Dr. Stephanie Welsh — Associate Professor of Psychology & Director of Institutional Effectiveness
Hello! I am the creator of this Study Abroad program. Dr. McMasters, Dr. Matthews and I will be accompanying the students on their European adventure!
As a self-proclaimed nerd, I am a proud Ravenclaw with an adventurer’s spirit. I share my love of traveling with my high school sweetheart, Sean (right). I’ve lived oversees twice (Sevilla, Spain and Aberystwyth, Wales) and visited over a dozen countries on three continents, including Africa. And though I could list several European cities as my favorite places in the world, Ireland has a special place in my heart. In fact, I consider Ireland to be a “home away from home.” If you ask me about the places I’ve been, I can go on for ages; so, beware! It’s probably no surprise, then, that my favorite activity is reading young adult fantasy and adventure novels (can you tell?). This is another topic I can discuss at length, and I’m always happy to give book suggestions! My daughter’s name, Athena (the little girl), was inspired both by Rick Riordan’s books and our trip to Athens, Greece. My son’s name, Rowan (the baby) is inspired by Sarah Maas’s books and the Celtic Tree of Life (which is a Rowan tree). It is my greatest pleasure to share my passion for travel and adventure with Carson-Newman students. There is no more enriching and enlightening experience as to explore the perspectives of others through travel. Let the adventure begin!
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Dr. Wesley Scott McMasters — Associate Professor of English & Director of the Appalachian Cultural Center
I’m an American literature scholar and a poet, so travel holds an important place in my heart and life for many different reasons. I love to see how American writers have experienced and lived abroad – Hemingway, for example, frequented Le Deux Magots when he lived in Paris, so that café (in the picture above) was a stop for me with a group of C-N students on a trip to Paris in 2019. I love studying poetry from all around the world, especially when I’m in places that are relevant to the work – and writing poetry while I’m traveling, of course.
Dr. Lisa Matthews — Assistant Professor of Counseling
Hi! I’m Dr. Lisa Matthews. Some of my earliest international travel came through my own study abroad experience backpacking Europe as a college student. My bio picture is one that I took on that trip, over 20 years ago! That experience gave me the opportunity to encounter places I had previously known only through books and classrooms, and it sparked a lasting love of travel. Of all the places I’ve visited, Spain and Austria are two of my favorites (but it is hard to choose).
Since then, I have continued to travel throughout the United States and internationally, but my favorite trips tend to have a few things in common: beautiful places to explore (love our national parks!), really good food (take me to ANY foodie city), and opportunities to experience something new (flamenco dancing, anyone?). When I’m not teaching, counseling, or traveling, I spend most of my time with my husband and our two daughters. As a family, we enjoy being outside, exploring new places, and simply spending time together.
I believe travel offers a unique kind of education that simply can’t be replicated in the classroom. It invites us to step outside what is familiar, become curious about other people and ways of living, and sometimes reconsider assumptions we didn’t realize we held. As both a counselor and an educator, I value these experiences, and I am excited to help Carson-Newman students experience the learning, adventure, and growth that can happen when we encounter more of the world!
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