UMass Boston

The Global Student Ambassador Program in the Office of Global Programs aims to provide even further support from our students to other students interested in studying abroad, as well as create increased support for our incoming international exchange students. The goals of this program are to increase awareness on campus of the study abroad opportunities available to them and increase the level of support for new students coming from abroad to integrate into life at UMass Boston. The program will provide a space for outgoing study abroad students active in the application process to come and ask questions, advice, and work on applications with peers who have navigated the process in the past. It will also create a "buddy" program for those coming to our university from abroad partner universities. The students selected for this role in our office will be planning and organizing events on and off-campus for exchange students to learn about Boston, meet UMass Boston students, and will work to give our exchange students the best experience they can while visiting our city. 

Global Ambassador Peer Advising Hours Fall 2023:

• Monday 10AM- 4PM
• Tuesday 9AM- 5PM
• Wednesday 10AM- 4PM
• Thursday 9AM- 5PM
• Friday 10AM-3PM

Location: The Globe: Global Programs, Campus Center, 2nd Floor, Suite 2100

Global Ambassadors Fall 2023

Sabita Bastola

Hello everyone. My name is Sabita. I’m a business major at UMass Boston. I studied abroad at Korea University in the spring of 2022. As for my hobbies, I like to travel, I like to paint, even though I’m not very good at it, and I like listening to music. I look forward to working with the study abroad program!

Peer Advising Hours: Tuesdays 2:30PM-5:00PM, Thursdays 11:00AM-1:00PM

Wendy Giblin

I am Wendy Giblin, originally from El Salvador, Central America, and resident of Massachusetts since 2015. I am currently pursuing a major in Human Services and a minor in German Studies. I obtained an associate degree from MassBay CC in 2022 and transferred to UMass Boston during spring 2023. After a successful semester of remote and online classes, I decided to venture on taking a summer course, one that besides making me attend classes on campus, could also provide an abroad experience. After an extensive online research and constant emails to the departments involved, I was able to secure a spot in the faculty led course: ENGL 415/THRART 410: Irish Literature, Theatre, & Culture developed between 2 members of the UMass English Department and University College Dublin in Ireland. After my return, I decided to become a Global Ambassadors during 2023-2024 to give others the confidence to explore exchange study opportunities and the ability to connect with someone like me and others that have gone through the process and enjoyed it so much that wants to extend their experience by facilitating the process to others.  

Peer Advising Hours: Wednesdays 10:00AM-3:00PM

Mikael Killian

Mikael Killian is a Greek-Cypriot American, Accelerated Masters Program Student in International Relations at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies. His undergraduate trainings are in Philosophy, Political Science, Environmental Science and Education. Born here but raised by a Greek Cypriot mother in Toronto, Canada, he became interested in securitization of the environment and militarism at an early age, with his mother sharing stories about the Greek coup on the island of Cyprus and the subsequent invasion and division in 1974. He finds working as a global ambassador extremely crucial because it provides us insight about other cultures, countries and through this lens it provides a greater understanding of possible connections especially when it applies to the International Relations Systems. Especially regarding questions of Foreign Policy, Human Rights, Human Security, Questions of Justice and Politics. As a Global Ambassador he believes one of the key issues is mentorship which allows us to invest in leadership around the world to help address past disparities and create a more prosperous and secure world. Mikael works with lobbies nationally and internationally including the MASSPIRG students lobby; he is involved in several clubs on Campus and is an active member in the community acting as the representative of the Office of Global Programs to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Undergraduate Leadership Council. Prior to returning to school to pursue the Accelerated Masters Degree, Mikael was also an Operations Processor for the #1 Lending institution in the State, Leader Bank National Association. Mikael also played an important part in the Faculty-Led Study Abroad program/Conference at UNAM Law School in Mexico City, Mexico where the major focus of the conference was Constitutional Legislative Basis pursuing both migrant cases and other cases having to do with gross human rights violations. Mikael looks forward to bringing some of this expertise into this position and helping collaborate with some of our future international leaders.

