University of San Diego Magazine 75th Anniversary 2024

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

D ECADE of Discovery

Madrid Center Provides Immersive and Unforgettable Experiences Abroad

By Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA) M

egan Soong’s return to the United States after a semester at USD’s Madrid Center is a

testament to the profound impact the immersive experience provides. On her flight from Madrid, Spain, to Charlotte, North Carolina, she found herself momentarily lost in translation when a flight attendant with a thick Southern accent spoke to her. “I just stared at her,” Soong confessed, blushing. “I didn’t understand a single word she said. Not because of her accent, but because I hadn’t heard English in so long.” Soong is one of the thousands of students who have embraced the experiences offered at the Madrid Center. Nestled in the heart of the city near the famed Retiro Park, the Madrid Center has become an integral part of USD’s international study abroad program during the past decade. What began as a modest, permanent study abroad location has blossomed into USD’s most popular option for undergraduate and graduate students across all the schools within USD. “The USD Madrid Center was originally envisioned from an initiative coming from the university’s strategic

plan of growing our international activities and expanding our global footprint,” said Denise Dimon, PhD, who served as USD’s associate provost in 2014 and spearheaded the center. “Madrid was popular with our undergraduate students, but the vision (and justification) of having a physical space in Madrid was that other units on campus would be able to utilize the space as well.” Ten years after its opening, the center offers undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as opportunities for faculty research, community engagement, alumni events and more. The center has also established a partnership with Madrid’s Universidad Pontificia Comillas, where students have the unique opportunity to enroll in courses. For Soong, the charm of Spanish culture left a lasting impression on her.

University of San Diego Madrid Center

Est. 2014