By Dr. Virginia Thompson, Dr. Yonghong McDowell and Dr. Dawn Roberts-Semple
The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) at the College of Staten Island sponsored an Educational and Cultural Tour to Peru from April 2 through April 10, 2026. A total of 20 CUNY faculty, alums, and staff participated in this professional development initiative, including three faculty members from York College – Dr. Dawn Roberts-Semple, Dr. Virginia Thompson, and Dr. Yonghong McDowell.
The objectives for all participants were to learn about Peru’s higher education system through campus visits and briefings; to gain a cross-cultural perspective through tours of Peru’s archaeological and cultural sites, including Machu Picchu; and to expand international education opportunities at CUNY institutions. We were invited to tour classrooms, view student work, and engage in conversations with students and faculty at several Peruvian universities.
We observed architecture, students’ handcrafted building models, and met with faculty who guided us through their laboratories to demonstrate how students are trained for careers in the medical field. These experiences gave us valuable insight into institutional practices that support academic excellence and student engagement.
Our participation in this educational tour also strengthened professional relationships among the faculty across CUNY campuses. We shared experiences, exchanged insights on research initiatives, observed diverse teaching methodologies—including the integration of technology into classroom instruction—and shared effective practices in the development and administration of Study Abroad programs.
Overall, the experience contributed to the participants’ professional growth, broadened their global perspectives, and reinforced their commitment to advancing international collaboration in higher education. The tour yielded meaningful academic, pedagogical, and institutional benefits that support CUNY’s mission of global engagement and faculty development. More specifically:
Dr. Roberts-Semple has connected with Peruvian institutions for collaboration in environmental science research, particularly air quality monitoring, acknowledged as a critical need that administrators are eager to introduce at several institutions, including the University of Lima, Monterrico Public Higher Pedagogical School, and Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (ICPNA). This collaboration has the potential to create research opportunities for Environmental Health Science (EHS) majors in her department and interdisciplinary work with STEM faculty in other departments.Dr. Thompson is following up with the universities for potential research collaborations in her field of study: online learning, educational technology, artificial intelligence in education, open education, and open pedagogy. In addition, during a visit to the Fulbright Program of Peru, she decided to become a future Fulbright scholar to extend her research within international contexts and expand her career goals in ways she had not previously considered. Throughout the trip, she was reminded of the dedication and integrity with which CUNY faculty educate students, and she felt grateful to be part of such a system. Upon returning to York College, Dr. Thompson contacted and met with the Study Abroad Program Director (Dr. Hamid Bahri) to discuss potential improvements to the program and strategies for increasing student participation in future opportunities. Dr. McDowell has discussed potential National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunities for joint research focused on implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business Management and Mathematics classrooms with Professor Chandan Acharya of the Chazanoff School of Business at the College of Staten Island, who also participated in the trip.
Additionally, the Universidad Andina del Cusco has invited us to return for a 15-day stay to explore further research and collaboration opportunities. Looking ahead, our goal is to continue leveraging the knowledge and connections gained through this professional development program to design innovative curricula, expand study abroad opportunities for students, and develop collaborative research projects that bridge CUNY Campuses and international perspectives. By integrating global best practices into STEM education and higher-education pedagogy, we will continue to create transformative learning experiences that prepare students for success in an increasingly interconnected world.
We extend deep appreciation to the Office of Academic Affairs at York College for providing funding for our professional development Educational and Cultural Tour to Peru, which was, overall, an enriching and memorable experience.
May 21, 2026 12:54 PM