Meet the CET CA Team
Get to know the 2026 CET Campus Ambassadors (CET CAs)! Connect with these program alumni and learn about their experiences abroad—chat about classroom environments, local roommates, or even what it was like to intern in another country. There’s no better way to learn about studying abroad than to strike up a conversation with someone who has been there.
“Hi! I’m Matthew, a Junior at Brandeis University studying biochemistry. Even though I’m a STEM major, I began learning Japanese my freshman year, and I grew an interest in exploring Japanese culture. Studying abroad in Japan was truly a great experience, so I want to help others learn about the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in Japan.” Contact Matthew >
“I am a psychology major as well as a Japanese minor and health studies minor. Japan provided a great opportunity for genuine language learning and cross-cultural understanding. I love movies, books, running, and playing tennis when I can!” Contact Ty >
“Hello! My name is Matthew Parada, and I am an undergraduate junior majoring in International Studies at American University. I studied abroad in Taiwan as part of CET’s Fall 2025 cohort, an experience that has been the most transformative of my academic and personal journey. Through CET, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone by living with locals, admiring Taiwan’s lush green landscapes, and, of course, sampling over 50 brands of milk tea. More than happy to answer questions and share my abroad experience.” Contact Matthew >
“Hey everyone, 大家好！ My name is Ben, and I am a junior studying Chinese Language and Politics at Wake Forest University. I spent last fall semester in CET Taiwan, which was one of the most transformative seasons of my life: I am much more confident navigating another culture, my language skills are vastly improved, and my friend circle has grown to become international! Most importantly, my experience in Taiwan inspired me to continue using Chinese throughout my life and career. If you’re considering study abroad, I cannot recommend it highly enough – I’m excited to answer any questions you have and share more about my experience!” Contact Ben >
“Hi Everyone! I’m Morgan, and I am a Junior at Emory University. I am an international student from the UK and major in Astrophyiscs! I had the pleasure of attending the CET Beijing program in Fall 2025. I made many new lifelong friends, participated in countless cultural activities, and really improved my Chinese! Feel free to contact me and ask questions.” Contact Morgan >
“Hi! I’m Orianna Germeille. I’m currently a senior at the University of Denver double-majoring in International Business and Chinese. CET Beijing helped me gain an intimate understanding of Chinese culture, imbued me with confidence to express myself in Mandarin and gave me the opportunity to form relationships that I will forever be grateful for. I truly believe in the value that study abroad can provide to everyone, including but not limited to its benefits in terms of academic, professional, and personal development.” Contact Orianna >
“My name is Jade Jones and I am a junior double majoring in EXSS and Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This past fall semester I participated in the CET Beijing program that at first I was unsure about, because of the language pledge, but after completing this semester abroad this language pledge and experience allowed me to gain life changing skills and learn not only more about China and Chinese culture, but also about my abilities to really accomplish challenges that may be a bit daunting at first glance. I hope anyone interested in this program will not let the language pledge deter their decision, please reach out if you have any questions!” Contact Jade >
“你们好！I’m Yara Marquez. I’m a Foreign Languages major at the University of Puerto Rico, with a focus on Mandarin, German, and Japanese. Studying abroad with Middlebury in Beijing was a transformative experience that deepened my passion for cross cultural exchange and global understanding. I’m excited to help other students discover the life changing impact of studying abroad.” Contact Yara >
“Hello, My name is Jose Luna, I’m a first-generation college student and Posse Scholar from Los Angeles, majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track at Middlebury College. Studying abroad in Beijing pushed me to grow both academically and personally—especially as I designed and completed an independent neuroscience course entirely in Mandarin. I hope to motivate students from similar backgrounds to take the leap and study abroad, knowing that these experiences can open doors, expand perspectives, and build confidence in powerful ways.” Contact Jose >
