- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold International Celebration Week

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 13:59:56 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock will celebrate the benefits of a diverse, international population on campus and promote exchange and international education with a week of on-campus events from Nov. 18-21.�� International Celebration Week will kick off Monday, Nov. 18, with “Hey Siri: Define the Middle East” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ottenheimer Library Room 535. Panel members include Dr. Rebecca Glazier, associate professor of political science, Dr. Abeer El-Anwar, instructor of Arabic, and Dr. Neveen Shafeek Amin, assistant professor of sociology.�� The panel discussion will consider the role of religion in the Middle East, the problem with generalizing the Middle East as one homogenous, monolithic region/culture, how the relationship between the U.S. and Middle East affect Middle Eastern immigrants in America, and what are the impacts and challenges specifically related to Middle Eastern immigrants in Arkansas. Refreshments will be provided.�� Monday events will continue with a discussion on “Living, Working, Interning, and Studying Abroad in Asia” from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and staff talk about their experiences working and studying in Asia.�� Monday will conclude with a free movie night at 6 p.m. in Student Services Center Room 104. “The Band’s Visit” will be shown as part of the Middle Eastern Studies 2019 Fall Film Series. A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town.�� International Celebration Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall. The event will feature interactive displays, posters, music, and food.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock Intercultural Communication students will present educational posters on communicating across cultures, while various student groups will share their music and dances throughout the day. In addition, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Study Abroad will provide information about study abroad programs and other international opportunities.�� Representatives from dozens of campus and student organizations representing more than 20 national cultures will distribute information and discuss career and volunteer opportunities throughout the world. Anyone interested in representing their home country can sign up. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, international and American friends will join together for the International Thanksgiving Celebration from 5-7 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Diamond Cafe.�� International Celebration Week will conclude Thursday, Nov. 21, with an Interfaith Dialogue Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge. The lunch will provide an opportunity for students to get better acquainted with the different faiths and worldviews of their peers. The event is hosted by the Department of Applied Communication. All events are free and open to the public. For more information about International Celebration Week, contact Emily Bell, director of study abroad, at edbell@ualr.edu or 501-569-3376.

Learn how studying abroad can be part of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Experience

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 17:00:37 +0000

Students can learn about the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Study Abroad program at the fall Study Abroad Fair to be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock offers more than 500 study abroad programs in cooperation with five affiliate and two exchange partners. Representatives from study abroad partners will share information about their programs at the fair. The Office of Study Abroad will also provide information on scholarships and welcome students with door prizes and snacks. Students who have studied abroad will share some of their experiences and answer questions.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock also offers international internships. The Office of Study Abroad will host an information session on international internships from noon-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Donaghey Student Center room 205D.�� Ever wondered about what it would be like to live, work, or study abroad in Spain? Curious students are encouraged to attend a roundtable question and answer session from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in Donaghey Student Center room 205D.��The Office of Study Abroad will host the discussion in collaboration with students who have studied abroad or participated in an internship in Spain.�� For more information, contact the Office of Study Abroad at studyabroad@ualr.edu or 501-569-3376.

Gilman Scholar studies Latin American politics in once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cuba

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 13:36:39 +0000

When Ryan Bourgoin chose a location to study abroad, popular study abroad options for American college students like Italy, France, and Great Britain were the farthest thing from his mind.�� Instead, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock junior political science major was interested in studying Latin American politics and wanted to travel to a country where he would be immersed in a very different culture. “I’m glad that I went to Cuba of all places and not a western European country,” said Bourgoin, of Sherwood. “I wanted a study abroad experience that would be very different from what I was used to at home. There was a lot more to be learned in a country like Cuba that has only recently opened up relations with the U.S. and transitioned out of the Castro era.” Bourgoin, one of three ��Vlog��ý Little Rock recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s , spent seven weeks this summer living with a host family in Vedado, a neighborhood in Havana’s business district, through USAC’s La Habana (Havana) study abroad program. He took courses at The Instituto de Filosofia and studied government and politics in Latin American and Latin American social revolutions. “These classes really helped me get some needed credits to help complete my major,” Bourgoin said. “Latin American politics is an area where I was not very knowledgeable. I learned how interrelated the politics of the U.S. and Latin America are. You can’t talk about anything that happened in Latin America since the 19th century without talking about America.”�� Bourgoin said it was an interesting experience to be an American living in Cuba. Even though the U.S. and Cuba have different political ideologies, the people he met with friendly and caring, yet frank. “There is still a mentality that this a political problem between governments and not people, so Cubans can treat Americans well. They are a very generous people,” he said. “It’s a very strange paradox. Cuba tries to show that they are standing up to America, but they also are interested in American products and tourism for the economic boon.” Studying abroad in a non-English speaking country not only gave Bourgoin the opportunity to improve his Spanish skills, but he also gained a new perspective on life.��

Ryan Bourgoin (right) and his classmates travel around Cuba during a study abroad trip.

