Service is essential to personal, academic and professional growth. The Office of Outreach Global offers service-learning programs that provide students, faculty, staff and alumni with opportunities to engage in diverse cultures, enhance academic skills and explore career pathways in today’s global economy.
The office provides service-learning programs in Africa, Asia and Europe, and additional services such as Global Community Day Festival, Fulbright in the Classroom, GlobalConnect Camp for local citizens and customized training programs for our global partners. Faculty, staff and alumni contribute their expertise to develop practical solutions for global partners, creating impact both at home and abroad.
Two faculty members share the meaningful impact of their service initiatives to audiences in both Alabama and Ghana, respectively.
Chenetra D. Buchannon, a visiting clinical assistant professor in the College of Education’s Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling addresses the power of service.
“Yes!” was the response to myself when I saw the announcement for the Ghana Service-Learning Program. I was beyond excited about visiting Africa and eager to know how I could serve,” said Buchannon. “I was taught to give and serve others no matter how big or small. I also understood that we are part of a global community in need of attention.”
“Social justice and outreach are foundational principles for counseling psychology, and as a psychologist providing counseling is one way for me to serve communities personally and professionally. My counseling service experience was meaningful because I was able to provide access to care that is limited to many community residents,” said Buchannon. “I recognized that counseling in Ghana meant assisting residents with navigating the needs of their families and the conditions of their environment—not a sole focus on the residents as individuals—emphasizing the need for cultural humility as a driving force for global service.”
Through her experience, Buchannon saw firsthand how her counseling services extended beyond her interaction with residents during the sessions.
“The experience stretched my cross-cultural counseling skills and highlighted the power of expressing warmth, care, and grace for human connection. I learned that my counseling service began long before residents entered counseling room, said Buchannon. “It started when I greeted large groups of people, talked with families, handed stuffed animals to children and played with babies.”
Buchannon concludes that service is a powerful tool that builds relationships, teaches compassion and provides support for communities.
Jason Bryant, Ph.D., the director of the Truman Pierce Institute and a clinical professor in Educational Leadership was also a participant in Outreach Global’s programming. Bryant reacts to his time with the Fulbright in the Classroom program.
“Participating in the Fulbright in the Classroom program has been one of the most rewarding service experiences of my academic career. Growing up in rural Alabama, I understand firsthand what it means to feel geographically and culturally distant from the broader world. Travel was not part of my childhood experience, and international destinations felt more like fiction than possibility. Yet teachers and mentors who shared their own experiences planted seeds of curiosity that grew into a genuine hunger to see the world beyond my hometown, a hunger that carried me to Australia and back into classrooms much like the ones I once sat in,” said Bryant. “Sharing those experiences with high school students across rural Alabama has reinforced why this outreach matters deeply. Many of the students I visited live in communities where international travel feels out of reach financially, logistically or simply because no one in their circle has ever done it.”
Bryant notes the curiosity the students displayed and the opportunities for deeper understanding.
“What struck me most was the students' curiosity. Their questions were thoughtful and sincere, touching on culture, education, opportunity and what life looks like somewhere entirely different. That curiosity is the foundation of informed, engaged citizens, and it deserves to be cultivated regardless of where a student grows up or what resources surround them,” said Bryant.
“The Fulbright in the Classroom program reminds us that education extends beyond classroom walls. By bringing the world into schools with limited access to global perspectives, we invest in students who will one day lead their communities with broader vision and deeper understanding.”
Elizabeth Quansah, director of Outreach Global concludes service for Outreach Global is more than just volunteering; it is a commitment to improving the lives of others and strengthening society. She encourages more faculty, staff and students to join the office to provide more services to local and global audience. Visit the office of Outreach Global.
