Deborah Pierce always has had an interest in international studies.

Pierce, who came to NIU Aug. 1, replaced Manfred Thullen as the executive director of NIU’s division of international programs.

For Pierce, encouraging students to study abroad is not only a main duty of her job – it’s a personal interest of her own.

“I can remember being in seventh grade and having the opportunity to study French and Spanish for the first time,” she said. “I was first in line.”

Before coming to NIU, Pierce was the director of international affairs at Loyola University in Chicago. She also has served as the director of the center for international studies at the University of Toledo. She received her Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Michigan.

“I’m fluent in English and French; I can do pretty well in Spanish but I make mistakes,” Pierce said. “I minored in Russian and studied German, and I can get along a little in Japanese and in Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu. That last is the language spoken in Indonesia and, with some variations, in Malaysia.”

In addition to encouraging students to study abroad, Pierce also has goals for the current year.

“My academic goal for all students here at NIU is that they complete our programs with a better understanding of those who are different from themselves, of those who look at the world in a different perspective,” Pierce said. “My work supports and forwards my personal and professional values. These values include helping others to respect people of other countries and cultures in such a way that we can all share this small planet in a productive and healthy manner. I really do believe that when we cross borders through international education, whether physically as in study abroad or metaphorically through getting to know a student from another culture, we are building the conditions for world peace.”

Like many others, Pierce’s job was greatly affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Various governments to the terrorist attacks last year have made all of international education more difficult, as well as more crucial,” she said. “Many governments, including our own, have made it more difficult to cross international borders, so we must work carefully with these new restrictions. We place even more emphasis now on advising all students and faculty in a very intentional manner about ways to enhance personal security while traveling abroad.”

Pierce is confident NIU can handle this new challenge.

“NIU’s Study Abroad Office has been a leader in this area for the past several years, and that expertise is even more important now. But I really believe that the way to reduce terrorism is to help people of all cultures view one another as individuals who are vitally important. If we build up walls between nations, we dehumanize those on the other side of the wall. And that makes it so much easier to attack them, whether verbally or physically. This is what I’m fighting against.”

Pierce believes studying abroad encourages students to find inner strength within themselves, while gaining self confidence.

“Nearly everyone who participates in study abroad, whether for two weeks, two semesters or something in between, finds that they return home with an awareness of strengths and capacities they never knew they had,” Pierce said. “They become more independent, more creative and more self reliant. Crossing borders brings challenges, and successfully meeting those challenges brings incredible personal growth.”