Blaire Modic, director of study abroad at Central College.
Blaire Modic, an experienced leader of international study programs throughout Central America and Europe, is the new director of study abroad at Central College.
Recently, Modic spent three years studying Arabic in Egypt, Morocco and Jordan. Earlier, Modic served as the country director for Global Works in Costa Rica where he also managed programs in Nicaragua and Panama. He developed and directed a Spanish language program with Global Players in Guatemala after sessions in Prague directing the study abroad program and Prague intern abroad program. Most recently, Modic served as program leader and discussion facilitator for the Morocco exchange program.
Modic was department chair at St. Andrew’s School (Fla.) where he was responsible for curricular development for six languages and an international faculty of 20. He also was the associate director of program development and risk management for Global Players, supporting programs in Prague, Amsterdam, Central Europe and Guatemala.
As an undergraduate, Modic spent a semester in Ecuador with the School for International Training’s program in culture and development. He received his bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College (Ohio) with majors in Spanish and international studies and a master’s degree in Spanish from Florida Atlantic University.
“My life path, personally and professionally, has shown me the value of international experiences, especially when framed by a liberal arts education,” Modic said. “I am thrilled to join a small liberal arts college that pursues an educational mission that prioritizes global experiential learning and study abroad.”
Modic will direct one of the nation’s oldest and most respected collegiate study abroad programs. Central’s first program opened in 1964 and the college now operates study abroad programs in Bangor, Wales; Granada, Spain; Leiden, the Netherlands; London, England; Merida, Mexico; Paris, France; Vienna, Austria and Accra, Ghana.
Nearly half of all Central students participate in a study abroad program before they graduate, compared to the national average of about 14 percent. Central’s programs have also attracted 15,000 students from over 400 other colleges and universities.
Modic began his duties at Central August 1.
