Student Ambassadors

My name is Katia Bautista (she/her/hers), I’m currently a sophomore studying Economics and Global Health Studies with a minor in Business Institutions. In the summer of 202, I spent 8 weeks virtually interning for a community-based organization in San Jose, Costa Rica that focused on community engagement and education. Despite my internship being virtual, I really felt like I was in Costa Rica. I was able to learn more about the community I was working with through both my organization and the Institute for Central American Developmental Studies with whom I met once a week. It was a truly rewarding experience and I would definitely do it again either virtually or in person!

My name is Nala Bishop (she/her/hers) and I am a third-year studying Human Development in Context in SESP! My time "abroad" was spent online as I completed my GESI quarter during the middle of the pandemic. However, I am planning on studying abroad in person in Denmark during the Fall of 2022! I am happy to answer any questions related to DIS Copenhagen or GESI!

Hi! I’m Elana (she/her/hers) and I’m a third-year studying Psychology and Global Health Studies. This fall I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic through CIEE. Between traveling around Europe, meeting new people, and experiencing different forms of art and culture, studying abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone in many ways. I would love to talk through study abroad options and answer questions you have!

My name is Grace (she/her/hers) and I'm majoring in Classics with a Linguistics minor. I went abroad in the fall of 2021 to Rome, where I attended the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies. Being abroad allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone and immerse myself completely in the ancient culture and languages that I've devoted my academic career to.

Zach Forbes (he/him/his) is a third-year first-gen student in the School of Communication studying Theatre, with a module in Theatre Management, and Legal Studies. Zach, a native of Tacoma, Washington, studied at Syracuse University's Florence Center in the fall of 2021 and describes living and studying in Italy for a semester as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Studying abroad in Italy and learning Italian had been a dream of Zach's since he was little, having grown up surrounded by his Italian family. Not only did he get to explore Florence and its beautiful art, architecture, and amazing food, but Zach traveled to thirteen of Italy's twenty regions, discovering how diverse and different each part of the country is. Despite being back in Evanston, Zach still keeps in touch with the friends he made from Northwestern, other American universities, and all across Italy.

Hi, my name is Jake (he/him/his), and I am a junior studying Social Policy and Economics. I studied abroad Fall 2021 with DIS Copenhagen, in Copenhagen, Denmark. My semester abroad was a highlight of my time so far at Northwestern. I got the chance to meet new people and explore an exciting city, but it also had its fair share of highs and lows. All in all, it was a period of immense growth, and I am happy to speak with anyone more about it!

Hi! My name is Andy Hartman (he/him/his), I’m from New York City, and I’m a junior majoring in Theatre, minoring in Dance, and completing the Acting for Screen and Playwriting modules. Although I missed a significant amount of time on campus due to the pandemic, studying abroad was something I always wanted to do and I can say with full confidence that it lived up to every single expectation. After studying abroad in London in the Fall of 2021, I not only came back to Northwestern as a better performer given the intensive nature of the acting conservatory I was studying at, but also a newfound appreciation for traveling and immersing myself in different cultures whenever I have the opportunity to do so. If you are considering studying abroad, whether it is for a whole quarter or even just a summer, you absolutely should - I promise you won’t regret it!

My name is Sarah (she/her/hers), I'm a fourth-year studying Biological Sciences and Global Health. I studied abroad in Denmark with DIS Copenhagen in Fall 2022. The classes I took include Healthcare Systems: A Comparative Approach, Public Mental Health, Food & Identity, and Danish Language and Culture. I learned about public health, experienced life in Denmark, and traveled around. Studying abroad was an extremely rewarding experience for me and I highly recommend it to everyone who is able to!

My name is Mikayla Lindsey (she/her/hers). I'm from Greenwood, Indiana. I'm currently a junior, studying Psychology, Global Health Studies, and Sociology. After graduation, I hope to enter a career in counseling or therapy. I participated in the DIS-Copenhagen Study Abroad program in the Fall of 2021. I would highly recommend this program to students who may be interested in more than one field of study, because it allows you to choose classes in a variety of fields! I'm excited to share my experience about the logistics of studying abroad and how I think it has contributed to my education and personal growth.

