Education Abroad News
What’s New in Education Abroad at PCC?
May 2026
PCC alum Alfie Padilla was accepted into this year’s New Visionaries exhibition by Lightbox Gallery in Astoria, Oregon. Alfie participated in the 2024 PCC Digital Photography course in Prague, taught by Kim Manchester. The image in the exhibit was taken during our visit to Kunsthalle Praha when we were touring the Lucia Moholy photography collection and there was a portion dedicated to her work during WWII with Microfiche (microfilm) as an archival tool. Alfie’s work is also on the homepage and main marketing for the exhibition. Congratulations, Alfie!
December 2025
The Education Abroad Office new Student Outreach Advocate, alumni Davion Jefferson, was recently highlighted in the Marketing Minds Newsletter from the Business Department at PCC. Davion took part in the 2025 Intro to Entrepreneurship course in Prague taught by Heidi Sickert. Enjoy!
Student Spotlight: Davion Jefferson, Marketing Student
“You’ve got to get out there and meet people; that’s always been my motto. You never know who you’re talking to.”
PCC marketing student Davion Jefferson learned a valuable lesson at age 19. Davion was riding the bus when a simple act of friendliness changed his path. He struck up a conversation with a man seated nearby, asking questions and showing genuine interest — something that comes naturally to him. Little did he know that this man was the owner of a well-known local business. By the end of that ride, Davion had been offered an interview for his first job.
“You’ve got to get out there and meet people; that’s always been my motto. You never know who you’re talking to” says Davion. That same openness and curiosity have continued to shape his journey at Portland Community College.
Now in his final year in the marketing program, Davion, 30, has found ways to turn those traits into opportunity. Last summer, he joined a PCC study abroad program in Prague, led by business instructor Heidi Sickert, an experience that broadened his understanding of culture and communication. “It opened my eyes to how people live and think in different parts of the world,” he says. “It made me more confident about stepping into new situations.”
That confidence led to a new chapter this fall, when Davion was hired as PCC’s Student Outreach Advocate for Study Abroad. In this role, he shares his enthusiasm with other students, encouraging them to take advantage of opportunities to learn internationally. “I want students to see that studying abroad isn’t out of reach,” he says. “It’s possible, and it can change your life.”
Looking ahead, Davion hopes to continue building his marketing skills while helping others recognize their potential. His story — from a conversation on a bus to a job helping students explore the world — reflects a simple but powerful lesson: connection creates opportunity.
Greg Rapp, Business Faculty