Student Bios
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
First-Years - Class of 2029
Marah Britto
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies Major, Data Science Major, French Certificate
Languages: French, Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: International relations, foreign service, languages, sports data analytics
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is the connections that I’m able to make with peers who are also interested in becoming culturally competent and global-minded citizens. I love that we all come from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds yet share a similar interest in language, culture, and global events. WISc truly provides me with a community that I can bond with and learn from as I strive to become a more competent collaborator.
Audree Brunke (she/her/hers)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science
Languages: Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: I plan to go to law school after my undergrad!
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is getting to meet my peers in the program! Everyone I’ve met has been so welcoming and kind, especially to the freshmen. It excites me to get to know people from differing backgrounds, and to discuss global topics with people who think differently than me. It’s eye-opening!
Rachel Casper (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): French Major with German certificate
Hometown: New Berlin, WI
Languages: French, German
Academic and Professional Interests: Education
To me, the best part of being in the WISc program is the ability to connect with others who are interested in learning and talking about the same topics that I am, however we all bring our own unique experiences to everything that we do and everything that we talk about.
Eva Hecht
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science
Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
Languages: German, Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: International law, Health policy and research, ESL teacher
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is being surrounded by a group of like-minded peers who push me to research and ask questions about the world we live in. Being part of a community of students who are interested in international themes inspires me to challenge myself academically and culturally–to examine my beliefs and question my assumptions. I am also grateful for the support the program gives me to study abroad so I can turn this dream into a reality.
Mirella Janssen (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Global Health (Pre-Dental), possible Spanish double major
Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Languages: Hungarian, Dutch, and Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: Pre-Dental, Pre-Health
My favorite part of being a WIScholar is being able to connect with people from all around the world and learning about their unique perspectives, experiences, and what brought them to UW–Madison.
Emma Kelly (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies
Hometown: Newport Beach, CA
Languages: German, French
I love being a part of a diverse community where my perceptions are constantly challenged and evolve to encompass a wider global scope of beliefs.
Celine Kronstedt (she/her/hers)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science, Legal Studies, International Studies Majors; Philosophy, Chinese (Mandarin) Certificates
Hometown: Cedarburg, WI
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin)
Academic and Professional Interests: Law and Philosophy
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is the community that it provides! I feel connected with my classmates and am excited to be in an environment where others value global perspectives in their education just like I always have.
Ophelia Linnan
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies Major, Certificate in Educational Policy
Hometown: Door County, WI
Languages: Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese
Academic and Professional Interests: International and Non-Profit Law
I am grateful to be a WIScholar because it enables me to expand my international knowledge, foster connections, develop cultural competence, and learn about global volunteering opportunities. These experiences will help me achieve my goal of making a global difference both professionally and personally. During our scholar events, I enjoy connecting with other students and staff who share a commitment to addressing and discussing global issues from multiple perspectives.
Vincent Meyer (he/him)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Biology Major; Global Health Certificate
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Languages: Spanish and German
Academic and Professional Interests: Physician/Epidemiologist
I definitely look forward to the opportunity of getting a grant to study abroad but have also found the conversations I’ve had with other scholars very engaging!
Jansunee Moua (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science
Hometown: Sheboygan, WI
Languages: Chinese, French, ASL
Ava Nelson
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Biology
Hometown: Akron, OH
Languages: Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: Dental and Orthodontics
My advice to future WIScholars would be to stay excited and be open. It can be very fearsome joining a new club where you know no one. Being and staying open helps to expand your horizons upon international and domestic friends in Scholars.
Aria Nordahl (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Genetics and Genomics
Hometown: Door County, WI
Languages: Spanish and Italian
Academic and Professional Interests: Genetic counseling
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is that I am able to connect with like-minded individual that share a global understanding and would like to uses this understanding to help benefit the greater community of UW.
