Audrey Ramsey, Class of 2018

Studies at Ferrum: Major in Recreation Leadership and minors in Ecotourism and Environmental Science

Study Away: Semester in Chile

Currently: Intern at Colorado State University

¡Hola a todos!  My name is Audrey Ramsey and I graduated from Ferrum in 2018 with a major in Recreation Leadership and minors in Ecotourism and Environmental Science.  My first ‘study abroad’ experience at Ferrum was my E-Term that I took after my freshman year.  I did the Tropical and Marine Ecology E-Term which brought us to the Virgin Islands with Dr. Pohlad and Dr. Thomas to do independent projects on different subjects in the lands and waters of the islands.  Not only did I have the time of my life and learn so much about Marine Ecology, but it also sparked my interest in Environmental Science as a whole and made me pick up my minor in Environmental Science.

My second study abroad experience was my semester abroad studying ecotourism at DUOC UC in Valparaiso, Chile.  I did this semester abroad the fall of my senior year and I cannot think of a better way to wrap up my studies at Ferrum.  Having traveled my whole life in and out of the country as well as living overseas when I was very young, I have developed quite the travel bug.  I had traveled with my family, with friends, and even alone before with no fear.  Having said that, I could not have been more terrified and excited to do this semester abroad.  There is a big difference between just traveling alone for a month or so and going to live in another country, a Spanish speaking one at that, for almost six months.  I had studied Spanish at Ferrum for three years before that but was still was not the most confident of a speaker.  After my semester in Chile I became so much more confident with my Spanish which was such an amazing feeling and incredibly useful too.

Studying abroad was such an unforgettable experience because it is so different being a student in another country rather than just a traveler.  You really get to experience the culture and the way that people live there as well as become part of the community.  My classmates were so incredibly welcoming, genuinely helpful and excited that I was there that I instantly felt at home.  Also, not only do you get to connect with the people from the country you go to, but you have the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world when you are part of an exchange program.  I had people in my exchange student group from Spain, Mexico, Belgium and Germany.  I now have friends in all of those countries along with my ‘Chilenos’ that I hope to be reunited with again someday.

This study abroad experience opened my horizons and truly, as you’ll hear most other study abroad students say, changed my life.  Because of this experience with studying ecotourism in Chile and improving my Spanish, I am now doing an internship working with Colorado State University’s Center for Protected Area Management’s summer course for Latin Americans about managing protected areas.  Once I finish that, I am looking to find a job somewhere in Latin America to continue gaining experience in my field and in Spanish.  After that, possibly Peace Corps!  So, if you have the opportunity to study abroad, don’t be afraid, DO IT!  It could end up being one of the best decisions you ever made, and one of the best experiences you’ve ever had.  I know mine was!

Saludos,

Audrey

Hello, hello! My name is Joshua Sanders, and I graduated in May 2018 with a B.S. in Chemistry. I was very active on campus, involved in marching band, handbell choir, the Admissions Ambassador program, chemistry club (holding a variety of officer positions), and, of course, the Boone Honors Program! I was also an undergraduate student member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the ACS Blue Ridge Section all three years at Ferrum. I also completed several lab practica, independent research projects, and honors enrichment projects working with Carol Love, Dr. Maria Puccio, and Dr. Laura Grochowski, and the Faculty-Scholar program under Dr. Jason Powell. I even studied abroad for a summer semester in Dr. Huang Ying-Ping’s lab at China Three Gorges University!

I worked towards a Ph.D. at the University of Kansas, studying structural biology (Enzymology and protein purification in the Mure group, and single molecule-RNA interactions by smFRET in the Holmstrom group). During my time there, I enjoyed my first publication in a peer-reviewed publication when our lab published a small article on our lab methodologies. At KU, I was a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for various courses that run the gambit from every flavor of general chemistry to organic chemistry lab, honing my skills as a future science advocate.

In July 2021, I followed Dr. Audrey Lamb to the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I am currently a doctoral student in chemistry, studying structural biology, protein crystallography, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and enzymology in the Lamb lab. I look forward to coming back to Ferrum to present at the Friday Natural Sciences seminar sometime soon.

As for a personal life update, on July 15, 2022, Michael Castille and I were married in San Antonio!

If you want to reach out and talk science or just hear my story of high school to grad school in the sciences, as well as how the BHP helped me get here, feel free to email me at joshua.sanders@utsa.edu!

Vanessa Torres, Class of 2012

Studies at Ferrum: B.A. Spanish, minor in Journalism and English

Study Away: Summer in Alicante, Spain

Currently: Marketing Specialist at C-SPAN

One of the biggest requirements I had when searching for a college to attend, was having the opportunity to study abroad. I loved Ferrum and was so excited to learn that they had a robust and exciting study abroad program through my major. I spent the summer of 2011 on the coast of Spain in Alicante. It was an amazing experience – I was able to live with the locals, learn the culture and make life long friends. I currently travel a lot for my job, I’ve visited 46 states, and have met a diverse group of people. Traveling abroad sparked a curiosity in what’s happening around the world and what’s happening in our country. This job tied it perfectly with my interests in language, journalism and politics.

Norma Velez Coudray, Class of 2015

Studies at Ferrum: B.A. in Spanish, minor in International Studies, Global Perspectives Certificate

Study Away: Summer in Seville, Spain and E-Tern in Peru.

