A College of Charleston alumna working in international business, and students student combining computer science and public health with international studies recently spoke to the School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs (LCWA) Advisory Board about their experiences. The breakfast event was the idea of senior communication majors working on their capstone project.

Alumna Stephanie Rhodes ‘13, junior Eden Katz and sophomore Sarah Ford shared vibrant anecdotes about their experiences within LCWA and their plans for the future.

Rhodes graduated summa cum laude from the Honors College in 2013 with degrees in German and international business. She spoke about her educational experience within LCWA highlighting events and opportunities that led to her current position as an International Business Trainee with IFA Rotorion. Rhodes also announced her recent scholarship contribution to LCWA that will allow a student to travel to a German-speaking country this summer.

Katz is a William Aiken Fellow who plans to major in public health and international studies. Katz recounted her recent service trip to Ghana, where she worked on a project to provide clean water to locals. She told Advisory Board members about her plans to join the Foreign Service sector of the Peace Corps, and the many ways that LCWA will continue to help her achieve this goal.

Sophomore student Sarah Ford plans to major in international studies and computer science. She speaks proficient German, and is currently studying Turkish. Ford detailed her long-term goal to write smart phone apps that will enable Turkish business people to more effectively engage with the European Union.

 RELATED: Attend upcoming events in the international studies program.

“It was great to see LCWA students sharing their experiences aided by the support of the Advisory Board members and the dynamic teaching within LCWA,” says Dean David Cohen. “The extraordinary commitment of board members has produced not only a remarkable amount of support for existing initiatives but has led directly to new endeavors.”

For instance, the Advisory Board was instrumental in the development of the International Scholars Program, and provides advising and resources to LCWA students. The Advisory Board pulls on their impressive backgrounds in government, the academy and business to help LCWA in creating globally minded students.

 RELATED: Watch a video from the International Scholars May Away trip.

The event was planned and orchestrated by a group of senior communication majors: Christopher Piedmont, Sarah Hopkins, Chelsea Laing, Rebecca Boggs and Linda Daniel, who are working with LCWA throughout the academic year as a part of their final capstone coursework in the Department of Communication.