“It’s very interesting to be the minority in a country that conflicts with America in a lot of its core values,” he said. “Although I’ll never truly understand the struggles that people of color face in America, I think it helps me to see the perspective of what immigrants go through in this country and get a perspective on what it is like to not be in the majority.” As part of the program, he also took a one-week tour of southern Cuba to visit historic sites such as Playa Girón (one of two landing sites for seaborne forces of about 1,500 armed Cuban exiles during the Bay of Pigs Invasion), the colonial city of Trinidad, and the Ernesto “Che” Guevara Mausoleum, who was a major figure of the Cuban Revolution. “Che Guevara’s mausoleum is like visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in America,” Bourgain said. “They take it very seriously. A lot of the older people in Cuba are still big fans of Castro, but many of the younger people thought the Castro brothers were cowards.” His trip to Cuba has inspired some potential research projects. As a Donaghey Scholar, Bourgoin will complete a year-long final project next year before he graduates. He’s interested in studying the changes Cuba underwent after the Castros’ departure from power or the effects of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. After Bourgoin graduates in May 2021, he plans to continue to travel internationally, perhaps by working as an international teacher or joining the Peace Corps, and to continue to develop his career as a writer. In the end, Bourgoin said the opportunity to learn more about the residents of Cuba was the most rewarding part of his study abroad experience. “I also enjoyed meeting the Cubans and getting to know what they thought of their country, other countries, and life in general,” he said. “Several of the Cubans told me that the only good things about Cuba was the free healthcare and education, but even though they don’t have a lot, that they find enjoyment in being able to�� walk around without worrying much about violent crime. The streets are very safe. There was also another perspective: We don’t have a whole lot here, but we have enough to share, so how could you want more?”��

Recent grad lands international teaching position in France

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:51:10 +0000

A recent graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been accepted into a prestigious international teaching program and will spend the next year gaining valuable professional experience teaching in France.�� Emily Fendley, a Monticello native, graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in May with a double major in French and anthropology and a minor in nonprofit leadership studies. After spending her senior year studying abroad at the Université d’Orléans in Orléans, France, Fendley decided to put her new language and cultural skills to work through the . Each year, more than 1,500 American citizens and permanent residents teach English to French students in elementary and secondary schools across France and the overseas departments of French such as Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. “I am looking forward to continuing living in France. I’ve never had an in-classroom experience teaching, but I was a conversation teacher at the university this past year,” she said. “It will be a learning and growing experience for me. I think of this as a challenge I want to step up to.” Fendley will spend Oct. 1, 2019, to April 30, 2020, teaching in Laval, a town in western France. Her duties will include serving as a resource person in conversation groups, providing small group tutorials, facilitating English-language clubs, and giving talks related to American studies. In return, Fendley will receive a stipend and health insurance, but she’s most excited about the opportunity to learn more about the French language and culture. “I’m excited to live in the north of France and learn about the region,” she said. “Even though France is smaller than Texas, you wouldn’t know it by how different the regions are.” Fendley’s love of the French language started in high school while taking a language class in the ninth grade. Her interest rekindled at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and grew into a second major. “I had to take a foreign language in high school, and the only choices were Spanish and French. I wanted to be different so I took French for one semester,” she said. “At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I decided to take French again, and I really enjoyed the classes and was picking up the language well. Eventually, the department asked me if I wanted to major in French as well, and the more I learned, the more I enjoyed the language.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Fendley was active in student life, serving as president of both the Anthropology Club and the Nonprofit Student Leadership Association. She credits her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors for giving her invaluable advice and guidance for the future. “All of my professors were amazing,” she said. “You don’t know how many times I sat in their office and asked them for advice on my future and my degree program.” Professors like Dr. Zachary Hagins say that Fendley’s success is all down to her hard work and tenacious spirit. “Emily has taken advantage of the wealth of opportunities available for students studying French at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and she exemplifies the benefits of language immersion through study abroad,” Hagins said. “The first time I had Emily in class, she had just finished Intermediate French and was still like most students at that level: a bit timid in her speaking abilities. Then, she participated in our five-week, faculty-led Summer Language Program in France. Upon her return, her language skills had improved, but more importantly, her confidence in speaking French had skyrocketed. Given her summer experience in France, I was not surprised when she decided to return to France for a full academic year, taking advantage of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s consortium agreement with the Université d’Orléans. The reports we have received from her professors in France reflect what we already knew: Emily is hard-working, dynamic, and very motivated. I am certain that we will continue to hear about great achievements from her in the future!” As for her future after the completion of the teaching program, Fendley sees many possibilities. She wants to continue to travel and work internationally at nonprofit organizations and go to graduate school.�� “Since I studied three different areas at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, there are a lot of different graduate school programs I could go into. Choosing is the hardest part,” Fendley said. Alumni of the Teaching Assistant Program in France often pursue global careers in education, international business, public health, international policy and development, and arts and culture administration, as well as are regularly recruited by top graduate schools who value language proficiency and intercultural competency, according to the program’s website.��

