Agnes Scott College has received a $250,000 grant from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust (“Kenan Charitable Trust”) to support Global Journeys, a core component of the college’s SUMMIT experience. The funding provided direct support to two of the Global Journeys cohorts in March 2025.

“The Kenan Charitable Trust is proud to support the Global Journeys program at Agnes Scott,” said Nancy J. Cable, executive director. “The program shapes leaders who will be equipped with the global perspective, confidence, and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world, and we are honored to contribute to this innovative curriculum.”

Global Journeys is a required first-year course and experience that introduces all students to global learning and leadership development. The course includes a one-week faculty-led immersion in a domestic or international location directly connected to the course content. Journeys is designed to build cultural competency, global awareness and critical thinking skills. Students continue their learning when they return to campus, allowing them to synthesize their experience on the trip with their scholarship in the classroom. Agnes Scott underwrites all travel costs to ensure full participation regardless of a student’s financial circumstances.

“We are deeply grateful to the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust for this investment in our highly successful SUMMIT experience, in particular Global Journeys,” said Leocadia I. Zak, president of Agnes Scott College. “Aligning with mission-driven partners like the Kenan Charitable Trust ensures that every Agnes Scott student begins their college experience with the tools, perspective, and confidence needed to grow into a strong, courageous leader and ends prepared for success after graduation.”

In 2025, more than 200 first-year students traveled to one of 11 locations, including France, Germany, Benin, Northern Ireland and the Navajo Nation in Arizona. The grant from the Kenan Trust directly supported instructional travel and assessment components for two of these cohorts.

With this funding, the college is able to ensure equitable access to global learning by supporting:

• Course instruction and experiential learning opportunities

• Domestic and international travel related to course topics
• Student support services and safety logistics

• Assessment of student learning outcomes and program impact

“This generous grant from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust affirms the value of investing in equitable, high-impact learning experiences,” said Cheryl Webster, vice president for college advancement at Agnes Scott College. “Support like this ensures that our commitment to inclusive global education is not just aspirational, but actionable. We are proud to partner with the Kenan Charitable Trust in advancing opportunities that prepare our students to lead with purpose, perspective and integrity.”

Global Journeys courses focus on themes such as globalization, identity, diaspora, colonization and ethical travel. Students demonstrate learning through presentations, essays, group work and a final reflection. 

Support from the Kenan Charitable Trust complements ongoing institutional partnerships, including:

• The Delta Air Lines Foundation ($250,000 annually)

• Coca-Cola Global Awareness Fund ($35,000 annually)

• Schmidt Scholars Fund Endowment ($40,000 annually)

For more information about the Global Journeys program and SUMMIT, visit www.agnesscott.edu.