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.

Since we were young, my sister and I have embraced our differences, but found joy and passion in similar things. 

I am a first-year student just beginning my journey in Agricultural Communications at Illinois, while my older sister, Jamie Abbott, is wrapping up her senior year in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Despite our unique academic pursuits, our shared passion for agriculture stemmed from the same experiences, rooted in our family farm in small town Orion, Illinois. 

Preparing for a study abroad trip involves making many decisions throughout the process. Sorting everything out will take considerable time, thought, and effort, and it might push you out of your comfort zone.

Animal Science student Avery Bennett, who has completed three study abroad programs on three continents, is no stranger to this process. Studying in Tanzania, New Zealand, and South Korea, Avery gained experiences and opportunities invaluable to her study-abroad goals, career aspirations, and personal development.

To celebrate Earth Week, meet Emily Rohrbach, a junior studying Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) with a concentration in Fish and Wildlife Conservation Biology in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This past winter break, Emily had the opportunity to partake in a short-term study abroad program located in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.

“I am a big believer that you are always where you are meant to be.” As an Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Erica Stehlik lives out this belief daily, whether studying abroad in Dublin or working at Japan House in Urbana.