“I’m Cindy Hong, a junior pursuing an Asian Studies as well as Mathematics major at Bowdoin College. I was so grateful for my time in Shanghai — it is the perfect city to serve as your base to explore Chinese civilization, ancient and contemporary. As someone who had visited China before and had family, it is truly an incredible opportunity to watch and learn how a country teeming with such a rich history and culture chooses to demonstrate itself on the world stage, and witness these developments through both your own experiences and those in the classroom.” Contact Cindy >
“Hi! I’m Elisa Booth. I’m from Los Angeles, and studying Government and Economics at Claremont McKenna College. I chose to come to Shanghai without knowing any Chinese, without having any professional or academic tie to China, and I’d love to tell other students like me why it was easily one on the best decisions I’ve ever made.” Contact Elisa >
“Hey, guys! I’m Julian, a junior studying political science and Chinese at Holy Cross. I had an amazing time studying in the beautiful city of Shanghai, meeting some of the most interesting people and having some of the most insightful conversations of my life.” Contact Julian >
“Hi everyone! I’m Paola, an international student from Mexico majoring in Economics and International Affairs at George Washington University. Attending CET Shanghai was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I was able to do an internship related to my career path, practice my Chinese everyday with local friends, and explore different regions and cultures across China. Experiencing such a different lifestyle and meeting so many wonderful people was incredibly rewarding and even motivated me to pursue postgraduate opportunities here. Please reach out if you have any questions! I hope more students are able to study abroad, as it is truly mind-opening and, in many cases, life-changing.” Contact Paola Daniela >
“Hello! My name is Mariam Fofana, and I’m a junior at Northwestern University in the Chicagoland area, majoring in African History with double minors in Cultural Anthropology and Chinese. My time in Shanghai allowed me to connect academic inquiry and lived experience through an internship with an international education consultancy firm, research on the global networks of African migrants, and full immersion in Chinese language, culture, and cuisine. I am looking forward to supporting Black students from across the diaspora by demystifying the study abroad experience and affirming that global exploration is not only accessible to us, but also incredibly transformative.” Contact Mariam >
“Hello there! My name is Liam and I am a junior at Pomona College studying Computer Science and International Relations. With the support of thoughtful instructors and CET’s financial aid, I easily adapted to a host of new apps and social norms, systematically used public transit to travel the country, and built strong relationships.” Contact Liam >
“Hello, my name is Gianeishka! I am a senior majoring in Public Policy at UMass Amherst. I could not be more happy with my decision to study abroad in China. It had been a dream of mine for so long, and I’m grateful to CET for making it possible. It was everything I had hoped for, I learned so much about Chinese culture, tried a variety of Chinese cuisine, and learned so much about myself. I urge anyone who is thinking about studying abroad to do it, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions!” Contact Gianeishka >
“I’m Zachary Seehafer, a double major in Global Studies and Chinese Studies at the University of Richmond. My time with CET Shanghai was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, where I made many close friends through the program and was continually struck by the kindness of local people. It made Shanghai feel like home and left me hoping to return to China to live there one day.” Contact Zachary >
Europe
“Hi, my name is Layal! I’m originally from Bahrain but am currently a senior studying Economics at Columbia University. Although my decision to go on a semester abroad was fairly last minute, it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career! Living and studying in a city so rich in art, culture, incredible food, and welcoming people was an experience I’ll never forget.” Contact Layal >
“Hello! My name is Togen Gebhardt, a German & American studying in CET Siena, while fulfilling my undergraduate Degree in Economics & Entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia. Studying abroad not only helped me gauge what I desired to learn more about through the intersection of AI, Networking, and Economics. The caring Professors within my Computer Science classes and Italian classes allowed my love for the content learned to flourish. Not only was I studying subjects that I loved, I was also able to solo travel and learn about what values and virtues valued the most to me during my daily life living through Europe.” Contact Togen >
