Summer 2016 Contributors

Alexander Ciorlian

Hi! I am an incoming Sophomore in the Landscape Architecture Program part of Rutgers SEBS. Before becoming a student at Rutgers, I heard all about these amazing study abroad opportunities but I was really excited about the trip to Germany to study Urban Landscape. I have traveled to Germany before for family vacations so I am familiar with the country yet I hope to explore the country's landscape architecture from a new angle and meet new people that can help me gain experience for my future landscape designs.

Alexus Lizardi

Alexus Lizardi is an Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior major and an upcoming senior. She spends most of her days reading and occasionally writing, in efforts to learn as much as she can about the world around her. Although when she’s not being an academic, she is mostly lounging around with her dog.

Andrew Goldwasser

My name is Andrew Goldwasser and I am a rising junior majoring in Microbial Biotechnology and minoring in Food Science. I am going abroad to France to study the intricate yet highly interesting processes of cheese and wine production! Though going abroad was never a big point on my to-do list, this program was the perfect combination of the two fields I am studying! I am absolutely thrilled to be venturing across the pond for such an amazing opportunity. Please join me on this adventure by checking back here for tales of the great tastes of France, pictures of Louis Pasteur's laboratory, and an exciting epic of my journey!

Ashley Fath

My name is Ashley Fath and I am a Junior studying Exercise Science - Applied Kinesiology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. This summer, I am studying Lifestyles of the Mediterranean abroad in Athens, Greece. After graduation, I intend on pursuing a career as a Nurse Practitioner.

Chris Wakim

My name is Chris Wakim, I double major in Microbiology and Biotechnology concentration Bioinformatics with a minor in Biochemistry. I am excited that I will be going to China for three months to do independent research. I will be joining a lab, in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, that works on the role of the gut microbiota in metabolic disease and its relationship to human diseases like obesity and what dietary interventional studies can help us understand the role of these microorganisms in our bodies. This is a very interesting research as it uses my two majors and my minor to understand a very specific topic which affect each human alive.

Dana Tsuchida

Hello! I am a rising sophomore, Class of 2019, majoring in Animal Science (Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Research option) and minoring in Art History. This summer I will be traveling to Belize for two weeks to attend the “Large Animal Veterinary Practice in the Tropics” program. There, I will be gaining hands-on veterinary examination techniques on various species and learning the animal agriculture and livestock industry in Belize. While I am looking forward to closely work with animals in Belize, I am also excited to learn about their history and how it is portrayed in their customs and art.

Emily Hunziker

My name is Emily Hunziker. I am an Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior major with a minor in Sustainability. I am very excited about my trip to Indonesia for the Primate Ecology & Conservation program. This hands on experience will provide me with a real life adaptation of my studies, and I can't wait to learn about all the facets that make up this unique ecosystem!

Erica Mullen

My name is Erica, and I am a junior double majoring in Public Health and Nutritional Sciences. This summer I will be traveling to Bangkok, Thailand as part of a service learning program where I will be volunteering and learning about the Thai healthcare system. I am looking forward to discovering Thai culture and having a hands-on impact on global health.

Ethan Bloomer

My name is Ethan Bloomer, and I am a junior, pre-veterinary student majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and minoring in Animal Science. I'm travelling to South Africa in order to gain experience working with wildlife, so that in the future I can hopefully be prepared to treat similar exotic species as a veterinarian. In my free time, I'm a huge soccer and New York Red Bulls fan, and I make sure to watch as many MLS games as possible.

Eva Ryan

Hi! My name is Eva Ryan. I am an Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior major at Rutgers University. I am taking this amazing opportunity to study abroad in Peru because I want to engage in my education on a whole new level. I am definitely an adventure seeker who is not just in it to learn new things but to experience them.

Isaac Rozenberg

Isaac Rozenberg is currently a junior in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) at Rutgers University. Isaac is pursuing a degree in Biochemistry with an specialization in plant systems. He lives in Morristown, NJ and enjoys rock climbing, skiing, hiking, traveling, and gardening. He also has a deep interest in mycology (the study of fungus and mushrooms) and performs scientific research with fungi at Rutgers University. Isaac will be attending the Microbiology of Cheese and Wine study abroad program in Cluny, France in June 2016.

Isabel Rodriguez

I am Isabel Rodriguez, a Rutgers student from Bridgewater, NJ, originally born and raised in Puerto Rico, and I will be participating in the Culture and Community Health study abroad program in Oaxaca, Mexico. This is a very exciting journey I cannot wait to begin, for I will learn about a new culture, share my own, engage actively in community service, and furthermore share my experience with others through this blog.

Jennifer Mendez

My name is Jennifer K. Mendez. I am a rising senior at Rutgers University in the School of Environmental & Biological Sciences majoring in Applied Environmental Science. I look forward to learning more about geothermal energy, and the physical aspect of energy conversion at Reykjavik University in Iceland. I have always believed that investing in sustainable and renewable energy will help us all in the long run when it comes to maintaining the health of our planet, and the quality of our resources.