Triple graduate on road to fulfill dream of becoming a doctor

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 14 May 2019 14:52:42 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock senior who graduated with three bachelor’s degrees has been accepted to medical school and is on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.�� Erica Olson, of Gassville, Arkansas, graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on May 11 with bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, and Spanish. The budding doctor, who received a $7,500 Class of 1954 Scholarship from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will begin taking classes at ��Vlog��ýMS in the fall with plans to become a family physician. “It has been my dream for almost a decade that I would like to become a family physician,” Olson said. “Everyone is excited about specializing in surgical processes, but for me, I like the appeal of growing with the patients. I like the consistency of establishing bonds and being able to work with people throughout their life and their children’s lives. I’m open to looking at other specialties in medical school, but I think that is where my heart lies.” After graduating high school with just 40 people in her senior class, Olson was excited to see what the world had to offer. “I was naturally excited to get out of the rural area and explore what else the world had to offer,” she said. “I knew ��Vlog��ý Little Rock had a lot of scholarships available, and I remembered visiting this campus during seventh grade, walking down the brick pathways, and finding it beautiful. After I was accepted into the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, I was very glad I decided to attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. My mom is a single mom who works as a waitress, and she did a great job of providing for me. We’ve experienced financial hardships, and getting to graduate debt free is a privilege.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Olson joined the University Science Scholars Program, Biology Club, American Chemical Society, Wesley Foundation, Wind Ensemble, and became a student ambassador for the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. She worked as a resident assistant for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, a research assistant for the ��Vlog��ýMS Emergency Department, and volunteered in the Intensive Care Unit at ��Vlog��ýMS. Olson is also dedicated to helping other students get a head start in their careers. In 2017, she founded the university’s Pre-Health Club for students planning to work in the health industry as doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, pharmacists, and physician’s assistants. During summer 2017, Olson had an experience that altered her plans. She studied abroad in Spain, taking a one-week trip to Madrid with Dr. Edna Delgado, professor of Spanish, followed by a month living with a host family while taking classes at the University of Granada. Originally set to graduate in 2018 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology, Olson delayed graduation for a year so she could spend the fall 2018 studying in Spain. It also gave Olson the time to earn a third bachelor’s degree in Spanish. “At first, I just wanted to learn Spanish to have a baseline because it’s the second most spoken language in the U.S.,” she said. “As a future physician, I want to be able to communicate with my Spanish-speaking patients. If you don’t speak the language, you feel isolated and alone. I knew this is what my patients who couldn’t speak English would feel. I planned to apply to medical school a year ago, but I didn’t want to go with any regrets.” Olson owes much of her success to the biology and chemistry faculty members at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, especially those who helped her prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). “I adore both the chemistry and biology department faculty. I’ve had incredible experiences with the faculty,” she said. “They challenge you, and that in turn makes you a better student. With regards to chemistry, to me that was the most challenging discipline I chose. While I did not make an A in every single chemistry course, it helped me to succeed in the real world because I scored in the 92 percentile on my MCAT. Both departments really care about your success.”

