Office of Study Abroad

Study Abroad Ambassadors

The Office of Study Abroad is excited to have Study Abroad Ambassadors, recent study abroad returnees, who want to share their passion for studying abroad with you!

Have you ever:

  • Wanted basic advice before meeting with a study abroad staff member?
  • Wondered where you should start?
  • Wanted to hear a student's perspective on studying abroad?
  • Wanted a peer's advice on how to choose your study abroad program?
  • Wanted to speak with someone who has studied in the location you are interested in?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, meeting with a Study Abroad Ambassador is a great step to take, no matter where you are in the process! Ambassadors can be reached via their contact information found below. They host office hours and are available to meet in person or on Zoom throughout the semester.

2024-25 Ambassadors

Lissett perched on a bench in a park in Mexico, with buildings and palm trees in the background.
Lissett Barraza
  • Program: Brandeis in Mérida (Summer 2024)
  • Office hours: Tuesdays from 2-3pm in the Office of Study Abroad (Usdan 169)
Lissett is a junior majoring in HSSP. Lissett studied abroad in Mérida, Mexico, during the summer of 2024, and took two courses on Latin American public health systems. During this time, it allowed Lissett to visit local health centers and engage with nurses and local students, offering a deeper insight of health in the region. Outside of class, Lissett enjoyed exploring the city, learning about vibrant Mayan culture, visiting the beautiful beaches, and spending time with her host family. The week in Cuba was an incredible experience. Lissett looks forward to sharing more about the experience while abroad!

CONTACT Lissett

Karissa looks over her shoulder standing in front of a building in Italy at dusk.
Karissa Bergin
  • Program: Brandeis in Siena (Summer 2024)
  • Office hours: Wednesdays from 1-2pm in the Office of Study Abroad (Usdan 169)
Karissa (she/her) is a senior majoring in Art History and Psychology and minoring in Legal Studies. She is from Westwood, Massachusetts and spent the last summer in Italy with the Brandeis in Siena program! While taking an Art History course focused on Sienese and Florentine art and a Studio Art course focused on oil painting techniques, Karissa was able to explore other parts of Italy through the program such as San Gimignano, Venice (and the Venice Biennale!), and Florence. Karissa really loved being able to meet a lot of new people on the program, enjoying Siena's different Contradas and their events, and trying local cuisine such as Pici! Karissa is happy to sharing more about her study abroad experience and helping anyone who has questions!

CONTACT karissa

A selfie of Tyler in a red hat hiking down a mountain with other students from the program.
Tyler Caine
Tyler (he, him) is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology! He studied sustainable development in Costa Rica with the School for Field Sciences (SFS). He spent two months taking courses on environmental protections and social justice within Latin America, and six weeks researching hummingbirds and Cecropia trees, with a final project of a research paper and presentation! He also worked on repairing the mushroom hut, growing native plants, and becoming best friends with the chickens. During free time and weekends, he traveled around the country with friends, exploring various cities, cultural sites and ecosystems. He is excited to help others get started on their own study abroad journeys!

Contact tyler

Kunga poses on the beach crouched down next to a penguin.
Kunga Chime
Kunga (she, her) is a senior majoring in Biology and HSSP. In the spring semester of 2024, she participated in the Health, Culture, and Development (HCD) program in Cape Town through IES Abroad. During her time abroad, Kunga took courses that deepened her understanding of community and public health by examining these topics through the unique socio-economic and historical context of South Africa. The hands-on style of her learning curriculum also further deepened her comprehension of the concepts discussed in her classes. Outside of her academic work, Kunga embraced the local culture by exploring Cape Town’s natural beauty through hikes, beach visits, local markets, nightlife, and bird/penguin-watching, etc. What she loved most about Cape Town was its stunning natural beauty and the warmth of its people. The views of the mountains on her way to class and the breathtaking sunsets and sunrises were truly unforgettable to her. Additionally, through IES, Kunga had the opportunity to explore Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Among her favorite adventures were safaris where she encountered incredible wildlife and a sunset boat ride across the Zambezi River.

CONTACT kunga

Laurel stands smiling in front of historic buildings in Bath city center on a sunny day.
Laurel Davidoff
Laurel is a senior at Brandeis studying Psychology and Education, and minoring in Sexuality and Queer Studies and Creative Writing. Laurel studied abroad twice while in their undergrad and loved both experiences. In the summer of 2023, she joined the Advanced Studies in England Program in Bath, where she took a class on Collective Memory in the Classroom and completed an Educational internship in a Year 3 (2nd grade) classroom. The following summer, Laurel attended the American College of Thessaloniki in Greece, where she studied Ancient Greek Art and Architecture and took the Introduction to Sea Sailing course for a Skipper's License. Studying abroad was one of the best decisions Laurel made, and is eager to share their experiences and answer any questions you may have!

