Global Ambassadors

Rocco Albano

ralbano@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Biology and Public Health Studies
• President of the Biology Club
• Second year Multifaith Intern
• Arabic Language Organization Honors Fellows
• Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society

My Experience:

• Public Health Studies Practicum: India, Winter 2025
• Honors Fellows: Turkey, Winter 2023

• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Getting to live with a family in a rural community in India during my practicum was an amazing experience! I loved connecting with people, sharing stories, and being welcomed into their everyday lives. Being fully immersed in that environment was not only fun, but also reinforced much of what I learned during the practicum in a powerful way!”

Ask Me About:

• Building cultural competency skills
• Engaging with locals
• Exploring while abroad
• Fitting a study abroad program
• Adapting to a new culture

Adam Alkins

aalkins@elon.ed

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Cinema and Television Arts
• Minor(s): Computer Science
• Cinelon
• eSports

My Experience:

• Study USA Los Angeles, Spring 2025
• WT The Film Festival Experience: Hollywood & Sundance, Winter 2026
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Building new friendships with my fellow study away students from Elon University and other schools!”

Ask Me About:

• Transportation in LA
• Budgeting
• Searching for an internship
• Fun things to do in LA

Lauren Bedell

lbedell@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Political Science, Policy Studies
• Truitt Center Multifaith Intern
• Racquetball Club
• Elon Alzheimer’s Initiative
• LEAF (Lutherans, Episcopalians, And Friends)

My Experience:

• Denmark, Copenhagen: Study Abroad in Scandinavia (DIS), Spring 2024
• India’s Identities: Religion, Caste, & Gender in Contemporary South India, Winter 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Traveling to Greece with my International Refugee Law core course! We listened to panel discussions about the inter-workings of NGOs, traced back the steps of people on the move, and were able to visit various solidarity spaces created to support these individuals.”

Ask Me About:

• Solo Travel
• Studying abroad for three weeks versus a semester
• Living with a homestay family
• Finding local volunteer opportunities
• Adjusting to new environments and cultures abroad
• Core courses vs. Elective courses with DIS

Megan Butler

mbutler24@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): International & Global Studies
• Minor(s): Asian Studies
• Chinese Club
• Anime and Japanese Studies Club

My Experience:

• CET Chinese Studies & Internship in Shanghai, Spring 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Exploring the rich culture of Shanghai and going on a traveling seminar with my peers to Xi’an!”

Ask Me About:

• Navigating language barriers
• Living with a local roommate
• Learning Chinese
• Overcoming anxiety while abroad
• Traveling abroad for the first time

Noelle Drummonds

ndrummonds@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2027
• Major(s): International Global Studies, Dance Performance & Choreography
• Minor(s): German Studies, Political Science
• German Club
• Model UN
• Sigma Kappa
• Tour Guide for Elon Admissions

My Experience:

• Germany, Heidelberg: University of Heidelberg, Summer 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “I lived with a host mom for six weeks where she made me authentic German meals and we watched the UEFA Euro Football cup together! She also had other exchange students living with us from Slovakia, Japan, and France whom I still talk to!”

Ask Me About:

• Learning German
• Living with a host family
• Finding your independence
• Solo travel

Ava Farbod

afarbod@elon.edu

About Me:

• Class: 2026
• Major: Human Resources Management

My Experience:

• Study USA New York. Summer 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “The amazing people I was able to connect with during my Study USA experience. I know I wouldn’t have met them if I hadn’t participated in the experience.”

Ask Me About:

• Living in NYC
• Being a first generation college student
• Coffee shops in NY
• Anything music related
• General guidance for your Elon career

Madeline Hewgley

mhewgley@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Majors: Music Theatre & Political Science
• Minor: History
• Elon College Fellow
• Alpha Omicron Pi
• Civic Engagement Senator in Student Government Association
• North Carolina Student Legislature club

My Experience:

• Copenhagen, Denmark, DIS, Fall 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Jumping into the Copenhagen canals late at night with my friends!”

Ask Me About:

• Making friends abroad
• Culture shock and reverse culture shock
• How to choose a program
• Learning a new language while abroad
• Living in a kollegium/with locals

Kai Indeglia

kindeglia@elon.edu

Who I am:

• Class: 2026
• Majors: Statistics & Data Analytics
• Minor: Sports Management
• Baseball Analytics Club
• Mu Sigma Rho
• Kappa Delta
• Club Tennis
• West Coast Ambassador

My Experience:

• Australia, Sydney: The University of Sydney, Spring 2024
• Elon in DC/The Washington Center, Summer 2023
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Skydiving in Newcastle and seeing a turtle while snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef.”

Ask Me About:

• Solo travel
• Managing expectations
• Internships abroad
• Navigating long distance with family and friends
• Traveling in Australia
• Going abroad without knowing anyone beforehand
• Balancing travel, socializing, and schoolwork

Bunny Ingram

bingram3@elon.edu

About Me:

• Class: 2026
• Major: Data Analytics
• Minors: Interreligious Studies, Asian Studies, Art
• WERise Student Mentor
• Alpha Phi Omega
• Honors Fellow
• Gender and Sexuality LLC

My Experience:

• Japan, Kansai Gaidai University, Spring 2024
• Study USA New York, Summer 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and kimono rentals!”

Ask Me About:

• Engaging with new religious faiths and practices abroad
• Public transportation
• Internships in NYC
• Going abroad with minimal language experience
• Mental health and safety resources abroad
• Hidden gems in NYC or Japan

Mya Lee

mlee48@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major: Entrepreneurship
• Women’s Track and Field
• President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• Odyssey Scholar
• Honors Fellow
• Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society

My Experience:

• Italy, Florence: Elon Center Abroad (AEF), Fall 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Staying with my host family for a weekend was the highlight of my experience abroad. I also enjoyed going to different Christmas markets around Italy. Drinking hot chocolate, shopping for family and ice skating with friends brought me so much joy.”