Graduating student awarded prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 08 May 2019 16:18:55 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock senior has been selected as a 2019 recipient of. Scott Wolf, 19, of White Hall, Arkansas, will graduate May 11 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with minors in history and English. In the fall, Wolf is headed to New Jersey to pursue a Ph.D. in quantitative and computational biology from Princeton University. “Earning the NSF fellowship was a huge accomplishment,” Wolf said. “I had a lot of support from my professors to put together an application of that caliber.” The fellowship provides Scott with three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period through a $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the student’s graduate institution. The program recruits high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers and supports their graduate research training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Launched in 1952 shortly after Congress established the National Science Foundation, the fellowship program represents the nation’s oldest continuous investment in the U.S. STEM workforce. Since he was homeschooled with his three brothers, Wolf began taking dual-enrollment classes at Southeast Arkansas College at age 14 and graduated high school at age 15. At 16, Wolf was attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a recipient of the Chancellor’s Academic Distinction Scholarship. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is close to home, and a bunch of people in my department have been able to utilize industry ties and take advantage of our connections with technology companies and other businesses in Little Rock,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity to take advantage of coursework, research, and industry opportunities.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Wolf’s work and research opportunities have included working as an undergraduate researcher in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and a tutor in the Mathematics Assistance Center. He has completed internships at Inuvo Inc. and Entergy. Wolf has also studied abroad three times. He spent the summer of 2016 studying at the Chinese Language Institute at Xiamen Huaxia University and has taken faculty-led trips to South Korea and China. Wolf discovered a love of bioinformatics while completing research in the Systems Genomics Laboratory at the MidSouth Bioinformatics Center with Dr. Mary Yang, the center’s director. “I really appreciated the opportunity to do research in bioinformatics with Dr. Yang,” he said. “Without her, I wouldn’t have any experience in the area. Learning how to interact in a lab was invaluable when it came to going to Princeton and moving forward with research.” With a new interest in bioinformatics, Wolf sought out summer research opportunities and found the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University. Last summer, he conducted research at Princeton in quantitative and computational biology, the field he will now pursue as a doctoral student. “I intend to explore how the fundamentals of mathematics, computer science, and statistics intersect with physiology, genomics, and neuroscience to give insight into complex biological systems,” he said. “I am particularly interested in how complex behavioral patterns can be quantified and how they emerge at the individual and group level.” Looking back on his time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Wolf is thankful to professors who served as mentors in his academic pursuits as well as those who lifted his spirits in times of distress. “There have been all kinds of people who have helped me at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. You get research mentors who are critically important and community members, who aren’t formal mentors, but are there to talk to you and have some equity in you as a person,” Wolf said. “Someone like Dr. James Levernier from the English Department who goes out of the way to tell you to pursue your passion and take advantage of all the resources you can. When you are beaten down over a piece of research you can’t understand, they are there to sympathize with you. In the math department, there is a sense of community I haven’t seen elsewhere. I know the professors, and I can talk to them. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been a good community for me.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold International Celebration Week

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 15:26:05 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock will celebrate the benefits of a diverse, international population on campus and promote exchange and international education with a week of on-campus events from Nov. 12-16. The week will kick off on Monday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a Study Abroad Living Gallery in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge. The gallery will feature photos of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and the many places around the world that they have traveled to through study abroad and exchange programs. A celebration of campus’ international population will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center’s Ledbetter Hall. Interactive displays, posters, music, and food cooked by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s international students will all be featured. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, festivities will return to Ledbetter Hall with an International Thanksgiving Celebration held from 6 to 8 p.m. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students from around the world will gather for an evening of fun and relationship building while enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Campus Living will host an International Movie Night on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. in the University Commons Theater. The week will conclude on Friday, Nov. 15, with an Interfaith Dialogue Lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge. The lunch will provide an opportunity for students to get better acquainted with the different faiths and worldviews of their peers. All events are free and open to the entire campus community. For more information about International Celebration Week, visit ualr.edu/studyabroad.

International Business program offers study abroad trip to Prague

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 15:05:10 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock International Business Program is offering a study abroad trip to Prague, Czech Republic, that will highlight the country’s culture, business, and entrepreneurship during spring break 2019.�� Dr. David Gilliam, associate professor of marketing, will lead the trip from March 15-25. The trip will include a walking tour of Prague’s cultural and historical sites, a visit to the town of Pilsen and its brewery, and a tour of Karlštejn Castle, founded in 1348 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. They will also visit Vaclav Havel’s library, Skoda Auto factory, and the Prague Chamber of Commerce. The lecturers and visits will also examine how Czech firms navigate the European Union and Euro Zone. The trip will cost an estimated $3,800, which will include the airfare, hotel, tour fees, breakfasts and dinners, site visits and lectures, and local insurance. A $200 non-refundable application fee is due by Nov. 16. The trip is a required component of the field study in the International Business class, IBUS 4316/5316, at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. MBA students may participate in the trip by registering for IBUS 5316, which will count as an elective toward the MBA program. The study abroad trip is open to students who are not College of Business majors. Interested students may contact Gilliam at dagilliam@ualr.edu or 501-569-8861 and visit the website for more information.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Study Abroad Fair, information, and advising sessions

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:57:25 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host its Study Abroad Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter A, B, and C.�� Study abroad program providers will be on campus to share information about their programs, along with other ��Vlog��ý Little Rock departments who will provide resources for students planning on studying abroad. In the following week, the Office of Study Abroad will also host a study abroad advising day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the Education Building rooms 100D and 101A. Students will be able to speak with an advisor to learn more about ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s study abroad programs and how to get involved. A study abroad information session will also be hosted from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, in the Donaghey Student Center. All events are free to attend. In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students��visit the roof of the Reichstag building, home of the German parliament, as part of a summer 2018 study abroad trip to study art and architecture in Germany. The group (L to R) include: Astrid Bodini, Tatiana Correa, Jana Miller, Grace Lytle, Gege Zhang, Cassandra Christ, and Katie Wilson.

