WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Students at Westfield State University are getting the chance to explore different cultures and perspectives through global opportunities.
As part of its 185th anniversary celebrations, the university held its ‘Going Global event’ Thursday night. It’s a fundraiser initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden on students who wish to travel and study abroad.
The university’s president, Dr. Linda Thompson told 22News, it’s a step in internationalizing the campus and preparing their graduates for success in an interconnected world. “The thing is the competition in the future is not going to be just the United States their competition is going to be from people from all over the world. And we want them to have an appreciation for all the opportunities and not be held back by anything,” said Dr. Thompson.
The event speaker for the night was Mary Lou McDonald, the first female president of Ireland’s Sinn Fein party. She spoke about her experience in addressing Ireland’s challenges from the housing crisis to the economic crisis.
Kayleigh Thomas is a digital reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Kayleigh on X @kayleighcthomas and view her bio to see more of her work.