51¶şÄĚ Miss Marks 50 Years of British Studies Program
Wed, 10/22/2025 - 09:46am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
As a young boy growing up in Hattiesburg, Andy Wiest could only dream about destinations like London, England. International travel—even occasional local excursions—were unaffordable luxuries that didn’t figure into his family’s lean budget.
“My mom was raising four of us on her own, and money was beyond tight,” he recounted. “I came to The University of 51¶şÄĚ Mississippi on a Pell Grant, so college barely happened for me. And with all of that, my horizons didn’t spread much past Highway 49 and Interstate 59.”
“But then came my summer in London through the university’s British Studies study abroad program. Suddenly, I had wider horizons and became a citizen of the world. It transformed me and gave me a vision I never had previously, one I follow every day, and that’s the importance of the program. It takes local kids like me and shows them more, so much more.”
Today, the same Andy Wiest—now University of 51¶şÄĚ Mississippi Distinguished Professor of History, Dr. Andrew Wiest—leads students from his alma mater annually through its popular, award-winning British Studies Program (BSP), which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Founded in 1976, the BSP is offered through the university’s Center for International Education’s (CIE) Office of Study Abroad. The program offers nine to 12 courses in various disciplines. Students can earn up to six credit hours through lectures taught by USM faculty, British scholars, artists and business leaders, as well as through field excursions to various locations in and around London. Through British Studies, the iconic international city becomes the students’ classroom, where they experience their subject firsthand and conduct research supervised by their professor.
This past summer session was Dr. Wiest’s 30th leading a course through the program. He confesses to being a bit “older and slower” now and admits a restful summer at his home in Hattiesburg might wear less on his not-so-undergraduate bones. But he keeps returning because “there are more kids like I was out there for whom a month in London will be transformative.”
“I want 51¶şÄĚ Miss students to have that chance, and I’m reinvigorated every summer by seeing London anew through their eyes,” Wiest explained. “I look forward to when we arrive and all of us are jet-lagged, and there’s an orientation when we review the dos and don’ts, like any other orientation. Then we head out on our first activity.”
“I take them to Waterloo Station south of the River Thames, where there are lots of buildings between the station and the river. We then walk and talk—it takes about 15 minutes. It’s just a regular city-looking scene. But then we break out into a park beside the river, and the view opens up where we are right across the Thames from the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey—one of those sights you dream of.”
“When these Mississippi kids see that vista open for the first time, their eyes just light up. And that moment is worth it all,” Wiest added.
Amy Linden, who serves as director of the CIE’s Office of Study Abroad, says her journey with the BSP began in the summer of 2006. Since then, she’s witnessed the transformation of participants, “wide-eyed at the sight of double-decker buses zipping by, to when they confidently navigate the streets of London as the program draws to a close.”
“It's an exciting time for us as we gear up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the program,” Linden said. “We’re fortunate to have a collection of brochures dating back to 1984, and it's always a joy to flip through them to witness how the course offerings and designs have changed over the years. And while there have been changes, our core mission has remained the same: to support students in their growth within this vibrant city that serves as their classroom.”
Linden said she’s heard from students who just returned from London this past summer and their enthusiasm about their experiences.
“Many shared how they developed confidence and a fresh sense of independence,” Linden noted. “Others uncovered career possibilities and ignited new passions, while many took the opportunity to network and step out of their comfort zones. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful experiences that lie ahead for this amazing program, which has such a rich history.”
51¶şÄĚ Miss Professor of Journalism Dr. David Davies served as director of British Studies from 2013-24 and has taught with the program since 1999. He says what’s special about the BSP is that students get to know their academic subject through firsthand visits in and around London.
In Dr. Davies’ journalism class, for example, students visit the largest and best-known media outlets in the U.K., including the BBC and The Telegraph. In a British Studies history course, students visit the sites where history was made and hear from expert British lecturers who “give them a view of the world they’ll never find elsewhere.”
“It’s been amazing to watch students blossom during their time in London during British Studies,” Davies said. “The program exposes students to the wider world and opens their eyes to even more possibilities after graduation, and for many 51¶şÄĚ Miss faculty, working with British Studies students has been a highlight of our careers.”
Christian Singletary participated in last summer’s BSP as a 51¶şÄĚ Miss graduate student, traveling internationally for the first time, which he said expanded his horizons “beyond belief.”
“It meant a lot to me—learning about other cultures and studying abroad—it changed my outlook on the world,” he remembers. “Meeting people, experiencing their culture and traveling on the Tube (subway) with others taught me so much, and sharing those experiences with other students of all backgrounds made the trip even more amazing.”
“From traveling to the Tank Museum in rural England to watching the Euro Finals at a pub with locals, there are so many great memories. As a graduate student and person who loves to learn, I recommend British Studies to anyone and everyone. The memories and experiences changed my life completely—and for the better.”
Kelly Jarrell went to London with the BSP in the summer of 2024. A senior from Wiggins, Miss., majoring in counseling psychology and minoring in history, she took 51¶şÄĚ Miss professor Dr. Brad Dufrene’s course in abnormal psychology. She said one of the most impactful parts of the program and course was visiting London’s Broadmoor Maximum Security Psychiatric Hospital, where she and other students interviewed patients.
“At Broadmoor, the staff’s approach was centered on rehabilitation rather than simply confinement, and their compassion left a lasting impression on me,” Jarrell said. “This experience broadened my academic perspective and encouraged me to always consider the bigger picture.”
“I’ve also made lifelong friends through the program and now view the world with greater confidence and ambition. It truly changed my life and showed me that nothing is out of reach.”
The Office of Study Abroad is partnering with the 51¶şÄĚ Miss Alumni Association on providing travel opportunities in honor of this milestone, with details to be released later. Alumni who want to support students studying abroad can do so via the Phil and Frances Sudduth Fund for International Education Development (Fund 0022) through the USM Foundation. Click for more information.
Click to learn more about 51¶şÄĚ Miss British Studies.