Penn State DuBois professor co-presents at international education conference

DUBOIS, Pa. - Sarah Pierotti, assistant professor of human development and family studies at Penn State DuBois, recently co-presented at the Pennsylvania Council for International Education (PACIE) Conference.

Pierotti joined University Park colleagues Nikki Mattson, teaching professor of applied linguistics, and Brian Fronk, associate professor of mechanical engineering, to present "Local Faculty, Global Mindsets: Supporting COIL Readiness through the EDGE Journey Resource Map." During the session, Pierotti highlighted her work with Penn State's Experiential Digital Global Engagement (EDGE) Project, a collaborative learning experience in which her Penn State students partner with peers at Universidad Latina de América in Morelia, Mexico, under the guidance of faculty member Diego Prado.

Through the EDGE Project, students work to strengthen cultural empathy, build international connections and develop global perspectives. Pierotti noted that helping her students engage with peers in Mexico has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her teaching career.

"Becoming more familiar with the work Penn State Global does, as well as meeting and collaborating with colleagues across the commonwealth, has been inspiring," Pierotti said. "I look forward to launching this fall's EDGE project and continuing to help students develop cross-cultural connections."