“My name is Vivian Johnson and I’m a junior at Pomona College double majoring in Africana Studies and Media Studies. During my Fall 25’ semester, I deeply enjoyed my time in Prague. The opportunities available through CET deeply enriched my passions and led me to discover new sectors of my self as an artist.” Contact Vivian >
“I am a film and media arts major originally from Pennsylvania, attending American University. My time abroad was one of the most influential of my life, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to live in Prague and also direct a short-film with FAMU. The experience was so gratifying; I learned so much about myself, made life-long relationships, and connected with a culture other than my own.” Contact Vanessa >
“I am a Film major in the Directing Track with a minor in Business at ArtCenter College of Design. Studying at FAMU was a challenging and enriching experience. I had the opportunity to work on a plethora of short films, and the hands-on experience of learning international film production and the analog process on 16mm was incredible. On top of this, Prague was gorgeous; I instantly fell in love with the city and had a beautiful time, growing personally, professionally, and making long-lasting connections.” Contact Alejandro >
“My name is Alex McCollum, and I studied at FAMU with CET in Prague. At home, I am a double major, studying film and computer science. When I was in Prague, I learned so much about film and about myself!” Contact Alex >
“Hello! My name is Sienna Scott, and I am a junior at Syracuse University majoring in film with a minor in public communications. This past fall, while studying at FAMU in Prague, I learned how to curate a beautiful short story on 35mm film. This process unlocked a whole new level of happiness and passion for filmmaking, making it the most meaningful outcome of my time abroad. I will forever carry this experience and the peers and faculty who helped make it possible with me. Miluji Prahu!” Contact Sienna >
Latin America
“Oi pessoal! Como vai? I’m Avery, a junior at Wellesley College double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. Studying abroad in Brazil encouraged me to deconstruct Eurocentric notions of race, gender, class, and spirituality. I was able to culturally exchange north-american perspectives with Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian viewpoints and praxes through my “Re-Thinking Brazilian Racial Democracy” class and experiential learning opportunities such as visiting a Quilombo or engaging in Candomblé ceremonies.In addition to falling in love with Brazil and its many cultures, I left the country with a completely redefined sense of my own global identity.” Contact Avery >
Angie (Angelina) Lopez
CET BRAZIL: SOCIAL JUSTICE & INEQUALITY
FALL 2025
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
“Hi, my name is Angie Lopez. I study International Relations Global Business at USC and last semester in the Fall I studied in Brazil at the CET Social Justice program. I had an amazing time, meeting beautiful people from Brazil and from different places around the US. I learned so much and traveled to so many places! ” Contact Angie >
“Hi! I’m Shekinah and I’m a graduating senior computer information systems major at Howard University; I studied with CET in Brazil as part of the Socially Sustainable Business Program. I made so many great friendships with others in the program and als with Brazilians I met. I had the opportunity to travel throughout Brazil and volunteer in São Paulo, where I was able to learn about the rich culture and history of Brazil, and also take part in my community. I feel like Brazil brought me out of my comfort zone and taught me so much. It was an amazing experience I will always cherish!” Contact Shekinah >
Vee (Madison) Edwards
CET BRAZIL: SOCIAL JUSTICE & INEQUALITY
FALL 2025
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
“Hi everyone! I’m Vee Edwards, an Environmental Sustainability major at UNC Chapel Hill, and in my free time I’m usually boxing, training Muay Thai, freediving, or traveling. Studying abroad with CET Brazil gave me the chance to learn directly from Indigenous communities and volunteer with local organizations in São Paulo, and I’d love to chat about navigating the city, finding great cafés, or studying abroad on your own.” Contact Vee >
“I am Quinn Ryan, a Business Administration Major at the University of Oregon, born and raised in San Francisco. My exchange in Brazil opened me up to a lighter, more confident, and more social and jovial way to live, while aiding me to becoming trilingual, and allowing me to adventure through some of the most beautiful geographic landscapes in the world. From all of the people who I have met who have gone abroad, I believe Brazil is the best place to go if you plan to actually break out of your bubble and immerse yourself and get to know a new culture.” Contact Quinn >