Rayna Onyegbula (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Information Systems
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Languages: Spanish, Italian
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: UW Study Abroad Summer Launch Italy 2025: Da Vinci, Man & Myth
Academic and Professional Interests: Business, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Insurance
My advice to future WIScholars is to be open and welcoming! And if you (have tried and) think something wasn’t made for you but you (still) have energy in you, try again!
Shreeya Pavani (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Neurobiology and Psychology
Hometown: Shoreview, MN
Languages: French & Hindi
Academic and Professional Interests: Global Health and Medicine
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is having the opportunity to expand my worldview and learn from different perspectives. I enjoy being a part of a community of like-minded peers and engaging in thoughtful discussions of global events.
Elizabeth Perry
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies
Hometown: New Richmond, WI
Languages: Russian
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: NSLI-Y Russian Academic Year in Kyrgyzstan 2024-2025
While I have not been a WIScholar for very long, I have enjoyed getting to know the other members of the program and hearing about their international and language experiences.
Micah Swemke (he/him)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): History and/or Classical Humanities, certificate in digital cinema production
Hometown: Manitowoc, WI
Languages: Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian, Latin
Nicholas Tomlinson (he/him)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Fishers, IN
Languages: German
Agustya Vaid
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Geosciences and Geophysics
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Languages: German
Ella Vincent
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Finance, Investment, and Banking + Risk Management and Insurance
Hometown: Plymouth, MN
Languages: Spanish, Catalan, and Portuguese
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Studied in Spain and Portugal in 2023 and Peru in 2025
Academic and Professional Interests: Wealth Management and Corporate Law
I love the opportunity to discuss real global events happening in the world with like-minded individuals. I believe that the best form of knowledge comes through discussion and listening to the perspectives of others.
Owen Woods (he/him)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Computer Science
Hometown: Bloomington, MN
Languages: Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: CS, data science, engineering, Spanish
Being a WIScholar is a great way to meet people who share a passion for global oriented studies, which is perfect for anyone with language interests who wants to study abroad.
Sophomores - Class of 2028
Ananya David (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Data Science, BS; Molecular and Cell Biology, BS; East Asian Studies, Certificate
Languages: Korean
Favorite memory from a WISc event: Discussing Jamaica Kincaid’s “A Small Place” with a group that was respectful, humble, and unafraid to sit with and explore tension was really memorable. The conversation was enlightening and purposeful, and it established a standard of discourse to which I, thankfully, am now accountable.
Alyssa Durrant
Jake Leismer (he/him)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science, International Security, French
Hometown: Sheboygan, WI
Languages: French, Arabic, Spanish
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Institut de Touraine (Summer 2025)
Academic and Professional Interests: Global Security, International Development
Advice to future WIScholars: Take full advantage of all the great opportunities this program offers, from your very capable peers to your excellent academic staff to the interesting lectures!
Youngjun Moon
Angeline Morgado (she/her/hers)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science, International Studies, Latin American and Iberian Studies Majors; Gender and Women Studies Certificate
Hometown: Guatire, Venezuela & Santiago, Chile
Languages: Portuguese and Italian
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Wisconsin in Washington, one semester, 2025
Academic and Professional Interests: The Venezuelan Diaspora and South to South Migration
I love being part of a community that constantly allows me to learn about the world, connect with different languages and cultures, and challenges me to reflect on globalization
Aayana Roy (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Janakpur, Nepal
Languages: Chinese
Academic and Professional Interests:
Advice to future WIScholars: Get involved on campus in ways that excite you, and it’s okay if that takes some time. Give yourself space in your first semester to process everything, lean on the WISc community, and know that you’ll do amazing!!
Anja Wassenberg (any pronouns)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science and International Studies with a Certificate in German
Hometown: Roseville, MN
Languages: Spanish, German
Academic and Professional Interests: Sociology and Social Science research. I would like to work in the State or National Government someday.
