Kara Korab, program manager for the Center for Global Business at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, writes about the Smith School’s study abroad ambassador program.
During the spring 2020 semester, 45 Maryland Smith undergraduate students will participate in semester-long business exchange programs around the world. Three highly qualified Smith students will serve as study abroad ambassadors to share their experience through media content and serve as resources for prospective study abroad students. The study abroad ambassador program is an opportunity to create a supportive community and culture of study abroad among Smith undergraduate students.
The spring 2020 study abroad ambassadors are:
Sara C. Heckelman
Major(s): Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Minor: Hebrew Studies
Exchange University: Copenhagen Business School
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Sara Heckelman is a member of the Strategic Design and Innovation Fellows Program at Smith. Heckelman, who speaks fluent Hebrew, spent her summer living and interning in Tel Aviv, Israel at a supply chain logistics software start-up. On-campus, she is president of a co-ed Jewish a cappella group called Rak Shalom and serves as a Consultant & Financial Analyst for the business consulting club, Tamid. Heckelman is looking forward to biking through the beautiful streets of Copenhagen, and documenting and sharing her journey with globally-minded Smith students.
Michelle Hu
Major(s): Finance and Computer Science
Exchange University: Nanyang Technological University
Location: Singapore
Michelle Hu has never studied abroad before, but absolutely loves to travel and is highly interested in working abroad for a few years after graduation. She has been to quite a few countries in Europe before but has never had the opportunity to tour much of Asia. She plans on making full use of her time spent in Singapore by visiting nearby Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, etc. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies with friends, playing pool, and trying new foods. She is really excited about the chance to try Singapore's local cuisine in their famous night markets and practice her Chinese since Singapore's national languages are English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.
Alex Kristal
Major(s): Marketing and Management
Exchange University: University of New South Wales
Location: Sydney, Australia
Alex Kristal loves to travel and explore new places. This past summer, Kristal had the opportunity to immerse himself in a foreign work environment while interning for 8 weeks in Tel Aviv, Israel. Now, looking to explore the new continent while studying in Sydney, Australia, he hopes to take advantage of opportunities to expand his comfort zone. In his free time, Kristal enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, spending time with friends, and getting involved in his communities.
Smith students applying for spring semester study abroad programs were given the opportunity to apply for the leadership position of study abroad ambassador. A study abroad ambassador is a position designed for students to emerge as leaders by telling their study abroad stories. These Smith exchange programs are the result of agreements made with top business schools around the world that give undergraduate students the opportunity to enroll in semester-long programs abroad, take a full business course-load in English alongside their host-country counterparts, and earn transfer credit toward their degrees. Participating students gain valuable immersive experiences on both the academic and cultural level. Participating in an exchange program is one of the many ways students can develop their global mindset.
“Study abroad ambassadors are leaders among Smith study abroad students.” said Greg Rafal, assistant director, global programs at the CGB, “by sharing their study abroad experience, ambassadors bring to light the value of a global mindset to a student's college experience and career. The role also allows students to hone in on their writing, marketing, and community building skills.”
Learn more about the programs and initiatives at the Center for Global Business.
Media Contact
Greg Muraski
Media Relations Manager
301-405-5283
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu
About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.