Siena is changing the way students experience the world and rewriting best practices for marketing the experience... other colleges have noticed.
Over the winter break, Matt Schiesel '15 and Abi Cavazos, assistant directors for Study Abroad in the Center for International Programs, produced a series of videos highlighting study abroad opportunities for Siena students. The videos cover all need-to-know information about going abroad, and they can be found literally at students' fingertips. The five IGTV videos were posted on the @sienaabroad Instagram account, part of a larger initiative by International Programs to leverage the social media platform and meet students where they are. The account, which features student takeovers, Throwback Thursdays, story highlights and more, aims to showcase the international experiences of the Siena community - everything from the most beloved memories from host countries to where students abroad have found the best food. (It’s a tie between Italy and Spain.)
Siena's digital approach to marketing international programs was spotlighted at The Forum on Education Abroad's 17th Annual National Conference this week. Through a virtual presentation, Schiesel offered tips on how to craft strategic social media posts to engage Generation Z.
Siena's International Programs team also developed and launched a new blog site: sienastudyabroad.weebly.com. Built by Kyle Loughlin '20, the site features general information on study abroad, an extensive gallery of student photos and weekly blog posts highlighting the international experiences of the Siena community. Loughlin, who studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia his junior year, graduated with a B.S. in finance last spring and is currently in the Siena MBA program while working for Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company.
To chat with a study abroad advisor and begin planning an international adventure, students can email international@siena.edu.
"As we approach a year since the start of the pandemic, international travel is becoming available to Siena students once again. International Programs has ensured all study abroad programs and locations have proper measures in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes comprehensive health and safety protocols, academic flexibility through a mixture of in-person, online and hybrid courses, and individual, trusted support on-the-ground. Four Siena students are studying abroad this spring semester and many more are currently planning their study abroad experiences for the upcoming academic year."
Matt Schiesel '15, assistant director for study abroad
"The blog stemmed from one of my MBA courses here at Siena and it seemed to fit really well as a platform with what Matt and I were trying to accomplish. There have been plenty of times where I get to utilize information from both my undergraduate and graduate course from Siena into my role at the study abroad office. This blog has also been a resource for me to showcase some of my skills to employers after Siena. I just accepted an offer from Ayco, Goldman Sachs, and during the interview process, we talked about my time abroad as well as projects I take on in International Programs."
Kyle Loughlin '20, G'21
