International Studies Program Alumni - Languages, Literatures and International Studies

Majors: International Studies major with a Latin America concentration, Spanish major

I have so many great memories associated with this program – where do I start? I’ve loved all the classes I’ve taken for both my majors, and all the great people I’ve met along the way. Participating in Spanish Day every year was so fun – I always looked forward to it every year. I loved putting on events for students as the president of Spanish Club. Performing a play in Spanish during my Mexican Theatre class was definitely one of the highlights of my time here. Traveling to Salamanca last year was a time of so much growth in my Spanish language and as a person. Studying abroad in Costa Rica, of course, was one of the best parts of my university experience. Best program requirement ever!

Major and minors: International Studies major, French minor, Anthropology minor

My favorite moments as an LLIS student would have to be my Intro to International Studies course, all of my French courses, and my study abroad experience in Stirling, Scotland. All of these moments have shaped me into the person I am today and have helped lead me to what I will be doing post-graduation. 

I will miss the community I have built here at NMU the most post-graduation. I have been lucky enough to find amazing friends and make great connections with my professors here at NMU which makes graduating and moving away so hard.

Major and minor: International Studies major with a Global Studies concentration, Political Science minor

My favorite moments as an LLIS student were the ones where I took the things I learned in my IP courses and was able to notice little nuances in society. How the intersectionality of identities became clearer- and I understood the world a little better.

As an NMU student, the best moments were the ones where I was able to step out of my comfort zone and achieve goals that I thought were unachievable. Whether it was studying abroad, or working with the administration, I became the best version of myself here.

Major: International Studies with a Global Studies concentration

I would advocate the NMU program and Dr. Ulland's direct leadership through my abroad program and in the international studies discipline because of the ability I found in the interdisciplinary education to leverage my different and broad humanitarian experiences to be able to go after most jobs I could possibly want currently, maybe save for STEM fields. 

Majors: International Studies major with a Global Studies concentration, Spanish major

The International Studies and Spanish double major track at NMU is the only reason I do what I do today. To have had the chance to study abroad, strengthen my ability to speak a second language, but also the chance to understand broader global cultural, socioeconomic, and political issues led me to pursue my passion of climate justice. 

Everything we learned about in our Spanish culture and International Studies classes somehow always brought things back to inequities in the world and I knew that after leaving Northern I had to be part of finding solutions and pushing for global change. 

Major and minor: International Studies major with a Latin America concentration, Sustainability minor

Majoring in International Studies at Northern Michigan University was an incredibly dynamic experience that has shaped me into the person I am today. Complementing the standard course requirements, my undergrad experience was enriched by participation in student organizations, friendships formed with NMU’s international student and faculty population, and, of course, study abroad by way of a full scholarship. 

Today, I am proud to say that I have a wonderful job in my field right back in the city I came from: Grand Rapids, Michigan. I returned to my hometown 5 years ago and was humbled to rediscover my community through the new lens that I developed during my years away; my first job back in Grand Rapids saw me teaching English to Latino mothers and fathers through a nonprofit called the Literacy Center of West Michigan. It’s a beautiful thing to teach English to foreigners in their home countries, but to give the gift of literacy to newcomers in my very own community, to people recently arrived in the US and navigating a whole new world with their young children, fills the heart beyond words.