Since its introduction in 1997, Missouri Southern State University has consistently dedicated its fall semesters towards cultural exploration. Each year, the fall semester is themed around a specific country, encouraging global learning opportunities across campus. This cultural appreciation spans outside the classrooms as well, and MSSU has shown consistent dedication to offering study abroad opportunities for students. Being the theme country for fall 2026, Vietnam is set to be the global focus for students next semester. Along with campus events, professors and students plan to explore the country through studying abroad courses.
MSSU Honors student, Matt Williams, was one of the few students allowed an early sneak peek at Vietnam’s mesmerizing and immersive culture. Traveling with Frank Pishkur, department chair and professor in Art and Design, Williams, along with fellow MSSU students, recently traveled abroad to explore Vietnam’s artistic influence. Traveling to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and the Ninh Binh province, the trip brought unforgettable experiences to students. Williams shares an insight into this trip, and the importance of global appreciation.
“The experiences in Vietnam changed me by making me do things that I would have never attempted in America,” shares Williams. “When I was in another country, it felt like I had developed a need to put myself outside of my comfort zone, so I did not miss an opportunity.”
Understandably, the topic of studying abroad can bring both nerves along with excitement for students. While traveling, Williams prioritized living in the moment and acknowledged cultural differences. Whether eating raw squid from Halong Bay, admiring the beauty of My Khe Beach, or walking the urban streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Williams was able to recognize the lasting connections that can emerge when students chose to overcome the nerves of exploring the unfamiliar.
“I loved just exploring a place new to me,” says Williams. “The chaotic nature of bartering, just dropping prices at a whim, and the random interactions with people on the street who just wanted to have a photo or a fun interview, was so benign to me. In America, I feel like if a stranger came up to me, I would ignore or avoid them; in Vietnam, it was pure hospitality and kindness at every juncture.”
This recent trip is only the beginning in MSSU’s journey to Vietnam. In the fall, selective courses offered will allow a connecting trip for interested students. Ranging from Kinesiology courses to English and History courses, students are encouraged to implement their academic focuses on a global scale. Communications professor, Maddy Langley, will be leading a studying abroad course in the fall in her KGCS-TV Practicum course. In the course, students will be creating a documentary about Marian Days, an annual Vietnamese-focused festival in Carthage, Missouri.
“Students will have the opportunity to take the video and interviews shot at the event this year and edit together a short documentary that will be played as part of the fall Vietnam film series,” shares Langley.
For students participating in the course and planning to travel, Langley is excited for students to explore the technological similarities between MSSU and locations in Vietnam.
“I am hoping we can visit the Sparx virtual studio,” says Langley. “This will give our communication students attending the trip the opportunity to see the 3D gaming and animation studio where they use the same software we use in our KGCS-TV studio spaces.”
For students interested in MSSU’s upcoming Vietnam-themed semester, or with questions concerning study abroad opportunities, contact Dr. Becca Shriver ([email protected]) for further details.