“Jadisha Proano is a senior majoring in International Business & Management with a passion for global cultures and social impact. Studying abroad in São Paulo, Brazil, deepened her understanding of community, resilience, and the power of sustainable business.” Contact Jadisha >
“My name is Magdalena Marian Poling, and I’m a Biology major on the pre-medical track with a minor in Latin American Studies. At Carleton, I work in the Office of Health Promotion and stay involved in student life through several leadership roles. My study abroad experience in Colombia was transformative—not only did it strengthen my Spanish, but it also gave me a deeper understanding of Colombia’s complex history, culture, and vibrant community life. Immersing myself in local organizations and daily interactions allowed me to connect with people in meaningful ways and broaden how I view culture, identity, and global health.” Contact Magdalena >
“My name is Brooklynn Tucker, a Senior International Business Major, Spanish Minor, Latin America Concentration, attending Howard University in Washington DC. I studied abroad in Cali, Colombia, and left with a new appreciation for my international community, Colombian culture, a more rich mindset and understanding of the world around me and a new sense of independence.” Contact Brooklyn >
“Hi! I’m Kat, a student at Kenyon College with a double major in International Studies and Spanish, and a concentration in Latine Studies. I spent my Fall 2025 semester studying abroad in Cali, Colombia, an experience that not only enriched me academically through its coursework, but also provided me with the opportunity for very significant personal growth. From class sessions discussing the function of race, ethnicity and identity in all aspects of society, Colombian and otherwise, to exploring new places, enjoying local foods, making meaningful connections with those around me, or even finding a new favorite record store, my experience in Colombia is one I’ll always be grateful for.” Contact Kat >
“Hiii I’m Abeedah, a senior studying neuroscience at Northwestern. I can honestly say everyday in Colombia was an adventure lived to the fullest. The nature, the culture, the amazing people gave me an unforgettable experience and the best five months of my life. I built a life there, made lifelong friends despite language barriers, and tried things I never would’ve predicted (like joining a frisbee team and swimming in rainforests). The program is an amazing immersive opportunity to anyone willing to embrace Colombia with an open mind and make the most of their experience.” Contact Abeedah >
Middle East
“Hello! My name in Anastasiya, and I’m majoring in International Studies and minoring in Arabic at American University. Through CET, I had a study abroad experience rich in Jordanian culture, history, and of course, language. I participated in an internship at Alhadaf Institute teaching English to refugees and took a class on the Modern History of Conflict in the Middle East in the Arabic language! In my spare time while in Jordan, I loved to try out new cafes, hang out with the Jordanian neighbors, and start up conversations with people in Amman.” Contact Anastasiya >
“As an Industrial and Labor Relations major, I was excited to learn all about how people work and live in the beautiful country of Jordan! Along the way, I ended up learning lots about how I live. Happy to share my experiences with anyone looking to learn more!” Contact Timo >
“Hi everyone! My name is Nina Yasmine Jaafari. I am a student at American University and i study Business Language and Culture with a specialization in Arabic. During my fall 2025 semester i studied abroad with CET in the Amman Jordan location. During my time in the beautiful country i not only continued my studies in formal arabic but also the Jordanian dialect! I also choose to take a full language pledge during the semester so i had lots of time and opportunities to practice with not only the teachers and staff at the CET location, all of whom are great teachers and very kind people and push you to be the best you can, as well as my roommates and Jordanians i met along the way. In addition to this i also visited and traveled to many one of a kind places in Jordan and made great friendships. It truly is an incredible experience and i hope you choose to do so. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you have! :)” Contact Nina >
“Eleanor is a student of Anthropology and MENA-based research at Dickinson College. She entered CET in her fourth year of Arabic studies and befriended students at every level of language learning, as well as professors and locals in Jordan. She was also an intern with a Jordanian political advocacy and climate justice NGO. Eleanor’s world has expanded ten-fold, and she loves to share with others who also wish to broaden their worldview.” Contact Eleanor >