Hi there! I'm Matt Beckstrom, and I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where I currently live and work. I'm a theatre major with a concentration in acting at Skidmore College. This fall, as a rising junior I am studying at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. I've had a passion for photography for most of my life, and I am so happy to be able to share my experiences with IES.
My name is Emily Nazario. I am a senior at Ithaca College studying flute performance. This fall, I will be studying abroad in Amsterdam, The Netherlands through IES's program: Conservatorium van Amsterdam- Direct Enrollment. I am beyond thrilled to have this opportunity to learn and grow, not only in my musical abilities, but also in life experience. I am excited to meet and connect with people from around the world, and immerse myself in a new culture.
Ella Fornari is a biology and media arts double major at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA and hails from Brooklyn, NY. Her interests include but are not limited to zoology, film, digital design, coffee, natural history, photography, scientific media, KenKen puzzles, bicycles, and the third person. She has an encyclopedia-like knowledge of the NYC subway system which will prove useless while she is studying evolution and ecology in the Galapagos Islands
Hola! My name is Sara Menendez. I’m a Communication major and Photography minor at Emerson College. I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela: a city full of people that struggle but that still enjoy life as if it was their last day on earth. I love traveling, discovering new places and cultures, meeting new people and I try to appreciate little things in life because these are the ones that bring us the biggest happiness.
Hi everyone, my name is Rachel but some of my friends call me Rach, Chel, Chela, or sass-master (....maybe we should just stick to Rachel?). I'm a Colorado girl who has fallen in love with Northern California while attending Santa Clara University. If you're curious, I'm a junior working towards a degree in Marketing with minors in Entrepreneurship and International Studies. This fall I'm trading the comforts of campus for the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I'm excited to test out city living and carry over my interest in photographing, eating good food, and exploring as much as possible!
My name is Brea Baker and I'm a junior at Yale University (Boola Boola!). I'm obsessed with all things related to travel, sushi, Beyonce, activism and Scandal. Freshman year I was bitten by the travel bug and I've been traveling ever since. Follow me on the next journey of my life to the great outback, Australia, where I hope to find nemo, pick up an Australian accent, and become a world class surfer.
My name is Clayton Kovich and I am a Junior at Purdue University in Indiana. I am studying Psychology with a focus on criminal behavior, hoping to aid in the growing industry of rehabilitation. I am from Michigan originally, but having moved many times growing up I have developed a fondness for travel, leading me to this adventure to New Zealand. I love poetry and music, and I look forward to the inspiration and insight this experience will provide me, and hope to use my talents to bring a piece of that experience home for others to enjoy as well.