International visitors give SCC a glimpse into different cultures

On Monday, April 17, 18 female participants of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs International Visitor Leadership Program, representing countries such as Bahrain, Ghana, Macedonia, Yemen and Zambia, toured SCC's Sanford/Lake Mary Campus during the final leg of their U.S. tour.

The approximately 5,000 annual participants of the program are hand-selected by the U.S. Embassy in their respective countries to tour the U.S. in an attempt to increase mutual understanding through communication at the personal and professional levels.

Participants are established or potential foreign leaders in government, politics, media, education, science, labor relations and other key fields. The women who visited SCC not only came from foreign nations, but diverse personal and professional backgrounds including educators, physicians and political activists.

"As the women introduced themselves to the deans, department chairs, faculty and staff who were present that day, I was reminded how different and yet how similar we are," said Yolanda Williams Assistant to the President for Diversity and Equity. "One woman, who identified herself as a women's rights activist, said her emphasis was in human trafficking. Another is the director of an orphanage. It was humbling to know that they had traveled to the U.S. to learn from us when they are faced with struggles many of us will hopefully never experience."

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SCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.