From Lecture to Lemon Grove: UGA Psychology in Ischia

This summer, psychology majors from the UGA’s College of Arts and Sciences traded lecture halls for lemon groves and textbooks for thermal baths. The Health and Wellness in Italy program was a faculty-led, three-week Maymester course including a two-week study abroad experience on the volcanic island of Ischia, located off the coast of Naples. Students earned three credits through PSYC 5100: Employee Health and Well-Being, a capstone course that explored occupational stress, burnout, work engagement, emotional health, and the role of positive psychology in the workplace.  

The program was led by Malissa Clark, a nationally recognized expert on workaholism, overwork, and employee well-being, and psychology department head/professor of industrial/organizational psychology at UGA. Under her guidance, students engaged with rigorous academic content while experiencing firsthand the restorative power of nature, culture, and community. 

“It's one thing to learn about concepts in a classroom environment, but it’s so much more impactful for the students to be able to immediately apply the theories and concepts we discuss in class to daily activities and experiences,” said Clark, professor and head of the department of psychology. “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my students outside of the traditional classroom environment. Moreover, it was so gratifying to see how the students were actively engaging with the course content during our travels.” 

The journey began with in-person classes at UGA in mid-May, followed by departure to Italy for a two-week program abroad. After a brief stay in Salerno and visits to Sorrento, Positano and a buffalo mozzarella farm, students settled into Ischia for the core of the program.  

Each day blended academic learning with cultural exploration, culminating in a boat tour of the island and a final visit to the Castle of Aragon before returning home. With course content seamlessly woven into daily activities, students covered topics including occupational stress and burnout; positive psychology and work engagement; work-family conflict and emotional well-being as well as coping strategies and wellness resources.  

Isabella Zia, a third-year psychology and communications student at Franklin, describes her study abroad experience as one that provided countless opportunities and lifelong connections. 

"I had always heard about how much studying abroad had changed people's lives and was a little skeptical at first. However, this was genuinely one of the best things I could have done for myself at UGA, especially as an out-of-state student,” said Zia. “It's created new connections both in Georgia and internationally that I would never have gotten to make with a program that was any less immersive than this one."  

Students didn’t just study wellness, they lived it including excursions to iconic destinations throughout the Campania region. Students explored the ancient ruins of Pompeii, strolled the cliffside villages of the Amalfi Coast, and toured the historic streets of Procida. They practiced yoga and experienced the healing benefits of thermal water at two of Ischia’s world-renowned natural thermal spas. Cultural immersion and wellness continued with forest walks and beach time for reflection and relaxation along with hands-on experiences like a pizza-making workshop with a local chef, a pasta factory tour, and a farewell dinner overlooking the sea.“What makes this program so powerful is seeing students connect what they’re learning to their daily experiences abroad. They come back not only with new knowledge, but with confidence, perspective, and friendships that truly shape their lives well beyond their time at UGA,” said Yana Cornish, Director of Global Education. 

“We spent a little over two weeks on the beautiful island of Ischia, Italy, and balanced rigorous coursework on top of daily activities while immersing ourselves in the work culture of the island. Learning about concepts such as work-life balance while being able to experience how much more laid back everybody was in Italy compared to Western culture really enhanced the understanding and application of the material rather than simply memorizing terms,” said Zia.  

For students seeking a capstone experience that combined intellectual growth with personal rejuvenation, the Health and Wellness in Italy program offered an unforgettable opportunity to study psychology in motion—where the classroom was the coastline, and wellness was more than a concept; it was a way of life.