Fourteen University of Iowa undergraduate students are able to intern abroad thanks to support from the Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship.
This scholarship program aims to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the United States and the countries of East and Southeast Asia by supporting U.S. students in gaining a deeper understanding of the workplace cultures, economies, and systems in the region.
Meet this year’s recipients:
Leila Assadi is a third-year student majoring in economics and political science from Bettendorf, Iowa. Assadi will be interning through the CIEE Seoul Summer Internship program.
"I had the privilege of living in South Korea while participating in the Korea University Exchange program in spring 2025. It was amazing being able to experience the academic and cultural side of Seoul. With those experiences in my repertoire, I now want to return to Korea to gain professional experiences related to politics and human rights. I decided to apply for a CIEE Summer Global Internship in South Korea and will be working with Wishschool, a nonprofit organization that provides support and education programs for North Korean refugees. I am excited to gain professional skills and experiences while completing the internship, as well as further explore the culture and food of South Korea.
Experiencing this program will have a significant impact on my academic, personal, and professional goals. Upon my return from South Korea, I plan to work with the International Programs office and my professors to apply for a Fulbright award. I plan to apply for the English Teaching Assistant Award (ETA) in South Korea. Furthermore, I am interested in attending law school to study international law or international business law before eventually living and working abroad. Gaining multiple experiences in other countries—educationally, professionally, and personally—will show prospective employers my ability to adapt and work abroad."
Hagin Byrd is a fourth-year student majoring in finance and risk management & insurance from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Byrd will be interning through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
“I chose this program because it offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on international business experience while immersing myself in a completely new culture. As someone pursuing a career in finance and risk management, I am especially excited to see how global markets and business practices operate in Japan. In addition to my academics and professional growth, I have a strong personal interest in music and creative expression, and I’m especially drawn to Japan’s music scene and entertainment industry. I look forward to experiencing the influence of J-pop, anime soundtracks, and the broader creative culture firsthand, while also exploring how entertainment and business intersect in an international market.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship means a great deal to me, as it makes this opportunity financially accessible and allows me to fully focus on making the most of my experience abroad. It represents an investment in my education, my professional development, and my creative passions. I am incredibly grateful for this support, as it not only helps me pursue my goals but also allows me to explore my interests in global business and Japanese entertainment in a meaningful way. This experience will have a lasting impact on both my career path and personal growth. I am very grateful.”
Jose Camarena is a second-year student majoring in physics and astronomy from Nichols, Iowa. Camarena will be interning abroad through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
“I chose this program because it would allow me to apply my skills in real scenarios and workplaces, where I can also learn new skills used in different fields. This experience will teach me about working in different countries and how to communicate across language barriers to achieve the goals my peers and I are working toward.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship means a great deal to me as it makes it possible for me to participate in these experiences. Without it, it would be but a dream to not only visit, but to be able to work and experience life in another country.”
Sarah Chen is a third-year student majoring in public health and minoring in political science. Chen is from Bettendorf, Iowa, and will be interning through the CIEE Taiwan Summer Internship program.
“I chose this program for many reasons! I've always wanted to complete a semester abroad, and the summer internship program presented a great opportunity to gain both work and experience abroad. As a public health major, Taiwan represents a key player in the global health landscape. I'm excited to learn more about its health infrastructure as well as its social service network. I've also never been to Taiwan before and am looking forward to improving my Mandarin language skills!
This experience will directly contribute to my long-term goals of working in global health and health policy. The opportunity to work in a city culturally different in scale and size will allow me to apply and grow the knowledge gained so far in my undergraduate studies. Through interning abroad in Asia, I hope to strengthen my technical skills in policy communication, develop strong intercultural communication, and further my personal cultural connection through language. The CIEE summer internship program will serve as a bridge toward my aspirations of working in Taiwan and applying public health and human rights on a global scale. I'm extremely grateful for this award.”
Brady Grafft is a third-year student majoring in economics and finance from Tiffin, Iowa. Grafft will be interning through the CIEE Singapore Summer Internship program.
"I chose this program because I have always wanted to go to Asia. Singapore is also a major business hub in Asia, which fits well with my majors. This program will impact my future by expanding my knowledge of different cultures. I think learning more about various places is extremely important in creating a more connected world.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship means to me that I have people always supporting my journey. This gives me added confidence and belief in myself for this upcoming opportunity. I cannot thank them enough for their generosity."
Aammin Hassan is a first-year student majoring in economics and finance from Ankeny, Iowa. Hassan will intern abroad through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
"I chose this program for the experience I'd gain and its location. Working while living in a cultural and fashion hub of the world sounds like a dream as I love to learn about and experience both. I aspire to be an international consultant assisting with the financial growth of markets around the world. This experience is the perfect opportunity to learn global business firsthand.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship means a great deal to me, as it has made it possible for me to participate in this experience when I otherwise would not have been able to. It has provided me with the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in a way that would not have been possible without this support."
Amre Ibrahim is a second-year student majoring in business analytics and finance from Seattle, Washington. Ibrahim will be interning through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
“I chose this program because it offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on international business experience while immersing myself in a new culture. I’m especially excited to develop my professional skills in a global setting and learn how business operates in Japan.
I believe this study abroad experience will significantly impact my future by strengthening my global perspective, enhancing my adaptability, and preparing me for a career in fields like finance or consulting, where understanding international markets is valuable.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship means a great deal to me, as it makes this opportunity financially accessible and allows me to pursue an experience that will shape both my personal and professional growth. I’m very grateful for the support.”
