The Balkans & Beyond
October 26 - November 7, 2025 | Maximum Group Size: 25 Participants | Availability: Open
Krka National Park
Join Wilson College President Wes Fugate and Cody Ward, along with fellow alumni, friends, and family for an unforgettable exploration of The Balkans & Beyond. When the Alumni Association of Wilson College asked Cody, an international educator with experience in nearly 60 countries, to organize a trip for the Wilson community, he chose to focus on his favorite country, Croatia. Seeing Croatia for the first time is a life-changing experience.
Blessed with magnificent scenery and fascinating history, the region is further enriched with folk traditions and delicious provincial foods and wines. Places so divine they have been named among the best travel destinations in the world. Mediterranean, European, and Balkan influences have formed ancient and distinctive cultures throughout the pastoral countryside and along shimmering coastlines.
Powerful mountain ranges have carved legacies in their midst while fairy tale castles and walled seaside villages stand as testimony to the tumultuous past. From its lush national parks teeming with flora, fauna, and stunning waterfalls to its glistening chain of lavender and citrus-scented islands in the sun-drenched Adriatic Sea, this is truly one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. A journey to the westernmost Balkans is a lovely and indelible memory that lives with you forever.
Your Host, Wilson College President, Dr. Wesley R. Fugate
Dr. Wes Fugate began service as the 20th president of Wilson College in January of 2020, steering Wilson through the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic challenges. Under his leadership, the College launched a new strategic plan, Future Wilson: The Phoenix Rises. The plan led to the second highest enrollment in the College’s history and a 12 percentage point increase in first-year to second-year retention of traditional aged students, along with fundraising success and budget surpluses.
As a result of the plan, the College created eleven undergraduate majors, one graduate program, one endorsement, and one certificate program, and launched Wilson College Online, providing a number of Wilson’s programs entirely online. The College will soon offer hybrid, accelerated graduate healthcare programs in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology. Additionally, Fugate has created the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and appointed task groups seeking to help strengthen Wilson’s financial position.
Fugate’s tenure has been marked by open communication, transparency, and collaboration. The alumni and friends of the College have responded to this transparency by increasing support of the Wilson Fund by 73% in three years, setting an annual fund record for most dollars raised in a year and the highest number of consecutive years of the annual fund being over $1 million. The success of the We Rise campaign has led to the third highest giving year in the history of the College.
Fugate is married to Cody Ward, a student development and international education professional.
*Once you have submitted the above registration form with your digital signature, a Discover Europe staff member will be in contact as soon as possible to process your deposit and welcome you to the tour.
