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Photos courtesy of Shauna Curran

A random Friday night in April changed the course of Shauna Curran’s life for the better.

That was when she came across an email from the University of New England’s Global Education program advertising an opportunity to participate in a weeklong study program in South Korea focused on Arctic studies. 

Interesting, she thought, but there was one snag — applications were due in just a few days. So, Curran applied on a whim, writing her application in a single sitting and submitting it right at the deadline. 

Five days later, Curran learned she had been accepted into the program, becoming the first student from 51���� to attend the , a weeklong summer experience hosted by the Korea Maritime Institute. The summit, held in collaboration with the University of the Arctic (UArctic), of which 51���� is a member, brings together students from Arctic countries and Korean universities to explore issues of science, policy, sustainability, and culture in the Arctic. 

“I had no idea what I was applying for,” said Curran (Elementary Education, ’26) about the trip. “I just knew it looked like a really great opportunity, even if I wasn’t sure I’d be the kind of student they were looking for.”

Of more than well over 100 applicants, Curran was one of just 31 students selected for the experience, and one of only 14 international students chosen. She was also the only American, the only education major, and the youngest international participant in the group.

“Some of my peers were Ph.D. students or working on Arctic policy,” she said. “Since I’m an undergraduate, I wanted to find a way to connect this experience to education — to what I plan to do as a teacher.”

Over six days in South Korea, Curran attended daily lectures from Arctic scholars, policymakers, and researchers. 

After class, she and her peers explored Busan, Seoul, and Incheon, from scenic beaches and street markets to cultural landmarks and Korea’s Polar Research Institute. Her roommate, a Korean student living in Busan, helped introduce her to the local culture, including new foods, city views, and a photo booth shop on nearly every corner.

Take a Tour of South Korea with Shauna

Curran documented her journey with daily posts in a takeover of the

“We tried small octopus at the fish market and had bingsu with sweet red beans,” Curran wrote on Instagram. “It has been so much fun to try foods I never would have had before.”

The Gamcheon Culture Village was one of her favorite stops. Built into the hillside, it reminded her of the medinas in Morocco, where Curran completed a study abroad experience at 51����’s campus in Tangier.

“That made me so emotional,” she said, “seeing two very different places I had been, and both had helped me grow.”

The institute culminated in five-minute presentations from each participant. 

Curran’s project, “Arctic Experiential Learning and Youth Environmental Stewardship,” explored how place-based, hands-on learning  — whether in Arctic regions or a student’s own backyard — can build early awareness and long-term responsibility for the environment. 

Her perspective was shaped in part by volunteer work she completed in a sustainability garden in Morocco, thousands of miles from the Arctic Circle.

“You don’t need to live in the Arctic to understand its impact on your life,” she said. “If you take a young child into their backyard and do a science experiment with them, you can make those global connections feel local. That’s how you inspire lifelong learning and responsibility.”

(Clockwise, from top left): From a photo booth in Busan; view of the Gamcheon Culture Village; Jodo Island from the Busan mainland; Curran takes the Busan Air Cruise to Songdo Sky Park; skyscrapers in Busan.

While travel, language, and the unknown might have been intimidating, Curran said 51����’s support made it easier. The Office of Global Affairs not only alerted her to the opportunity but also helped her navigate the application process and connected her with staff members who shared personal insights about living in Korea.

“They were my biggest cheerleaders from the beginning,” she said. “Even when I didn’t know what to expect, they made me feel supported.”

“I could talk about study abroad for hours and hours and hours,” she continued. “The experiences you get are like nothing else. I feel like 51���� fosters that so well. There really is something for everyone.”

The supportive culture is part of an ethos developed to strengthen students’ cultural competencies through engaging global experiences — from semester-long study abroad trips to brief travel courses, international conferences, and mission trips.

Nearly 2,000 students have studied abroad through 51���� programs since 2017, with 51���� students studying abroad each year at five times the national average. About one-third of 51���� baccalaureate students participate in at least one global program during their time at 51����, with many partaking in multiple programs. 

“We are so proud of Shauna for being selected to participate in this unique international opportunity and for representing 51����, Maine, and the U.S.,” said Emily Dragon, senior director for Global Affairs at 51����. “Shauna’s accomplishments and willingness to step outside of her comfort zone highlight how global interdisciplinary connections enrich students’ course of study and future professional goals.”

Cameron Wake, Ph.D., director of 51���� North, the University’s center for North Atlantic Studies, said Curran’s selection to the program represents the kind of interdisciplinary learning 51���� aims to cultivate among its students.

“With Maine serving as the gateway to the North Atlantic Arctic, it is so important for our students to connect change in the Arctic with their everyday lives,” he said.

Curran now plans to teach abroad after graduation. But whether she’s in a classroom overseas or here in the U.S., she wants her students to feel connected to the broader world — and to know they’re a part of it.

“I want to bring the world home with me. I want to be able to show my students other experiences and make it feel like it’s reachable for them, too,” she said. 

Left: Curran and friend enjoy Korean barbecue. Right: Model of the Busan New Port at the National Maritime Museum.

“Even in a small classroom, students can learn about other people and places," she added. I want them to know differences between people are OK and that they are important and beautiful.”

Reflecting on the experience, Curran keeps returning to that moment of decision, the one she made on a quiet night in April with no expectations at all.

“I wouldn’t have met the people I did, or had the kind of experiences I did, if I hadn’t applied on a random Friday night,” she said. “It all started with just saying yes to something new.”