Leadership Studies Program Travels to Vienna

On July 12, 17 Hardin-Simmons students headed to Vienna, Austria for three weeks. Those three weeks were filled with learning and experiencing a new place, a new culture, and a new way of life.

The author poses on a rooftop in Vienna

However, Dr. Coleman Patterson, the professor and leader of the trip, was not new to this experience. Every two years, the HSU Leadership Studies Program offers this short-term study abroad trip to Leadership minors, and this was his sixth trip with students. These trips began when Dr. Patterson took a teaching job at a school in Vienna, and his passion for this city stirred him to create an enriching, hands-on learning opportunity for students at HSU.

While in Vienna, students learned about the important leaders in Vienna history, the royals, religion, art, and music. Through visiting museums, observing the culture, and researching influential individuals, this foreign place became more and more familiar each day.

There were two classes the students could choose to take. The first focused on cultural differences and reflecting on these differences by comparing Vienna to home. The second focused on researching the important leaders, musicians, and artists who had connections to Vienna and writing about their lives. The courses are different enough that some students have gone twice in order to take both.

This trip truly was the opportunity of a lifetime and completely affordable. Three weeks went by quickly, but it was just enough time to see more than 40 historical landmarks, incredible museums, and other Vienna staples. Some of these places included homes of famous composers like Mozart and Haydn, gorgeous palaces (Schönbrunn was my favorite), and the United Nations. Students also observed gorgeous art by Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, and Claude Monet, among others.

Brittney Burns and Vicki House, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Brittany Burns, an HSU senior who took the trip this year said, “Vienna was a great place to explore where history comes to life. I loved getting to experience new places with new friends!”

As a student who went on the trip, I could not agree more, and I would encourage other students to take part in this amazing experience. Not do students have the opportunity to learn in a different environment, but they will also see breathtaking views of the city, eat delicious Austrian/German food, and make special memories that last a lifetime.

You can follow the Leadership Studies Facebook page to see more photos and videos from Vienna and for all the latest program updates.