Continuing a Legacy of Global Engagement

Houghton’s commitment to global engagement is longstanding and widely celebrated. I recognized it clearly as a candidate for the presidency. It was particularly encouraging to me as much of my faculty career included education abroad and international engagement. Prior to coming to Houghton, I traveled, taught and worked with students in Africa, Europe and Asia. My work with faculty and students from other countries created continued opportunities for my American students’ learning and engagement. Most meaningful of all, I was able to see and experience firsthand the power of international study for students, as they saw that despite sometimes significant national and cultural differences, people around the world and our various challenges are more similar and interconnected than often understood.

Hands-On Learning Around the World

Houghton’s commitment to global engagement, grounded in its Christian faith, is part of what makes Houghton such a unique and exciting place of learning. We have always understood that our Christian faith transcends the bounds of nations, and we have recognized that one’s patriotism needs never be at odds with loving and serving brothers and sisters from other nations. Most important, we have understood that the Great Commission summons us to lives of Christian evangelism, discipleship and service “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).Through Houghton’s London Honors program, students are immersed in literature and culture and engage with faculty and peers through a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, all while experiencing the city of London’s people, art, music, theatre, architecture, food and faith communities. Students in Houghton’s Science Honors program enjoy a learning experience that is so much more than learning about science. The curriculum includes hands-on research experiences that require students to do science. Science Honors students engage with their faculty and peers while simultaneously engaging and learning about Puerto Rico’s beautiful environment, people and culture.

The Great Commission in Action

In addition to the honors and general curriculum study abroad opportunities available to Houghton students, the opportunity to travel for missions ministry continues to be a mainstay of the University. Central to Houghton’s identity as a Christian university is equipping students to carry the Gospel and be the hands and feet of Jesus locally and globally. In recent years, Highlanders have served in places including Brazil, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic and Nicaragua. As a group, Houghton’s student athletes are the largest group of Highlanders to participate in global missions. Over a four-year experience, Houghton’s student athletes will have at least one opportunity to serve globally through sports ministry. Participation in global missions as students is one of the ways that Highlanders begin their ministry experience and gain understanding that will be foundational for future world missions ministry through their churches and parachurch mission organizations.

While we continue to strengthen and expand opportunities for Houghton students to study and serve abroad, most Houghton students’ college experience will not include international travel. As such, we believe it is vitally important to ensure that the Houghton curriculum includes various opportunities to engage the world from our campus. Different from when Houghton began this work, the Internet has made meaningful engagement with experts, leaders and other students from across the globe much easier than in previous eras. The Houghton faculty continue to engage with colleagues and institutions worldwide, and use their learning and relationships to connect the Houghton campus with international people and places.

A Global Community in Western New York

Arguably the most important element of Houghton’s continued global engagement is the international students we are privileged to welcome to our campus community as Highlanders. Houghton has long been a place that intentionally recruits and welcomes international students. I know this not just from yearbook pictures and Houghton Star articles, but because I have had the blessing of meeting and knowing so many Houghton alumni who came to Houghton from places including Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama and South Africa. Current students and recent graduates include students whose homes are in some of these countries as well as Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Japan, Malaysia, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, South Korea and Zimbabwe. Houghton’s international students’ presence, their culture, their voices and their experiences contribute to the incredibly rich, culturally diverse Christian community that makes Houghton such a beautiful and wonderful place to live, learn and grow.