Concordia Nebraska Director of Global Opportunities Julie Hermann encourages faculty and staff to lead mission trips and study abroad trips through new program

Earlier this year, Concordia University, Nebraska’s Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund awarded Concordia University, Nebraska Director of Global Opportunities Julie Hermann a grant to form a campus-based mission and study trip leader training series for select university faculty and staff, as well as practical experiences for these interested members to prepare to lead, advocate for or plan a travel opportunity.  

“Last fall when the call for grants went out, I requested funds and received a grant for a project I’ve always wanted to do: have a training for trip leaders where they would get to experience a trip themselves before leading one,” said Hermann. “I got the idea from another university. This experiences prepared leaders for both study abroad experiences and mission trip experiences with students.” 

Hermann is in charge of the university’s GO! Center, which provides students with connections, information and resources to study, intern, take a mission trip or tour abroad.  

“I’ve been working with campus trip leaders for years, always encouraging faculty and staff to consider leading study tours and mission experiences with classes, teams and student clubs,” she said. “This off-site training opportunity allows campus leaders to experience first-hand the nuances and best practices of leading mission and travel experiences.” 

Participants in the training included Amy Hubach, Dr. Hannah Kroonblawd, Kellie Nelson, Dr. Teddie Genter, Dr. Nolan Harms, Dr. Jamie Hink, Kindra Olson, Melissa Davis and Dr. Vicki Anderson. In the spring, Hermann met with the group to explain best practices, the value of these trips and other topics.  

“This off-site training opportunity allows campus leaders to experience first-hand the nuances and best practices of leading mission and travel experiences.”

In June, part of the group traveled to Belize, an experience that included work with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Office of International Mission, serving at a Lutheran preschool in story time and class time with students, a service project at a library and cultural exploration including Mayan ruins and a cooking experience. Trip attendees included Hubach, Nelson, Kroonblawd and Hermann. 

“This was a ‘quick plunge’ trip to allow these potential leaders to see what could happen on a mission or study trip,” said Hermann. 

She said she is planning another similar training experience for interested faculty and staff this fall. The trip to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. will be coordinated through one of the university’s study abroad partners, Living & Learning International, a Christian study abroad entity.  

Both the summer Belize trip and the fall Baltimore and Washington, D.C. trip were funded in part through the Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund grant. 

“We have many others who are interested in leading trips in the future, too,” said Hermann. “It’s exciting to see the interest and involvement grow. Not only do trip attendees learn how to organize these trips and make them successful, they become passionate advocates for study abroad and mission trips and share that enthusiasm in their classes and around campus. It’s just a wonderful thing.” 

The Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund was developed as part of Concordia University, Nebraska’s SALT and LIGHT strategic plan to encourage and celebrate faculty and student scholarship, with a particular focus on how different disciplines intersect with the Christian faith. Learn more about the fund here.