Welcome

Welcome to Study Away in Seattle and our Spring Break Class Projects.

Offered in 2022, 2024, and 2026, this website serves to archive and present our collaborative class projects. This course experience takes a critical cultural studies approach to exploring the organizational policies and gendered communication. Follow our journey through student reflections, highlighted visits and guest speakers, and a curated class gallery of the sights, sounds, and experiences of Seattle, WA.

We Believe

In a world where all people are free to express their gender identity and sexual orientation with pride, without fear of discrimination or harassment. We believe in creating a learning environment where difference is celebrated and communities are seen for their unique qualities.

In the News

Smells Like Team Spirit:

Students' Reflections from a

Study Away in Seattle Communal ePortfolio

HumanitiesX, DePaul University’s Experiential Humanities Collaborative, and the University of Arizona’s Department of Public and Applied Humanities are delighted to present Alison Lietzenmayer and Megan Mize’s workshop “Smells Like Team Spirit: Students’ Reflections from a Study Away in Seattle Communal ePortfolio.”

Drawing on their Seattle study-away program, they’ll show how real-time, sensory-based reflection helps students capture fleeting insights and ground abstract concepts in embodied experiences, while a communal ePortfolio model shifts the dynamic from hierarchical instruction to collective authorship, building trust and deepening critical inquiry.

See a copy of their presentation here

From the Classroom to the Board Room: How Corporate Culture Impacts LGBTQIA+ Support

For the first part of the semester, students analyzed Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) of Pacific Northwest (PNW) headquartered corporations. They examined organizational content such as ads, promotions, policies, and other artifacts in order to analyze these corporations’ cultural branding through the lenses of gendered communication and organizational communication, as well as the intersection between the two. This set students up to see the ways in which the LGBTQ+ community is actually supported by these companies – in society, at home, and at work.

Read the full article here

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Through Seattle Experience, ODU Students Engage, Inquire and Grow

“Exploring LGBTQ+ organizational culture in Seattle was an immersive journey that transcended textbook knowledge,” co-teacher Megan Mize, PhD (Director, eP & Digital Initiatives) wrote. “Walking alongside students as they interacted with policy influencers and community advocates highlighted the transformative potential of education in action.”

Read the full article here

ODU Instagram: Spring Break 2024 Study Abroad & Study Away

Project Description

Through the co-creation of a collaborative course ePortfolio, we aim to transform traditional learning by fostering a communal reflection space. Through shared experiences during our trip to Seattle, we'll build a vibrant course community that challenges norms, emphasizes the collective over the individual—queering reflection. This collaborative ePortfolio celebrates diversity, amplifies voices, and promotes a deeper understanding of LGBTQ experiences.

Our Partners

Our class community is grateful for the support of the following offices who share our commitment to

high impact practices like Study Away that allow for experiential learning.