Office of Study Abroad

Profile: Mia Levine '26

Major/minor: Environmental Studies and International and Global Studies majors

Study abroad program: Environmental Justice and Mekong Ecologies in Siem Reap (SFS), Spring 2025

Reason you chose this program: I wanted to do research in environmental science and go to a place I wouldn't be able to get to otherwise.

Favorite classes: I really loved my conservation science class. As we travelled across the country, we were able to learn about the behavior and conservation of so many different endangered species. This class also had the most natural science field techniques which I really enjoyed practicing.

How did you incorporate your Brandeis areas of study into your study abroad experience? This program blended my Brandeis strengths with what I really wanted to improve at. I brought my knowledge of social science and environmental studies to a program that taught me science. Since science and policy go hand-in-hand, it was incredibly helpful for our class discussions, interviews, and fieldwork.

Housing situation: We lived in a center just ten minutes away from Pub Street in Siem Reap. At the center, we were in rooms of 3-4 people, with bunk beds. We ate the majority of our meals at the center and also had classes there.

Favorite memory: My favorite memory was during one of our mid-semester breaks. We went to Battambang to celebrate Khmer New Year and it was the best week ever. The celebrations consist of town-wide watergun fights and people putting baby powder on your face. We drove through the streets all day and celebrated with the locals. It was an experience I will never forget.

What do you know now that you didn't know before? I  know that the career I want to pursue is possible for me. There are so many roads I can follow to do what I want for my career. It was also very affirming to know that I like what I want to pursue and I think I'm good at it.

Fact about Cambodia that you think people would be surprised to learn: Cambodia has one of the most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems in the world.