Areas of Focus

• Oversight of Global Experiences Office
• Finances and Budgeting
• Health and Safety Abroad
• Faculty-Led Orientations & Trainings

My Background

I spent the spring semester of my junior year studying abroad in Seville, Spain where I immersed myself in the Spanish culture and language. Following graduation, I spent four years teaching Spanish to middle school and high school students in the Minneapolis area. This experience afforded me the opportunity to study international cultures and share my knowledge of the Spanish language with my students. Upon graduation from Vanderbilt University, I interned and worked in the Office of International and Off-Campus Studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. I joined the Education Abroad Office, rather Global Experiences Office, in June 2013. 
 

My Study/Work Abroad

After completing my semester abroad in Seville, Spain, I continued to travel throughout Europe and the Americas. While teaching, I was able to travel to Costa Rica, England, France, Honduras, Hungary and Italy; these experiences allowed me to study the cultural differences that exist between Spain and Central and South America. I spent a summer abroad in Cusco, Peru where I served as a Teaching Assistant in three different school environments in and near the city. In both of my long-term experiences abroad (Seville and Cusco), I participated in a home-stay experience and traveled extensively throughout the country. In 2014, I co-led a three-week experience in Erzurum and Istanbul, Turkey with students from UNK, UNL, UNMC and UNO where we studied the local political system, educational system, economy, culture and history! I have visited Argentina, Chile and Ecuador in hopes of developing a new intensive Spanish program! Most recently, I visited our partners in Cape Town, South Africa and visited Japan for the first time!

Purpose: After returning from my first study abroad experience in Seville, Spain, I knew I would work in international education someday. I remember sitting on the couch in my dorm room in the fall of my senior year thinking, “… there is still so much I do not know about the world and I need to keep learning!” When I graduated from College, I moved into teaching Spanish (and culture!) at the middle school and high school levels. I continued to travel to and study the Spanish-speaking world and shared my experiences with the students in my classroom. I now have been studying and working in international education for more than 15 years and could not be prouder to be working with students, faculty and staff each day to support their global learning.

My Ideal Next Travel Destination

I have two travel “wish lists” – My first would be to go to Austria and Germany, as I have yet to explore this area of Europe and have only heard wonderful reactions from friends and relatives. My second is to travel to Guatemala and Panama to continue exploring Central America!