GSEHD student Lexus Bivins (master's, International Education) published an essay, “Intersectionality: An Account by a Minority Student with a Disability Studying Abroad” on Diversity Abroad’s website. As an international studies major, Bivins explained she was required to study abroad. In the article, she details her experiences, both during the planning phase and time abroad in Santiago, Chile. As a black-albino female with a visual impairment, Bivins had questions about how her experience would be traveling internationally, what accommodations she could expect, and how she would be perceived by the locals. Though she voiced her concerns early on in the planning process, she didn't receive much in the way of support or answers, just basically told to check online herself. She felt alone in her particular circumstances, and given the particular program was new, didn't have access to feedback to know what to expect. Read more about her discouraging time on the ground and how she felt in her article.
Bivins said she wrote the article, developed in her Writing for Publication in Education class taught by Dr. Bernhard Streitwieser, "in an attempt to persuade study abroad advisors, university administration, and students to consider the role that student’s identities could play in their experience abroad." She feels that administrators and study abroad advisors should "act as advocates for students’ needs and help to ensure that partner institutions are held accountable." In addition, Bivins encourage other students to advocate for themselves and "voice our concerns in order to make the best choices for ourselves, our safety, and our wellbeing."
Lexus Bivins is a first year Master’s student in International Education. Her research interests include diversity and inclusion in study abroad and students with disabilities in higher education.