Villanova Law Expands Study Abroad Offerings with Summer in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
November 19, 2025鈥 Last summer, twelve Villanova Law students and three professors traveled to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of a new study abroad program, co-sponsored by the law school鈥檚 David F. and Constance B. Girard-diCarlo Center for Ethics, Integrity and Compliance. Spanning three weeks, the program included international and comparative law courses taught by Steven Chanenson, professor of law and faculty director of the Girard-diCarlo Center, Tuan Samahon, professor of law and director of international programs, and Adjunct Professor Arthur Traldi, who served as a prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Outside the classroom, students explored several opportunities for experiential learning and cultural immersion.听
The 2025 program was open to all law students entering their second or third year, regardless of their areas of study. Anjali Patel 鈥26 had never taken an international law course before embarking on the trip. 鈥淚 knew this experience would benefit me, broaden my purview and provide me with a unique opportunity,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was most excited to learn about a new area of law that I had no exposure to, alongside new people and professors, while traveling the world. This experience ultimately made me feel like I belong at Villanova Law and allowed me to learn about interesting and engaging topics while gaining hands-on practical experience.鈥澨
Students spent their first week in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where they took Introduction to European Union (EU) Law taught by Davor Petri膰 from the University of Zagreb. Students learned about the EU鈥檚 institutions and the application of laws in the legal systems of EU Member States, such as Croatia, its newest member.听
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Professors Chanenson and Traldi then taught International Criminal Justice in the Balkans, a course specifically tied to the region, providing tangible context for discussing the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, their aftermath and the ongoing justice process. A tour of the Homeland War Museum, led by its curator, and a tour of Dubrovnik鈥檚 old city walls complemented their coursework.
After Dubrovnik, the group traveled to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they met with survivors of the Bosnian War. This portion of the curriculum particularly spoke to Heather Roach 鈥27. 鈥淭he most impactful part of the trip for me was meeting with the families of victims of the massacres in the 1990s who have been seeking justice and reconciliation from that time until now. To see their passion and their dedication, not just to justice, but to building bridges with the very communities that victimized them, was incredibly inspiring.鈥澨 听
Following their visit to Mostar, students spent several days in Sarajevo continuing their studies of war crimes and visiting the Sarajevo office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as criminal justice centers and courts. 鈥淰isiting the sites of war crimes, sitting in a courtroom where they were and are still being prosecuted, and hearing firsthand accounts of what it was like to live through an international armed conflict really put into perspective the gravity of what we were learning about,鈥 Alexandra Taylor 鈥26 said.
The group then returned to Croatia to spend the final week in Split. They took Comparative Federalism with Professor Samahon and Professor Francesco Palermo from the University of Verona. 鈥淐omparative constitutional study can shed light on one鈥檚 own domestic legal system,鈥 explained Samahon. The course focused on the protection of minority rights in multi-nation states, such as they exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina.听
鈥淪tudying abroad can expand and greatly impact a law student鈥檚 experience,鈥 said Villanova Law Vice Dean Andrew Lund. 鈥淲e are pleased to continue building our international presence and programs and providing students with immersive learning opportunities.鈥澨
Taylor summed up her experience in the program. 鈥淭his program was the highlight of my time at Villanova Law, and I encourage anyone with an interest in international law, whether they have experience in the subject or not, to participate.鈥
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