March 29, 2013

Welcome to Donna Sabella, PhD, who joined the College of Nursing and Health Professions staff last month in the newly created Director of Global Studies role. Dr. Sabella speaks Portuguese and comes to us with a background in nursing, English as a Second Language, and in the study of human trafficking. She was previously the Assistant Dean of Health Sciences in The College of Global Studies at Arcadia University and a lecturer in victimology and forensic mental health at the University of Pennsylvania. Sabella had a full-time position at Drexel from 2011-2012 teaching mental health, after which she continued working as an adjunct professor online, teaching courses related to human trafficking during the Spring 2012 and Winter 2013 quarters. Now that Sabella is with us full-time, she will be teaching another course on human trafficking to nursing students this spring on top of her other responsibilities.

As Director of Global Studies, Sabella is taking inventory of what Drexel University as a whole has to offer in the way of study abroad and immersion. She is also assessing what CNHP faculty members and students have done globally as individuals. At the conclusion of the assessment process, Sabella will issue a report and create a plan to expand the College’s international presence and maximize our opportunities and resources.  “It’s important to recognize that there are potential immersion experiences right here in our backyard,” Sabella emphasized. “There is great diversity here in Philly.” In her approach, she includes stateside experiences with particular populations, such as within prisons, on Native American reservations, and with specific ethnic groups.

Some of Sabella’s goals include establishing sustainable interdisciplinary opportunities for faculty and student groups and forming a Blackboard site that provides essential information about visas, travel requirements, and about the locations where faculty, staff, and students are currently traveling. She also plans to host annual presentation events during which students and faculty can share their experiences abroad with the rest of the College and with the University community at large.

Please contact Sabella with your questions: donna.sabella@drexel.edu.