Study Abroad Peer Mentors are a group of undergraduate student volunteers that have studied abroad during their time at the University of Iowa. All peer mentors have unique skills and experiences that you, as a prospective study abroad student, can draw upon.
Feel free to contact them through their preferred communication channels below.
Please note that while peer mentors can provide information on their experiences, they may not be able to answer all your questions. You can always reach out to study-abroad@uiowa.edu for additional information.
Have you already studied abroad? If you'd like to be a peer mentor, apply here!
Chealsa Andersen
Studied on: TEAN Australia: Bond University
Lived in: Residence hall/dormitory
Scholarships and grants received: Need-based Grant
Happy to answer questions on:
Applying for study abroad scholarships, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Chealsa:
Email: chealsandersen@uiowa.edu
Instagram: Cheal_saandersen
Sophia Caronis
Studied on: IES London: Study London in the United Kingdom
Lived in: residence hall/dormitory
Happy to answer questions on:
planning independent travel, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Sophia:
Email: scaronis211@gmail.com
Instagram: sophia.caronis
Berkley Barnett
Studied on: CIEE Kyoto Summer Ancient & Modern Japan; SIT Jordan Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action
Lived in: Apartment, Homestay
Scholarship and grants received: Global Access Ambassador Scholarship (previously Diversity Ambassador Scholarship), Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
Applying for study abroad scholarships, living with a host family, navigating cultural differences, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Berkley:
Email: bwbarnett@uiowa.edu
Koro Castillo
Studied on: CIEE Sevilla Advanced Liberal Arts; USAC San Sebastián
Lived in: Homestay
Scholarship and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, planning independent travel, living with a host family, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Koro:
Email: koro-castillo@uiowa.edu
Instagram: korocastillo
Richelle Fenteng
Studied on: Wells College in Florence: Lorenzo de Medici in Italy
Lived in: apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship, Need-based Grant, A. Morse Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Richelle:
Email: richelle-fenteng@uiowa.edu
Instagram: rome.ing_richelle
Matthew Kawa
Studied on: USAC Valencia Program
Lived in: Residence Hall/Dorm
Happy to answer questions on:
Budgeting while abroad, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Matthew:
Email: matthew-kawa@uiowa.edu
Instagram: matthew_kawa
Sean Keene
Studied on: Iowa Hispanic Institute in Valladolid, Spain, USAC Santiago in Chile, & American University of Paris Summer Journalism Seminar
Lived in: Apartment, Residence hall, and Homestay
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions about:
Planning independent travel, living with a host family, navigating cultural differences, making new friends, using public transportation, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Sean:
Email: sean-keene@uiowa.edu
Instagram: seankeeneofficial
Nikhil Krishnan
Studied on: CIEE Madrid Open Campus in Spain
Lived in: residence hall/dormitory
Happy to answer questions on:
planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, using public transportation
How to contact Nikhil:
Email: nikhil-krishnan@uiowa.edu
Instagram: nikhil_k0921
Anna Larson
Studied on: USAC Valencia in Spain
Lived in: an apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Anna:
Email: anna-larson@uiowa.edu
Sofia Maestas
Interned for: MG Motors in Syndey, Australia
Lived in: apartment, homestay
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, using public transportation, internships abroad
How to contact Sofia:
Email: maestas@uiowa.edu
Instagram: sofiaamaestas
Jack McIntyre
Studied on: TEAN New Zealand: University of Otago
Lived in: an apartment
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, making new friends
How to contact Jack:
Email: jack.c.mac@gmail.com
Mia Terry
Studied on: Iowa Regents in Australia: University of Tasmania
Lived in: residence hall/dormitory
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Mia:
Email: miaterry@uiowa.edu
Instagram: miaaterryy
Kenna Wolbers
Studied on: IES Dublin Writers Program in Ireland
Lived in: apartment
Happy to answer questions about:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Nora:
Email: kwolbers@uiowa.edu