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International Panel Highlights 麻豆区鈥檚 World Reach

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As part of the annual celebration of International Education Week (IEW), 麻豆区鈥檚 Study Abroad/Away office (CGEE) recently hosted an invigorating panel discussion that showcased the diverse global and international experiences shaping our campus community.

What is IEW? A joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education that celebrates the transformative benefits of international exchange worldwide鈥攁 mission perfectly embodied by our panelists!

 

The dynamic event was hosted by Sarah Morgan, Study Abroad and Away Advisor (CGEE), and featured six remarkable panelists: four current 麻豆区 students (including two international students) and two distinguished faculty members. Each shared their unique, powerful insights into how global experiences have fundamentally shaped their worldview and helped them develop an invaluable sense of community.

 

Meet the Panel of Global Auggies

The panel was rich with perspectives from students who traveled abroad and international students who brought the world to 麻豆区:

  • Everlyn Balvoa-Granda: An 麻豆区 student who gained hands-on experience by studying and interning abroad through CGEE鈥檚 program in .
  • Aidan Wippich: An 麻豆区 student who broadened their academic horizons on an exchange program at .
  • Yan Urrizalqui: A current international student from Spain, sharing her experience navigating life and academics in the U.S., and feeling welcomed by the 麻豆区 staff immediately upon arrival.聽
  • Tommy Maritan: A current international student from Italy, who offered his perspective on studying at 麻豆区, and his experiences making friends in Minneapolis and connecting with staff and faculty to feel welcomed.聽

Faculty: Bridging Global Gaps

Adding another layer of compelling experience, two faculty members reflected on their own journeys that started as international students in the U.S., demonstrating how their backgrounds enrich the classroom today:

  • Bernardo Andrade: Assistant Professor of Philosophy at 麻豆区, who grew up in Brazil before coming to the United States as an international student.
  • Jayoung Koo: Associate Professor of Marketing at 麻豆区, who grew up in South Korea before embarking on her journey to the United States as an international student.

The panel was a testament to the powerful exchange of ideas and the creation of community that happens when the world meets at 麻豆区!

 

Auggies, are you interested in studying abroad? Head to the to begin your search.

International students, are you interested in studying at 麻豆区? Head to our International Admissions website to get started.聽

 

Reconnecting with My Roots: A Mid-Semester Reflection

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Ariadna. Currently studying abroad on the semester program,

We鈥檙e a little over halfway through the semester abroad here in Cuernavaca, and it has been nothing short of welcoming and warm. We鈥檝e already visited so many places like Mexico City, Amatl谩n, and Tepoztl谩n, which have all been incredibly insightful. Each place has shown how different communities are united by the same goals of resistance, preserving their identities and those of their ancestors, and fighting for social justice.

Many of the topics we鈥檝e explored include immigration, hearing people鈥檚 migration stories, learning about immigration in Mexico from other Latin American countries, and understanding what U.S. immigration policies look like, as well as LGBTTTQ+ visibility and feminicides in Mexico. It鈥檚 very powerful to hear these stories directly from the people who lived them because there is nothing more impactful than hearing their emotions, their memories, and how these experiences continue to shape their lives.

The stories about immigration especially resonate with me, coming from a Mexican household where both of my parents migrated to the U.S. at a very young age. It reminds me of the sacrifices they made so that I could have opportunities they didn鈥檛, and hearing other people鈥檚 experiences gives me a deeper understanding of what that journey truly means. It鈥檚 easy to get caught in mindsets that limit how we see the world, but listening to the struggles, reasoning, and resilience of others and seeing how often they are treated as less than human really changes one鈥檚 perspective. These experiences have made me reflect more on my own family鈥檚 history and the challenges faced by many migrants who continue to seek better lives. Overall, this experience has made me feel even more proud of my intersecting identities and has helped me reconnect with my roots in a much deeper and more personal way.

麻豆区 Shines at the Global Impact Conference in Minneapolis

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麻豆区鈥檚 Center for Global Education and Experience made a significant impression at the Annual Global Impact Conference held in Minneapolis, MN during the last week of October. Our staff and students joined together to share the innovative work being done at 麻豆区’s unique Mexico Study Center in Cuernavaca.

