By Alex Garriga Podadera, Global Engagement at Texas A&M University

“At Soltis, education doesn't happen in classrooms; it happens in the wild, and it stays with you for life.” - Dr. Donald Brightsmith 

Donald Brightsmith, a wildlife biologist at Texas A&M University vividly remembers his first visit to the Soltis Center for Research and Education. It was around 2010, after a conference in Costa Rica, when someone mentioned a Texas A&M facility nestled in the rainforest canopy. Intrigued, he made the trip. 

“I did a lot of birdwatching, walked through the forest… and I was really drawn to it,” he recalled. “It was a really nice, comfy facility, right on the edge of this beautiful forest. It just felt like a gem within our university system.” 

That initial visit would blossom into a long-standing relationship with the center—one that would shape not just Brightsmith's academic work but the lives of countless students. Over the years, he's spent more nights at Soltis than any other Texas A&M faculty member—around 550 nights in total—making him a key advocate in the center's work. 

“I was already used to running around the country and leading student groups,” Brightsmith said, who previously taught for the Organization for Tropical Studies. “But there aren't many stations like Soltis. It's comfortable but also immersive. I helped get additional air conditioning for the classrooms, because teaching in the tropics without at least one cool room? Brutal.” 

For Brightsmith, Soltis has been the ideal mix of academic rigor, rich biodiversity and a physical environment that fosters transformative learning.  

“There's something about being able to walk 300 meters from your room and be surrounded by frogs, birds and forest. It changes people,” he said. 

Looking above, below and to the sides 

One of the most defining elements of Brightsmith's teaching philosophy is what he calls looking “up the hill, down the hill and to the sides.” 

“Up the hill” is the forest, the research, the biology, the biodiversity. “Down the hill” is the community, with small farms, ecotourism, rural schools, water systems, local people, and expats.  And “to the sides” is where people and nature meet in all their complexity. 

“If you can understand those three directions,” he explained, “you have a real chance. And Texas A&M has a better chance of being a leader in this, how we use the landscape, how we preserve it and how we integrate those two.” 

Thanks to his collaboration with colleague Corey Arcak,  Director of International and High-Impact Experiences at The Bush School, community engagement became a central focus of his programs. Homestays, service projects and shared meals allowed students to connect with local life in ways few textbooks can offer. 

“I had cultural sensitivity already, but working with someone so skilled helped me grow in how I engage with local people. It made me better,” Brightsmith said. 

A place that becomes family 

Brightsmith doesn't hesitate when asked what Soltis means to him. “It's family.” 

After more than a decade of visits, the center has become more than a research station—it's a second home.  

“I know the staff by name. I know the sounds of the forest,” Brightsmith said. “My students arrive nervous, and leave changed. There's a rhythm to the place that gets under your skin.” 

Sometimes, it's the quietest moments that leave the deepest impressions. He remembers a recent conversation with a graduating student. 

“She said, ‘I'm so glad you taught us how to use AI not just to cheat but as a tool to do better work,'” Brightsmith recalled. “That moment hit me. It was exactly what we were trying to do.” 

A fist bump followed. A new kind of learning had taken root. 

The Soltis equation 

 “There are places with better forests, sure. But they're nowhere near as comfortable,” Brightsmith said. “Some have great infrastructure but no biodiversity. Soltis is different—it's the perfect combination.” 

He describes it as a Venn diagram of strengths. Good food, strong logistics, great staff, engaging community and beautiful surroundings. 

“Maybe it's not the best at one single thing,” he said. “But when you look at the whole package, it's unbeatable. It's the sweet spot. For the kinds of programs I run, where students need to feel safe, challenged, inspired and connected, Soltis hits every note.” 

Teaching that walks and talks 

At Soltis, Dr. Brightsmith embraces what he calls “wandering lectures.” 

“I walk through the forest with the students, and I stop at places where I know I can teach specific concepts,” he explained. “It's more effective than any PowerPoint. You're not just hearing about biodiversity—you're surrounded by it.” 

That immersion, he says, is what creates lasting memories. “Students remember what they touch, smell and feel. It's not abstract anymore.” 

Over time, Brightsmith realized that what he had been practicing was a “pedagogy of place.” 

“I didn't have a label for it at first, but that's what it is, teaching through place. Letting the environment guide the lessons. It's about rooting knowledge in experience,” he said.   

A future worth investing in 

Brightsmith believes Soltis offers a rare, powerful combination of science, education and human connection. “And if we nurture it, it will continue to transform lives. Soltis should be a cornerstone of Texas A&M's global education,” he said. 

His message to fellow faculty is both practical and passionate. 

“Lean on the Soltis staff. They've done this a lot,” Brightsmith said. “They know the places your students will love. They have the local connections. But also think differently. 

“Look up the hill, look down the hill, look to the sides and consider what that means in the context of your teaching. If you're going to teach the same class you would on campus, stay on campus. But if you're ready to add something new, something transformative, then go.” 

Because at Soltis, the lectures come with footsteps. The classrooms are made of trees. And the lessons, like the rainforest that surrounds them, keep growing long after students return home. 

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Faculty who are interested in developing a study abroad program or conducting research at the Soltis Center for Research and Education can reach out to soltis@tamu.edu for more information. 

About Global Engagement
The Department of Global Engagement strategically aligns several critical internationally focused units bringing together Education Abroad, International Student & Scholar Services, and Global Partnerships & Initiatives. As a hub of resources and partnerships, Global Engagement fosters the University’s commitment to solving the world’s most pressing problems through a focus on transformational international education and research that serves our local communities and the world at large.