Olson receives Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Spain

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:43:14 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has received a prestigious Gilman Scholarship, so she can study abroad in Spain to improve her language skills to better serve her future Spanish-speaking patients.�� Erica Olson, of Gassville, Arkansas, received $2,500 from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program. She will use the money to study at the University of Granada: Center of Modern Languages in Spain during the fall semester. The U.S. Department of State’s is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. “I am very grateful for the scholarship. I come from a single-parent household, so money for education has been tight,” Olson said. “Beginning in high school, I have tried to ensure myself financially by trying to get as many scholarships as possible to try to relieve that financial pressure on my mom.” Olson is a super senior entering her fifth year at ��Vlog��ý little Rock with three majors. She could have graduated in 2018 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology. During summer 2017, Olson went on a short-term study abroad trip to Spain led by Dr. Edna Delgado, professor of Spanish. They spent a week in Madrid, which Olson describes as the “New York City of Spain,” before spending a month living with a host family while taking classes at the University of Granada. “My homestay life was incredible,” she said. “I had such a delightful group of ladies and an adorable, feisty cat to spend my time with during meal times and downtime. I have the palate of a five-year-old, and yet I found myself opening up to the variety of foods cooked for me. I also had the nerve-wracking yet exciting daily opportunity to practice my conversational Spanish with my family, all of whom were very patient and understanding.” After discovering a love of the language and country, Olson decided to stay an additional year to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and to study abroad for a semester in Spain.

Erica Olson, of Gassville, Arkansas, received $2,500 from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program to study at the University of Granada: Center of Modern Languages in Spain during the fall semester. Photo by Ben Krain/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

“During and after my Spain experience, I kept thinking about how far I had come in my journey of learning Spanish and how much further I could and wished to continue,” she said. “Last summer, I was supposed to study for and take my MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and start applying to different medical schools. �� However, I had a revelation. I realized how the study abroad experience had affected me. I didn’t want to jump into medical school, where there would be rigid limits with regrets of not taking advantage of the opportunity I so desired. I wanted to study abroad again with the same amazing program and in Spain again to continue my dream experience but in a fresh, new way.” Olson plans to attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is already at home at ��Vlog��ýMS as a volunteer in the Intensive Care Unit and a research assistant in the Emergency Department. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Olson is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, University Science Scholars Program, Biology Club, American Chemical Society, Wesley Foundation and a resident assistant and student ambassador for the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. �� Olson is also dedicated to helping other students get a head start in their careers. In 2017, she founded the university’s Pre-Health Club for students who are planning to work in the health industry as doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, pharmacists, physician’s assistants, etc. She is hoping that her semester in Spain will improve her language skills enough so she can hold conversations with patients who only speak Spanish. “I came into college with the goal of becoming a physician who would be able to speak with patients in Spanish on at least a basic level,” she said. “This goal intensified when I would volunteer at ��Vlog��ýMS in the Intensive Care Unit, and I would come across families who only knew Spanish, and I wasn’t able to communicate with them and meet their needs most effectively. I would envision myself in the future as a physician and hope that I could bridge the gap between the communication barriers and make my patients feel more comfortable and understood. This inspired me even further to continue my Spanish education that was no requirement for any of my degrees. I am really excited to go back to Spain, get to visit new places, learn more about the languages, and be able to speak it more fluently. That’s my overall goal, so I can one day help patients, regardless if they can speak English or not.” For more information about study or interning abroad opportunities, contact the Office of Study Abroad at 501-569-3376 or studyabroad@ualr.edu.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold International Celebration Week

Learn how studying abroad can be part of the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Experience

Gilman Scholar studies Latin American politics in once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cuba

Recent grad lands international teaching position in France

Triple graduate on road to fulfill dream of becoming a doctor

Graduating student awarded prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold International Celebration Week

International Business program offers study abroad trip to Prague

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Study Abroad Fair, information, and advising sessions

Olson receives Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Spain

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold International Celebration Week

Learn how studying abroad can be part of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Experience

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold International Celebration Week

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Study Abroad Fair, information, and advising sessions