The 15-person delegation, organized by the human-rights group Global Exchange, spent nine days in June traveling through parts of the Middle East to hear first-hand how the war has impacted the daily lives of Iraqi citizens.
"It's necessary to have local people from a variety of communities experience what's happening," said Branagan, a West Chazy resident who has been teaching at Plattsburgh State for the last 18 years.
The delegation visited areas of Jordan and Syria to meet with refugee Iraqi citizens in order to get a first-hand perspective on the effects of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
They met with middle-class Iraqi citizens who had fled the country in fear of the constant violence and instability in the war-torn nation.
Branagan met with several middle-class elite refugees from various religious backgrounds during the trip to hear about their experiences.
She said that, despite varied ethic backgrounds, the Iraqi refugees seemed to agree on one thing: the U.S. occupation has prolonged an inevitable civil war that will need to happen before the nation can rebuild.
"Everybody said this is a civil war," Branagan said. "They felt as long as the occupation continued, there won't be a resolution."
Branagan said the general consensus among the Iraqi refugees she met with was that the liberation of the nation from Saddam Hussein's rule was a positive step for the nation.
"They felt it was only going to prolong what's going to happen in the future," she said.
The delegation members learned how the violence has affected the daily lives of refugees. Many of them had lost their homes and belongings and had experienced a wide array of violence, ranging from prisoner abuse and torture to kidnapped family members.
"They had physical and emotional scars," Branagan said. "Every family I talked to had known someone who had been kidnapped for ransom. Everyone had their own horrific story to tell."
Branagan said many had fled the country after family members had been kidnapped. Many had sold their homes and jewelry to secure the return of their loved ones and then left before something worse could happen.
Many of the human-rights groups stationed in Iraq have also left to escape the continued violence. Some of the organizations moved into Amman, Jordan, to help refugees cope with post-traumatic-stress syndrome.
"You could see it in their eyes. They all had this glazed look in their eyes," Branagan said. "Everyone is suffering."
At the time, it was believed that more than 1 million Iraqis were seeking refuge in Jordan alone.
Many of the women Branagan had met were concerned about the future generations of Iraqi children. They felt the constant exposure to violence and fear would have a lasting impact on the younger generations.
"It's creating a generation that only knows violence," said Branagan, who stated that young boys and girls now view guns as a power symbol. "I don't think the American public knows what's happening on the ground."
According to Branagan, the trip back home was a difficult transition after hearing so many heart-wrenching stories of pain and suffering.
"It was really difficult for a few weeks after I came home. I came from a situation where life is so abnormal and depressing to a life that was completely normal."
Branagan said her experiences from the trip will be useful in the classroom and can help her students understand the immense impact the war has had on the nation and people of Iraq.
"I can give students an idea of what's really happening," said Branagan, who hopes to travel into Iran next summer. "Unless we look at how horrific the situation is, it won't change."