Introducing our new Director of Ambialet
Saint Francis University is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Sepich as the Director of Ambialet, the University’s flagship study abroad program, held in the village of Ambialet in southwestern France. Sepich is no stranger to Saint Francis University or Ambialet; he is an alumnus and a member of one of the earliest student groups to travel to the University’s facility in Ambialet where he fell in love with the quaint village.
It is no wonder why Sepich wanted to return to Ambialet. The Semester in France allows students to experience many sites in the region including museums, monuments, and natural sites as well as travel for extended stays in Paris and Barcelona. Sepich says, “I still have strong memories of Ambialet, from live music and celebrations in the stone room of the old monastery where we lived, to meeting a Holocaust survivor who now creates sculptures to represent the love and beauty in life.” In addition to the memorable cultural opportunities, students keep up with their coursework by attending classes offered regularly in Ambialet, by visiting faculty, and online.
After graduating with his bachelor's degree, Sepich returned to Ambialet as the Program Assistant to help provide students the same great experiences as he had during his study abroad trip. Sepich later returned to the University’s main campus in Loretto, PA to work in the Admissions Office where he says, “it was great getting to know the group that would become the future student body of Saint Francis and working with students through the student ambassador program.”
Inspired by the desire and courage to travel, gained by his Semester in France experience, Sepich embarked on a new adventure after a few years of serving as an admissions counselor at Saint Francis University. “I headed to New Zealand for a one-year working holiday to continue to see the world and meet new people,” said Sepich, who highly recommends this form of travel. He spent the year hiking through mountains, hunting down any Lord of the Rings film location he could find, and working on farms big and small. On one farm where he was milking cows and baking bread, Sepich met Annie, who is now his wife and will be joining him in Ambialet when his directorship begins this summer.
“Saint Francis is thrilled to welcome Sepich as director of this program as he carries a joy for both the University and the study abroad spirit,” says Juliana Horvath, Director of the Office for Study Abroad. The Semester in France program will be moving into its second decade and its continued success is highly anticipated. Sepich adds that, “study abroad dramatically changed my life, and I aim to shape the program to be able to do the same for the future groups that come to Ambialet.”
Through all of the years and much traveling, Sepich says, “Ambialet keeps calling me back,” and there was no other answer but, “yes!” to the call to return to Ambialet and engage students in such a memorable experience.
Learn more about Saint Francis University's study abroad programs>