FEA's Equal Access Run

When people ask me how I work to support social justice, I tell them I support FEA. Since its founding 10 years ago, FEA has worked to increase access for Black, Latinx, Asian, community college, and first-generation college students—the students least likely to study abroad. Students of Color represented just 30% of the study abroad population in 2017/2018, with only 6% Black and 10% Latinx. While progress has been made over the last decade, there’s so much more work to do.

Those of us who have had the privilege of studying abroad know how transformative the experience can be. Research shows that study abroad builds empathy, intercultural humility, independence, and confidence, and it prepares students for careers like no other experience. It’s imperative that ALL students benefit from this experience—not just privileged students. Through its scholarships for underrepresented students, FEA works to reduce financial barriers and increase access.

Study abroad isn’t happening this fall, and the study abroad field is on pause. But when we return, I want us to be better. Let’s work together now to make sure study abroad is more accessible to students of color and other underrepresented groups.