Battle Ground Academy News

As our world continues to become more interconnected, BGA is providing students with new opportunities to engage on a global level. Launching in Fall 2023, the Global Studies concentration will allow students to explore their interests through a specially designed architecture of curriculum.

“The concentration is geared toward creating global mindsets so that students look at every day with the same adventure and curiosity as when they are immersed into a new culture through travel,” said Leigh Roberts ’95, Director of Student Engagement and Global Studies.

Participating students will take a variety of courses designed to enhance their global awareness. From interdisciplinary seminar classes to world language studies and capstone projects, students will dive deeply into global economies, politics, current events, and cultures.

“The concentrations allow students to expand the walls of the classroom and engage in experiential opportunities that amplify their education and overall BGA experience,” said Josh Montgomery, Head of Upper School.

Committed to fostering a bold academic program, as outlined in the school’s 2019 Strategic Plan, BGA’s academic concentrations – including Entrepreneurial Leadership, STEM, and now Global Studies – give students opportunities for deeper focus and meaningful exploration into an area of academic interest and the chance to develop and engage with a network within their preferred fields.

“Every concentration is built upon a desire to equip students with at-large and in-detail thinking skills. Global Studies seeks to also build upon the idea of  ‘glocal’ thinking where students identify the interconnection between the global and local, empowering students to be agents of change in their local communities as well as the broader world,” said Montgomery.

“You don’t always have to travel outside the U.S. to immerse yourself in other cultures,” said Roberts. “Being aware of your surroundings in your own community can instantly connect you to the whole world.”

“With increased access to news and media, this generation of students is more aware of the issues that our nation, society, and globe are facing,” said Dustin Lynn, Director of College Counseling. “The new concentration allows students to learn more about topics that they connect with as they desire to make a change in the world.”

Students Engaging Globally

To further enhance the curriculum, Global Studies students will also participate in a 10-day immersive experience either domestically or internationally. In past years, the World Language department has facilitated a domestic travel immersive language experience for Spanish and French students to Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji, Minn. Other study-abroad experiences include trips to Spain and France and “glocal” trips to other states, such as Florida and Texas, where students can learn about international business and issues from many different lenses and explore other cultures more deeply.

Additionally, students can apply for travel grants through the Experiential Education Grant to explore opportunities outside of the classroom and abroad. Once the experience is completed, students use the knowledge they’ve gained to give back to the school community through activities such as service learning or assembly programs. Liz Napier ’23 recently used the grant for an educational experience in Spain.

“Learning in an experiential environment allowed me to grow intellectually and as a global citizen in our community,” Napier said.

“During my five-week trip and homestay in rural Spain, I experienced true Spanish culture while sharpening my language skills – both of which have shaped me into the student and person I am today and my college plans.”

Liz will attend Washington and Lee University as a Laurent and Elizabeth Boetsch Honor Scholarship recipient in the fall. The four-year, full-tuition scholarship recognizes an entering first-year student with an exemplary academic and extracurricular record who intends to major in Romance languages.

With well-established travel programs, long-lasting international exchange relationships, and opportunities for more culturally immersive experiences domestically, BGA is preparing students to be global citizens as they enter college and beyond.

“As colleges become more selective, they are keenly aware of how students identify and engage with their interests,” Lynn said. “By expanding our concentrations, we are providing BGA students with a platform to take part in opportunities beyond our campus and the resources to demonstrate their intellectual curiosity beyond that of traditional curriculum.”

By encouraging students to see their studies through a global lens, BGA is preparing its future graduates to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. The Global Studies curriculum combines innovative learning techniques with culturally immersive experiences to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

“Students will collaborate with faculty members to ensure that what they are learning in the classroom connects with the experiences they are having out of the classroom,” said Roberts. “I want students completing this concentration to be true global citizens, to be inspired by the world around them, and to be able to identify the simple connections that link all of us together.”

Alumni Abroad

According to Roberts, the global conversation has always been a part of the BGA experience. Many BGA alumni have formulated their curiosity and love of travel into rewarding career paths across the U.S. and abroad.

Amanda Wickham Dixon ’97 joined the Department of State in 2010 as a consular officer and has since served in Africa, Mexico, Washington, D.C., Pakistan, and Romania. Her upcoming assignment is a Fellowship at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., where she will be earning a master’s in war, diplomacy, and society. Dixon says she always knew she wanted to travel the globe, learn about new cultures, and help people along the way, but she credits her initial interest in international travel to the four years of French language during her time at BGA.

Over her career, Dixon has been on the front lines of some of the world’s largest events. Stationed on the border of Romania and Ukraine, she recently assisted U.S. citizens and their Ukrainian family members in seeking refuge during the Russian invasion. She emphasizes the importance of helping students discover their passions at a young age.

“Having a global perspective is absolutely critical,” said Dixon. “It changes the way you see yourself in the world and your role in it. It also helps people understand local issues so much better.”

Geoff Dinneen ’06 currently serves as a group financial controller for a private equity-owned group headquartered in London. Earning a bachelor’s degree at McGill University in Montreal instilled his love of international travel. While in college, Dinneen attended the London School of Economics and cultivated an interest in accountancy, eventually joining KPMG Corporate Audit. Now residing in the English countryside with his family, Dinneen manages teams across the United Kingdom and Germany. He enjoys the constant exposure to customers and colleagues across Europe and the rest of the world, which have afforded him opportunities to work in Switzerland and Hungary earlier in his career. Dinneen says that the advanced curriculum at BGA helped him establish a strong work ethic that prepared him for life abroad.

“Having a genuine interest in the media, history, or literature of other countries can broaden your horizons just as much as travel, if not more so,” said Dinneen. “That’s not to say you have to be a world traveler by the time you are 18; I never even visited England before my year abroad.”

Jennifer Lee ’90 currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland, where she serves as a learning and development specialist at Würth Business Academy. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tulane University, Lee spent a few years in Taiwan teaching English to children. Shortly after, she moved to Germany to continue studying psychology and eventually took jobs as a trainer and facilitator for companies like Audi, Zurich Insurance Company, and many others.

In her current role, Lee designs and facilitates seminars for management development programs with a range of top-level managers and expert guest speakers. Lee says her BGA education prepared her for a life abroad by challenging her thoughts and opinions and encouraging her to approach topics from multiple angles. Her passion for learning continues, and she believes the Global Studies program will cultivate future generations of global citizens.

“Being able to think globally early on fosters empathy, acceptance, creativity, and problem-solving skills,” said Lee. “It makes us humble and want to change things for the good of everyone, and not just for a selected few.”

BGA has already had great response to this new concentration, which will officially launch this fall. More information can be found at battlegroundacademy.org.