are you from? Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- What’s your position title? Associate Director, Study Abroad and Global Engagement (SAGE).
- Tell us a little more about what you do for EIP. I oversee the Study Abroad and Global Engagement (SAGE) programs (semester, year-long, short-term, faculty-led, virtual, internships, and post-graduate opportunities). For Department/Faculty-Led Programs, I provide support to the faculty and guide them through the process of studying abroad. I advise special populations, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, veterans, and military-connected individuals who are interested in our programs. I also co-lead the Global Titans Ambassador Leadership Development Program with Programs Lead Abby Segura and provide support to her as needed.
- How many countries have you traveled to? 16 countries: Belgium, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.
- Which one was your favorite? It’s hard to choose – I would have to say the Basque region of Spain and France, which I had the opportunity to visit as a grad student on a 2-week faculty-led program (my indoctrination into faculty-led program planning). Leading up to the program, our class learned about the Basque language (I am a linguistics nerd) and its importance to the survival of this indigenous population over the course of history. I know it’s a common way to describe study abroad but it was transformative, although this was my third study abroad experience, to immerse myself in the Basque language and culture in real life and understand how they connect to what I understand about the world and my own experiences.
Meet Abby!
- Where are you from? Born and raised in Fullerton, CA.
- What’s your position title? Programs Lead, Study Abroad and Global Engagement (SAGE).
- Tell us a little more about what you do for EIP. I support faculty and students with short-term study abroad experiences. I guide students through their study abroad journey, from the initial application process, during their program, and re-entry. I organize our Study Abroad Fair every semester, create and coordinate social media, represent SAGE at on-campus events, and prepare annual Open Doors Reports.
- How many countries have you traveled to? 12 countries.
- Which one was your favorite? Thailand is my favorite. It was my first study abroad as an undergrad at CSUF.
Stay tuned for our next “Get to Know EIP” article, where we’ll interview two more EIP team members from another department!
To learn more about the various programs offered through CSUF EIP, including Study Abroad and Global Engagement, please visit https://extension.fullerton.edu/. We’re here to help you reach your learning and development goals.