Meet the Global Ambassadors | Apply to be a Global Ambassador

WFU GLOBAL AMBASSADORS

Global Ambassadors are current students who studied abroad on WFU-approved programs. They are student representatives of the Center for Global Programs and Studies, sharing their experience and knowledge of study abroad. They meet with interested students and groups, and act as guides throughout the study abroad preparation process.

CONTACT THE GLOBAL AMBASSADORS

Know that you want to go abroad but not sure where? Want to know what courses are like in other countries? Need travel tips? For answers to these questions, speak to one of our Global Ambassadors. Ambassadors welcome the opportunity to talk to students looking to study abroad. To connect with an Ambassador, please e-mail them directly or set up a time to meet. You can also connect with Global Ambassadors at pre-departure workshops, information sessions and study abroad fairs.

MEET OUR 2023-2024 GLOBAL AMBASSADORS

Asheton Ayotte

Travel Tip: As soon as you arrive to your abroad location, make sure to familiarize yourself with the public transportation as quickly as possible. In Vienna, we used the public buses and trains everyday and it made accessing different parts of the city so easy!

Willa Kate Baker

  • WFU Worrell House (London, England)
  • WFU Casa Artom (Venice, Italy)
  • WFU Greece (Summer)
  • Contact: bakewk20@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid to talk to the locals! They can give a better insight into the hidden places around town that most tourists don’t know about!

Zach Bokhari

  • WFU Flow House (Vienna, Austria)
  • WFU Jena (Summer)
  • Contact: bokhz20@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: Contrary to what you hear often, I came to learn that it was way better sometimes to NOT plan out every minute of every trip, but rather just let yourself explore naturally!

Joey Crane

  • WFU Global AWAKEnings (Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • WFU CBGL Cape Town (Summer)
  • WFU Worrell House (Summer) (London, England)
  • Contact: cranjt21@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: Traveling by train is a great sustainable alternative to air travel and it is often cheaper and allows you to see more of the country your are visiting!

Ethan Dill

Travel Tip: My favorite travel tip is to orient yourself around the city you are in. Just wander through the city during the day for an hour or so with a map on your phone pulled up. This is a great way to see the city and some attractions. Furthermore, should your phone ever die, which hopefully it never will because you should always have a portable charger on you (travel tip 2), you will better be able to direct yourself towards the train station or wherever you are staying.

Deneaka Duncanson

  • CIEE: Cape Town
  • WFU CBGL Cape Town (Summer)
  • SIT: South Africa
  • Contact: duncd20@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: Always bring a pair of compression socks on the plane for your flight! Your legs will thank you later!

Nick Egbert

  • WFU Casa Artom (Venice, Italy)
  • INSTEP London
  • DIS Copenhagen
  • Contact: egbenc20@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: I highly recommend keeping a journal of your daily adventures so you can reflect on all of the things you experience as well as have a record of the past!

Sophie Eldridge

Travel Tip: Patience is key! Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control.

Haley Feieresel

Travel Tip: While abroad, take as many opportunities as possible! Travel to a new location, try a new food, learn something neat about each places you visit, meet new people, and immerse yourself in the culture as much as you can. My favorite ways to do this were studying at as many new coffee shops as I could, taking advantage of the ease of European train travel, and becoming familiar with those I met in the city, like the man who always knew my ice cream order at my favorite ice cream shop. Cook with friends, go for city runs, or see a movie in the regional language. Finally, make sure to take tons of pictures because it flies by!

Maia Giddiens

Travel Tip: In order to achieve the full experience while traveling, it is essential to keep an open mind and say yes to all cultural opportunities that present themselves!

Ava Gordon

Travel Tip: Whenever you are out to eat at a restaurant in a new city, always try to make friends with the server! It is such an easy way to meet someone native to that city and you will probably get some great recommendations!

Meredith Jordan

Travel Tip: Figure out the best mode of transportation before arriving, so you know how to get from the airport or train station to where you’re staying! In some cities, taxis are affordable, but in others it may be better to use buses, metro, or to walk!

