Larry “Ty” Abernathy sat relaxed in the fifth-floor staff lounge in Allen Hall, wearing a Delta State swimming team t-shirt, a gold chain and stud earrings. Famous across campus for leading study abroad trips, Abernathy said that while he enjoys a good lesson and a trip far, far away, he values the relationships he has made more than the trips he has taken.

“It is never where you go. It’s always who you go with. The country is just the setting,” Abernathy said.

Many MSU students have studied abroad with Abernathy, an associate professor of educational psychology at Mississippi State University. He has planned and traveled a total of 16 study abroad trips, but he hopes to make his goal of 25. 

“I did four this past year, and it was hard. But I try to do three every year,” Abernathy said. 

The main trips every year are to Greece, London, Amsterdam and Spain. He organizes a trip called Psychology, Philosophy and Mythology in Greece trip in December. He then organizes the Psychology in Spain trip for Spring Break and the Psychology in London and Amsterdam trip during the summer.

Abernathy took his first study abroad trip in 2019, but he said he had been thinking about the trip for about three to four years before that.

“It took me that long to kind of get the courage up, just to be determined I was going to do it,” Abernathy said. 

Once Abernathy built up the courage to begin taking his trips, he launched the programs, and they have become so popular that they have their own hashtag. The branding “#travelwithty” was created in March of 2022 during Abernathy’s second trip to Spain.

Abernathy said, “A couple of students, Caroline Garrett and Mary Hulbert, did videos for me, and both put ‘#travelwithty.’ And that’s how it started.”

Raylee “Rose” Craven, a junior kinesiology major minoring in finance, attended one #travelwithty trip with Abernathy, visiting London and Amsterdam. She stated that she would love to participate in another trip with him. 

“My favorite #travelwithty moment was just being able to experience other cultures with the best people possible, ” Craven said. “Meeting other MSU students on this trip and forming friendships with them made the entire experience ten times better, and of course, having Dr. Ty as our leader and instructor was truly a blessing. He is so passionate about showing students different perspectives and inspires you to step out of your comfort zone.”

Another student, Morgan Peaster, a senior majoring in marketing, has attended two trips with Abernathy and spoke about her experiences both during and after her trip to Greece. She explained that Abernathy remains committed to making memories with students even after the trips end.

“Dr. Ty came to my parents’ house with some of our group and made one of our favorite Greek Dishes, phyllo feta,” Peaster said. “He remembers every memory and little moment and is always down for a new adventure.”

Abernathy explained that study abroad programs like the ones Craven or Peaster attended are almost too important to him at times.

“I have to be mindful of that and realize I’ve got a lot of things going on. Studying abroad is all extra,” Abernathy said. 

However, he devotes so much time to the programs because his own college experiences inspired him to begin the study abroad programs. He was a part of the Lee University Singers, a choir that would have an international trip at the end of each year. He attended the anniversary tour as an alumnus, which marked the beginning of his journey.

When asked why people should study abroad, Abernathy said that the memories made on a study abroad trip are the ones you will remember and take with you forever, just like his memories from his trips as a member of the choir. He explained that you will have connections to all these different places.

“When you hear about Vienna or Greece or London or Dublin, Ireland, it gives you pause, and you’re like, I was there,” Abernathy said.

Craven and Peaster seconded Abernathy’s claims about the importance of studying abroad.

“Just branch out and do it,” Peaster said. “The experience is truly life-changing and something you will never get the chance to do again. The people you bond with and once in a lifetime experiences you have are something you cannot find anywhere else or any other time. Dr. Ty will be with you every step of the way and make it the best weeks ever.”

Craven said, “Studying abroad gives you a whole new perspective on the world and yourself. You will create memories you never thought you could and form friendships that will last forever. Taking that leap and just applying for it are the best decisions you could ever make.”

Isabella Steward, a senior marketing student with a minor in psychology, attended two of Abernathy’s trips and traveled to Greece, London and Amsterdam.

“Go. It will be the best decision you ever make, ” Steward said. “The memories, relationships and perspectives you gain are things you’ll carry with you forever.” 

The application for this year’s December trip to Greece closed Sept. 19, but people can apply to the March 2026 Psychology in Spain trip until Nov. 21. The information about London and Amsterdam has not been released yet.

Abernathy would also like future students to know that if you look up “travel with Ty” on Google, Abernathy’s website with the Mississippi State study abroad department comes up. For those who want to “travel with Ty” in the future, they should look up his many programs and get ready to make memories abroad.