Roane Grantham (center), chair of the Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy, meets with Women's Council scholars Reese Milstead (left) and Makayla Russell while all three were in Italy at the same time last summer. The University of Mississippi students were able to study abroad in Italy thanks to funds provided by the council's Global Leadership Circle. Submitted photo
Global Leadership Circle program creates life-changing study abroad experiences
Reese Milstead and Makayla Russell, two University of Mississippi juniors, crossed several international borders last summer when they decided to step way outside their comfort zones.
As Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy scholars, Milstead and Russell had an opportunity to study in Florence, Italy. Thanks to the council’s Global Leadership Circle program, the students journeyed across more than half a dozen time zones and encountered new languages and cultures.
Upon their return, both students had renewed confidence.
“If I can go all the way to Italy and successfully navigate train trips and other travel challenges for six weeks, I feel like I can do anything,” Russell said.
Milstead agreed that the experience had changed her outlook on what she can achieve.
“We were two young women who had never been to that side of the world, so initially, it was intimidating to hop on trains and stay in places that were dramatically unfamiliar,” she said. “But by the end of our study abroad trip, we came home far more confident in our abilities than when we left.”
Russell, an integrated marketing communications major, grew up in the small town of Wesson. Before Ole Miss, she never imagined she would live in Italy for six weeks.
However, shortly after enrolling at the university, her horizons expanded.
“As a freshman here, one of the first events I attended was a Women’s Council retreat for new and returning scholars,” Russell said. “There, the possibility of being able to study abroad was introduced.
“I started warming up to the idea, and it wasn’t long before I knew it would be good for me to step outside my comfort zone and see this experience through.”
Milstead, a communication sciences and disorders major from Kansas City, Kansas, was inspired to see more of the world by her grandmother who studied abroad while she was in college.
“She always told me it was her most life-changing experience,” Milstead said. “I wanted to have that same experience while I was a student.”
Providing OMWC scholars with vital resources they need to have transformative experiences, such as being able to study abroad or obtain an internship, is precisely the aim of the Global Leadership Circle.
The GLC supports experiential learning by providing Women’s Council scholars with financial assistance for internships in the United States and around the world. It also offers resources for study abroad programs and unique professional learning opportunities.
“The Women’s Council is dedicated to expanding the horizons of our scholars while encouraging them to be caring and compassionate leaders,” said Karen Moore, a council member. “The Global Leadership Circle program is one of the most important tools we have to assist us with these efforts.”
When Russell and Milstead committed to a study abroad experience, the GLC provided the resources to make their dreams of attending college classes in Europe a reality.
“Once we were informed that GLC funds were available for our trip, it occurred to us that we had to be prepared to ensure we made the most of this remarkable opportunity,” Russell said.
“We had never traveled outside of the U.S. without our families, so we were a little nervous because we had no idea how to navigate alone,” Milstead added.
The students immersed themselves in Italian culture through coursework at Ole Miss, including a class on the food and other aspects of the regions they would likely encounter.
“One of our professors took us to lectures on Italian culture, and we went to gelato and wine tastings,” Russell said. “We even took homemade pasta classes.”
The preparation turned out to be enormously beneficial.
The scholars discovered they were able to adapt to the unfamiliar culture and even recognize enough words to lower the language barrier, quickly becoming comfortable exploring new cities and overcoming the challenges they encountered.
While the students were studying in Italy, they had the opportunity to visit with Roane Grantham, a longtime Women’s Council member who was recently named as chair of the scholarship program.
“Reflecting on our trip, those six weeks abroad have allowed me to broaden my mindset and my future career possibilities,” Russell said.
“I can add that the experience has given me more confidence in my ability to overcome more of the obstacles we all will encounter in life after college,” Milstead said.
“Makayla and I are so grateful to the members of the Women’s Council and this incredible scholarship program, as well as all those who support the Global Leadership Circle. Because of their support, we and future OMWC scholars can have these opportunities.”
To learn more about supporting the Global Leadership Circle, contact Suzanne Helveston, program director, at shelveston@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2956.
By Anna Williams
