Meet Chatham’s 2024 Study Abroad Ambassadors

Study Abroad Ambassadors are Chatham students who studied abroad and have returned to Chatham to continue completing their degree! As a small team, the Office of Global Engagement relies on our Study Abroad Ambassadors to help get the word out about opportunities abroad, scholarships, and on campus engagement activities.

Sarina Brelvi (she/her) Human Biology major, and my minors are in Spanish and Chemistry. I interned abroad in Valencia, Spain in an orthopedic trauma center.

At a company dinner during my internship in Valencia Spain.

I'm incredibly grateful to have had this experience. I was able to get a closer understanding of the medical field in Spain in comparison to what I can get in the United States. Each day, I watched consultations and surgeries while developing a connection to the clinical team. Valencia as a city also felt very safe and welcoming, and it really felt like home. I met so many people who have made lasting impressions on me and who I plan on keeping in contact with.  If anyone has the chance to study or intern abroad, I recommend they take that leap and go for it. It was one of the best experiences I have had and one that helped me define what I want in the future. 

Haley Drass (She/her) Florence, Italy; History major with a minor in Art Museum Studies; 2025

For my study abroad experience, I chose to study with CEA CAPA in Florence, Italy. I knew I wanted to study and intern abroad, and I was able to do both through my program. I took a course in Renaissance Art History for 6 weeks and interned at the Museo De’ Medici for 8 weeks. During my time there, I was able to travel all throughout Italy including visiting places like Rome, Venice, and Pisa. 

I suggest to other students if you have the chance to study abroad you definitely should. Going abroad can seem like a terrifying experience, but it is so worth it. Studying abroad in Italy not only helped me grow my educational and professional experience but also my personal. It has helped me step out of my comfort zone both at my internship and in everyday life. Before this, I never traveled outside of the U.S. nor had I ever flown in a plane, and now I cannot wait to travel somewhere new. This was an amazing experience, and I encourage everyone to try and experience it themselves.

Julia Garfinkel (she/they) Sustainability: Energy and Urban Systems major with a minor in Food Studies and an Environmental Social Work Certificate. I studied in Perugia, Italy, and will graduate in 2026.

At the Parmigiano Rigano factory!

My time in Italy was incredible. It’s such a beautiful country with such a rich history. One of my favorite memories was a school trip that my program went on where we got to visit a Parmigiano Rigano factory and see the massive warehouse of aging cheese and then get to try some which was delicious.

Italy is such a treasure, from the great big cities like Rome or Milan, to adorable little towns like Assisi or Spello. They all have a rich history and are beautiful. Each region has its own complex culture and cuisine. You can go anywhere in Italy and find the most stunning views and the most amazing art.

It was super interesting to study Italy’s food system and learn about the designations they have to save their heritage foods from being forgotten. They have specific foods that can only be produced in certain regions using traditional methods and can’t be replicated elsewhere.

I was in a smaller town where English was not widely spoken. I had to learn enough basic Italian to get myself around and to interact with the locals. It was very rewarding when I was able to communicate with them and chat with them about my experiences. Many people are eager to practice their English so we would do sort of a cultural and language exchange with each other. I did this in shops, restaurants, bars, through some volunteer work I did, and through school activities with Italian students. My family came over to visit while I was there, and I was able to navigate and lead them through the country. Each new bit of Italian I learned was like a new bit of the country opening up to me. You become extremely proud of yourself when you’re able to go through an exchange without using any English.

Maya Walker (she/her) Creative Writing major. I studied in Taichung, Taiwan, and will graduate in 2027.

Fun fact: during my summer abroad, I saw the northern coast and southern coast of Taiwan in the span of two days.

Haileigh Stephens (she/her). I studied in Costa Rica, I'm majoring in Sustainability, and I will be graduating in December 2024. 

My experience in Costa Rica was very formative! I met so many amazing people and got to experience some pretty beautiful traditions and environments. Being abroad helped me to grow in so many ways and I can't wait to keep exploring and learning from different people, cultures, and environments! 

 For more information on study abroad, reach out to us at globalengagement@chatham.edu!