Changing Perspectives in California: A Transformative Culture Exchange for Stockholm University and Sonoma State University Criminology Students

From June 13 to 20, 2024, Sonoma State University (SSU) hosted 16 criminology students from Stockholm University (SU) for an educational and cultural exchange. Five SSU undergraduate “student ambassadors” participated, representing California and SSU while assisting the Swedish students. Surveys indicated the exchange was a meaningful academic and cultural experience for all participants. The Swedish students deepened their understanding of the U.S. criminal justice system through presentations by criminologists and discussions with practitioners on issues such as policing and prison reform. They also gained broader perspectives on California and the United States through interactions with SSU ambassadors and visits to historical and cultural sites such as Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. The SSU ambassadors, some of whom had never left the West Coast, developed international perspectives by engaging with peers from abroad and expressed increased interest in studying overseas. The program was designed to be affordable for Swedish students, with university housing provided and transportation arranged for off-campus visits; SSU ambassadors participated at no cost. Limitations of the pilot program are noted, and the long-term goal is to expand participation to include students from a wider range of international backgrounds.