Brendan Flanagan

“Being an International Studies major at Ramapo College has had a far-reaching impact on my life, and has positively influenced more than just my academic transcript. While an undergraduate student, the interdisciplinary nature of the major allowed me to explore the internationality of a diverse range of fields, while the flexibility of the academic program allowed me to triple major and still graduate on time in four years. The Literature major also provided me with great opportunities to explore the cornerstones of a liberal arts education, forcing me to exercise critical thinking and creative problem solving in ways I never had before. The true heart and soul of both programs, however, is the faculty. Between small class sizes in the classroom and a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere outside of it, the faculty played an integral role in my development, not only as a student and academic, but also as a professional and as a human being. Through their mentorship, I was pushed to excel. Some of the experiences I enjoyed during my time at Ramapo included studying abroad in Ireland during the summer of 2010, where I studied Irish law at the University of Limerick and Irish Literature, History and Politics in Dublin with Arcadia University. Following my senior year, I presented my own academic work at an international conference in Scotland and, thanks in part to these experiences, was accepted into graduate school at Boston College, where I earned my master’s in English. I have no doubt that I am where I am in life because of my time at Ramapo. From the diversity of the academics, the support of the faculty, and all the co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities the major provides, I benefited professionally, academically and personally.” – Brendan Flanagan ’12 graduated as a triple major in International Studies, Literature and Liberal Studies, with concentrations in Human Rights and Peace Studies, and Creative Writing. He currently teaches at Gill St. Bernard’s School in Gladstone, N.J., where he also serves as Academic Technology Coordinator.

Program:
Arcadia – University of Limerick – Limerick, Ireland

Arcadia – University College Dublin – Dublin, Ireland