Tagged with "alumni"

A study abroad experience in Venice, Italy, introduced Abby Restko (BBA marketing ’05) to the beauty of Italian glass jewelry—an experience so profound that she switched her major from accounting to marketing and launched Glassando, a jewelry store featuring Murano glass jewelry, just months after receiving her degree. Thirteen years later, Glassando is a thriving business. Read on to learn more about Restko’s time in Italy and how it impacted her life—both personally and professionally.

Anna Patty (B.A. journalism, Spanish ’03) isn’t afraid to dream big and take risks—characteristics that served her well not only at the University of Iowa, but also today as a business owner, as a community leader, and as a mother of four.

UI alumna Abby Peeters (BA studio arts, BA social work, certificate in American Indian and Native Studies) has had her eye on international work since she was a young girl, watching her father travel the world as a production assistant for a video production company.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa, Anna Patty (B.A. journalism, Spanish '03) had never been on an airplane. That all changed when she decided to study abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica, for an entire academic year. Nearly twenty years after her study abroad experience, Patty is now co-owner of Epiphany, a full-service marketing company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Patty recently took time to reflect on how her study abroad experience has shaped her career.

Andrew Broderick (B.S. human physiology ’16) studied abroad in Newcastle, Australia, as an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. Now in the doctor of physical therapy program at the University of Iowa, Broderick took a break from his studies to share information about his study abroad experience, as well as advice for current UI students considering study abroad.

Elle Wignall (B.A. English ’13) studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland, as an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. After graduation, she returned to Ireland for a nanny position in Cork, Ireland, before returning to Iowa to work as a business communications consultant at Wells Fargo in Des Moines. Below, Wignall reflects on the importance of studying abroad and the long-lasting impact it has had on her life and career.

Mila Brassart (B.A. finance; B.A. French; International Business Certificate, ‘14) had one goal for her college years: conquering the French language. “Ever since I was in high school I had the very specific goal of first learning French, and then working for an American company overseas,” the McHenry, Illinois, native said. “Ignited simply by appreciating the language and culture, whilst having the comfort of having American roots.”

Diane Jahnel, originally from Anamosa, Iowa, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1977, where she studied psychology and art. After a 34 year career in IT at Pearson, Jahnel retired and is now living in Paris, France, where she’s spent the past two years teaching English as a volunteer, taking French classes, and traveling.

Yezi Shen graduated from the University of Iowa in 2015, where she studied journalism and mass communication, and cinema. Since then, she’s returned to her home country, China, where she now works in television programming.

Originally from Irbid, Jordan, Nayef Saleh Al Gharaibeh graduated from the University of Iowa in 1988 with his Ph.D. in physiology and biophysics. He returned to his home country where he currently teaches physiology at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), and has also held positions as the chairman of the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, director of the JUST Health Center, and the vice dean of Faculty of Medicine.