Study Abroad Ambassadors
The Study Abroad Ambassadors is a select group of students who previously studied abroad and are dedicated to promoting interest, cultural immersion, assisting in preparation, offering support, and providing a platform for communication regarding the study abroad experience. Study Abroad alumni who are selected to participate in the program will assist the Office of International Programs in promoting study abroad opportunities through interest meetings, classroom presentations, and assistance at various events the office hosts throughout the semester. Applications for new Study Abroad Ambassadors are accepted in two cycles with due dates of January 10th 2026 and August 1st 2026 .
Apply to be a Study Abroad Ambassador!
Questions about Study Abroad?
Please feel free to contact a current Study Abroad Ambassador with any questions about the study abroad experience! All ambassadors are happy to answer any program-specific or general study abroad questions that you might have!
Study Abroad Ambassadors
Africa Program Ambassadors
Amaya Cunningham - Cape Town, South Africa
Major: Bio/Psyc, Writing minor
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥frican Traditional Religions
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥 week-long road trip around the Garden Route right
- Ask me about鈥anaging health and insurance abroad
Asia Program Ambassadors
Maeve Walsh - Vietnam, Guadalupe & Martinique, France, Bosnia, SAA Vice President
Vietnam Winter 2024, Guadalupe & Martiniqe Winter 2025 Montpellier Summer 2023, Balkans Summer 2024.
Oceania Program Ambassadors
Elizabeth Zukauskas -Melbourne Spring 2025
Major: Biology, Health & Human Experience minor
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥ntro Sociology: Society and Culture, which gave me a deeper understanding of Australian cultural norms and societal standards
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥y favorite experiences include exploring the breathtaking views on Great Ocean Road, feeding kangaroos on Phillip Island, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, swimming with sharks in Fiji, and zip lining across the rice fields in Bali!
- Ask me about鈥hat it's like being the only student from your school at a study abroad site!
Zaira Rehman - Auckland Fall 2024
Major: Bio/Psych, Forensic Studies minor
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My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥�"Psychology: Cognition & Perception", this course had 7 different lecturers that were experts in their assigned topic
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One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥aking solo day trips to Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves during our fall break!
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Ask me about鈥anaging finances abroad, planning for trips & navigating the city.
Europe Program Ambassadors
Sarah Hinteman - Madrid, Spain Fall 2024, SAA President
Major: Elementary Education, Spanish & Special Education minor
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥ontemporary Spanish Theater: We read about and visited Spanish plays in Madrid
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥as either white water kayaking in Asturias, Spain or a tapas cooking class in Madrid, Spain.
- Ask me about鈥tudying abroad as an elementary and special education major!
Ryan Buddenbohn - Leuven, Belgium Spring 2025
Major: International Business
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥ural and Food History. We learned about agricultural practices in the Low Countries, and how industrialization, globalization, and global conflicts shaped the European agricultural system.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥as either white water kayaking in Asturias, Spain or a tapas cooking class in Madrid, Spain.
- Ask me about鈥tudying abroad as an elementary and special education major!
Andrew Nardiello - Leuven, Belgium-Yearlong 2024-25
Major: Political Science & Communication and Media
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥�"Institutions and Policy of the EU." We learned about the history of the European Union and how they operate today, we also took a trip to the EU building in Brussels!
- Ask me about鈥tudying abroad for a full year!
Nadia Kotyk - Newcastle, UK-2024
Major: Biochemistry
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥efinitely the Pre-Health Programme! We worked at the Young at Heart Clinic conducting health checks. I learned so much about the UK healthcare system, how to take blood pressure, and test glucose and cholesterol through finger pricks. I loved interacting with Newcastle locals, and I feel that this experience prepared me for my future healthcare career.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥iving with my British flatmates. They were so welcoming, and I learned so much about British culture from them.
- Ask me about鈥y experience shadowing clinical pharmacists at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Olivia Rosa-Kittredge - Newcastle, UK-Yearlong 2024-25
Major: Speech Language Hearing Sciences
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥sychological Perspectives on Teaching and Learning. I loved this class because it was exciting to learn about the education system in the UK and compare it to the US.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥ur group trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Loyola took us on many trips over the year, but this was by far my favorite.
- Ask me about鈥irplanes. I know lots of cool facts!
Leanely Cruz-Prague, Czech Republic 2024
Major: Marketing and Finance
Studying abroad has been an eye-opening experience, and I believe regardless of the
occupation you want to go into, being abroad will teach you things beyond the "necessities"
for your future job. My biggest take away is experiencing things from a native's perspective
is 100% different from the experience of a tourist, no matter where you go, which
only becomes more evident once you're there. And even though I was there for only
a month, it had brought me such enriching lessons, some confidence to step outside
the comfort zone, a knack for curiosity, and even some lifelong friends. As one of
the only first years going into this experience during my first summer in college,
I want to give advice to those out there who are excited to study abroad in college
but are afraid to early on. Just go do it. These lessons of inclusion, culture, and
community will carry on with me through the rest of my academic and professional career.