Highlighting the Study Center of 麻豆区 CGEE in Cuernavaca, Mexico

麻豆区 staff members F谩tima Mendoza and Lucy Hardaker co-presented a session titled: “Bridging Barriers: Supporting Students in Non-Traditional Locations.”

The presentation focused on encouraging students to look beyond Western European destinations (such as Barcelona and London) and instead explore high-impact experiences like the one offered at 麻豆区鈥檚 own Mexico Study Center. The presentation highlighted on three unique perspectives, including:

  • Ethical Advising and Marketing strategies for promoting programs in Latin America and Africa; from the point-of-view of advisors & US-based staff.
  • The incredible on-the-ground student experience in Mexico; from the point-of-view of on-site staff in Mexico.
  • The significant impact of the Mexico Study Center on the careers and life trajectories of alumni; from the point-of-view of alumni themselves.

The session was powerfully enhanced by two 麻豆区 students and recent Mexico study abroad alumni who shared their personal testimonials: Diana Reyes ’26 and John Reuss ’23 and MAT ’26. Their stories brought to life the transformative value of choosing a global learning experience outside of the conventional.

This successful presentation underscores 麻豆区’s commitment to providing students with meaningful study abroad opportunities that truly broaden their horizons and enhance career readiness post-graduation.

From left to right: Lucy, John, Diana, and Fatima

Student Blog: Week in M茅xico City

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Alyssa. Currently studying abroad on the semester program,

Interdisciplinary Educational Week in M茅xico City

The week after our Spring Break we had an interdisciplinary educational week in Mexico City. Being so close to CDMX is one of the advantages of Cuernavaca! On Monday we started our week with a tour of the beautiful UNAM where we even got to visit the Olympic Stadium! Continue reading “Student Blog: Week in M茅xico City” →

Social Work: One Month In!

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Diana, an Auggie currently studying abroad on the semester program, .

It is hard to believe that we have been in the beautiful country of Mexico for a little over a week now. It feels much longer and I owe it to the new experiences that have been brought to us. One of the biggest highlights for me has been getting to know other students from across the US at Casa 麻豆区. Along with the staff and our IRA, Diana, have played a huge role in making sure that we were all comfortable in our transition to living in Mexico for the semester. They have all been so kind and welcoming. As we鈥檝e settled in, we have had the chance to explore our neighborhood and surrounding towns. One thing that I think we all can agree on is how the food is a big part of understanding the culture. Trying different traditional foods, apart from my mothers cooking, has been an experience that I have enjoyed.

Continue reading “Social Work: One Month In!” →

Reflections from My First Month in Northern Ireland

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Iz. Currently studying abroad on the semester program, 鈥溾�� at our program in Derry-Londonderry.

Reflections from My First Month in Northern Ireland: A Journey of Learning, Connection, and New Beginnings

As I reflect on my first month in Northern Ireland, I am struck by the profound sense of growth, both personal and academic, that I鈥檝e experienced so far. The opportunity to be part of the 麻豆区 CGEE Peace, Conflict, and Transition program has been truly transformative, and I鈥檝e found myself developing deep connections not only with my fellow group members but also with this beautiful, yet complex, place.

One of the highlights of the month was our retreat to Corrymeela in Ballycastle, a serene and reflective space that allowed us to open up and talk through our thoughts on social activism, our interests, and how these fit into the larger scope of the program. At Corrymeela, we were encouraged to take time to reflect, build meaningful relationships with one another, and start understanding the impact of our work here in Northern Ireland and back home in the U.S. Continue reading “Reflections from My First Month in Northern Ireland” →

One Month In: Reflections from M茅xico

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Alyssa. Currently studying abroad on the semester program,

We are almost a month into our programming and I have been taking some time to reflect on our experiences thus far. When I was applying to study abroad, I was looking at all the programs available to me. 麻豆区 in M茅xico immediately stood out to me. My initial hesitation was why chose a program in a country that I have been to already, so many people were urging me to choose a European program. I am Mexican-American and had visited M茅xico before but upon further research I knew this was the program for me.

