Students Joy Kim and Michelle Powers Join Professor Stella Erbes to Present Research on Study Abroad Experiences at International Education Conference
Seaver College seniors Joy Kim and Michelle Powers traveled with Stella Erbes, Divisional Dean of the Humanities and Teacher Education Division and professor of teacher education, to present research on undergraduate students’ study abroad experiences at the International Conference on Research in Education, Teaching, and Learning (ICETL) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The trio shared their coauthored piece, “Studying Abroad in College: A Longitudinal Study Investigating How International Learning Experiences Transform Students,” to ICETL’s global forum of distinguished academics on November 21, 2025. The longitudinal study was the result of four years of determined data collection from 2021-2025, which Erbes, Kim, and Powers compiled and analyzed during the college’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).
Kim and Powers presenting
“This summer undergraduate research project allowed my students to become my peers,” says Erbes. “This was a great theory-to-practice experience for them. It was a collaborative effort, from the research process and ongoing journal selection down to the conference we picked.”
The study identified how the University's international programs—six campuses which span across the globe, including Florence, Heidelberg, London, Washington DC, Buenos Aires, and Hauteville, Switzerland—influenced students’ intellectual, personal, social, and spiritual development. Empirical evidence was gathered through a 32-question survey completed by a total of 467 Seaver undergraduates.
Considering the international reach of this project, Kim and Powers selected ICETL in Copenhagen. “I believe there was no better fit for presenting how impactful international travel and international education can be,” Powers explains. “It was really interesting to not only hear from other conference presenters about their experiences in education across diverse countries, but also to present how participation in education abroad has opened the door for Pepperdine to continue being globally integrated.”
Powers smiling with a friend at Pepperdine's Switzerland campus
From the beginning, Erbes shares that Kim and Powers shone as key candidates to help execute this research project. “I’ve been with Pepperdine for more than 20 years, and these two are among my top one percent.”
Both liberal studies for education majors with part-time teaching positions, fifth grade and third grade respectively, the Seaver students brought a wealth of practical experience related to educational practices. The two also carry firsthand experience of the University's study abroad programs.
A member of the University’s DC+ Academic Year program, Powers recounts that she spent a semester gaining invaluable work experience at an internship with a faith-based nonprofit. “It was great work-life balance preparation,” Powers shares. This was followed in the spring of her sophomore year with a semester at the University's Château d'Hauteville as part of the campus’ inaugural class of 2023.
Kim in the heart of Florence
Kim stayed in Florence during her sophomore year, extending her travels to Turkey and Dubai. Here, she gained personal knowledge on the transformative nature of living-learning study, adding “We spent time at universities abroad; it was so impactful comparing our life experiences with those of local students.”
A visit to Ephesus, the modern-day Turkish archaeological site and former home of the Ephesian Christians addressed in Paul’s epistle, offered Kim an opportunity to deeply connect with her faith as she walked through vestiges of the ancient city. She muses that “I loved going to Ephesus and seeing the stories in the Bible come to life. Pepperdine’s International Programs changed my life.”
These experiences allowed Kim and Powers to navigate years’ worth of data with ease. Research outcomes showed that 95 percent to 97 percent of participants reported intellectual, personal, and social growth, while 70 percent reported spiritual growth. A consensus emerged as students consistently reported that personal travel, the educational field trip, and program staff were the three elements that most greatly influenced their development (within the aforementioned categories) while abroad.
“I think a big part of our research was learning the impacts of study abroad and how it positively impacts students,” says Kim. “Our compiled data showed how studying abroad transforms students’ preconceptions and develops more globally-minded citizens.”
Erbes determines that this study’s data “will enable both researchers and practitioners to recognize the transformative experiences that living-learning study abroad communities offer.” In particular, the research offers valuable empirical evidence that affirms Pepperdine’s mission for study abroad programs to complement and enhance students’ multifaceted development.