Ask Me About:

• Mental health and missing home
• Traveling to different countries in Europe
• Being a woman of color abroad
• Healthy balance between academics and travel
• Fitness while abroad
• Going abroad without knowing anyone in your program
• Adapting to a new culture

Julia Marcoccio

jmarcoccio@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major: Finance
• Minors: Mathematics & Italian Studies
• Intramural Manager
• Italian Club President
• AOII
• Mathematics Tutor
• Club Basketball

My Experience:

• Sorrento, Italy, Sant’Anna Institute, Fall 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Experiencing my family’s Italian heritage and immersing myself in new cultures.”

Ask Me About:

• How to travel
• Countries I’ve been to
• How to budget while abroad

Gabriel Nagy

gnagy3@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Biomedical Engineering & Physics
• Minor(s): Spanish
• TNW (Thursday Night Worship)
• Rock Climbing Club
• Iron Tree Blooming

My Experience:

• New Zealand: Critically Engaged Ecotourism, Winter 2025

Ask Me About:

• Finding peace in solitude overseas
• Dealing with distressing situations or emergencies while abroad
• Solo explorations and being spontaneous
• Connecting with fellow students abroad

Ava Pelletier

apelletier2@elon.edu

Who I am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Biology
• Pre-Health Society
• Club lacrosse
• Mail services employee
• Alpha Chi Omega

My Experience:

• Sorrento, Italy, Sant’Anna, Fall 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Riding camels with my best friends in Marrakesh, Morocco.”

Ask Me About:

• Making friends abroad
• Travel planning
• Budgeting abroad
• Homesickness

Maxwell Power

mpower@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): International Business
• Minor(s): Spanish
• Zeta Beta Tau
• Pi Sigma Epsilon
• Class of 2026 Senator in Student Government Association

My Experience:

• CIEE: International Business and Culture, Seville, Spain, Fall 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Surfing off the coast of Portugal.”

Ask Me About:

• How to budget abroad
• Understanding cultural differences
• Making the most of your time abroad
• Tips to learn the local language

Salvatore Pugliese

spugliese2@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2027
• Major(s): English Literature
• Minor(s): Creative Writing
• Village Project
• Elon volunteers

My Experience:

• Advances Studies England – Bath, Spring 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Spending a week at the University of Oxford.”

Ask Me About:

• Making new friends abroad
• Solo travel
• How to budget effectively for abroad
• Homesickness

Mia Robinson

rmrobinson48@elon.edu

Who I am:

• Class: 2026
• Major: Accounting
• Minor: Finance
• Business Fellow
• Vice President of Development for Women in Sales
• Tour Guide for Elon Admissions
• Chabad

My Experience:

• Copenhagen, Denmark, DIS, Fall 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Making lifelong friends while abroad and getting the chance to travel with them. We continue to see each other throughout the year after abroad ended!”

Ask Me About:

• Forming new friendships abroad
• Where to eat abroad
• Traveling abroad for the first time
• Core courses vs. Elective courses with DIS

Olivia Rosen

orosen@elon.edu

Who I am:

• Class: 2026
• Majors: Biology &  Public Health Studies
• President of the Biology Club
• 2nd year Multifaith Intern
• Arabic Language Organization Honors Fellow
• Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society

My Experience:

• WT India: Public Health Studies Practicum, Winter 2025
• Honors Fellows: Turkey, Winter 2023
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Getting to live with a family in a rural community in India during my practicum was an amazing experience! I loved connecting with people, sharing stories, and being welcomed into their everyday lives. Being fully immersed in that environment was not only fun, but also reinforced much of what I learned during the practicum in a powerful way!”

Ask Me About:

• Building cultural competency skills
• Engaging with locals
• Exploring while abroad
• Fitting a study abroad experience into a dense course load

Taylor Salmon

tsalmon@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): International Business, International and Global Studies
• Minor(s): German, History

My Experience:

• CIEE Berlin, Germany, Fall 2024
• Taking Care of Business – Culture and Custom in the German Economy, Winter Term 2024

Jessica Schmidt

jschmidt14@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2027
• Major(s): Human Service Studies
• Minor(s): Spanish, Early Childhood
• Mentor for the Beyond 12 program
• Human Services Honors Society
• Leadership Honors Society
• Member and sisterhood chairwoman of Phi Mu

My Experience:

• HSS Practicum Costa Rica – Winter 2025
• CIEE Barcelona – Fall 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Working with the kids in the community of Ortega, Costa Rica and getting to know them!”

Ask Me About:

• Living with a host family
• Speaking in a second language abroad
• Balancing academics and travel
• Short term vs semester programs
• Volunteering abroad

Michaela Shapiro

mshapiro7@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2026
• Major(s): International and Global Studies: Europe, Environmental and Sustainability Studies
• Minor(s): Geography
• Elon Hillel
• Elon Residence Life

My Experience:

• Copenhagen, Denmark, DIS, Spring 2024
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Meeting people from many different cultures and countries while traveling through Europe.”

Ask Me About:

• Solo Travel
• Living with a host family
• Budgeting for travelling
• Learning a new language
• Cultural adjustments

Mary Sollars

msollars@elon.edu

Who I Am:

• Class: 2028
• Major: Accounting & Finance
• Track and Field
• Women in Finance
• Women in Sales

My Experience:

• Sorrento, Italy, Sant’Anna Institute – Summer 2025
• Favorite Elon Global Experience: “Traveling to different places in Europe while studying abroad.

Ask Me About:

• Public transportation
• Making friends abroad
• What to pack