CONTACT laurel

Simon sits on a wall in China with bustling streets around him.
Simon Eber
Simon (he, him) is a senior triple majoring in International Global Studies, East Asian Studies, and Economics. He has studied abroad twice; first, as a sophomore when he enrolled in the Brandeis in Copenhagen program to study Economics for a summer. Then as a junior, he studied abroad in China through CET's Beijing Summer Intensive Language Program and their fall semester Shanghai Program. In addition to Chinese language classes, he studied trends in Chinese consumption and culture, Chinese cinema, and had an internship at an international venture capital firm. While abroad he also traveled within China taking advantage of the country's high speed rail system to visit major cities like Chungdu, Xi'an, Kunming, and Chongqing. Now, back on campus, Simon is excited to apply what he learned from his two abroad programs to new projects including a senior thesis on the development of Chinese food in the United States. He is always happy to chat about his time abroad or share advice for students looking to enroll in intensive language programs!

CONTACT simon

Close-up of Mariko on a balcony in Spain overlooking the city skyline beyond.
Mariko Goetz
Mariko (she, her) is a senior majoring in Applied Mathematics and minoring in Hispanic Studies. Originally from New Jersey, she traveled to Madrid, Spain and participated in the Math, Science and Engineering program with IES in Spring 2024. She had always known she wanted to study abroad, so when she was accepted into the program in her junior year, it was quite literally a dream come true! She was able to take a variety of classes towards both her major and her minor. In addition, she was able to pursue her interest in design and engineering with a class at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). The best part of studying abroad was how much it pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped boost her confidence. She got to experience all of the wonders Madrid, Spain and Europe had to offer while improving her language skills, eating delicious food, and meeting amazing people along the way. Mariko hopes to help prospective students live out their dreams through study abroad as well!

CONTACT mariko

Dani stands smiling with her hands on her hips in front of a display of colorful scarves.
Dani Kohorn
Dani (she, her) is a senior studying Neuroscience. During the spring of her junior year, she spent a semester studying in Copenhagen with the DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia program. While there, she took three classes in Neuroscience and enjoyed taking classes in new subjects such as Public Health and Danish language and culture! A highlight of her experience was the opportunity to travel to Florence, Italy with her class, where she explored Neuroscience through unique and different perspectives. Outside of her classes, Dani loved to venture into different parts of Copenhagen, visit museums, and discover new bakeries with delicious Danish pastries. She is so grateful that she chose to study abroad and hopes to inspire others to do so as well!

CONTACT Dani

Hannah stands at a precipice, pointing in the air at a mountain in the distance, with blue sky all around her.
Hannah Lustig
Hannah (she, her) is a senior majoring in Anthropology with a minor in Women's and Gender Studies. She spent the Spring 2024 semester in Chiang Mai, Thailand with the MSID-International Development in Thailand program, focusing on Human Rights. The first half of the semester consisted of coursework in Thai language, Thailand's history and culture, international development, human rights, and also included various field studies and village stays. For the second half of the semester, Hannah had an internship teaching English at a shelter for women and children. Her favorite memory was celebrating Songkran, the Thai new year, in the streets of Chiang Mai! She also travelled extensively in Southeast Asia after completion of the program. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, secondhand shopping, exploring new places with friends, and being a trivia host on campus!

CONTACT hannah

Justine stands under a rainbow icy archway.
Justine Sarkodie
Justine (she, her) is a senior double majoring in Health: Science, Society and Policy and Biology. During the spring semester of her junior year, she studied abroad in Stockholm, Sweden through the DIS Program. This opportunity allowed her to gain insights into the Swedish healthcare system, welfare programs, social structure, and the influence of public health emergencies on national infrastructure. During her time in Stockholm, she seized all available opportunities to explore the city. This varied from strolls around Gamla Stan, the Swedish Old Town, to visiting many museums, scenic locations, and trying a variety of food. Her days also included frequent visits to Café Kladdkakan, her favorite spot for Swedish Fika and reading. Justine’s academic pursuits in Sweden ignited her newfound interest in global public health and her cultural immersion deepened her appreciation of new global perspectives. She is committed to making study abroad opportunities accessible to all students and is looking forward to sharing her experiences with hopes of inspiring others to embark on their own transformative abroad journeys.

CONTACT justine

Weini stands smiling beside her bicycle on a bridge in Copenhagen.
Weini Xue
  • Program: Brandeis in Copenhagen (Summer 2022)
  • Office hours: Tuesdays from 1-2pm in the Office of Study Abroad (Usdan 169)

Weini (she, her) is a senior majoring in Economics. Weini attended the Brandeis in Copenhagen program in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the Summer 2022 semester. She spent five weeks in Copenhagen taking classes on microeconomic theory and behavioral economics while exploring the city and learning the history of Denmark.

Outside of academics, Weini enjoyed taking short trips with friends to museums, restaurants and markets. She had a wonderful time studying abroad and learning more about the economics in a different country. The program allowed her to have a global prospective through the cultural immersion, and she would like to share more about her experience with prospective study abroad students!

CONTACT Weini