Education Abroad

Alessia Astuto

• Email: AA1015667@wcupa.edu
• Major: Graphic and Interactive Design
• Minor: Digital Marketing
• Class: Senior

Weekly Hours: Tuesdays 9:00 - 12:00, Thursdays 10:00 - 12:30

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, through the Creative Industries and Italian Culture program. During my time abroad, I had the incredible opportunity to experience a new culture while developing both personally and academically. Through courses such as Museums of Florence and Intermediate Drawing, I was able to learn about Florence’s history, art, and culture. As a class, we visited various museums, churches, and other locations throughout the city. Going into the program solo challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and adapt to a new environment and culture. My experience abroad helped me grow in ways I never expected and gain knowledge that I can use in my future career. I hope to share my experience with other students and help make the study abroad process feel more approachable and achievable.

Maddie Green

• Email: MG1010928@wcupa.edu
• Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Minor: Digital Marketing and Elementary Education
• Class:Senior

Weekly Hours: Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00, Fridays 9:00 - 12:00

I am a senior at West Chester University studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with minors in Digital Marketing and Elementary Education. During my time at WCU, I have studied abroad in Ireland, Sweden, Ghana, and Italy, and I’ll be studying abroad for a fifth time in Buenos Aires, Argentina this November. Studying abroad has helped me become more independent, social, and confident while allowing me to experience new cultures, make lifelong friends, and create memories I’ll always cherish. I am hoping to complete a sixth study abroad program before I graduate, and I’m so excited to help other WCU students have experiences like these too.

Mariama Kabbah

• Email: mkabbah703@wcupa.edu
• Major: International Business
• Minor: Senior

Weekly Hours: Tuesdays 12:00 - 2:00, Wednesdays 9:00 - 12:00

This past summer, I studied abroad at ISCTE Business School in Lisbon, Portugal, completing coursework in Management Consulting Essentials and International Financial Management. I had the chance to work alongside students from nearly every continent on the globe, and the cross-cultural exchange was just as valuable as anything I learned in the classroom. Together we tackled a consulting project, which pushed me to think more critically about global business strategy and how to communicate across cultures in a meaningful way. The experience deepened my commitment to building a career with international impact, and I am genuinely excited to help WCU students find their own version of that spark.

Keira Lamancusa

• Email: KL1020193@wcupa.edu
• Major: Spanish w/ Seconday Education Certification
• Minor: Linguistics
• Class: Senior

Weekly Hours: Mondays 10:00 - 12:00 and 12:30 - 3:30

I am a Spanish major with a Secondary Education certification, a Linguistics minor, and a three-time study abroad student. My first experience was a winter term in Cuenca, Ecuador, through Albright College’s Global Scholars Program in December 2023–January 2024, before I transferred to West Chester University. I later traveled to Tamarindo, Costa Rica, with WCU’s Literacy Department in Spring 2025, where I gained a new perspective on classrooms, educational resources, and how students learn English. In Fall 2025, I spent a semester in Barcelona through WCU’s partner program with IAU-ACM. Four of my five classes were taught in Spanish, and through the Spanish Honors Program, I had small, personalized classes, including an advanced one-on-one course. Living with a host mom was also a huge part of my experience, giving me the opportunity to experience Spanish and Catalan culture in a way that a classroom alone could not. I still keep in touch with her today!

Each of these experiences has made me more confident and independent while giving me a broader perspective on language, education, and different cultures. Being able to live and learn in different communities showed me how much culture influences the way people communicate, learn, and connect with one another. As a future teacher, I know these experiences will shape how I connect with my students and create a classroom where everyone feels included. As a Global Ambassador, I hope to help other students find a program that is right for them and discover the personal, academic, and professional growth that comes from studying abroad.

Josh Winters

• Email: JW1020070@wcupa.edu
• Major: International Business
• Minor: Finance
• Class: Senior

Weekly Hours: Wednesdays 10:00 - 12:30 and 1:00 - 3:30

In Spring 2026, I studied abroad in London. London was a great home base for me because English is the first language, which made communication easy, and the Underground made getting around very easy. I was in London from Monday to Wednesday completing my classes, then from Thursday to Sunday I would travel to other European countries. Three of my favorite places I visited included Merzouga, Morocco, Rome, Italy, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Studying abroad taught me many things, but the two that stand out the most were communication skills and independence. In countries that spoke languages other than English, communication was challenging, but there were other ways to communicate using body language and technology. Moving to another continent is something that was definitely a little scary to start, but it's something that grew my independence. Navigating around Europe, managing money, and learning to adapt all contributed to that. These skills that I learned from study abroad have helped tremendously in my academic and professional career.