The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University were founded on Benedictine values like community living, listening, peace and hospitality. In January, a group of CSB and SJU students got the chance to demonstrate those values and experience them in return.
The carefully selected cohort of 10 students was invited to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to engage with the country’s Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, including time spent at two local universities, interacting with campus Tolerance Clubs.
The opportunity came about through a nonprofit organization called Amideast that engages in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa.
Kevin Clancy, director of the Center for Global Education at CSB and SJU explained that “(Amideast Senior Director for Academic Engagements) Elena Corbett reached out based on her awareness of the work that Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s do in interfaith dialogue. She felt like we would be a good fit, and Amideast gave us a scholarship that supports U.S. students to engage in the Gulf region.”
The result was a 10-day search for common ground on foreign soil.
“We were able to engage in some really powerful cultural exchanges,” said CSB sophomore Grace Dresser, one of the students who made the trip. “At the end of the day, we shared some Benedictine values that we found intertwined with the topic of tolerance: things like community, moderation, respect for persons, stewardship and listening. And through it all, we just felt a tremendous spirit of hospitality.”
“Of the study abroad programs I’ve had the privilege of traveling on, I put this at the top for the level of respectful, reflective dialogue the participants had,” Clancy said. “They were able to engage in some insightful ways in a unique environment.”
“A huge takeaway,” said Dresser, “is that tolerance and respect are two-way streets. Differing perspectives are valuable and necessary, but open dialogue is only beneficial if it’s genuine and respectful on both sides.”
Dresser also noted that “When you apply this to personal relationships, it’s important to remember that we are ever-changing beings. Therefore, knowing one another is a continuous process. It’s that presence and being where your feet are that is so important to all communities.”
One highlight of the trip was a visit to the Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex located on Saadiyat Island. The space is dedicated to faith, peace and dialogue and includes three main buildings: a mosque, a church and a synagogue, as well as a forum for gathering and dialogue. “Many of us had spiritual experiences in that space,” Dresser said. “I came home with the hope that compassion, curiosity and respect like that can echo here.”
Another highlight was the chance to connect with CSB Alumnae Board member Nritya Sultana ’08 in her home country. “Kevin (Clancy) and I have been working since 2024 on creating friendships with different institutions in the Gulf region,” said Sultana. “Having spoken with both faculty and students, the consensus is that cross-cultural exchanges like this are grounds for a sustainable relationship and we should make them a priority.”