SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill business student Genesis Nuñez recently joined Gina Whalen, associate professor of business, to co-present at the Pennsylvania Council for International Education (PACIE) Conference, held Sept. 18-19 at Penn State University Park.
Their session, “Autoethnography as a Gateway to Cultural Intelligence: A Collaborative Faculty-Student Model for Exploring Identity and Global Awareness,” highlighted the power of faculty-student collaboration in research and leadership development.
Nuñez’s presentation built on her experiences in "MGMT 345: Cultural Intelligence in Leadership and Management," where she first explored the concept of cultural intelligence and participated in a spring break study abroad program to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden. Those experiences formed the foundation of her research project. Working with Whalen, she learned to apply autoethnography, a reflective, narrative-based research method, to examine her identity as a first-generation college student and how her background shaped her leadership development and global learning.
“Having this opportunity was incredibly meaningful,” Nuñez said. “Being able to share my research and contribute to helping others learn about and strengthen their cultural intelligence was an experience I’ll never forget. It not only allowed me to grow as a student and researcher but also gave me the chance to connect with peers and professors I might never have met otherwise. The networking and conversations I had were inspiring and have already sparked new ideas for future projects. I’m especially grateful for Dr. Whalen’s mentorship and guidance, which played a huge role in preparing me for this moment and helping me make the most of it.”
The PACIE Conference is Pennsylvania’s flagship event for global education, bringing together educators and advocates from across the state. Presenting at the conference gave Nuñez the opportunity to network with faculty and professionals committed to advancing global learning.
Whalen praised the experience as a model of how undergraduate research can connect classroom learning with real-world impact:
“Genesis demonstrated tremendous initiative in taking on this project,” Whalen said. “Her ability to reflect on her identity and explore themes of belonging and resilience not only deepened her own learning but also inspired educators at a statewide level. Opportunities like this show how student-faculty collaboration can empower students to find their voice as emerging leaders while also contributing meaningfully to scholarly conversations.”
The presentation was well received by attendees, who noted its relevance for integrating identity-focused research and cultural intelligence into classrooms across disciplines.
Students interested in global learning can consider "MGMT 345: Cultural Intelligence in Leadership and Management," which includes a spring break 2026 travel program to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden. For details, contact Gina Whalen.