Melanie McCallon is the co-author of Faculty-led 360: Guide to Successful Study Abroad and Associate Director for Education Abroad at Murray State University (MSU), where she has been since 2001. Melanie credits her parents for being her recruiter to study abroad. Growing up on stories of their years in Europe convinced her early on that she would see the world. This translated into a semester in England and a summer in Germany as a college student. After earning her BA in Creative Writing, she taught English in Japan before returning to the U.S. to earn her MA in TESOL.
Systemized support and training for faculty who lead study abroad programs at Murray State University has led to a vast increase in faculty-led programming in recent years. And, in February, 2010, Melanie’s outstanding work with faculty and study abroad was featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Innovators in Internationalization series. She has taught various courses for the English Department, ESL Program, and the College of Education and is currently assisting with the development of a certificate in international education for MA students.
Melanie has conducted training sessions for the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) and the Appalachian College Association (ACA). Topics have included re-entry programming for students, curriculum integration, and working within the parameters of a small study abroad office. In her 10 years in the field of education abroad, Melanie has had the opportunity to expand study abroad participation at Murray State while developing international professional development programs and numerous other projects, including an International Education Week that produces more than 30 events annually. Working directly with faculty in program development and with students in program preparation are her two favorite things to do.
