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.

2022-23 Ambassadors

Alex smiling in front of the Roman Colosseum lit up at night.
Alex Bazarsky

Alex is a senior majoring in anthropology with an art history and Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx studies double minor. She went on the IES Abroad Rome — Language and Area Studies program in Spring 2022. While in Rome, she was able to study the rich archaeological record of the city as well as the country's art and conservation efforts. While in Italy, Alex was able to build on her Italian language skills while exploring the city and traveling around the country. Her favorite thing to do was take trips to new provinces and have unique experiences like pasta making and scenic hikes.

What Alex loved most about Rome was the endless amount of things to do and see. On her weekends, she went to museums and found a traditional Italian restaurant nearby to eat at afterward. She met a lot of locals during her time in Italy and found ordering coffee was the best way to speak to learn about peoples' lives. Alex found Rome a very welcoming big city with a lot of little adventures just waiting around the corner.

CONTACT Alex

Aileen smiling in sunglasses standing against a stone cliffside with the water beyond.
Aileen Cahill

Aileen is a senior majoring in art history, education studies and English. Her first experience outside of the United States was in Summer 2021 with the Siena program. The program offered her the opportunity to take her first studio painting course, using the layered painting techniques employed in the Early Renaissance by Italian masters. Living in Siena while learning about the Sienese masters gave her the opportunity to immerse herself in the history of art in ways courses at Brandeis could not.

She loved the experience so much that she chose to study abroad for a second time in another medieval city rich in art history, and spent Spring 2022 in Toledo, Spain. She studied the art and architecture of Toledo, exclusively taught in Spanish at a school for international students. She lived with a host family who spoke no English and became deeply immersed in the Spanish language and culture. Some of the highlights of Aileen’s study abroad programs include living in small, walkable cities and eating some of the best food in the world.

Contact AILeen

Natalie smiling standing in front of Seoul buildings alight at night.
Natalie Chin
  • Program: Yonsei University (CIEE) (Spring 2022)
  • Office hours: 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays in the Office of Study Abroad (Usdan 169); 7-8 p.m. Mondays on Zoom
  • Pronouns: she/her

Natalie s a senior majoring in biochemistry. In her junior year, Spring 2022, she studied at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, as part of the CIEE program. Through her time abroad, she was able to learn more about Korean history and culture in her courses at Yonsei. One of her favorite classes looked at politics and its relationship with media throughout the peninsula's history, which was a very different topic than the ones she took at Brandeis.

Outside of classes, Natalie enjoyed exploring Seoul's various neighborhoods and eating great food! Her favorite food is called samgyetang, a ginseng chicken soup and soondubu jjigae, a spicy tofu stew. Natalie also enjoyed taking small trips outside of Seoul to the various cities in South Korea. One of her favorite trips was to Busan, a southern port city, where she ate delicious seafood and saw amazing coastal sites! She loved her study abroad experience and hopes ton help others do the same!

CONTACT Natalie

Ivy smiles while standing next to an elephant, gently holding its tusk.
Ivy Dall

Ivy Dall is a senior majoring in international and global studies, with minors in legal studies and climate justice, science and policy. She spent the spring semester of her junior year studying international development in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She spent the first seven weeks of her program learning Thai and taking classes on the history of Thailand, international development, sustainable food systems, and participating in weekly field studies.

In the second half of her program, she was placed with an organization in the community for an internship where she learned about environmental advocacy and protection in Thailand. Some of her favorite moments from her time abroad were spending the day taking care of elephants, summiting the highest peak in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, and getting to travel all around the country and truly experience its beauty. She can't wait to tell you all how eye-opening studying abroad can be and encourage students to choose a program where they are truly able to explore their interests in new and exciting ways!

CONTACT Ivy

Saul grins as his head peeks out of the clear blue water, with the cliffside behind him. Goggles are perched on his head.
Saul Goldstein

Saul Goldstein is a senior majoring in studio art as well as film, television and interactive media, with a minor in psychology. Saul attended the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (IES) program in San Cristóbal, Galapagos, during the Spring 2022 semester. There, he participated in the People, Politics and the Environment academic track. He had an awesome time exploring new material that was different from his typical academic course load!

Outside of class, Saul spent most of his time on the beach (across the street from school!), hiking, snorkeling and cooking with his host mom. Saul had a truly incredible time studying abroad and can’t wait to share his experience with prospective study abroad students!

CONTACT saul

Yahni sits on a bench in front of a sunny courtyard with lush green plants and bright yellow walls.
Yahni Lapa
  • Program: Brandeis in Mérida (Summer 2022)
  • Office hours: 10-11 a.m. Thursdays in the Office of Study Abroad (Usdan 169)
  • Pronouns: she/her

Yahni Lapa is a senior majoring in Health: Science, Society, and Policy and minoring in anthropology and international and global studies. She studied abroad in Mérida, Mexico, with the first-ever Brandeis in Mérida Summer 2022 program. There, Yahni took two classes on public health in Latin America and also took trips to many health foundations in the area.

Outside of academics, she and her group went to the beach, explored the nightlife and ate delicious food, thanks to their incredible host families. She loved her time in Mérida, and she hopes to go back soon!

CONTACT Yahni

Rynn sits in profile on the right side of the image, looking out over water to mountains in the distance.
Rynn Parrack

Rynn Parrack is a senior studying psychology and sociology. They love traveling and studied abroad in Chile in Spring 2022. They also work in the ACC lab with Dr. Gutchess and study cross-cultural differences with a focus on the perception of abstract objects. In their free time, they actively volunteer for The Right to Immigration Institute, direct plays and musicals, chat with new friends and work in the SCC theater.

CONTACT rynn

Weini stands smiling beside her bicycle on a bridge in Copenhagen.
Weini Xue
  • Program: Brandeis in Copenhagen (Summer 2022)
  • Office hours: 10-11 a.m. Fridays in the Office of Study Abroad (Usdan 169)
  • Pronouns: she/her

Weini Xue is a sophomore 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