Above photo: Experiment alum Donald Presswood, fourth from right, poses with his classmates from La Escuela de Caballería, a military school in Bogotá, Colombia. After The Experiment in Mexico, he served in the U.S. Army, often in assignments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
By Abby Henson
Donald Presswood, top right, with his Experiment group in Mexico, 1978.
Dr. Donald Presswood’s time in Mexico with The Experiment was more than just a summer abroad. It was a pivotal experience that shaped his future—one that included successful careers in both the U.S. military and education.
Presswood, back right, with his Experiment host family in Mexico.
Presswood served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and then a foreign area officer. During his 15 years of service, he served in assignments and traveled extensively throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He trained soldiers in infantry techniques, operational readiness, and leadership. As a foreign area officer, he also served as a military advisor, focusing on training programs. In this role, he was both a regional and language specialist, helping bridge strategy and tactical operations in complex international environments.
Presswood says lessons from his time with The Experiment in 1978 helped guide his career trajectory.
“I learned from the program the value of practicing what you know and not being afraid to make mistakes. The Experiment encouraged me to keep learning and adapting in my linguistic, cultural, personal, and professional interactions,” he says.
Presswood first heard about The Experiment as a student at DePaul University. After majoring in Spanish, he wanted to apply his language skills in a natural context.
“The program was a total immersive experience that allowed me to practice Spanish daily,” he says, citing his host family as being instrumental in his complete language immersion. “At the end of my stay, I overheard my host parents speaking in English with The Experiment staff who came to pick me up—something I had not realized they could do the entire time!”
Presswood at La Escuela de Caballería
After The Experiment, Presswood joined the military because it offered him the opportunity to serve his country, see the world, and practice his Spanish in real-world settings. For him, the years spent on international U.S. Army bases reinforced the need for adaptability, continued education, and effective cross-cultural communication.
“Both The Experiment and the U.S. military taught me the value of leadership, preparation, humility, and continuous learning—lessons that shaped my future professional decisions and strengthened my commitment to working in international environments,” Presswood says.
In addition to his undergraduate degree from DePaul, Presswood holds a certificate from the U.S. Armed Forces’ Defense Language Institute in California and a master’s in Latin American studies from The University of Texas at Austin. Following the military, Presswood transitioned to a career in education, earning a doctorate in special education administration from UT Austin. He was first a special education teacher and later a school principal. His final role before retirement was as an English language development administrator, guiding programs for multilingual learners.
Presswood holding letters of appreciation from his students.
“My experience with The Experiment and in the military reinforced the values that guided my work as a school administrator. Both strengthened my appreciation for communication and cultural understanding—lessons that informed my approach to educational leadership,” he says.
Would he recommend The Experiment today—nearly 50 years after his time in Mexico?
“Absolutely! I would strongly recommend The Experiment to high schoolers today. Programs like this help build skills that are increasingly important in our interconnected world.”