#studyabroadbecause

Originally from Ashburn Virginia, Kiara Lee is a junior bioengineering student minoring in Spanish and Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. Her study abroad experience began the summer after her freshman year, when she studied abroad in Chile with a program called Plus3. This program was a partnership between the engineering and business schools at Pitt where students learned about the economy and various businesses in Chile.

Danielle Corcione graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in May 2015. She studied abroad in Bangalore, India and Prague, Czech Republic. Now, she is located in Omaha, Nebraska.

What motivated your decision to go abroad? How/why did you choose where to go?

Emeka Ukaga is a junior dual-degree student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota, but also has close ties with Nigeria because his parents are from there; Emeka’s a dual-citizen. He has a strong passion for global studies, and because of that is also pursuing a minor in French and certificates in International Engineering, Western European Studies, African Studies, and Global Studies.

Renee Corbett is a “super” senior pursuing a Civil and Environmental Engineering major and a Communication certificate. Throughout the course of her time at Pitt, she has had numerous opportunities to travel abroad. She traveled to Haiti for 3 one-week sustainable development trips and she traveled to Trujillo, Peru for 6 weeks to construct sustainable VIP (ventilation improved pit) latrines.

Ashish Bibireddy is a junior at Pitt and a Neuroscience and Urban Studies major. Currently, Ashish is an Event Coordinator for the Student Government Board (SGB) Wellness Committee. Future plans include going on to medical school and/or eventually end up in the public health sector, dealing health policy and change. Ashish studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the summer of 2015. Read his interview below to learn more about his experience abroad!

Alexandria Martinez is earning her Health Service Major-Certificate in Community Health Assessment at the University of Pittsburgh. She's originally from Teaneck, NJ, which is a 15-minute drive from New York City. She considers herself a city girl and loves exploring big cities. She loves music and enjoys discovering and listening to all genres of music. She believes music can be healing and is food for the soul. She's also an avid reader and like music, reads all types of books.

Emily Kearns is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh dual-majoring in Communication and Business. She studied abroad in Florence, Italy in the spring of 2015 and developed a deep love for travel. Upon graduation in May, she hopes to find a career that incorporates her passions for photography, writing, and travelling.

Born and raised in Plymouth, Michigan, Natalie Zazula enjoyed her collegiate years living in Pittsburgh. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (marketing) and a Bachelor of Arts (nonfiction English writing) from the University of Pittsburgh in August 2015. Her final 12 credits were earned while studying abroad in London, England! Read up on her interview below to learn more about her international experiences. 

Elissa Wollins is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in accounting. She spent an incredible semester in Prague, Czech Republic during the spring 2015 semester. Studying abroad forced her to get out of her comfort zone, allowed her to meet people from all over the world, and encouraged her to try things she never would have considered before. “If you study abroad, you’ll come home with a new outlook on life, a few more pairs of shoes, and endless stories about castles, cliff-diving, and what happened on the night tram.

Nicole Lottig is a graduating senior at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Gender Studies. She studied abroad in Ireland during the spring semester of 2015. She studied at Maynooth University, which is located about a half an hour from Dublin. She learned a lot from studying in another country and would love to go back! Read up on her interview and learn more about her experiences.