The Gettysburg College Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Program in England provides hands-on experiences for students interested in studying abroad while also learning from a Gettysburg faculty member about their area of expertise.
Through the Gettysburg College Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Program, Prof. Ian Isherwood and 17 students traveled to England this past semester to explore the impact of the World Wars on modern-day Britain. Visiting locations from London, England, to Edinburgh, Scotland, Isherwood invited students to reflect deeply on how the past is explained through present-day historical sites and museums, practicing historical mindedness, while also building connections with each other.
“Only a handful of the 17 students were in the humanities, which is the natural home for the discipline of history,” said Isherwood, whose family also joined the trek and hosted holiday dinners for the students. “They really did a fantastic job with their group presentations despite being from different disciplines. It’s a real tribute to our liberal arts core to have students who can adjust and pivot academically outside their comfort zone.”
Students can apply for the Gettysburg College Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Program in England through the Center for Global Education. This opportunity includes a three-week seminar taught by a Gettysburg faculty member prior to attending Lancaster University for the fall semester. The seminar topic varies each year depending on the professor’s area of expertise.
“I was initially skeptical about the seminar since it was my first college history class, but it became one of the highlights of my time abroad,” said chemistry major Hana Konno ’26 from Tampa, Florida. “I am truly grateful that Gettysburg offers this type of global study experience because it offers something unique from a traditional classroom setting.”
Together, they visited the Imperial War Museum, Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast, Western Approaches Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Scottish War Memorial, and more. Each stop was both “interactive and informative, transporting visitors back in time,” said Konno.
“By visiting sites related to Britain and the World Wars, students gained a greater appreciation of the impact of war upon a specific society and how that impact manifests itself in museums and memorials,” Isherwood said. “Having students identify and discuss historical mythologies is a part of this work, but so too is looking inward at their own societies and to investigate other examples of historical memory.”
“The three-week seminar deepened my appreciation for monuments and memorial sites,” added Konno. “The United Kingdom has a rich tradition of memorialization that could be seen in every town and village that we visited. Now, whenever I come across a memorial, I feel compelled to stop and read its inscription to learn more.”
Following the seminar, Isherwood continued as a scholar-in-residence at Lancaster University through December to advance his research on war memory, during which he continued working on a new book project, “Remembering America’s Wars.” His residency culminated with an article in the Journal of Military History, co-written by University of Alabama Prof. Steven Trout about the impact of Paul Fussell’s book “The Great War and Modern Memory.” While he was abroad, his previously finished book, “The Battalion,” was also published.
“Professor Isherwood greatly enhanced the experience, and I truly enjoyed having him as a professor,” Konno added. “In fact, I am currently taking another history class with him this semester!”
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By Megan Miller
Photos courtesy of Prof. Ian Isherwood, Hana Konno ’26, and by Shawna Sherrell
Posted: 04/28/25