�� - Alumni

Alumni Spotlights: Liam Vincent and Lexi Ammann

mmgrant — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 02:00:34 +0000

To celebrate International Education Week, we reached out to some recent CALS alumni, Liam Vincent (Ag Bus & Agron ‘12) and Lexi Delaney Ammann (AnSci & AgEds ‘18), to share their study abroad experiences and how it has impacted their careers so far. Check out their answers and advice below!

How did you hear about study abroad?

Liam: Several of my peers within the FarmHouse fraternity studied abroad, and spoke fondly of their experiences and how much they learned. Also, my mom studied abroad in college and she often told me about her travels.

Lexi: I first learned about the CALS �� programs through my advisor and other peers that had previously participated in a study abroad program. Once I was familiar with the CALS study abroad office, I watched their website and social media for new program opportunities.

How did studying abroad affect your college experience?

Liam: I studied abroad in Rome with the Dean's Global Food and Agriculture Leadership Program in the summer of 2011 and it was a capstone experience in my college career. I had the opportunity to work with some talented peers from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which gave me a new cultural outlook and a new network of professionals.

Lexi: Some of my best memories in college were through my study abroad experiences. I was able to build relationships that will last a lifetime with professors, students, international hosts and industry professionals in multiple countries. I learned a lot of valuable lessons from traveling to different countries including that your country’s way of doing something isn’t always the only way. I experienced new foods, different modes of transportation, and new ways of living. I learned to live outside my comfort zone. One of my biggest takeaways from studying abroad was gaining an appreciation for other cultures while being proud and thankful of my home.

Why did you study abroad? Was it worth it?

Liam: Prior to studying abroad I had never travelled internationally. Participating in a study abroad experience was definitely worth it! I also met my wife through this program, so I’d say it was worth it!

Lexi: Studying abroad gives students a chance to learn outside the classroom. I knew I wanted to participate in study abroad programs during college to gain a cultural experience outside of the U.S. and have exposure to agriculture practices in other countries. Studying abroad helped me gain a global perspective that was different from reading an article or watching the news. International trade is a largely talked about issue and through my study abroad experiences, I learned how important imports and exports are to the U.S. economy. Studying abroad in college is worth the time and money because it gives you more than the average tourist experience.

Why did you choose the program that you did?

Liam: The Dean's Global Food and Agriculture Leadership program offered many advantages and unique experiences. First, the program included the chance to work on a project for the FAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which leads international efforts to defeat hunger and provide food security. Secondly, the month-long program allowed the group more time to meld together, make an impact with our project, and enjoy living in a new city. Also, the internship in Rome was preceded by a semester-long class where we developed a group project, worked with a project sponsor, learned Italian, and got to know each other better, overall making the internship more meaningful.

Lexi: I was fortunate enough to participate in the Agricultural Education program in the U.S. Virgin Islands through the Horticulture Department, Swine Production in China and Japan through the Animal Science Department, Ecuador program through the Horticulture Department, and Heritage Breeds in Scotland and England through the Animal Science Department. When selecting which programs to apply for and participate in, I looked to gain exposure and knowledge in multiple areas of agriculture.

How did study abroad affect your career goals or aspirations while in college?

Liam: If anything the experience taught me that I was capable of living and working overseas. The confidence that I gained showed when I applied for entry level positions, which included the possibility of working/living for short periods of time on international assignments.

Lexi: By participating in agricultural study abroad programs focused on my specific area of interest within the industry, my eyes were opened to all of the different opportunities and jobs available. I loved my experiences and the people I met abroad. I realized I wanted to work in international relations and my first job after college was the Export Coordinator at Swine Genetics International. I was able to work with customers and professionals that I met during the Swine Production in China and Japan trip.

How has studying abroad helped you in your professional career experiences?

