STUDY ABROAD SMARTER SUMMIT
The Study Abroad Smarter Summit
October 26 - November 7, 2026
Hosted by Dr. Kristina Wachter
Day 6: Find Your Program.
Build Your Confidence.
Kurt Harris
Director
Southern Utah University
Dr. Kurt Harris has served as the Director of Learning Abroad at Southern Utah University (SUU) since 2010. He has a Ph.D. in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and began his career at SUU teaching English in 2001. As a tenured Associate Professor of English, he taught British Literature, with a specialization in the Victorian period. He also served as English Department Chair. He has directed or co-directed over a dozen short-term study abroad programs; has given invited guest lectures in China, Hungary, and Spain; was a visiting professor at Harlaxton College in the UK; and has been the recipient of Fulbright Specialist and Australia Endeavour Executive fellowships. He was a member of the team that built SUU's award-winning experiential learning program called EDGE (Education Designed to Give Experience) and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education: A Journal for Engaged Educators. He also served as the Executive Director of SUU's American Studies Centers in Changsha and Xi'an, China, and is currently SUU's Global Studies Minor Program Director, Peace Corps Prep Program Director, and campus liaison for the Boren Awards, Marshall Scholarship, and Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs.
Lynn Elliott
Director
Brigham Young University
Lynn Elliott directs Brigham Young University’s office of International Study Programs which annually sends more than 2500 students abroad on study abroad, international internship, and international field study programs. Previous to this current position, he directed the study abroad programs at Utah Valley University, and managed international student programs at Brigham Young University and the University of Virginia. Lynn has served as the chair of NAFSA’s Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee, and has been a QUIP reviewer for the Forum on Education Abroad. He has a BA and MA from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. He has presented at numerous professional conferences and has published as single author and a co-author on a number articles dealing with education abroad.
Join Dr. Kristina Wachter, founder of Cross Culture Connections, for an interactive exploration of how to become a more intentional, culturally aware traveler. Through guided reflection and practical exercises, you'll discover how your personal values, beliefs, and experiences shape the way you see the world. Learn how to challenge assumptions, develop cultural intelligence, and create meaningful connections that transform travel into a life-changing experience.
💰 Scholarship Spotlight:
The Gilman Scholarship
Dreaming of studying abroad but worried about the cost? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers eligible U.S. undergraduate students receiving Federal Pell Grants up to $5,000 to study or intern abroad! Discover how this opportunity can help make your international education dreams a reality.