In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, the value of studying abroad while at college extends beyond the classroom and has the potential to pave the way for an exciting international career. In this piece, two University of Iowa alumnae, Hannah Huzzey (BA ancient civilization, classical languages ‘22) and Maria Osman (BA international studies ’22), share the stories of their study abroad journeys that have now led them to pursue fulfilling international careers.
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Hannah Huzzey studied abroad three times while at Iowa, in summer 2019, during the 2019-2020 academic year, and in summer 2022. Inspired by a passion for the Latin language and the history of ancient Rome, Huzzey chose to study on the programs IES Rome; City of Athens: Bronze Age to Roman World; and Ancient Perspectives, Modern Eyes, to experience the history and culture of the countries in-person.
“I made the decision to study abroad during my first semester at Iowa,” shared Huzzey. “I started out as an English major, but after a few weeks of taking Dr. Deb Trusty’s Latin course, World of Cicero, I decided to switch to a classical languages major; her class really showed me just how much I loved the language and history of ancient Rome. I had already been to Rome twice before and I knew there was no better place to study ancient Rome than the eternal city itself. By the end of my first semester at Iowa, I had already chosen a study abroad program and had a meeting with a study abroad advisor.”
“While studying abroad in Rome, I had the opportunity to work with several incredible archaeologists, and through their courses, I was able to build a solid foundation in archaeology and determine that I wanted to live in Rome and work as an archaeologist." - Hannah Huzzey
Her time in Rome was filled with a lot of unique opportunities she only had because of studying abroad. While taking a course called, The Last Days of Pompeii, she took a class trip to the Bay of Naples area, exploring the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Then during her second study abroad experience, Huzzey completed an archaeological internship at the Colosseum in spring 2020. Despite the challenges posed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the weeks spent working with a team of archaeologists at this iconic site were some of the best and most exciting of her life.
“While studying abroad in Rome, I had the opportunity to work with several incredible archaeologists, and through their courses, I was able to build a solid foundation in archaeology and determine that I wanted to live in Rome and work as an archaeologist,” said Huzzey.
Huzzey attributes a large part of her current success living abroad to the things she learned and the people she met at Iowa and while studying abroad with IES.
“It is thanks to Dr. Trusty and my professors at IES that I was able to secure my position with the Paideia Institute last year, as well as my position at the university ranked first in the world for classical studies and 10th in the world for archaeology.”
Now residing in Rome, Huzzey has continued her journey with a fellowship at the Paideia Institute and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Mediterranean archaeology at the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza." Her success is a testament to the impact of her time at Iowa and studying abroad, where she discovered her passion for archaeology and laid the foundation for her career and continued studies.
Reflecting on her experiences, Huzzey offers advice to future students, "don't be afraid,” she said. “Don't let fear keep you from taking this step and embarking on this adventure. If you're going to a country that speaks another language, you'll pick it up. You'll make friends in your program and with some locals. You'll find your people there just like you did when you first came to Iowa."
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Maria Osman's journey took her to Jordan through the SIT Refugee, Health, and Humanitarian Action program in fall 2022. And as an internationals studies major with a certificate in human rights, Osman's study abroad experience profoundly shaped her perspective on global issues. Osman recalled the impact of her time in Jordan, where she first learned about the Palestinian and Syrian refugee crisis.
“Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Osman. “I learned so much about Jordanian and Palestinian culture, I learned about the Palestinian and Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan and Turkey not only through classwork but through hands- on experience like field visits. I visited the Zaatari refugee camp, interacted with locals, and learned about their stories and experiences. I grew so much and met some of my closest friends during my study abroad.”
"When I went abroad, I didn’t think I would work with refugees, but I was interested in learning about the refugee crisis in Jordan and Turkey and through that I was able to meet some of the best people ever and to start a career from it as well. You never know what studying abroad will hold, just because you can't predict it doesn't mean something isn't there for you." - Maria Osman
Now based in Bedford, Texas, Osman is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Posterity International, an international non-profit organization working to combat human rights violations worldwide. The inspiration for Posterity International arose from a shared vision with a friend she met during her study abroad program.
"One of the girls I became friends with in Jordan, Sophonie Compas, shared the same interests and passions I did,” stated Osman. “She had mentioned how she wanted to work on a project to help people around the world and asked if I wanted to join her. From there, we began researching the best way to do this and we began establishing our non-profit.” Currently, the organization is working on the project, Care for Congo, where they are partnering with the organization, Focus Congo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to distribute hygiene and sanitary kits to internally displaced people in the Kanyaruchinya refugee camp. Osman's experiences at Iowa, coupled with her study abroad journey, equipped her with the tools and foundation needed for her current role. Looking ahead, she has applied for Fulbright to teach English in Indonesia and for a position as a youth development specialist in Morocco through the Peace Corps.
Her advice for students aspiring to study abroad is clear: "Do it. There are so many different programs and courses you can take that could apply to your degree. When I went abroad, I didn’t think I would work with refugees, but I was interested in learning about the refugee crisis in Jordan and Turkey and through that I was able to meet some of the best people ever and to start a career from it as well. You never know what studying abroad will hold, just because you can't predict it doesn't mean something isn't there for you."
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Take the Next Step to Study Abroad at IoWA
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.