Global Education Student Committee
Mission
The Global Education Student Committee (GESC) works with students on campus to make global education better. We are a group of students who have studied abroad and now want to help the Global Education Office by providing them with a student voice.
Goals
The student committee’s goals are to promote study away with our fellow Duke students and to keep study away alumni involved and engaged with their global experiences.
Member Roles
Executive Board work closely with the Ambassadors, the Global Education Office, and students interested in study abroad/away to put on programming for prospective students and facilitate global education on campus.
Ambassadors answer prospective student questions and work with the Executive Board to plan and participate in one event per year that promotes study away. View the Study Away Ambassador Directory.
Apply for a position
- The Executive Board application opens in March for the following school year. If you're interested in joining, email Christine Lee, GESC advisor.
- We accept Ambassador applications at the beginning of the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. If you are interested in joining outside those windows, please email Christine Lee, GESC advisor.
PRESIDENT
Rachel Poutre
Studying abroad in Copehagen was pivotal to my educational experience. It functioned as a perfect extension of my Duke education while allowing me to explore an entirely new place and culture. Originally, I was hesitant to study abroad, as I wasn't sure if it would be a good fit for my major or pre-med track. However, I was able to fulfill major requirements and explore health care systems abroad. I also knew very little about the city before going, and ended up loving it! I would love to share my experience in order to help others make an informed decision about study abroad.
GEO Programs: DIS-Copenhagen, Fall 2022
Major: Evolutionary Anthropology
Minors: Chemistry
Graduation Year: 2024
VP OF MARKETING
Brooke Sevchik
Hi everyone! My name is Brooke and I’m a senior from Charlotte, NC. I had the opportunity to study in Madrid twice, through Duke in Spain for the summer and Duke in Madrid for the spring semester, and my times abroad were some of the most formative and exciting times of my life. I loved getting to explore Madrid, and I found in the Duke in Madrid program a great mix between immersing myself in the Spanish language and university culture at the Universidad Carlos III, while also meeting an amazing group of people who formed a Duke community away from Durham while taking classes at the Duke in Madrid center. I am particularly excited to answer any questions about STEM majors worried about fitting study abroad in with their academic paths, comparing summer versus semester abroad programs, and learning to adapt to a new culture and find a home for yourself in the city you will live in for a semester!
GEO Programs: Duke in Madrid - Spring 2023; Duke in Spain - Summer 2022
Major: Neuroscience & Spanish, Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Graduation Year: 2024
VP OF EVENTS
Angelica Deoleo Valentin
Hi I’m Angie! I’m Dominican and Puerto Rican and I’m from Orange, NJ. I love to travel and I’ve been to 8 countries so far over the past few years. I’ve been studying Italian since freshman year and one of my goals during my abroad experiences in Italy was to become fluent in Italian (since I already speak Spanish!). I absolutely loved my time there! I learned so much about other cultures and languages and developed relationships with people that will last me a lifetime. I discovered new things about myself and the world that I couldn’t have if I hadn’t gone abroad. I’m happy to discuss what it’s like to live with a host family, studying abroad for the first time, learning a language abroad, budgeting and general questions about being in a new country! :)
GEO Programs: Duke in Bologna - Summer 2022; Temple University in Rome - Fall 2023
Major: Psychology
Minors: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
VP OF RECRUITMENT
Annika Socia
Hi! My name is Annika and I am a junior from Vermont. As a pre-med student, I was worried about fitting study abroad into my time at Duke but I actually managed to do it twice! The first time was during the summer after my freshman year in the Duke in Venice program and the second time was during the fall of my junior semester in the Duke in Madrid program (where I currently am now!) Balancing study abroad with my major and pre-med track was challenging, and I understand the apprehensions that come with planning it. I'm enthusiastic about sharing my insights on how to navigate course scheduling, finances, and the unique opportunities that come with studying abroad in a foreign country. Whether you're a fellow pre-med student, a first-time traveler, or anyone curious about my journey, I would love to chat and answer questions or just share stories! While studying abroad with Duke I have created some of my most cherished memories and it is an experience I want to try to help every Duke student have.
GEO Programs: Duke in Venice - Summer 2022; Duke in Madrid - Fall 2023
Major: Neuroscience
Minors: Chemistry
Graduation Year: 2025
All of the Global Education Student Committee members are available for questions – feel free to reach out using the email address listed in their bios. You can also check out more resources for contacting alumni of study away programs on the Ask a Student page under Advising.
Explore All Programs
For any major and every interest, there’s a Study Away program that matches your needs.
GEO ADVISING IS HERE FOR YOU
Get advice on choosing a program, exploring courses and credits, and covering the costs of study away when you engage the Global Education Office's advising network.