Meet Ashley Equihua, a junior studying Nutrition and Health in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). Ashley is a veteran of study abroad programs, having participated in three short-term programs during her time in the College of ACES. With visits to Panama, South Africa, and Italy, she continues to expand her cultural knowledge and broaden her understanding of diverse parts of the world.

Spanning from nine days to three weeks, each of Ashley’s trips allowed her to explore a different topic. In Panama, she focused on learning about sustainability and agricultural practices, a subject close to her heart due to her family’s ownership of an avocado farm in Mexico. Fluent in Spanish, the primary language in Panama, Ashley found it easier to engage with the local community.

During her trip to Cape Town, South Africa, Ashley concentrated on cultural immersion and child and family health. The program was structured with the first half oriented around tourism and the second half devoted to service learning. Ashley’s worksite at a daycare center focused on children with disabilities, where her main role was providing care and creating educational material. Prior to her visit, Ashley participated in an academic course, gaining knowledge of South Africa’s history, including its political landscape, economic class, and activist movements. A fun fact from this trip was discovering that South Africa has 11 official languages. 

In Rome, Italy, Ashley explored sustainable food systems, through tours and guest speakers from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Food Program, and the Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters. This trip also included hands-on activities related to food systems such as street food tours through neighborhoods with family-owned restaurants and a three-hour cooking class yielding homemade ravioli and tiramisu. Gaining knowledge about sustainable food systems provides Ashley with new ideas in the food and nutrition field, which she hopes to address in her future career.

Ashley’s ultimate career goal is to attend medical school and practice medicine, focusing on nutrition. Participation in these study abroad programs helped her to deepen her understanding of how social determinants influence health outcomes. Focusing on prevention and the environment of the patient is something that Ashley hopes to put at the core of her work.

When asked for advice for future students participating in study abroad programs, Ashley said: “Make sure you take in every aspect of the trip while respecting the land and culture.”