Alumni Spotlight: A Summer That Became a Lifelong Calling

Mar 2

with Stephanie Dalianis-Antell, Wroxton Summer, 2001

So many of Stephanie’s friends had attended Wroxton, and enthusiastically shared their experiences. When she realized it was a chance to gain extra credits for her master’s degree over the summer, with a focus on Shakespeare - at Stratford upon Avon! - she knew, like many others before and after her, it was an opportunity she simply couldn't pass up. Now, even after 25 years, three children and a PhD, the Wroxton experience still resonates.

*Outside Abbey: Summer 2002*
*Dr Pamela Mason, Dr Nicholas Baldwin, Ivana Buric, Angela Amoroso, Stephanie Dalianis-Antell*

Interview with Stephanie Dalianis-Antell

What was your academic journey?

Thinking back to my academic journey, it actually kicked off at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where I majored in English with a minor in Sociology. After graduating, I took a bit of a break to work, but the call of academia was strong, and I soon found myself back in school. That's when I enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University for my first Master's degree in English. It was during this time that I had the incredible opportunity to spend a summer at Wroxton, which was perfect for earning additional credits towards my Master’s. But I didn't stop there! Once I wrapped things up at FDU, I went on to pursue a second Master's, this time in Modern Literature, at Drew University. And you know how it goes – one thing leads to another – so I continued at Drew to complete my PhD, with my dissertation delving into the fascinating world of Irish poetry, specifically focusing on the brilliant W.B. Yeats.

Why Wroxton College?

As for what first drew me to Wroxton, it was actually all the buzz among my classmates at Fairleigh Dickinson! So many of my friends had attended and couldn't stop raving about their experiences. When I realized it was a chance to gain extra credits for my master’s degree over the summer, with a focus on Shakespearean literature no less, I knew it was an opportunity I simply couldn't miss. I was incredibly fortunate that my job at the time was flexible enough to allow me a leave of absence for the summer. Plus, knowing that Wroxton College was one of the few schools that offered the unique chance to study at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon was a significant factor that attracted me to FDU in the first place.

How did your Wroxton Summer Semester differ from your other undergraduate/ master’s and PhD studies?

The greatest difference between my semester abroad at Wroxton from my other undergraduate and graduate studies, was the opportunity to study in England that gave me an entirely new perspective, and allowed me to experience an entirely different culture in real life rather than just reading about it in a book. Living at the Abbey was an experience in itself, and to study at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford upon Avon (Shakespeare’s actual birthplace) was something I will never forget.

What do you remember most about your study experience at Wroxton? What made it particularly special and unique?

Studying under the noted Shakespearean scholars Dr Pamala Mason and Keith Parsons, and the fact that it was practically a one-to-one. We were invited into the Shakespeare Institute’s Library, and were allowed to see close-up, with gloves on of course, one of the First Folios! We attended plays performed by the Royal Shakespearean Company at The Swan and the Shakespeare Theatre.

What advice would you give students to help them get the most out of their study abroad experience?

My best advice would be: don’t miss out on an opportunity that could change your life!

If you could describe the Wroxton experience in three words, what would they be?

I don’t need three words: it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that’s the best way to sum it up.

Which skills do you believe students gain at Wroxton that they wouldn’t get on a typical campus?

Being able to experience things in real life rather than simply reading about them in a book.

What are some of your best and lasting memories of being a student at the Abbey?

Honestly, my most vivid memories of my time at Wroxton revolve around the amazing people I met there. It wasn't just my fellow Wroxtonians from Fairleigh and other universities, but also the wonderful staff and administrators at Wroxton itself. I remember Dr Nicholas Baldwin’s extreme hospitality & graciousness to everyone visiting from across the pond.

The townsfolk from the surrounding area were super-friendly, giving us insight into local culture and helping us to develop a better understanding of alternative ways of thinking. Everyone went out of their way to make us feel incredibly welcome and at home. It was truly a tremendous and one-of-a-kind experience.

Even though we were so far from home, it certainly didn't feel that way. I still remember the lovely Fourth of July barbecue they organized especially for all the American students – it was those little thoughtful touches that made my time at Wroxton so special.