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Meet with an Advisor

Our team is here to help you through every step of the study abroad process. From pre-departure to your return to UMD, we can assure you that you're in the care of dependable professionals.

Getting started:

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Get the guidance you need to explore different program options, finances, and other resources to kickstart your international journey.

Attend Study Abroad 101
Alyssa Taylor sits on a beach a sunset

Want to hear from a real student about what it's like to study abroad? Meet with one of our Peer Mentors today for how to get started, application advice and more.

Meet with a Peer Mentor

Connect with an Advisor

I need help...


I want to apply to a Maryland-in program.

Applicants for each program benefit from the dedicated support of a program advisor. Select your program below.


I need help selecting a program or have chosen a program that is not Maryland-in.

Meet with the Global Learning Advisor for your primary major's school or college! Select your school or college to jump to the correct advisor. 


Our Advising Team

D'Kiya Bynum (she, her, hers)

D'Kiya Bynum

D'Kiya advises students with majors in the:

  • College of Arts & Humanities
  • College of Information Studies

D'kiya is the program advisor for:

  • Arts & Humanities-in-London
  • Maryland-in-Nice
  • Maryland-in-Sevilla

Make an appointment

 

Emily Rose Garcia (she, her, hers)

Emily Rose Garcia

Emily advises students with majors in the:

  • College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences
  • School of Architecture, Planning, & Preservation

Emily is the program advisor for:

  • Maryland-in-Copenhagen
  • Maryland-in-Stockholm
  • Maryland-in-Florence (ARCH & PHYS)

Make an appointment

 

Joy Gursky (she, her, hers)

Joy Gursky

Joy advises students with majors in the:

  • College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
  • College of Education
  • Philip Merrill College of Journalism
  • School of Public Health

Joy is the program advisor for:

  • Maryland-in-Florence - Attend an info session
  • Maryland-in-Perugia

Make an appointment

 

Alex Breitling (he, him, his)

Alex Breitling

Alex advises students with majors in the:

  • School of Public Policy
  • Robert H. Smith School of Business
  • Letters and Sciences

Alex is the program advisor for:

  • Maryland-in-Barcelona - Attend an info session

Make an appointment (BMGT majors) Make an appointment (PLCY & LTSC majors) 

 

Julia Xia (she, her, hers)

Julia Xia

Julia advises students with majors in the:

  • College of Behavioral & Social Sciences

Julia is the program advisor for:

  • Maryland Honors-in-Oxford
  • Maryland-in-Rome - Attend an info session

Make an appointment

 

Office of Global Engineering Leadership

Katherine Schwarzentraub (she, her, hers)

Katherine Schwarzentraub

Katherine advises students with majors in the:

  • A. James Clark College of Engineering

Katherine is the program advisor for:

  • Clark-in-Prague
  • All ENGR Exchanges except those located in Madrid
  • ENGR Direct Enroll
  • ENGR winter, spring break and summer programs

Julia Blatchford (she, her, hers)

Julia Blatchford

Julia advises students with majors in the:

  • A. James Clark College of Engineering

Julia is the program advisor for:

  • Clark-in-Madrid
  • ENGR Exchanges located in Madrid

Center for Global Business

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The Center for Global Business advises all students interested in the following programs:

  • BMGT Exchanges
  • BMGT Summer, Winter & Spring Break

Get in touch


Peer Walk-in Hours

Join our peer mentors for advising on the following days for the spring 2024 semester. The Education Abroad office is located in H.J. Patterson Hall, room 1118.

Alyssa - Tuesdays 1-3pm & Thursdays 10am-12pm
Meron - Wednesdays: 3-5pm & Fridays 12-2pm

Meet Our Student Staff

If you still have questions or can't make a Study Abroad 101, reach out to a peer mentor to learn how to get started with study abroad and hear about their experiences via email to eapeers@umd.edu

Student sits in a red booth at a restaurant

Alyssa Taylor

Alyssa is a senior majoring in government and politics with a concentration in international relations and a minor in Korean studies. Alyssa first joined the EA team in 2022 as a short-term programs student assistant. Where she helped answer student inquiries about short-term programs and worked with her boss to increase student participation for summer and winter term programs. She then left to study abroad at Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea for the 2022-2023 academic year. Now Alyssa has rejoined the EA team as a global learning abroad ambassador. Alyssa is excited to return to the EA office and share her experiences abroad with students in hope that it motivates them to study abroad too. 

Meron on the streets in SpainMeron Yonas

Meron is a senior bioengineering major who recently joined the Education Abroad team this fall as an education peer mentor. In Spring 2023, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain. This immersive experience was both eye-opening and thrilling, igniting her passion for supporting other students interested in studying abroad. Beyond her academic pursuits, Meron finds joy in various activities, including playing tennis, baking, and spending quality time with her family and friends. As she looks ahead to graduation, she is eager to apply her skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in the field of healthcare. Additionally, she hopes to return to Spain, a place that holds a special place in her heart, to further her academic or professional pursuits.

Jack takes a photo in a mirrorJack Burke

Jack is a sophomore computer science and linguistics double major here at UMD. He went abroad in Winter 2024 to Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea with his honors program QUEST to study the differences in product innovation and general business between the US and Asia. Interacting with both the culture and business in both of these countries was an empowering and motivating experience for him, directing his attention to the power of study abroad. Now working in the EA office, Jack is thrilled to be able to share his experiences with other people looking to study abroad, especially other STEM students. In the future, Jack plans to study abroad again for a full semester in Korea to further his language study and immersion. 

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