Jessica Carroll

My name is Jessica Carroll, I am a food science student and will be a senior this upcoming year. I am in the honors and service fraternity, Alpha Zeta. I love the outdoors and love to try new things and meet new people! I hope to travel all over the world one day and my trip to France is just the beginning! In addition to my class in France I will traveling to Barcelona and the Netherlands.

Jodi Bischoff

Hello! My name is Jodi Bischoff, and I am currently junior at Rutgers University pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Public Health. I am traveling abroad to Ghana to intern and study for one month. I am excited for this opportunity to get hands on experience and work with the community. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in international development through global pubic health initiatives.

Joseph Dallmeyer

Hello, my name is Joseph Dallmeyer and I am a rising junior at Rutgers University. I am majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Environmental Geomatics. I chose to go abroad because of the thrill traveling gives me and also because of my interest in the English culture. An intriguing fact about me is that my dream job would be to work for the EPA and I plan on living on a farm later in my life.

Jun Wang

Jun Wang is an international student studying Landscape Architecture at Rutgers University. As a Chinese, he realized the environmental pollution that makes Chinese people suffering is the consequence of the rapid industrial development. He intended to further his study in the social conflict of design and now has been enrolled into the 4+1 graduate program of Landscape Architecture. He also has an interest in design and build, in order to find out whether the subject suits his career goal, he intended the 2016 SEBS study abroad program. The program has offered a great platform for him to achieve his short time educational goal.

Kayla Fowler

My name is Kayla Fowler and I am currently a rising senior majoring in Exercise Science, Nutrition and Women & Gender Studies. I am going on the Lifestyles of the Mediterranean Athens, Greece trip through the Exercise Science Department for their first ever study abroad trip/program. I am a huge foodie and am definitely looking forward to the amazing foods and delicacies of Greece!

Kelly D'Amico

Hello! My name is Kelly D'Amico and I am a rising senior studying Food Science with a minor in Nutrition. I never thought studying abroad would be possible, but this scholarship has helped me conquer that dream! I am involved in many clubs on campus, such as SEBS Governing Council and Alpha Zeta. In my free time, I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, and traveling- which is why I decided to study abroad in the Microbiology of Wine and Cheese program in Cluny, France. I am excited to see all of the types of diversity and culture that this program has to offer and eat as much French food as possible!

Kristen Johnson

My name is Kristen Johnson and I am a rising senior at SEBS. I am studying Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior and one of my passions is agriculture. This summer I will be travelling to Holland for a 'Leadership in Agriculture' program. I am eager to experience the culture and learn more about the agricultural industry in Holland.

Margaret Wang

Hi, my name is Margaret and I am junior at Rutgers University pursuing a degree in biological sciences and a minor in food science. This trip to France studying wine and cheese is a dream come true for a lover of food and photography, and I can't wait to finally put into use all those years of learning French. In my free time, I like to hike, bake, and blog about baking :)

Melissa Ortiz

My name is Melissa Ortiz, a third year student at Rutgers University majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had an incredible love for nature and have dreamed of working with animals(I must thank my dad for paying for all my National Geographic subscriptions all these years). This passion is what led me to where I am now. I have chosen to study abroad in Belize in hopes of coming to the realization as to where my path lies: in veterinary science or conservation work. During my month stay, I will be taking two different hands-on courses focused on these two fields of study. Without a doubt, the experience I will have during my abroad program will be eye-opening and I am very excited to see how this will shape my future endeavors.

Morgan Mahony

My name is Morgan Mahony and I am in my senior year at Rutgers. I will be graduating in January 2017 with a B. S. in Food Science. This summer I will be studying abroad in France for two months through the exchange program with Purpan and will be working on a vineyard the second part of the program.

Nicole Meddaugh

Hello! My name is Nicole Meddaugh and I'm a sophomore majoring in Animal Sciences with a focus in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Research. I will be traveling to Belize to participate in a Large Animal Veterinary in the Tropics Course. I am very excited to work with all the animals alongside a veterinarian!

Nikki Johnson

Hi I'm Nikki Johnson and I’m a third year Public health major, as well as a Women & Gender Studies and Biological Sciences double minor in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences here at Rutgers. I’m heavily involved on campus, as I am a member of the International Premedical Fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. I’m also Vice President of the Rutgers Art in Medicine Society which works to promote art therapy in the Rutgers and greater New Brunswick community. I am also very involved in the Douglass Project, which promotes women in the science and undergraduate research for Douglass women. I hope to graduate in May 2017, and pursue a Masters in Biomedical Science.

Paulina Zyskowski

Hi! I'm a first year pre-veterinary student with dreams of helping animals all over the world. Africa has some of the coolest and most exotic animals, and I wanted to go abroad to see them in their natural habitats to learn about caring for wild animals in their true homes. I also want to dedicate my life to volunteer veterinary work, and getting this kind of valuable experience in college will make that dream closer to becoming a reality.