My favorite WISc memory is from the spring retreat in 2025. We had a really difficult and interesting discussion about the book we all read, and we played a group game called salad bowl. Afterward some of us from the class of 2028 went walking and sliding on frozen Lake Mendota and then met up later that evening and ended up playing salad bowl together again!
Alice Zumbiel (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science, International Studies, certificate in Development Economics
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Languages: Spanish
Academic and Professional Interests: Community development, non-profit work, international collaboration
Something I learned from WISc that stuck: There is always another perspective to be considered! From my conversations with speakers at WISc gatherings, our program directors, and fellow WIScholars, I have learned that no matter how thoroughly you analyze a problem on your own, you will never fully grasp it until you discuss it with people who have approached it through the lens of their unique educational and life experiences. There is value in disagreement.
Kaitlin Cassell
Sydney Cretton
Octavia Ikard
Akesh Mallia
Madison Tuffnell
Courtney Urbanek
Ethan Wilson
Juniors - Class of 2027
Anna Beiersdorf (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Economics with a Math Emphasis and a certificate in French
Hometown: Ridgewood, NJ
Languages: French, German
Academic and Professional Interests: Economics, Finance, Real Estate, Accounting, Marketing
My favorite part of being a WIScholar is the community. In our seminar freshman year, I became really close with the WIScholars in my class, and it’s great having that small community to check in with at WISc gatherings and beyond. We all have different backgrounds, majors, and language interests so it’s cool getting to interact with such a diverse group of people and discuss international issues. I have learned so much from my fellow junior WIScholars as well as the WIScholars in other classes, and we always have a lot of fun too!
Joely Emerson
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies, Political Science, and French majors with a European Studies certificate
Hometown: Edina, MN
Languages: French, Danish (will be taking an intro class while abroad)
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: DIS Study Abroad in Copenhagen (Spring 2026), Wisconsin in Washington (Summer 2025), UW Summer Launch in Ireland (Summer 2023)
Academic and Professional Interests: International Business, International Political Economy
The initial connections I’ve made with my cohort have only gotten stronger. It’s never too hard to find a WIScholar involved in the same things as you on and off campus.
Gabriella Feaman (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Global Health major; Biocore and Health Policy certificates
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
Languages: Spanish
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: UW Sustainable Food Systems in Italy and the World, 2 Weeks, 2025
Academic and Professional Interests: Health policy and the field of public health.
My greatest piece of advice would be to learn from your fellow WIScholars! There are so many amazing people a part of the program who have done cool things. Always feel free to reach out and learn something new about a country someone has been to or a new phrase from a language they speak.
Alba Lee (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Food Science Major, Environmental Studies Certificate, Fermentation Certificate
Hometown: Austin, TX
Languages: Chinese, Spanish
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: ESA Angers Exchange – International Food, Culture & Agriculture Summer Program
Academic and Professional Interests: Research on the Fermentation of food waste into value added chemicals/products!
I love being able to speak with people who are in majors that are very different from mine. I am always blown away by the intelligent and thoughtful discourse that WIScholars are able to have, and I feel so lucky to be in a community with such brilliant people!
Katie Mastorides (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science and Journalism, Public Policy
Hometown: Neenah, WI
Languages: Spanish, French
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Wisconsin in Washington (Summer 2025); Cape Town Exchange (Spring 2026)
Academic and Professional Interests: International human rights, women and girls’ health
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is the people. WISc is unlike any other group I am part of on campus in its immense diversity and tight-knit community. WISc makes such a large university feel smaller and grounds me in my studies and personal life. At WISc, I always feel heard, seen, and respected by peers and mentors who care about my personal and professional well being. Our members are eager to share about their culture and international interests, and as a group we are extremely eager to learn!
