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
Maddy Barreda
Studied on: the IES Barcelona program in Spain
Lived in: residence hall/dormitory
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship, Need-based Grant
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Maddy:
Email: mbarreda@uiowa.edu
Ellie Crock
Studied on: USAC San Sebastian Program; CIEE Buenos Aires Liberal Arts Program
Lived in: Homestay
Scholarships and grants received: Global Access Ambassador Scholarship (previously Diversity Ambassador Scholarship), Need-based Grant, Gilman Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
Applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, living with a host family, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Ellie:
Email: ellen-crock@uiowa.edu
Kate Burns
Studied on: IES London: Study London in the United Kingdom
Lived in: apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Global Access Ambassador Scholarship, Merit-based Scholarships
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Kate:
Email: kathryn-burns@uiowa.edu
Instagram: _katemburns5_
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
Nora Engstrom
Studied on: Lancaster University Exchange in the United Kingdom
Lived in: a residence hall
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: nengstrom@uiowa.edu
Instagram: @noraeggstrom
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
Maisey Gullickson
Studied on: Iowa Regents in Ireland: University College Cork
Lived in: apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Need-based grant
Happy to answer questions on:
planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Maisey:
Email: magullickson@uiowa.edu
Instagram: _mgullickson_
Samantha Hitlan
Studied on: USAC Montevideo in Uruguay
Lived in: apartment
Scholarships and grants: Merit-based Scholarship, Need-based Grant
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Samantha:
Email: sjhitlan@uiowa.edu
Instagram: Samantha.hitlan
Gabriela Konopka
Studied on: Wells College Florence: Lorenzo de Medici in Italy
Lived in: an apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions about:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Gabriela:
Email: gabriela-konopka@uiowa.edu
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
Elizabeth Lindeen
Studied on: American College of Thessaloniki program
Lived in: residency hall/dormitory
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends
How to contact Elizabeth:
Email: lizzielindeen@gmail.com
Instagram: elizabeth.lindeen
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
Molly McNeill
Studied on: CIEE Seville Liberal Arts Program in Spain
Lived in: homestay
Scholarships and grants received: Need-based Grant, Gilman Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, living with a host family, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation, building foreign language proficiency, handling the first few weeks of being in your host country
How to contact Molly:
Email: molly-mcneill@uiowa.edu
Instagram: mollyemcneill
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
Anna Neslund
Studied on: IES Freiburg European Union in Germany
Lived in: an apartment
Happy to answer questions about:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Anna:
Email: aneslund@uiowa.edu
Instagram: annaneslund_
Eva Packer
Studied on: SIT Netherlands Sexuality and Gender
Interned for: Fite Qlub
Lived in: Homestay
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship, Need-based Grant
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, living with a host family, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Eva:
Email: eva.packer@gmail.com
Instagram: evapacker
Maddie Phillips
Studied on: IES London: Study London in the United Kingdom & IES Internships London
Lived in: an apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
planning independent travel, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Maddie:
Email: madeline-phillips@uiowa.edu
Instagram: madeline.phillips21
Bella Rivera
Studied on: ISEP Direct: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile
Lived in: Homestay
Scholarships and grants received: Global Access Ambassador, Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
applying for study abroad scholarships, budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, living with a host family, navigating cultural differences, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation, building foreign language proficiency
How to contact Bella:
Email: isabella-rivera@uiowa.edu
Instagram: belariivera
Kiernan Sheeler
Studied on: Wells in Florence: Lorenzo de Medici
Lived in: apartment
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, navigating cultural differences, making new friends
How to contact Kiernan:
Email: ksheeler02@gmail.com
Instagram: kiernansheeler
Jennifer Schmitt
Studied on: IES Dublin Writers Program in Ireland
Lived in: apartment
Scholarships and grants received: IES Abroad Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
budgeting while abroad, planning independent travel, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Jennifer:
Email: jenschmitt@uiowa.edu
Instagram: jennaaschmitt11
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
Claudia Wilcox
Studied on: TEAN New Zealand: Victoria in Wellington
Lived in: residence hall/dormitory
Scholarships and grants received: Merit-based Scholarship
Happy to answer questions on:
planning independent travel, understanding personal identity abroad, making new friends, using public transportation
How to contact Claudia:
Email: claudia-wilcox@uiowa.edu
Instagram: claudia.wilcox
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