CEA CAPA has selected four student alumni to present at the upcoming NAFSA conference this May, marking the organization’s first-ever initiative to spotlight student voices at the conference.
Chosen from a competitive pool of more than 140 applicants, Veronica Broskovetz, Louis Aquino, Natasha Machera, and Rosa Marshall will share their study abroad journey’s and reflect on how their global experiences have shaped their academic, personal, and professional lives.
Veronica Broskovetz, a Political Science and Journalism major at the University of Minnesota, spent Fall 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. During her time abroad, she interned as a social policy assistant at the nonprofit Homeless Entrepreneur, gaining hands-on experience and expanding her global perspective through direct community engagement.
“I learned how to navigate the nuances of cross-cultural communication and how these skills could be applied in a global workforce,” Broskovetz said. “The program’s focus on global engagement helped me recognize the importance of these skills, and I was able to develop a more global mindset that will undoubtedly benefit my career moving forward.”
Louis Aquino, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison pursuing a Master of Science in Agroecology, participated in a Winter 2024 term in Sydney, Australia. With a background in Environmental Policy and Science, Technology, and Society, Aquino’s academic work centers on sustainable food systems and community-based research in Latin America.
“Being part of these spaces reaffirms my belief in a more interconnected world where local actions can create tangible change,” Aquino said.
Representing Florence, Italy, Natasha Machera is a senior Chemistry major at Skidmore College and international student from Zimbabwe. She interned at a Tuscan winery during Spring 2024 and will begin graduate studies at Rutgers University this fall.
“I am eager to engage in conversations about how international education fosters interdisciplinary learning, cultural competence, and career readiness—values that have deeply influenced my own journey,” Machera said.
Rounding out the group is Rosa Marshall, an Honors student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Marshall attended CEA CAPA London during her freshman year in Fall 2024 through UMass’s Global Launch Program. Now an Alumni Ambassador for CEA CAPA, she continues to advocate for global learning opportunities among her peers.
“My time with CEA CAPA in London truly changed my outlook on life, something I share with everyone I come across, to encourage them to have similar experiences abroad,” Marshall said.
The four students will represent a range of disciplines and global perspectives at NAFSA, one of the world’s largest gatherings of international educators. Their selection highlights not only their individual accomplishments, but also CEA CAPA’s expanding role in transforming the power of education abroad.
This new initiative underlines the organization's commitment to promoting student voices in the global education space and preparing future leaders.
Meet the alumni and all CEA CAPA attendees at NAFSA May 27-30 in San Diego.