Liam: The opportunity to work with other students in CALS from different educational disciplines and personalities was a helpful precursor to life and work after college. It prepared me to be a competent individual contributor, as well as a team player. Many project teams I am now a part of resemble our project team from the study abroad program. I learned to work with people who specialize in communications, technical aspects, marketing, business, etc. which prepared me for my current career. Also, the prestige of being able to say I worked as an intern on a project for the UN FAO while living in Rome definitely caught the interest of more than one interviewer!

Lexi: I am always asked about my study abroad experiences during job interviews and roundtables. Iowa State University, especially CALS, does a fantastic job at pushing students to get internships and get involved in clubs on campus. I had three internships and held an officer position in a club, which isn’t uncommon for companies to see. So going on a study abroad set me apart from my peers and proved that I gained different types of experience outside of internships and
organizations on campus.

Thank you Liam and Lexi for sharing your experiences with us! Keep an eye out for more alumni spotlights in the future!

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Author(s):

Marta Grant

Megan Behrends

First-Generation College Celebration - Taylor Berkshire

nicolerh — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:24:49 +0000

On November 8, 2020, colleges and universities are encouraged to celebrate the success of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff on campus as part of First-Generation College Celebration! In 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration. Given the continued success of this event, COE and the Center now partner to make this celebration an annual event.

To celebrate, the CALS �� Office interviewed Taylor Berkshire ('18 agronomy, environmental science), a first-generation student who participated in study abroad programs to Antarctica, Austria, Costa Rica, Italy, New Zealand, Poland and South Africa!

What role did study abroad play when you were applying for college?

It didn’t play the biggest role as I don’t recall learning about it when I toured. The wonderful faculty is what drew me in to ISU!

What sparked your interest in study abroad?

I had only traveled out of the country once before college and I knew I wanted to do it again, but wasn’t really sure how. One of my classes freshman year mentioned a study abroad course and so I started looking into more and realized what an amazing opportunity it would be to be able to visit another country and have an in-depth introduction to their agricultural systems that I would never get on my own and to also have it all planned out for me. And then once I went on one, I was hooked and loved studying abroad.

Where there any challenges you faced as a first-gen student aspiring to study abroad?

I would say the big two were financial and hesitancy from parents.

How did you navigate those challenges?

Financially, there were scholarships available through the �� office, as well as my department that helped tremendously and I had a job while in college so I was able to save money from that to help pay for it. The hesitancy from parents was a little more difficult as they had never gone abroad and weren’t familiar with the program and the safety measures in place for students. I had told them that I was going and provided all the information I could to ease their worries such as providing the various emergency phone numbers, flight plans, and itineraries. I think parents are always going to worry, but I would encourage students to not let that hinder their desire to explore the world, especially in such a safe and curated manner as study abroad is.

What impact did studying abroad have on you and your experience at Iowa State?

It had an unmeasurable impact. I was able to meet so many new people and friends from different backgrounds that broadened my scope on the world. When you come from a small town, you don’t know much else except for what the people around you have known their whole life, but when you travel you are exposed to different experiences and ways of life that can impact your perspective on many topics. It also helped me in my academics as I was able to relate to different agricultural or environmental issues around the world that may or may not be the same to the ones faced in Iowa/US. My study abroad experiences are still some of my fondest memories from ISU.

What impact did studying abroad have on your career prospects?

I think it has helped me in more indirect ways as it helped me become a more well-rounded individual with skill sets that I may not have if it weren’t for studying abroad such as navigating new situations, speaking to individuals from different backgrounds, and staying calm when things aren’t going as planned. It has also provided a wonderful ice breaker in many conversations when networking.

What resources would you recommend for a first-gen student wanting to study abroad?

I would definitely reach out to the study abroad office as they have the knowledge and resources to get you on your way, but also reach out to your department and consider speaking to other students who have gone to see what their experience has been. There are also a wide variety of programs that range in cost, length of time, how far away from the US, and even language differences or not. I don’t think you could pick a ‘bad’ study abroad because they are all wonderful and unique, even if they aren’t in your field of study.

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