OIS Peer Ambassadors – Resources for specific identity groups on campus
My name is Dani Camelo and I am currently a senior at Wellesley studying Chemistry. I studied abroad spring of 2019 at University College Dublin in Ireland. During my time abroad, I was able to travel all over Ireland getting to see its breathtaking scenery and fully engage in its culture. Even though while abroad I mainly focused on taking courses to complete my major, I was also able to branch out from the field of chemistry and take very interesting classes on the history of Ireland and even found myself in a business class. When I was not studying, I was able to enjoy Ireland’s local activities and more. From Gaelic football matches to Irish dancing or sitting in pubs drinking a Guinness and singing all the classics, I really got to experience Ireland through the lens of a local. More than just learning about Ireland, study abroad connected me with people from all around the world. I felt right at home during the multiple Latin nights I spent singing and dancing in the nearby clubs. Going to a country that was completely new to me, I was amazed at the warm welcome I received and the long-lasting friendships I’ve made. The Irish are some of the most charming and friendly people I have ever met. I never thought a girl from Colombia would ever be seen driving around the Ring of Kerry, but I could not have asked for a better place to study abroad. If you would like to contact me about being a science major and studying abroad as well as being a minority studying abroad I am more than happy to talk to you! Dani can be reached at dcamelop@wellesley.edu.
Claire Cannatti is junior MAS major with math and astronomy minors. Last fall, she studied at AIT-Budapest, a computer science program in Hungary. During her semester in Budapest, she learned some Hungarian and saw the city, and she also traveled to Slovenia, Greece, France, Spain, and Italy. She's interested in helping other STEM and LGBT students to study abroad. She can be reached at ccannatt@wellesley.edu.
Hello! I'm Rachel Kisken. I am currently in the second semester of my junior year. This past fall I was part of SIT: IHP's Social Innovation program which traveled to Uganda, India, and Brazil. In all these countries I lived in host families, which was an amazing part of my experience! On campus I am also involved in Dead Serious and WZLY. I would be comfortable sharing what it means to be first generation college student studying abroad, how to navigate travel with language barriers, cohort or field based program tips, and also questions related to budgeting for study abroad. I am excited to work as an OIS Ambassador to help encourage more people to study abroad. It was an amazing experience that helped me open my perspective. Traveling outside the United States has even helped me understand the United States better. I am best reached at my Wellelsey email, rkisken@wellesley.edu.
Sophia Kornitsky is a senior at Wellesley studying French and CAMS. This past spring, she studied in Aix-en-Provence and then spent time as a curatorial intern at the Jean Cocteau Museum during the summer. Her interests as an OIS Student Ambassador primarily concern aiding students with mental health issues adjust to the stresses of being abroad, particularly in an immersive language experience. You can find her at Wellesley doing homework, screening films at Collins through Film Society or taking strolls through the arboretum. Sophia can be reached at skornits@wellesley.edu.
My name is Christie Li and I am a junior from the San Francisco Bay Area studying Sociology. During the fall of 2018, I spent a semester as an exchange student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and took courses across various departments. During my time abroad, I enjoyed traveling a bit around Asia, volunteering at local schools, and seeing the many street cats of Hong Kong. Please reach out to me if you’re interested in learning more about direct-exchange programs, East Asian universities, or studying abroad as an Asian American student! I can be reached at cli3@wellesley.edu.
My name is Maya Ludtke. I am a senior and an environmental studies Major. The summer following following first year I sailed with Sea Semester from Tahiti to Hawaii. Junior year fall semester I studied wildlife management in Tanzania through the School for Field Studies. Spring semester I enrolled at the University of Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. Studying abroad has given me so much perspective and gratitude. I was able to learn, and unlearn, from a non-American point of view. All the ups and down included, studying abroad was an experience of a lifetime. As an OIS student ambassador I hope to show students of all backgrounds that going abroad is possible and completely worth it. Maya can be reached at mludtke2@wellesley.edu.
My name is Nellie Philius. I am a senior majoring in Peace & Justice Studies and Spanish. Last spring, I studied abroad in Córdoba, Spain through the Programa de Estudios Hispánicos en Córdoba (PRESHCO). While abroad I had the opportunity to study Spanish culture and history at the University of Córdoba through cinema, archaeology, art history, and music courses. In addition to learning about Spain alongside local college students, my homestay helped me to immerse myself in the culture even more. Between eating delicious traditional dishes to participating in family game nights, and watching How to Get Away with Murder with my host family, my Spanish improved tremendously and I formed a meaningful bond with my host family.
Above all, I am grateful for the personal growth that I achieved during my time away. Study abroad challenged me to think about the nuances of race, gender, and class across different socio-political contexts. Though at times difficult to navigate a new set of cultural norms, ultimately the challenges I faced helped me to establish my sense of self. As an OIS Ambassador, I hope to be a resource for students of African descent who have inhibitions about studying abroad or who would like to learn more about the study abroad experience. Nellie can be reached at nphilius@wellesley.edu.
OIS Student Office Staff – Come say hi when you’re in Schneider!
My name is Melissa Marcial. I am a Senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Education Studies. I studied abroad in Cordoba, Spain through the PRESHCO program during my Junior year. In Cordoba, I took education, political science, archeology, cinema, and even cooking courses. The best part of my experience was living and developing close relationships with my host family. Their encouragement to travel and go out with friends changed my perspective on life. Now that I am back at Wellesley, I push myself to spend more time with friends. Currently, I am a student worker for OIS. My responsibilities include: creating flyers for events, reviewing student evaluations through Abroad101, updating a study abroad scholarship spreadsheet, and editing visa/letters of acceptance. Through my work, I hope to encourage more Wellesley students to study abroad, regardless of their financial background.
My name is Radhika Menon. I am a senior at Wellesley, majoring in economics and hoping to squeeze in a math minor. I spent my junior year at Oxford taking five tutorials in economics and one in political philosophy. I loved the independence and unstructured time that characterized my academic experience, which was a series of readings, essays (with the occasional problem set) and small-group discussions that usually could go anywhere you wanted to take them. My other time was best spent in or around traditional pubs, cocktail bars and food trucks. I was lucky to have saved up enough to travel: I explored London’s street markets, museums and galleries- just one bus ride away, walked under Brighton’s white cliffs by the sea, hiked in the gorgeous landscape of the Lake District, and backpacked around Europe. I’m happy to talk to you about any aspect of my experience- good, neutral or bad- and answer any questions you may have. Radhika hosts regular drop-in hours, which are posted on the OIS Calendar.