Meet our Student Contributors
Each year Education Abroad hires a team of student employees who work in our office in a variety of functions. Our peer advising team is the first point of contact for perspective students helping to advise students on finding the program that is right for them. Our marketing interns are the face of EA, making class visits, posting to instagram and more. Two of our amazing student workers contributed greatly to this newsletter, meet Rowan and Kaj!
Rowan Ellis-Rissler
Peer Advisor
I spent my entire junior year abroad, first in Florence, Italy with WorldStrides (), then in Monteverde, Costa Rica with CIEE (), and it completely reshaped how I see the world. I met lifelong friends, traveled to more than 15 countries, and worked as a photographer and videographer, documenting moments that made the world feel both huge and deeply personal. What I love most about working in the Education Abroad office is the shared spark everyone has, that indescribable understanding of how travel transforms you. It’s not just an office; it feels like a family bound together by stories, curiosity, and a love for exploration. My advice to anyone thinking about going abroad is this: it will change you, no matter what. So, ask yourself howÌýyou want to be changed and let that answer guide your experience. After graduation, I hope to work as a journalist anywhere and everywhere, telling stories that connect people through place, emotion, and perspective.
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Kaj Weterrings
Marketing Intern
I studied abroad in Spring 2025 in Brighton, England, at the University of SussexÌý(). The highlight of my experience abroad was meeting other international students from all over the world! My best friend abroad, Tom, was a French student from La Rochelle. After our term at Sussex, I got to travel back to France with Tom to meet his family and friends. We then flew to Edinburgh and spent four days hiking across the Scottish Highlands on the Great Glen Way!Ìý
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My favorite part of working at the Education Abroad office is giving class presentations and tabling. I love talkingÌýto studentsÌýabout my experiences abroad and encouraging others to go abroad! My advice to anyone planning to study abroad is to go alone and start completely fresh.ÌýIt'sÌýscary, but putting yourself out of your comfort zone like this will encourage you to meet many new people and try new experiences instead of sticking withÌýwhat’sÌýfamiliar.Ìý
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At CU, I study Creative Technology and Design. After graduation,ÌýI’mÌýgoing back to Europe to see my family in Sweden and to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain. After this, I will return to the U.S. and work as a field guide in Utah for an outdoor therapy program.Ìý