We're excited to announce the newest member of our University Relations Team, Kira Rysiewicz. Kira will be joining CEA as the Regional Director in the Central States. Until your have a chance to meet her in person, here's a quick note from Kira to help you get to know her:
I am so excited to be joining the University Relations team at CEA after a great 5 years at IFSA. I've always had a passion for travel and working with college students and previously worked in Greek Life before finding my passion in international education. In college, I studied abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain, that was absolutely life-changing and encouraged my love for travel. Though I call Indianapolis home now, I was born and raised in the Chicago area and make frequent trips back to visit family (and support the Cubs and Blackhawks!).
This spring CEA hosted 42 students in five of our destinations abroad. We surveyed them after their programs ended to learn more about their study abroad experience given the unique circumstances. We are pleased to report that our students were overwhelmingly positive about their experiences and gave the following feedback:
With COVID-19 disrupting students' and campuses' plans, January-term and pre-semester intensive programs are a great option for those who want to have an international experience before their college career ends. CEA offers a variety of options, and is always willing to work with your campus to develop a unique customized program to suit your needs. Contact Aaron Yerkes to set a time to learn more about CEA's J-Term and pre-semester intensive program options.
"It was sort of surreal to talk about my experience and time abroad so far because it is something that still feels so unreal to me. But I do believe it is very important to reflect on life in order to progress forward in meaningful ways, so the opportunity for that was a wonderful experience."
As we celebrate Pride Month this June, we are excited to revisit Ashton Riegler's interview about his experience as a trans man in Prague. Read more about Aston's study abroad journey in the CEA blog, He is Ashton Riegler: Prague Student Spotlight.