USD Students Explore Politics and Culture in Barbados Through Interdisciplinary Spring Break Program
Students from the University of San Diego experienced a powerful blend of academic exploration and cultural immersion during a Spring Break field trip to Barbados, held March 8–15. The trip was a joint effort between the Department of Political Science and International Relations, the Department of Communication and the Africana Studies program, made possible by a generous gift from the Chapman Family Foundation.
Since 2022, the Chapman Family Foundation has made it possible for two USD classes to travel abroad as part of their spring course curriculum. This year, the courses were POLS 351: Politics and Society of Barbados, taught by Associate Professor of Political Science Cory Gooding, PhD and COMM 445: Gender Communication, taught by Professor of Communication Jillian Tullis, PhD. The interdisciplinary nature of the trip allowed students to examine Barbados through both political and cultural lenses, deepening their understanding of the island’s history, governance, and social dynamics.
Dr. Gooding’s course focused on Caribbean history, political thought, government structures and contemporary challenges. Meanwhile, Dr. Tullis’ course examined the role of communication in shaping identity, societal structures, performance, privilege and power. As part of the trip, students attended a session of the Barbados Parliament—one of the oldest legislative bodies in the Americas—where they observed a national budget debate. They also visited the University of the West Indies-Cave Hill campus for a guest lecture, toured a historic sugar plantation and explored Codrington College, one of the oldest theological seminaries in the Western Hemisphere.
In a special highlight of the trip, Dr. Gooding, Dr. Tullis, and two students, Rebekah Sugano and Esabelle Obinyan, were invited to appear on Mornin’ Barbados, a popular local television program, on March 14. During the segment, they shared reflections on their academic experiences, cultural insights and the significance of international education.
Watch the full interview on Instagram.
“The power of the trip lay not merely in the opportunity to visit a country that students had spent the semester engaging with intellectually,” said Dr. Gooding, “but in the profound impact of extended conversations with Bajans who shared diverse social and political perspectives on the politics of Barbados and the U.S. Its significance was felt in the ability to see and physically touch the walls of a 190-year-old church built by enslaved individuals, using bricks that once served as ballast for ships during the Middle Passage.”
He added, “We were all deeply moved by the opportunity to witness members of Parliament passionately debate how best to care for the most vulnerable members of Bajan society and to advance the nation’s interests amid global uncertainty and change. While the experience was especially personal for me, as the child of immigrants from Barbados, every conversation I have had with colleagues and students since—many of whom have described the trip as life-changing—makes clear that it was deeply personal for them as well.”
This unique travel opportunity reflects USD’s commitment to global learning, interdisciplinary engagement and liberal arts education. By combining political science, communication studies and Africana Studies in an international setting, students gained firsthand insight into the complexities of governance, identity and social justice in a post-colonial Caribbean context.
For students considering a major or minor in Political Science, International Relations, Communication or Africana Studies these kinds of immersive experiences are just one of the many ways USD faculty bring learning to life beyond the classroom. Carmen Gray, a senior political science major, echoed that sentiment by saying, “I am still stunned by how special our trip was. From visiting Parliament to swimming with horses at sunrise, my experiences were once in a lifetime. Sharing these moments with an incredible group of professors and friends pushed me to embrace new things in the moment and reflect even deeper after the trip. I am so grateful to the Chapman Foundation, Dr. Gooding and the welcoming community of Barbados for making this possible.”