Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment CAFE Faculty-Directed Programs

Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Liz Combs and Kelsie Potter
• On campus and Italy, Europe

Program Credit 

• DHN 300: The Italian Table and/or 
• DHN 591: Special Problems in Food and Nutrition 

Program Highlights

• Sample cuisine and culture of cities like Rome, Naples, and Florence. 
• Discover Italian craftsmanship and innovation with olive oil and wine production. 

• Expand your understanding of sustainable food practices and flavors. 

  Full Program Details and Application

Program Faculty & Location 

• Sybil Gotsch
• Costa Rica, Central America

Program Credit 

• NRE 320: Natural Resource and Environmental Analysis

Program Highlights

• Learn about important topics in tropical ecology through guided explorations of several ecosystems including lowland rainforest, montane cloud forest, montane oak forest and tropical dry forest.
• Study biodiversity and conservation efforts in national parks and reserves all while working on your Costa Rica wildlife lifetime list-monkeys, sloths and sea turtles are just the beginning!

• Learn about cutting-edge practices underway in the fields of energy policy and sustainable agriculture and contrast those to the environmental impacts of industrial-scale agriculture in the tropics.

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Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Bryan Hains and Dr. Kristina Hains
• Glasgow and Inverness, Scotland, Europe

Program Credit 

• CLD 495: International Community Dynamics: Leadership Explorations in Scotland

Program Highlights

• Explore and compare ways to engage with communities -domestic and international in Scotland. 
• Learn from local non-profits in Glasgow to compare community education with a more socialistic ethos. 

• Experience this history through trips to Edinburgh Castle and others to gain insights surrounding mitigating cultural conflict and community dynamics

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Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Lou Hirsch
• On campus and Cozumel, Mexico, North America

Program Credit 

• NRE 390: Advanced Scuba Certification and Coral Reef Ecology

Program Highlights

• Undertake 18-21 scuba dives and earn numerous diving certifications during this course.
• Demonstrate mastery of knowledge development and scuba diving skills necessary to observe and investigate coral reef ecosystems.
• Evaluate the health of coral reefs and associated ecosystems and provide biotic survey data that will inform ecosystem management.

• Incorporate ecologically sensitive practices into their terrestrial and aquatic tourism to promote coral reef health and longevity.

  Full Program Details and Application

Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Hyungsoo Kim
• Seoul, South Korea, East Asia

Program Credit 

• FAM 455: International Education Abroad

Program Highlights

• Experience the South Korean fashion and cosmetic industry with guided tours of major companies 
• Immerse yourself in traditional and modern Korean culture by wearing hanbok at the Gyeongbokgung Palace and taking a K-Pop dance class

• Learn about daily life and culture through a local school tour and a Korean cooking class

  Full Program Details and Application

Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Hartley Feld, Emily DeWitt, Nichole Huff, and Dr. Amy Kostelic
• Costa Rica, Central America

Program Credit 

• AFE 396/DHN 300: Keys to Well-Being in Costa Rica: Lessons from the World's Longest-Lived People

Program Highlights

• Experience first-hand how lifestyle and location (nature walks, cooking lessons/demonstrations, relaxation, spirituality) contributes to balance and longevity
• Learn from the island's oldest and most self-sufficient people through observation, discussion and community service projects

• Experience historical, cultural, and environmental sites, to learn, and explore the unique traditions and landscapes of Costa Rica

  Full Program Details and Application

Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Lynda Sharrett-Field 
• Reykjavik, Iceland, Northern Europe

Program Credit 

• EQM 396 Iceland: Its Horses, Agriculture, Geology and History

Program Highlights

• Experience the connections between the lands of Iceland and its horses. 
• Discuss biosecurity practices surrounding livestock, horse management practices, and the unique environment of this island county. 

• Visit many of the breathtaking sites including volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers, and hot springs

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Program Faculty & Location 

• Dr. Scarlett Wesley and Dr. RayeCarol Cavender
• On campus and Paris, France

Program Credit 

• MAT 480: International Study 

Program Highlights

• Examine fashion elements in an international setting, including the nature of major department stores, specialty stores, museums and special events. 
• Understand the interrelationships of design, merchandising, textiles and promotion through a different cultural lens. 

• Observe and practice the essential elements of professional behavior, dress and interactions in the fashion industry. 

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Program Faculty & Location 

• Harmnie Bettenhausen and Doug Slaymaker
• Tokyo, Japan, Northeast Asia

Program Credit 

• AFE 396 Travel Experiences in Agriculture, Food and Environment and 
• HRT 335: Distillation, Wine & Brewing Science

Program Highlights

• Investigate the unique whiskey culture and industry in Japan. 
• Compare the distilling techniques and production of Kentucky Burbon and Japan’s take on the Scottish whiskey traditions. 

• Experience modern and traditional Japanese culture by visiting shrines, castles, temples, and teahouses

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Program Faculty & Location 

• Timothy Woods
• London, United Kingdom, Europe 

Program Credit 

• AEC 300 Comparative Local Food System Development in England

Program Highlights

• Explore the community and cultural impacts of the food system from innovation, marking, policy and infrastructure. 
• Discuss topics of sustainability, business, nutrition, and beyond in England, a land known for its rich history around food and agriculture. 

• Meet with farmers, government leaders, and those in the food industry and see the diverse locations from London to the countryside. 

  Full Program Details and Application