51吃瓜

51吃瓜 (FSC) is proud to expand its study abroad options for students looking for the excitement of an international trip while giving back to their global community. Offered through the FSC Study Abroad Office, both Faculty Led Programs (FLP) are custom-made study abroad experiences created by FSC professors. FLPs are an excellent way to earn General Education credits, or credits for specialized courses in areas such as business, engineering, or nursing.  

Applications are now open for a summer 2026 service experience in the Dominican Republic with Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Marya Howell-Carter, PhD, and Assistant Professor of Psychology Brianna Gonzalez, PhD, or a summer 2026 nursing practicum in Nepal led by Assistant Professor of Nursing Tesi Thomas. 

鈥淔armingdale truly stands out for its emphasis on community and civic engagement,鈥� said Gonzalez. 鈥淥pportunities like these service-learning trips show that our College goes beyond the classroom, encouraging students and faculty to connect with communities both locally and globally. It's experiences like these that make Farmingdale unique and prepare students to become compassionate, engaged citizens.鈥� 

Service-Learning Trip in the Dominican Republic 

Since 2022, Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Marya Howell-Carter, PhD, has traveled to the Dominican Republic with Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology Bindu Annie Dulock to participate in volunteer projects hosted by a nonprofit organization that promotes community development and service learning. 

This May, the pair, along with Assistant Professor of Psychology Brianna Gonzalez, PhD, were awarded a Students First Campus Grant through the Faculty Center and a Future Funding Grant through the Office of Community and Civic Engagement which helped two FSC students join them for the week-long trip to the San Juan Province. 

The service experience centered around working directly with the surrounding community to build a new home for a family in need. Howell-Carter shared 鈥渢he physical work was definitely challenging, especially in the heat and humidity,鈥� but that was far outweighed by a strong sense of belonging. 

鈥淚t's amazing all the things that we did by hand,鈥� said Howell-Carter. 鈥淲e sifted rocky sand to mix the concrete, and we鈥檇 literally mix the concrete on the street and carry it in a bucket to wherever it needed to go. It was rewarding in many ways. The project is done in a very conscious, invested, community-driven way. We got to know the folks in the village and learned about the history and culture of the Dominican Republic. And everything was done communally, including all our meals.鈥� 

鈥淭he most rewarding aspect of this service work was seeing how deeply it impacted the family who received the new home,鈥� said Gonzalez. 鈥淚 will never forget the moment when the young daughter, Brinny, told us, 'All of my dreams came true.' She was overjoyed to finally have a room of her own and was already planning how she would decorate it with her mom. This was such an incredible trip, and we can't wait for next year's project,鈥� added Gonzalez.   

Howell-Carter hopes the service-learning experience will help future participants 鈥渇ind what they care about, what they love, and help them find meaning in their college education and a deeper connection to their community.鈥� 

Nursing Practicum in Nepal 

Thomas, who joined FSC鈥檚 Nursing Department faculty in 2024, recently participated in medical mission trips to Nepal and Uganda where she 鈥渉ad the privilege of providing life-changing healthcare services to communities with limited access to medical care.鈥� Together with her group and local organizations, Thomas helped treat nearly 1300 patients for a variety of conditions including chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, sexually transmitted infections, and critical nutritional gaps.  

鈥淏eyond medical treatment, we led educational sessions on hygiene, hypertension, and diabetes management, ensuring that the knowledge we shared would continue improving lives long after we left,鈥� she added. 鈥淏y working hand-in-hand with local providers and organizations, we are not only addressing immediate health needs but also building a foundation for long-term wellness and resilience.鈥� 

For Thomas, her ongoing medical mission work expands on her deep commitment to helping those with limited access to healthcare. 鈥淢edical mission trips serve as a beacon of hope, bringing compassionate care, life-saving treatments, and vital health education to those who would otherwise go without, empowering them with the tools to lead healthier, brighter lives,鈥� she said. 

鈥淥ne of the most rewarding moments was in Nepal, when a 72-year-old grandmother came to thank me personally after cataract surgery, saying, 鈥淚 can see you clearly now.鈥� That moment鈥攁nd many like it鈥攔eminded me why mission work is so meaningful,鈥� she added.  

Thomas鈥� collaboration with Study Abroad Manager Eric De Sena, PhD, will allow FSC nursing students to travel to Kathmandu to provide medical and community services to individuals with limited acces, while offering them the opportunity to  apply their nursing skills in real-world settings. The program will focus on essential concepts such as providing compassionate care to clients from different cultures, understanding healthcare access from a global perspective, and emphasizing disease prevention and health maintenance.  

鈥淭hese experiences have been life-changing, and I plan to continue participating in future mission trips,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淏ut community service doesn鈥檛 have to be on a global scale to make an impact鈥攅very effort counts. Stay open to learning from others, and remember that true service is about compassion, humility, and a willingness to meet people where they are.鈥� 

For more information, please visit the FSC Study Abroad Office webpage. 

---