St. John’s University visits Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - St. John’s University’s unique “G.L.O.B.E.” experiential learning program culminated with a January trip to Vietnam where students witness the impact of their classwork. The Global Loan Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs (GLOBE) program is a partnership between St. John’s The Peter J. Tobin College and the Daughters of Charity, a Vincentian order that coordinates microfinancing efforts around the world. 

Under the direction of Professor Bill Riesel, GLOBE students manage all aspects of the program including vetting loan applications, marketing the program, tracking funds flows, fundraising, providing technology to the field, and measuring program success.  The program culminates with a delegation trip for selected “student fellows” to witness the impact of the efforts. 

While the Daughters of Charity currently work in 97 countries, this years’ St. John’s delegation traveled to witness the program’s impact in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Professor Riesel was joined by six students and Rev. Tri Duong, an Associate Director of Campus Ministry at St. John’s University. Father Tri, who is from Vietnam, served as an invaluable asset as both translator and cultural guide.

The delegation of six students visited and interviewed more than a dozen microloan-supported business owners including a traditional Bahn Mi sandwich shop, a knife sharpener, an organic farmer, and a sewing contractor. The students will then share these stories through the GLOBE Gazette publication and the GLOBE Entrepreneurs website.  

 “This trip lets the Fellows see what goes on beyond the classroom and in a more immersive experience,” shared Ariana Rolon, a student completing her Master of Science degree in Marketing Intelligence. “We learned firsthand how our partnership with the Daughters of Charity fulfills our goals of serving the underserved in Vietnam.”

Professor Riesel added that their exploration also looks beyond those individual businesses. “Our highest priority is to strengthen and build our relationship with the Daughters of Charity and support their work. By visiting the Presidential Palace, U.S. Consulate, museums, and schools, we strive to ‘connect the dots’ about global economies and identify opportunities for impact.” 

GLOBE was founded in 2009 by Dr. Linda Sama, who served as program director until 2022. GLOBE’s work has supported businesses in Kenya, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Vietnam and the Philippines. GLOBE’s travel is made possible through the guidance of St. John’s University’s Office of International Education. 

With spring 2025 class welcoming a new cohort of students, recruitment will begin shortly for the Fall 2025 class with hopes of funding another international delegation in January 2026. For further information or to support the GLOBE program, please visit the GLOBE website or contact tcbglobe@stjohns.edu.