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WIU Students with Professors Heather McIlvaine-Newsad and Julia Albarracin in the Historic Part of Cordoba, Argentina.
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WIU Students Travel to Argentina

June 5, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - - Twelve Western Illinois University students got a unique educational experience when they traveled to Argentina in May as part of a study abroad trip.

Led by Political Science professor Julia Albarracín and Anthropology professor Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, the students took part in the Spring 2025 "Politics of Latin America" course.

"I'm grateful for the support of the Department of Education, which saw value in the comparative, cross-regional exploration of Latin American politics we proposed," Albarracín said.

It was a three-week program that took students to the Universidad Católica de Córdoba in central Argentina, learning about Latin American politics, history, and culture both in the classroom and firsthand.

Junior Law Enforcement and Justice Administration major Araceli Vazquez-Diaz said learning about the political history of the region, particularly regarding the disappearance of 30,000 young Argentines in the 1970s, offered her a new perspective on the period.

Students were also afforded the opportunity to visit several towns close to the Andes Mountains, which Zach Ghere, senior Political Science major, said was particularly valuable.

Senior Psychology major Kaitlyn Crisantos said finding out about the culture and history of Argentina was a tremendous time.

"I am grateful for the experience and the knowledge that I gained," Crisantos said.

To learn more about the WIU Study Abroad programs, visit wiu.edu/sao/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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