Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — April 9 2025) Despite achieving a deep familiarity with their areas of expertise, students often need guidance on what career paths are available to them. Professor Dan Nyaronga’s aim is to help students unearth their passions and apply their programs of study to practical work paths that are meaningful to them.

Nyaronga, a professor of Psychology and Human Development, has been teaching at Empire State University for the past 16 years. Previously, he worked at UC Berkeley as part of an alcohol research group, analyzing data on the epidemiology of drinking and its impact on physical and mental health for different populations in the U.S. Before joining Empire State University, he was a senior research associate at Purdue University’s Military Family Research Institute. His work there focused on how children under the age of five conceptualize post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military families. To support this research, the team collaborated with Sesame Street to develop an educational, age-appropriate DVD on the topic.

Nyaronga praises Empire State University’s flexible teaching and learning model, which allows him to carry out research and hold classes simultaneously. His research at the university continues his focus on the health outcomes of PTSD in military families. This work relies on the support of the Office of Veteran and Military Education (OVME), as well as the Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC) for data collection from the university’s veteran student population. He has also worked with refugee populations based in Buffalo, studying PTSD and its roots in their traumatic journeys before and after they arrive in the U.S.

Recently, Nyaronga delivered a presentation for his capstone class in Prague, Czech Republic, titled, “From the Classroom to the Real World: Applying Academic Principles in Field Work.” He underscored the importance of experiential learning in discovering each student’s career path. Experiential learning takes place outside a traditional classroom setting, usually through experiences such as study abroad, capstone projects, and internships. “This is significant because, in the age of AI, undergraduate degrees are no longer enough—especially for employers seeking specific skill sets, competencies, and examples of what students can achieve beyond degrees and grades,” he explains.

Drawing from the experiences of past students who landed in meaningful careers and projects because of experiential learning, Nyaronga encouraged students to pursue hands-on experiences in their fields of study during his presentation. He explained how this form of learning is a powerful tool for students to figure out the kind of work they feel passionate about, which leads them to fulfilling occupations. “Every student that goes [on study abroad] comes back with something…they are able to broaden their view with regards to what is happening outside of the United States,” he explains.

His deep appreciation for experiential learning stems from his own fieldwork experiences. Nyaronga emphasizes the importance of approaching study abroad projects with respect for what is already being done in a community, with the goal of further empowering its members and adding value to its existing practices.

In discussing student outcomes post-experiential learning, Nyaronga comments that some students decided to continue their projects after graduating, even continuing their research-based community projects for their dissertations at various institutions, or changing their careers.

The takeaway from Nyaronga’s presentation in Prague is for students to think intentionally about their education, and frame their learning in terms of a tangible, lifelong career path they can be fulfilled by. An internship, capstone class project, or study abroad experience can help students witness the real-life applications of their fields of study, providing a glimpse into the future, and what work it may hold. “What I’m working on is helping each student develop a true sense of purpose—not just to ‘find themselves,’ but to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. It’s about connecting their goals with meaning, so their path forward feels intentional and fulfilling.”