I am double majoring in International Studies and Spanish with a concentration in migration studies. This program has been perfect for me, giving me so many beneficial opportunities. I get to not only take Spanish classes that are making me feel more confident in my speaking skills, but the classes are also teaching me about my ancestry and M茅xico鈥檚 history. Alongside my Spanish classes I get to take an immigration class learning about migration policies between the U.S. and M茅xico.

The hospitality we鈥檝e been shown has been so welcoming and I am so thankful for it. The staff here in Cuernavaca is amazing and we have already created so many memories! Every speaker has been so insightful and these 鈥渙ral texts鈥� have become such important learning experiences for us. Our first weekend we had an excursion to the pyramids of Xochicalco and then as students we planned an excursion for ourselves to Ciudad de M茅xico! It has been an amazing month and I am looking forward to what鈥檚 come! For those who are applying to study abroad programs, look into Latin America :)!

 

Final Weeks in Northern Ireland

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Garrett. Currently studying abroad on the semester program, 鈥溾�� at our program in Derry-Londonderry.

And we鈥檙e back, coming to you from Northern Ireland!

Everything seems to be moving so quickly these last couple weeks here in Derry. As we near the end of our semester, we bring our internships to a close, saying goodbye to coworkers and friends, and saying hello to the semi-annual thrill all students anticipate: final papers!

That aside, we鈥檝e had a very pleasant November (almost too pleasant, I miss the Minnesotan chill). A couple weeks ago, Nigel took our seminar to Roe Valley, where we took a turn along the River Roe after brunch. The autumn colors have turned so beautifully out there, and us four Americans were glad for the time to relax, chat, and take it in.

a scenic view of a river with trees of green, red, and orange

My internship moved along quickly. This month featured a number of music artists performing in our space: Ru谩, Frankie Archer, S煤il, and Elephant Sessions. Mostly modernized trad, setting up for the events and then either working or attending them was a lot of fun, and it was great to see these both local and national talents work their craft. The Elephant Sessions performance (think almost Scottish trad music rave) even worked out for everyone鈥檚 schedules, and I brought some of the American flatmates for a night out! That said, I was sad to be wrapping up my internship. I was able to finish up the report I鈥檇 been working on about previous intern experience and hand that in. I also got a chance to sit in on one last flute workshop at the local primary school, helping my coworker Andrew with quizzes and focus games. On my last day, the office came together for a little send-off over tea. It was so cute, and I鈥檓 so grateful for the time and welcome they shared with me. I hope to keep checking in on them from time to time. Continue reading “Final Weeks in Northern Ireland” →

Update from Derry~Londonderry!

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This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Garrett. Currently studying abroad on the semester program, 鈥溾�� at our program in Derry-Londonderry.

Halloween at New Gate (my internship) went off without a hitch, and I am now the happy owner of a DeLorean photo op! For my part in the performance, I threw on a Hawaiian shirt and rattled away on a prop piano (pronounced: broken, out of tune piano) with strobe lighting above and highland dancers below. Over the 3 nights we had probably thousands of people watch, grooving along to Johnny B. Goode and The Power of Love, and I was even able to swap out with a coworker鈥檚 daughter to watch the performance myself. It was incredible! I鈥檓 so proud to work with these incredible artists, and I hope events like this can continue to enrich the arts here in the Fountain neighborhood.

A college student with long hair and a Hawaiian shirt sits in the drivers seat of a classic 1980s DeLorean car

October also featured our group鈥檚 week away to the southern border counties of Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Armagh. With a stop to the Ulster American Folk Park, Nigel (our program director) released us back to the wilds of the States, treading out the journey of migrants from the Emerald Isle to the New World. So many cute era shops, but more importantly a great sense of the history binding these Ulstermen to the proud Scotch-Irish we know back home. We got a pretty incredible tour, and heard some great stories from local period actors. We even got to burn some peat! Incredible earthy smell, but all it could make me think of was how much I missed the smell of firewood back home! They don鈥檛 burn much wood here鈥� Continue reading “Update from Derry~Londonderry!” →