My name is Maddie Miles (she/her/hers). I am a third-year student double majoring in Psychology and Learning and Organizational Change with a minor in Business Institutions. I studied abroad on CIEE's Central European Studies program in Prague, Czech Republic, in the Fall of 2021. During my time abroad, I took unique classes, tried exciting cuisines, traveled to many stunning cities, and fully immersed myself in a city rich in beauty and history. Studying abroad in Prague is undoubtedly one of the best decisions I've ever made!

My name is Emmy and I am a fourth-year student studying chemical engineering! I studied abroad in the summer of 2019 in Berlin, Germany taking german language and culture classes. Through studying abroad, I was able to leave the States for the first time, have so many amazing experiences, and meet the most incredible people! I would love to chat or answer any questions you may have!

Hi everyone! My name is Quan Pham (he/him/his), and I am currently a junior studying Journalism, Data Science, and Chinese in Medill. I studied abroad (virtually) in Vietnam with Northwestern through their Global Engagement Studies Institute in Fall 2020. Vietnam is actually my home country, so I was able to leverage my cultural insights to help both my team members and our hosts to engage in thoughtful discussions towards a community-forward perspective!

My name is Kaitlyn (she/her/hers), and I am a junior studying Political Science, International Studies, and Legal Studies. I studied abroad in Fall 2021 in Bilbao, Spain through the Business, International Relations, and Spanish in Bilbao program. Studying abroad was the most rewarding experience I have had. I met so many incredible people, broadened my perspective, and was able to add a global dimension to my studies. I would highly recommend it to every Northwestern student.

My name is Bianca (she/her/hers), and I am a third-year undergraduate studying Social Policy and Political Science! I studied abroad at University College London in the Fall of 2021, taking a mix of Political Science and Sociology courses. It was undoubtedly the most rewarding experience of my life - and I am sure it would be yours too!

My name is Aaron Xuandi Wang (he/him/his), a third-year student studying journalism and international studies. Hailing from Zhejiang, China, I spent a semester in my junior year's fall quarter at the Qatar campus. My study abroad experience is both refreshing and rewarding -- I got exposed to a different culture, my horizon broaden, and I was inspired to study Arabic after coming back to Evanston. I am excited to share my experiences with people thinking about going abroad!

Hi! My name is Grayson (she/her/hers). I am a junior at Northwestern, studying journalism, marketing, and French. I spent four months in Paris, France, as a Sciences Po exchange student. I lived in the center of Paris, and took classes with students from a variety of countries in addition to France. In my free time, I had the opportunity to visit art exhibitions, play on the Sciences Po tennis team, enjoy French cuisine, and even travel to other European countries! Studying abroad has been the highlight of my Northwestern career, and I'm happy to answer any questions about my abroad experience, living in France, or attending an exchange program.

Hi, my name is Janey Wilson (she/her/hers) and I am a Psychology major French minor student in Weinburg College of Arts and Sciences here at Northwestern. I decided to travel to Paris and attend the IES French Studies program. This was an entirely French-speaking program filled with classes designed to immerse the students into French culture, ranging from French Literature to French Cinema to French Grammar and more. This program forced me to venture outside what feels safe and to start being comfortable with the uncomfortable. I was able to build a wonderful new network of peers and professors that supported and challenged me- but most importantly accompanied me in creating some of the most rewarding and exciting experiences of my life.

My name is Elizabeth Wuertley (she/her/hers) and I am a senior studying Biological Sciences and Global Health Studies. I studied abroad in Summer 2019 in Mexico City on the Public Health in Mexico program. My time in Mexico was amazing, but it was also the craziest 8 weeks of my life. Learning about Mexico and its healthcare system was very interesting and amazing to learn in depth about, but living in the heart of a megacity in a foreign country was really challenging. However, after I adjusted to Mexican life, it was smooth sailing from there, and it was a little challenging to adjust to American life again once I was home!