David Martinez is a fourth-year student majoring in informatics with a concentration in human-computer interaction (HCI) and minoring in psychology. Martinez, from West Liberty, Iowa, will be interning abroad through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
"Tokyo has always been a dream destination for me, so when I found out I could intern there, especially in a tech-centered environment, it felt like the perfect fit. I've always had a deep passion for technology, and the idea of being immersed in one of the world's most innovative cities while gaining real professional experience made this an easy choice. This experience will push me outside of my comfort zone in ways I never expected. With my background in HCI, I want to build things that everyone can interact with in the best possible way; products that genuinely help and benefit people. Interning abroad in a real tech environment will help me grow both professionally and personally and bring me closer to that goal.
As a first-generation college student, funding opportunities like this aren't something I can take for granted. This scholarship is giving me the chance to grow in ways I never thought would be possible for someone like me. It also means a great deal to my family; it shows them that their sacrifices were worth it, and that means everything."
Autumn Mills is a first-year student majoring in elementary education from Des Moines, Iowa. Mills will be interning abroad through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
“I chose this program to gain real-world experience in a field of personal interest. I am also intrigued by the opportunity to live in Tokyo for two full months. That will give me the opportunity to form new routines and become more than just a tourist. I am eager to become a more independent person and grow personally through these eight weeks.
This international internship will allow me to work in a classroom and build my experience while seeing how a school operates in a different part of the world. This opportunity will allow me to bring back a unique perspective and rethink practices in American schools that we accept as second nature. Seeing how schools function outside of the Eurocentric lens will be especially captivating.
This scholarship gave me the opportunity to accept this internship. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to justify spending eight weeks abroad without an income.
Delaney O'Neal is a third-year student majoring in marketing with an event management certificate from Clarendon Hills, Illinois. O'Neal will be interning through the CIEE Seoul Summer Internship program.
"This experience will shape both my personal and professional future by expanding my global perspective and strengthening my adaptability. Working in an international setting will push me to communicate across cultural differences, think more creatively, and approach challenges with a broader mindset. Professionally, it will give me a competitive edge in marketing by helping me understand global audiences and trends, especially in a market as influential as South Korea. Long-term, I see this experience guiding me toward a career that incorporates international marketing or working with global brands.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship represents both opportunity and responsibility. It makes an international experience that might otherwise be financially out of reach possible for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for that support. At the same time, it motivates me to make the most of this opportunity by fully engaging in my internship, representing my university well, and bringing back the knowledge and perspective I gain. It’s not just financial assistance; it’s an investment in my future and in building stronger global connections."
Veronica Ramirez is a third-year student majoring in global health with a minor in inclusive recreation, on the pre-occupational therapy track, from Clinton, Iowa. Ramirez will intern abroad through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
"I have viewed Asia as a very unfamiliar and intimidating place. After having some experience abroad, I have realized that true personal and professional growth happens when you embrace these uncomfortable experiences. Interning in Tokyo represents exactly that kind of opportunity. It pushes me outside of my comfort zone and exposes me to new ways of thinking, which will, in turn, allow me to develop skills that I could never gain by staying in a familiar environment.
An internship in Tokyo is an opportunity I could not pursue without the financial support of the Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship. I now have the opportunity to learn in a global setting and build the cultural competence that will shape my future career as an occupational therapist. This scholarship made an opportunity accessible that will have an influence on my perspective and the way I will serve others for years to come."
Constance Rubach is a third-year student majoring in art (illustration) and Japanese from West Des Moines, Iowa. Rubach will be interning abroad through the CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship program.
“I chose it for work experience and a chance to use my Japanese language skills (not many speakers in Iowa). This experience is going to show me just how good my Japanese really is. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to go to Japan.
The Freeman Foundation Asian Internships Scholarship has been super helpful. My parents always fret about finances but for once, there's been no drama or fuss about if I could go or not. They both studied abroad back in college and hold their experiences in high regard. Now it's my opportunity to follow in their footsteps.”
Charles Silver is a second-year student majoring in economics, finance, and political science from Bettendorf, Iowa. Silver will be interning through the CIEE Singapore Summer Internship program.
“As a resident assistant, I am not allowed to study abroad during the standard academic year due to work obligations. A summer internship enables me to explore a part of the world while still allowing me to gain professional experience prior to applying to law school.
Undertaking an internship abroad will be a key stepping stone to my future success. Through incorporating a globalized viewpoint into my professional experience, I will stand out on future internship applications and my eventual law school applications. With an increasingly competitive law school admissions landscape, any edge that I can work towards will help. Without this award, I would not be able to conscionably pay for my internship experience due to the debt that would be required. The generous award from the Freeman Foundation makes it possible for me to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will expand my lived experience beyond that of the suburban Midwest.”
Ellie Smith is a first-year student majoring in political science and history from Sumner, Iowa. Smith will be interning abroad through the CIEE Seoul Summer Internship program.
“I chose this program because I decided to take Korean as a language credit, and I really liked it. The instructor of the class advertised it to her classes, and I decided to sign up to see if I could go. I am excited to be going out of the country for the first time and exploring Seoul's history and culture! I think this will help me broaden my perspective on the world and be able to give me some good experiences in the field I want to do in the future!
I think it's super important to keep good relationships with our allies in Asia and have our citizens go over there to experience their culture rather than the other way around. I think it's so important for everybody to experience a different culture than the one they're used to. Being able to participate in something like that means a lot to me, especially regarding my interests.”
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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.