Pamela Hernandez, a student from Montclair State University, completed a four-month Semester at Sea program that included travel to 12 countries and participation in a United Nations-connected dialogue initiative, according to an April 21 announcement. Hernandez was selected as a C.Y. Tung Scholar and used the experience to engage in conversations on human rights and education across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The opportunity is part of Montclair State University’s broader effort to offer global experiences for its students. Programs like Semester at Sea aim to help participants develop international perspectives and bring those insights back to campus communities.
Hernandez described her first encounter with the ocean when boarding the ship in IJmuiden, the Netherlands. “I’d never been on a ship, and it was so huge,” she said. “I just stared at it for a good minute thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to be living here for the next four months.’”
She spent about four months applying for more than 13 scholarships before receiving the $25,000 C.Y. Tung Scholarship supporting studies related to Chinese language and U.S.–China relations. Hernandez learned of her award while working as an intern on campus: “That was the best news of my life.”
During her voyage—which included stops in Amsterdam, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Cambodia and Thailand—Hernandez participated in UN dialogue training focused on issues such as human rights and education. She noted how discussions about women’s education in India influenced her desire to advocate for girls’ access to schooling.
Reflecting on her experience without regular internet access or set plans due to itinerary changes like diverting from France because of protests—Hernandez said: “As a first-generation student… I just have to take risks and be spontaneous at what I’m doing.” She added that traveling abroad made her want “to continue pursuing my career in film and telling stories about people from all over the world because I realized there are a lot of stereotypes I didn’t even know existed.”
Montclair State University offers more than 200 study abroad programs across over 50 countries through International Academic Initiatives. The university serves approximately 23,546 students—including around 18,062 undergraduates—and operates across several New Jersey municipalities such as Montclair, Little Falls, Clifton,and Bloomfield according to its official website.
More than half of Montclair’s students are from underrepresented minority groups; it is recognized as New Jersey’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution according to its official website. The university has also been ranked among the top public institutions nationally for value and social mobility according to its official website.
Montclair features a suburban campus spanning 252 acres with facilities that support academic excellence through liberal arts integration alongside professional training according to its official website.