Graduate degree: Master in International Education, Universidad de Alcalá, Spain, 2016

Currently: Teaching ESL in Switzerland

Since high school, I’ve loved traveling and knew I had to study abroad. Spain was my first stop; I spent a summer in Sevilla studying the history and culture of  Andalusia and I fell in love with many things, two of those things being international education institutions and traveling. Upon my arrival back to the United States, I was eager to further my experience abroad so I decided to take the opportunity to go Peru during my senior year. I am a passionate educator and I enjoy sharing my experiences with my students. Studying abroad has helped shape my life, and I even met my husband because it. My international experiences have allowed me to work of international settings and be a better professional.

Thanks for visiting. The deadline to submit your idea for renaming the remodeled News Café venue was Tuesday, July 31 and the contest is now closed. We will announce the winning name soon!

Jessa King, Class of 2016

Studies at Ferrum: B.A. English and Spanish, minor in Democracy, Justice, and Civic Engagement

Study Away: E-Term in Peru and Summer Term in Puerto Rico

Service: Teach for America, 2016-2018, Arkansas

Currently: Teaching early high school English in Franklin County, VA.

I was very apprehensive about studying abroad at first. I had never spent more than two weeks away from home let alone outside of the continental U.S., but in order to 

fulfill a requirement for the Boone Honors Program, I had to do so. When the opportunity to sign up for an E-Term in Peru was presented to me, for an inexplicable reason, I signed up immediately. I could not have made a better decision. Professor Supes had an interesting time coaxing me through the three weeks abroad, but during those weeks, I was able to learn a plethora of things about not only Peruvian culture but also myself. After my experience in Peru, I knew my next study abroad experience would be sooner rather than later. The summer before my senior year, I had another incredible opportunity to attend a university in Puerto Rico. It was amazing to me that on my way to Peru, I could not have been more terrified, but on my way to Puerto Rico, I could not have been more excited. The unknown is always a scary thing

, but once you have studied abroad the first time, it only becomes easier and easier to travel outside of your comfort zone not only physically but also mentally. I never pictured myself choosing to take a vacation abroad instead of to the East Coast, but in the summer of 2017, I planned my own, solo vacation to Spain. I spent two weeks traveling alone in some of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I cannot recommend completing a study abroad enough. If you have the opportunity, TAKE IT! I promise that if I can do it, you can do it, and it will change your life forever.

Caitlin Fournier, Class of 2012

Studies at Ferrum: B.A. Spanish, minor in International Studies, Global Perspectives Certificate

Study Away: Semester in Seville, Spain

Graduate degree: Master in Teaching ESL, Universidad de Alcalá, Spain, 2016

Currently: Teaching ESL in Brazil

Studying abroad while at Ferrum was the best decision I could have made both personally and academically. I went on two E-term trips. First, to Belize to study the Mayan Civilization, then later to Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland to study the Jewish Religion and the Holocaust. Both were incredible experiences to learn first-hand about these subjects and just overall unforgettable trips. Studying abroad later changed my life when I made the decision to spend a semester abroad in Seville, Spain during the spring of my junior year. Spending almost six months engulfed in a new culture taught me not only so much about the Spanish language and culture, but it also was an experience where I learned that I was capable of so many things and I gained confidence in being independent. This experience changed my life because not only did this semester persuade me to change my major to Spanish… I later went back to live 4 years in Madrid, Spain! While living in Madrid I earned a master in Education and fell in love with my current career: Teaching ESL. Now, I will begin a new adventure as I head to Brazil to teach English at an international school. However, thanks to my experiences with studying abroad, I already know I am capable of succeeding in a new country and culture.

Delana Smith, Class of 2015

Studies at Ferrum: B.A. in Spanish and International Studies, with a Certificate in Global Perspectives.

Study Away: Semester at American University, E-Term in Mexico, Semester in Alicante, Spain

Currently: MA candidate at Old Dominion University in International Studies with a concentration in Foreign Policy and a Certificate in Women’s Studies

When I think of my time at Ferrum, I think of the opportunities that I was able to take advantage of and how that has shaped the path that I am creating for myself. The two instances that stand out the most are my E-term to Mexico and studying abroad in Alicante, Spain. Both helped me to figure out what I enjoyed the most about my close majors and how there is so much that I can do within the particular fields. In Mexico I learned that I wanted to help people in some capacity, especially children, whereas in Spain I learned that I have a way of speaking to people and connecting with them in lasting ways. Both experiences are dear to me and from them I have been able to make a lasting impact while in Graduate School. Due to these experiences, I was able to create an English language program that could be taught and learned at home to help some refugees living in my area. At the same time, I have been able to focus on immigration policy, the paths that have been taken and the current direction that it is going in. Those just fill one of my many interests and encompass a small part of what my experiences have inspired me to do. I know that I want to make an impact on the world and will go where I feel like I can make the most impact. Studying abroad was one of the best decisions that I made attending Ferrum and without that experience, I know I wouldn’t have met the wonderful people who inspire me and with whom I stay in constant contact. I also know that I wouldn’t be where I am without it.

Chris Miller, Class of 2013

Studies at Ferrum: B.A. in Spanish and International Studies, Minor in History

Study Away: Semester in Seville, Spain

Currently: Co-Founder of Feedtrail www.feedtrail.com

I had never really travelled before my experience of going abroad. It was a bit scary at first because you are traveling to another country – after all, it’s hard getting out of your comfort zone. Looking back at it, it was probably one of the best decisions I had made in my life up to that point. Apart from the obvious benefits like learning a new language or discovering a new culture, an experience abroad completely changes the way you see yourself relative to the rest of the world. Many of us grow up in our bubbles but I truly believe that at some point we are all best served by getting out of our comfort zone and seeing what we are made of!