Gwendolyn Mlsna
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Psychology w/ certificate in Global Cultures, Languages, and Education
Hometown: Mount Horeb, WI
Languages: Spanish & Korean
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: UW Global Launch in London (1 academic year, 2023-2024); UW Spanish Language in Costa Rica (6 weeks, summer 2024)
Academic and Professional Interests: Cross-cultural & Social psychology
Advice to future WIScholars: Take advantage of the incredible opportunities that the WISc program provides and invest in yourself by trying new things and going outside your comfort zone. The most important part of your undergraduate years are making connections and meeting people who can guide and support your learning experiences. Go to optional events, attend random presentations, and talk to people who you may not normally interact with. Your biggest regret will be the things you DIDN’T do.
Sophia Pringle
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Chinese and Linguistics
Languages: Chinese
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: CET Taiwan, Summer, 2025
My favorite thing about being a WIScholar is being able to hear from a wide variety of guest speakers in a small group setting. Students are more willing to ask questions and have discussions in such a comfortable environment, and it makes the presentations so much more valuable when we get to hear students’ thoughts from a range of different majors and fields of study.
Roseann Sous (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Kinesiology major; Global Health and Arabic certificates
Hometown: Beloit, WI
Languages: Arabic
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: UW Wellbeing and the Art of Forest Bathing in Japan, 2-week Winter 2026
Academic and Professional Interests: I am on the Pre- Physician Assistant track and am currently a CNA at Capitol Lakes!
My favorite memory at a WISc event was our annual Spring Retreat 2025. I absolutely loved the book we read, the discussions that were occurring, and listening to everyone’s study abroad stories. There were so many positive moments that happened that made me so thankful to be a part of such a welcoming community.
Henry Barone
Julia Bauman
Todd France
Sylvia Klotz
Andriy Ovod
Krish Inba Rajashankar
Natalie Tran
Seniors - Class of 2026
Marisol Dashnaw
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Educational Policy Studies, Spanish
Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Ojibwe, French
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Education, Diversity and Community in the Galapagos Islands, 3wk, 2023
Academic and Professional Interests: Dual Language Instruction, Sociolinguistics, Research, Curriculum Design
Advice to future WIScholars: Let your curiosity work with humility to guide you. Make asking careful questions and allowing humility to keep your mind open to learning and collaborating, a practice that you put consideration into refining. Best wishes always!
Annie Ellsworth (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Conservation Biology, Global Health
Hometown: Hartland, WI
Languages: Korean
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: CET Florence, Italy (Summer, 2023) and Korea University, Seoul, South Korea (Fall, 2024)
Academic and Professional Interests: Conservation, Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology, Global Health, Nutrition
Advice to future WIScholars: Try your best to go abroad as much as you can. Make the most of what this program offers you and explore countries and cultures that interest you. Studying abroad has been the most impactful and memorable part of my college experience. I promise you won’t regret going abroad, but you might regret not taking the chance while you have it. College is one of the rare moments in life when you can live in another country without worrying about a full-time job or long-term commitments, so take advantage of that freedom!
Dominique Gooden
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Biomedical Engineering major, health policy certificate
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Global and Community Health + Health Disparity Program, 1 month, 2023, Nepal
Advice to future WIScholars: Take advantage of opportunities to explore your interests. But also, be open to pursuing opportunities not directly related to your interests, as they might teach you something new about what you want to do in life!
Kari Hjelmeset (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies Major; History, Political Science, Languages and Cultures of Northern Europe (LCNE), European Studies, and East Asian Studies Certificates
Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Languages: Norwegian, Korean
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: University of Oslo ISS (Summer 2023), Korea University Exchange (Fall 2024), DIS Copenhagen (Spring 2025)
Academic and Professional Interests: Arctic geopolitics, Sustainable development, energy and the Scandinavian welfare states
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is the multi-disciplinary nature of the program. From the guest speakers to your own peers, you get to learn so much about a diverse array of topics.
