Empowering Concordia Students to Build Global and Local Bridges

Christine Schulze has established a scholarship that funds an annual cohort of Concordia College students’ participation in the Open Mindset Project, empowering them with knowledge, skills, and attitude to make a global impact. We spoke with Christine and Gay Rawson about how the program will enhance their Concordia education and what they hope the students will learn.

Christine Schulze’s global vision shaped her career. Now, she’s passing the torch by sponsoring an annual cohort of Concordia College students to participate in the Open Mindset Project. Her donation empowers students with ambitious global dreams to develop the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to make a positive impact. 

Christine spent 50 years at the internationally-renowned Concordia Language Villages (CLV). As its executive director, she embodied its mission to “inspire courageous global citizens” through 15 different language and cultural immersion programs. That spirit drove her to become a Board Director for the Open Mindset Project and to collaborate with Gay Rawson to bring Concordia students into the program. Christine’s sponsorship has accelerated students’ lifelong learning and enhanced their career development.

What inspired you to sponsor Concordia College students’ participation in the Open Mindset Project?

Christine Schulze: I gained so much from my own education at Concordia, and its international focus was what originally drew me in. A global mindset crosses all academic disciplines and careers. I saw that international learning was being impacted by budget cuts nationwide, and sponsoring Concordia students through the Open Mindset Project was a way to make a tangible difference at my alma mater. Helping alleviate the financial burden with scholarships for a specialized program centered on global skills and an open mindset felt like the right way to contribute.

How will the Open Mindset Project complement the students’ Concordia experience?

Gay Rawson: Open Mindset aligns with both CLV and the College’s missions related to global citizenship and responsible engagement in the world. All the students who participated want to make a difference in the world. Open Mindset combines education, hands-on connections, and building a global network to inspire them. Their relationship with their Global Guru is particularly important because the students have beautiful dreams for how to impact the world, but need guidance to get started. 

Christine: These students represent a range of majors, including political science, biology, and management, and recognize that international understanding will enhance their careers. The Open Mindset Project Certificate complements their degrees, helping them demonstrate their global skills to employers and graduate programs. 

What do you hope the students will learn through their experience?

Gay: It’s important for students to navigate the world with communication and respect. I teach my students about Byram’s savoirs, which are foundational for intercultural communicative competence and outline knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for successfully navigating differences. It’s typically harder to learn how to apply some of these attitudes in a classroom, but that’s exactly what Open Mindset reinforces. Open Mindset also develops the leadership skills necessary for tomorrow’s global leaders. I hope our students walk away knowing how to talk about the skills and attitudes they’ve learned, showcase what they can do, and make an impact. 

Christine: A global mindset is more than learning languages; it is teaching how to build bridges between different identities, both globally and locally. In Minnesota, we have very diverse communities. I was inspired by “the skill of neighboring”, a term I first saw used to describe how Minneapolis residents came together to support their communities in January 2026. A community of learners with a global mindset can contribute a lot to healing and rebuilding. These students will neighbor more effectively and consciously through the cultural insights they gain from the Open Mindset Project.

How has having a global mindset impacted your career?

Christine: I’ve always considered myself an internationally minded person: I was born in Germany, studied languages, and traveled extensively. But the world is a big place; you can have all sorts of cultural awareness and still encounter situations that are new to you. That certainly happened to me on my first trip to China in my late ‘30s, where I had my first taste of “culture shock,” a powerful emotion whenever it first occurs. These real experiences give you the courage and confidence to keep seeking difference and not be afraid to go somewhere where you may make a mistake or be culturally off-balance. Each time it happens, you’ll learn more and be more mature in how you respond to it. 

Gay: I couldn’t have my career without a global mindset. I’ve always had a drive and curiosity to learn, and that has helped me transition into my most recent position, where I’m doing things that are very different from teaching in a classroom. Realizing how little you know and how much more is out there makes you humble. I’m learning every day. I make mistakes, but having the heart of a continuous learner has helped me pick myself up, think creatively, and continue forward. 

What advice would you give leaders who want to make a tangible impact with their donations?

Christine: I think we have a moral obligation to share what we’ve learned in our global professions. The students are ready to make a difference in the world, and I believe they will do some truly amazing things. Gay said these students wouldn’t have been able to participate in Open Mindset without financial support. Directly funding their Open Mindset Project experience opens doors for them, giving them the skills, connections, and knowledge to make the world better for all of us.

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