Dr. Jennifer J. Lesh, Exceptional Student Education Coordinator and Associate Professor, and Dr. Antonella Regueiro, Director, Center for Leadership and Social Impact, led students to Quito, Ecuador in the Summer of 2026 (May 20 to June 4, 2026) on an experience entitled, "Inclusive Pedagogies Across Borders: A Special Education Practicum in Ecuador."
This immersive study and volunteer abroad program offered upper-level undergraduate or graduate education majors a faculty-guided practicum experience in Quito, Ecuador, with community engagement in the sustainable community of Yunguilla and an ecological excursion to the Mindo cloud forest. The program is intentionally aligned with Lynn University’s strategic pillars: Research and Scholarship, Culture of Internships, Social Impact through UNSDGs, and Study Abroad Expansion.
Students gained hands-on experience with inclusive pedagogical practices, conducted cross-cultural field research, and reflected on the educational realities faced by students with disabilities in a developing nation. Through partnerships with local schools and NGOs, participants enhanced their cultural empathy and readiness for global service and leadership in education.