Corinne Kelling (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Biology and Spanish Majors; BIOCORE & Leadership Certificates
Hometown: Minnetonka, MN
Languages: Spanish
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: WIP Madrid at Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Semester- Spring 2025
Academic and Professional Interests: Pre-Med; pediatric anesthesiology
My favorite part of being a WIScholar is the sense of community and shared curiosity that comes with being surrounded by people who are just as passionate about global issues as I am. The monthly events and discussions challenge me to think beyond my own perspective and explore topics from different cultural and disciplinary angles. I’ve also really appreciated the mentorship and guidance from faculty; it’s helped me shape my academic path with an international focus. Being part of WISc has made my college experience more meaningful and connected, especially as I prepared for and studied abroad, along with future opportunities in global engagement.
Rojaan Koupaei-Abyazani (she/her/hers)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Psychology BA, Textiles & Design Certificate, Global Cultures, Languages, and Education
Hometown: Madison, Wi
Languages: Farsi as a heritage speaker, Spanish as professional development, Korean and Japanese as pop culture interests
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Copenhagen, Summer (3 weeks), 2025
Academic and Professional Interests: Art as a vehicle for therapy and learning, promotion of language learning and usage in higher ed and workplace, emphasis on well-being a fundamental building block for success and flourishing
My favorite part of being a WIScholar is the community that this program provides. It’s wonderful to come into a space where everyone is enthusiastic, warm, and welcoming, especially in a campus that feels so expansive. I found my best friend in this program and many other people who became a consistent part of my college life.
Sascha Isabel Krause (she/her/hers)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Neurobiology, Spanish [B.S.] | Health Policy, Chicane Latine Studies, Global Health [cert.]
Hometown: Queens, NY
Languages: Spanish; German
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: [3 months / summer 2023] Microbiology Research Internship in Chiang Mai, Thailand; [1 month / winter 2024] Medical Spanish Language in San José, Costa Rica; [1 weekend UW + 1 week on-site / spring 2024] Obesity & Nutrition in Vienna, Austria; [1 semester / fall 2025] University of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia
Academic and Professional Interests: Pre-Medical, Women’s Global Health, Cultural Perspectives on Health
Advice to future WIScholars: Language is power and will connect you to the world on infinite levels. Stay curious, open to challenging yourself academically, professionally, and personally whilst being mindful of your global impact.
Chelone Laws (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Japanese
Hometown: New York City, New York
Languages: Japanese
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: UTSIP-Kashiwa, 7 weeks, 2023, Nanzan University Exchange, Spring Semester, 2025\
Academic and Professional Interests: Meteorology (Tropical and extratropical cyclones, tropical meteorology), scientific collaboration abroad
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is getting to be engaged in a community of people who are all interested in a global lens to their studies allows for such great conversation and creates a space ripe with the opportunity for new and sustained friendships that is such a treat to have here on campus. Not to mention, learning from professionals who have experience working and collaborating abroad provides so much inspiration towards my own goals and ideas for where I’d like to take my own career in the future.
Deborah Moreno (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Industrial Engineering; Consulting (certificate)
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Languages: German, Mandarin
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: Global Gateway Summer Program (Singapore); CIEE Berlin Open Campus (Germany)
Academic and Professional Interests: Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital
My favorite part about being a WISc Scholar is the people I’m surrounded by. From my peers in my cohort, to our faculty and administrative staff, to our guest speakers, everyone has such a unique background and is very happy to share it with you. I’m constantly learning something new about our program, UW Madison, or the world!
Hailey Shevitz (she/her)
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies with certificates in Leadership, French, and Global Cultures Languages and Education
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Languages: Spanish and French
Study Abroad or Internship Programs/ Experience: International Internship Program with Go Tico! Costa Rica, 6 weeks, summer of 2023
Academic and Professional Interests: Working in humanitarian aid, working with refugees and immigrants, teaching english abroad, and possibly US immigration law.
My favorite part about being a WIScholar is the community I feel when we are together. I always know that I can get a good laugh, a warm meal, and a good hug when I am at a WISc event. Of course, I love that we can interact with professionals in a small group setting but the support and the community is what I look forward to the most each week!
Olivia Yee