Peer Advising Hours: Mondays 11:00AM-4:00PM

Margo Mallett

Hi, I’m Margo Mallett and I’m a senior Political Science major. Through UMass Boston, I studied abroad for 7 months in Tokyo, Japan, and had a wonderful experience. I’m a cat mom to a 15-year-old tuxedo cat and my hobbies include art, traveling, gaming, and hanging out with friends.

Peer Advising Hours: Thursdays 2:00PM-5:00PM

Lauren Nessralla

Hello! My name is Lauren Nessralla. I am coming into the fall 2023 semester as a political science student in between my junior and senior years. I come from an activism background, passing a bylaw in my hometown to testifying for bills on Capitol Hill, and have worked for both my state rep. and Senator Markey. I also have a minor in Arabic studies, currently working on my reading and writing in MSA (Modern Standard Arabic). In the fall of 2022, I studied abroad in Utrecht, Netherlands for five months. I made great friends from across the world and got to bike everywhere. I discovered new appreciations like for city design and road planning. I chose to become a global ambassador to encourage my peers to study abroad—you never know what you could discover! I also am excited to connect with more people from other countries while getting to show them around Boston. Come by the Office of Global Programs on Tuesday or Thursday mornings if you ever want to talk!

Peer Advising Hours: Tuesdays 9:00AM-12:00PM, Thursdays 9:00AM- 12:00PM

Hannah Risacher 

Hi everyone! I’m Hannah Risacher and I am one of the new Global Ambassadors at the Office of Global Programs for the 2023-24 school year! I transferred here last year after getting my associate degree in liberal arts and I’m now going into my senior year here at UMass Boston for my B.A. in English. This summer, I had the opportunity to take a month-long accelerated course on Irish Literature, Drama and Culture, then study abroad in Dublin, Ireland for 10 days. In those 10 days, I discovered so much about myself and what I am capable of. I have a newfound love for traveling and seeing how other cultures differ from ours in the U.S. — and I made some amazing new friends along the way! I decided to become an ambassador this year because I want to help other people who dream of going abroad to take the jump and do it. My goal is to give you support in the application process, making sure you are connected to the right resources, and ultimately making it as easy as possible so all you have left to do for your trip is to get excited!! Looking forward to meeting you all, so stop by the office and say hi! :)

Peer Advising Hours: Mondays 10:00AM-1:00PM, Wednesdays 2:30-4:00PM

Valerie Rivera 

Hello! My name is Valerie and I am excited to join the Global Ambassadors this semester. I am currently a senior at UMass Boston and my major is East Asian Studies with a Japanese Language Minor. During the Spring Semester 2023 I studied abroad in Saitama, Japan and it was an unforgettable experience for me. I was able to improve my Japanese and make incredible friends. I highly recommend people to take a chance and study abroad to experience new cultures and their food first hand, it will be an amazing memory to look back at. My goal is to help students to the best of my abilities and to plan fun activities for everyone. Don't be a stranger and come into the office anytime, we are happy to see you! :)

Peer Advising Hours: Fridays 10:00AM-3:00PM

Our Podcast:

The UMB Fall 2021 Podcasts aims to inform students about the opportunities of study abroad programs. We answer questions such as: why should I go? What will I do? And can I afford to do something as big as this? Most often the answer won't be what you expected, and reassurance is abundant in each episode we discuss. Come to find friends, answers, questions, programs and so much more this semester with Hao Tran and Allen Valentine, Global Ambassadors and your new hosts!

  Prologue - What is UMB Study Abroad Podcast?

   Episode 1 - Why study abroad?

   Episode 2 - Steps to study abroad?

   Episode 3 - Benefits of studying abroad

    Interview with UNAM student fellow from Mexico

   Interview with Brittany Dhooge, study abroad advisor

   Thanksgiving Episode