I will be forever grateful for Loyola's dedication to this program and hopefully
I'll get a chance to go visit Prague again someday!
Email: lycruz@loyola.edu
Matt Pawlow - Stockholm, Sweden-Fall 2024
Major: Communications & Political Science
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥︹�淓uropean Security Dilemmas鈥�. We learned about the war in Ukraine from the European perspective, as well as developing security concerns throughout the continent and how governments are responding.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥ttending a traditional 鈥淛ulebord鈥� (Christmas dinner feast) with some of my classmates as well as my professor and his wife on the island where they live.
- Ask me about鈥udgeting money while abroad (and how to best use food stipends if going to Stockholm!)
Kate Callahan - Cork, Ireland Spring 2025
Major: Elemntary Education, Special Education minor
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥ntroduction to modern Irish history.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥ne of my favorite experiences abroad was watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl at the Philly themed restaurant while I was in London. It truly felt like a piece of home halfway across the world.
- Ask me about鈥y experience as an education major abroad and eating gluten free while abroad
Vivien Van't Hof - Copenhagen, Denmark Spring 2025
Major: Biology
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥ealthcare Systems: A Comparative Approach
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥oing dogsledding in Finland with my Healthcare Systems class!
- Ask me about鈥sk me about: Study abroad while being in the Honors Program, Study Abroad as a STEM major
Erin Sturgeon - Copenhagen, Denmark Spring 2025
Major: Sustainability Management, Writing minor
Katie Gallone - Athens, Greece Spring 2025
Major: Speech Language Hearing Sciences, Special Education & Theater minor
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥odern Greek I, and it was amazing to be immersed in the Greek culture and go out into the community and practice!
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥raveling to one of the Greek Islands, Santorini, and renting ATVs. We drove throughout the entire island in one weekend and had so many phenomenal experiences!
- Ask me about鈥lanning your course schedule with strict Major Course guidelines!
Katie Russo - Athens, Greece Spring 2025
Major: Biochemistry, Health & Human Experience minor
Colin Richard - Madrid, Spain Spring 2025
Major: Business Economics
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥panish for Business Professionals class. I got the opportunity to apply the Spanish I learned by going out into the community, where I talked to local businesses.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥xploring Morocco. My friends and I went on a bus trip to various parts of the country, making stops along the way. We even got the chance to ride ATVs and sleep in the Saharan Desert.
- Ask me about鈥avigating the subway and train systems across Europe!
Tommy Schindler - Budapest, Hungary Fall 2024
Major: Marketing, Info Systems & Data Analytics minor
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥ntroduction to Hungarian. The professor was very fun and taught us a lot about Hungary.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥aking a river boat cruise on the Danube river in Budapest
- Ask me about鈥olo traveling
Erich Neubauer - Berlin, Germany Fall 2024
Major: Accounting
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥alled 鈥淭o Hell and Back鈥�. It was a course that focused on the history of Germany from the 1700s to present day and incorporated the city through taking trips that showed what we had discussed.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥hen I went hiking in the Italian Alps and it poured the entire way up, but on the way down there was a double rainbow over the entire city.
- Ask me about鈥tudying abroad as an accounting major
Ava Storm Brown - Berlin, Germany Fall 2024
Major: Speech Language Hearing Sciences
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥o Hell and Back: Modern German History in European Context
Stella Shepard - Rome Fall 2024
Major: Biopsychology Interdisciplinary
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥istory of ancient Rome with Professor Massimo Betello. We learned about how Rome was founded and built its power. Professor Betello made the course so special by adding small Italian cultural information throughout the semester.
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥ttending four seasons by Vivaldi live orchestra while I visited Vienna.
- Ask me about鈥ood in Italy if you are concerned about a dietary restriction
Cassidy Richard - Rome Summer 2025, Prague Summer 2025
Major: Finance
- My favorite course I took while abroad was鈥nternational Finance
- One of the best experiences I had while abroad was鈥oing to the Vatican during the Jubilee year! We got to tour it and see the Sistine Chapel as well as the new pope, it was a super cool experience.
- Ask me about鈥tudying abroad as a student athlete!
Apply
In order to apply for semester and full year programs, students must attend a study abroad 101 session and at least one program specific information session before the application deadline. The application deadline for all Fall, Spring, and year-long opportunities during academic year 2026-2027 is the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving, December 3rd, 2025 at 11:59pm.Contact Us
The OIP has moved! We are located in the Humanities building on the side across from DGA field in Suite HU142. Enter from the outside stairwell across from the field.Phone: 410-617-2910
Office: Humanities 142
Email: international@loyola.edu
Additional contact information