Teagan Kocaj

Travel Tip: One travel tip I have is to stay flexible! As essential as it is to plan ahead to make the best of your study abroad experience, it is also important to be ready to adapt to any unexpected changes, in order to optimize your time while abroad.

Catherine McLaughlin

Travel Tip: Spend time within your host country exploring different locations. There is so much that each country has to offer and you are truly only staying in one city. This is especially true for summer programs as you are not there for as long.

McKenzie Murphy

Travel Tip: Make it a plan to not have a plan! Be safe, but enjoy where you find yourself by exploring!

Juan Parra

Travel Tip: To get lost and explore!

Zophia Perez

Travel Tip: Enjoy the moment! Don’t get wrapped up in planning that you forget where you are and what’s in front of you.

Rachel Peterson

Travel Tip: A travel tip is to fit everything in a backpack (easy to take everywhere and you avoid fees)! I got travel packing compartments which allowed me to fit a lot of clothes and shoes into my backpack.

Mary Elizabeth Pifer

Travel Tip: You do not need to pack many shoes; just a few basic comfortable ones will work!

Alemi Rivera

Travel Tip: As someone who recently had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in France this summer, I wanted to share a heartfelt tip that made my journey unforgettable. Sure, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of visiting those famous attractions – after all, who wouldn’t want to see those iconic landmarks? But let me tell you, my experience truly transformed when I realized that travel is about so much more. It’s not just about checking items off a bucket list; it’s about weaving your own story of meaningful memories and genuine connections. Beyond the standard tourist spots, I delved into local events – think music festivals and gatherings. This kind of engagement with the local scene wasn’t just a cultural immersion; it was a language accelerator. Something guidebooks could never capture.

Sophie Small

  • WFU Egypt (Summer)
  • DIS Copenhagen
  • WFU Wake Washington (Washington, DC)
  • Contact: smalsa20@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: If you are looking for cheap flights to travel around Europe use the app Skiplagged to find the cheapest flights from your home city to anywhere in Europe!

Sami Stuart

  • WFU Worrell House (London, England)
  • IFSA: UNSW Sydney
  • Contact: stuasg20@wfu.edu

Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid of the unexpected or unknown. Things won’t always pan out the way you planned in travel and that’s okay! A trip to see a friend that ultimately did not work out turned into an unexpected solo trip full of memories—sometimes challenges lead us down paths we would have never explored and overcoming the inevitable setbacks of travel creates newfound resilience.

Jackie Thacher

Travel Tip: Always make sure you have a reservation for dinner! There is no worse feeling than walking around a city on a Friday night desperately trying to find a place to eat after a day of traveling and sightseeing. Even if you don’t end up eating there, it’s always better to have a place than not.

Nia Thompson

Travel Tip: Use apple/google maps to pin places when you go to different countries/cities. It takes no time and it makes it super easy to remember special places as you spend time in that city or if you would like to revisit in the future or recommend to others if they are visiting.

Valeria Torres

Travel Tip: Be flexible with your time.

Aisha Turner

Travel Tip: If you’re planning to travel, try to book trips in advance! Planning ahead can help you save money on flights and places to stay, as well as allow you to fully enjoy your abroad experience without stressing about where to go and when.

Julienne Vinculado

Travel Tip: I highly recommend signing up for a local arts or culture class– it’s a great way to meet new people you wouldn’t normally meet. My first week in Sydney I enrolled in an 8-week salsa course and loved it!

Avalyn Warfield

Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid to get lost! There are so many amazing local shops or restaurants that you wouldn’t find if you always stuck to your map!

Elise Wood

Travel Tip: One piece of advice that I have for students going abroad is to say yes to all opportunities! Go to places that may not be as popular and explore.

APPLY TO BE A GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

Are you interested in applying to be a Global Abroad Ambassador?

The application for the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 cohort of Global Ambassadors will open Summer 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Christina Canon (canonc@wfu.edu).