Rebecca Vermeesch

My name is Rebecca Vermeesch and I am a Marine Biology major with an Environment Science minor. I am studying abroad this summer in the Little Cayman Islands to study the coral reefs. I enjoy scuba diving and discovering new new worlds under the sea!

Samantha Dreher

My name is Samantha Dreher and I am a Brazilian born senior in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. I am double majoring in Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture. I want to go abroad to learn from the success of urban culture in Brazil, and what the role of design is in that success. I am hoping to be part of a movement that completely changes the way we look at urban design for people and their environment.

Sanja Martic

My name is Sanja Martic. I was born in Zagreb, Croatia, but have lived in New Jersey since late 90s. After an inspiring and fulfilling carrier of teaching preschool I decided to go back to school and study Environmental Planning and Design at Rutgers University. I joined Douglass College and SEBS program in 2014. Helping to solve environmental and social issues of our time is my passion, and I am excited to be a part of a solution here at SEBS. This trip will be a great learning experience for me and I hope, with the help of this blog, for other students as well.

Shane Nuara

I'm a sophomore at Rutgers University-New Brunswick studying Marine Biology. Whenever I can I go fishing and I play soccer. I am excited to go to the Cayman Islands for the first time because I have never seen coral reefs in person. I have always seen the beautiful reefs on documentary films and movies. One of the of the biggest reasons that I am excited about going to Little Cayman will be the people I get to meet and work together in order to understand the ecosystem surrounding the reefs. I am very thankful that I can take part of this journey as a rising junior with a major so awesome to have.

Shannon Dalton

My name is Shannon Dalton, and I am going to be a senior undergraduate student at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. I am perusing an Animal Science degree, and am visiting Belize for a month. Abroad I will be working alongside of two highly accredited Central American veterinarians and working hands-on with Belize's amazing animals in San Ignacio and at the Belize Zoo. I am Very excited for this amazing adventure and opportunity!

Shannon Farrell

Hi, my name is Shannon Farrell. I am a rising junior at Rutgers University with a major in Environmental Economics and a minor in Sustainability. This summer I am going to be spending seven weeks in Iceland studying renewable energy, technology, and resource economics. I am very excited for this opportunity to gain a more hands-on understanding of the subjects I have been learning about in the classroom. Most of all I am excited to experience the Icelandic culture and all all of the amazing scenery the country has to offer!

Sherilyn Nunez

Hello my name is Sherilyn Nunez I am an undeclared sophomore going to Thailand this summer. This is going to be the first time I travel to such a far destination and I wanted to go abroad to experience new cultures and learn traditions of people around the world. I also have the opportunity to be traveling with my sister who will also be in Thailand this summer with me.

Stacy Martinez

Growing up in Bergen County, I attended and graduated from Lyndhurst High School before entering Rutgers University. I transferred from the School of Arts and Sciences into the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences my sophomore year in 2012, the year that I like to look as my big leap. That year I made a vast decision to switch into a different major that would ultimately set me back one year, a frightening thought. But I’m so glad I took the risk and went after something I loved. I’m currently a 5 th year in a dual program pursuing both my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Landscape Architecture. The Landscape Architecture department has great emphasis on environmental, technical, and visual design while offering a wide range of subjects from plant design to urban design. I’m currently interested and focused on the cultural and historical aspect of landscape architecture, which has led me to become a part of the George H. Cook Honors Thesis researching the development of two roads within the lungs of our planet better known as the Amazon rainforest and its effect on biodiversity, soil, culture, and ultimately people. My goal is to take the research that I’ve developed and to travel to Peru in the summer of 2016 to learn more about the actuality of these places. Looking further into my future I’m hoping that I could pursue my Ph.D. in Cultural Heritage and preservation Studies. I’m set to graduate in May 2016 with my Bachelor’s and May 2017 with my Master’s and I couldn’t be happier.

Tereza Marshyti

am a rising junior studying Environmental Science and minoring in astrophysics and philosophy. This summer, I will be traveling to Indonesia studying primate behavior and doing field work in conservation in the Javan rainforest. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity SEBS is giving me to learn the necessary techniques for navigating the research field in the future and of course be amongst wild orangutans!

Victoria Bruskin

My name is Victoria Bruskin. I am a landscape architecture student going into my final year at Rutgers University. I have strong interest in the food system. With a background in agriculture my goal is to use the skills I learn in my landscape architecture studies to support the health of communities by enhancing the local food system. When I am not in the studio I am rock climbing, doing yoga, listening to music, making kombucha and hanging with friends.

Victoria Oriole

My name is Victoria Oriole, and I am a third year at Rutgers University. My major is Marine Science with a focus in Biological Oceanography. I am studying abroad in the Cayman Islands for the Coral Reef Internship during the summer of 2016.