Students from across the College of Health were able to spend a fantastic two weeks in Ireland as part of Ball State’s Study Abroad Program. Faculty members, Eric Klosterman, and Tonya Skalon, lead students on a trip that took them to the cities of Dublin, Limerick, and Doolin.
The travel opportunity was open to all majors, but the main academic focus of the trip was exploring the intersections of disciplines in the School of Kinesiology and the College of Health including sport management, exercise science, health and culture.

The callout for travelers promised trip participants would fain firsthand insights into Ireland’s sports culture, athlete development and health infrastructure. It included trips to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Croke Park and the Gaelic Athletic Association, Sports Ireland Campus, Institute for Sport and Health at UCD, Thomond Park and Rugby HQ, The University of Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, and a guided walking tour of Dublin’s Center.

As a final for the whole trip, students, prepared a presentation and reflections from the trip experience. Here are a few excerpts of what student said.

“Going on a study abroad was life changing.”

“I did not realize how friendly and community-focused Irish residents can be.”

“The concept of professional hurling/camogie and Gaelic football professional athletes being amateurs and not getting paid is shocking. We don’t see professional athletes in America willing to play professional sports without getting paid.”

“It was cool to try a new “trunk test” exercise.”

The College of Health has many faculty who embrace multiculturalism in their research and recognize the importance of cultural influence on health choices. Dr. Jean Marie Place, in Nutrition and Health Science, lead a group to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a semester long study this past spring, and Dr. Larry Gerstein, Director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, took a trip to Islamabad, Pakistan this past fall, as a Fulbright Specialist. Klosterman and Skalon have also been to Spain in 2024, and Costa Rica in 2023. We can’t wait to see where our faculty will lead students next.