Newell Wright, director for the Center for Global Initiatives and Leadership, had a paper titled "Student Intercultural Proficiency from Study Abroad Programs,” published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Marketing Education.

According to Wright's paper, study abroad programs have more than doubled in the past decade. Today, about 223,000 U.S. college students study abroad, immersing themselves in foreign language, culture and business practices. Wright says that it is customary to hear students describe these experiences as “life changing,” yet little empirical evidence exists to establish the specific areas of personal development achieved in a study abroad program.

The study investigates several of the potential intercultural influences of a semester abroad for students from the United States. Findings reveal that students who study abroad may have greater intercultural proficiency, increased openness to cultural diversity and become more globally minded than those students remaining in a traditional campus setting. Students who participate in study abroad programs perceive themselves as being more proficient, approachable and open to intercultural communication.

Wright joined the NDSU faculty in July 2009. He has published more than 75 articles in various marketing publications during the past 15 years.