Rooted in the Coast

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Posted on June 16, 2026 by

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When Tiffant Pogue' 23 studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, she discovered just how far life could take her. The psychology graduate, who grew up with family in the Philippines and Switzerland, says she has long known that “life is not just here.”

Today, she has traded the Gulf Coast’s humid heat for the long, snowy winters of Finland, crediting her time abroad with expanding her sense of what is possible. “It made me realize that you can literally do whatever you want in the world; the only thing that limits us is our mind.” 

Attracted by Finland’s education system and a chance to continue her travels, Pogue is pursuing a master’s degree in education at the University of Helsinki. Her university and area of study are represented by her
overalls — haalarit in Finnish, and what in the U.S. we would call coveralls. “It’s a Finnish student tradition,” she explains. “Each faculty has a different color, and students are encouraged to collect patches to fill their haalarit throughout the year.” Pogue is among a growing number of University of South Alabama students who are opting to study abroad through support from the University. This year, nearly 320 South students are participating in study abroad programs to 24 different countries. 

Jason Conrad ’26, a web design specialist at South, was a student working in Computer Services when he went to the Office of International Education to fix a computer problem. That encounter would nudge the
computer science major in an unexpected direction, eventually to a faculty-led trip to Greece to study Blue Zones — regions known for exceptional longevity. He returned with not just an appreciation for the local culture, but also a new philosophy for daily life.

“The Greeks have a saying that I still think about a lot,” he  says. “Siga, siga — which means slowly, slowly.” It’s a lesson he now intentionally builds into his weeks. “I think about this when I’m feeling myself being taken out of a moment when I want to be more present. Whether it is a peaceful moment by the pool or time spent
with family and friends, I try to stay present and not let external stressors pull me away. Greece taught me that.”

Both Pogue and Conrad received Office of International Education scholarships, in addition to national Gilman Scholarships, for their study abroad experiences at South. “Studying abroad does more than broaden a student’s view of the world,” says Dr. Bri Ard, executive director of global engagement at South. “It shapes the kind of person they become. It is an investment in yourself that pays dividends over your lifetime.” The stakes of that investment are real. In a global economy that rewards adaptability and international perspective, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom and into careers and lifelong opportunities.

Pogue says she almost certainly would not be pursuing her master’s degree in Finland if not for her time at USA and the opportunity to study in Spain. Surrounded by people from all over the world, in every conversation she learns something new, quietly expanding her horizons.

“I learned that there will always be more for me to learn,” she says. “I don’t know where I will end up one day, but I know those are insights that I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”

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