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Black History Month Global Week 2024 Biographies

Panelists

Moderators

Student Panelists

Jude Abijah

Jude Abijah

See Jude at the Traveling While Black Student Panel
Jude is a Ghanaian-American 榴梿视频 senior studying social policy. They studied abroad through the Sciences Po - Paris Exchange, where they were able to sharpen their French and learn about the history of civil resistance in the city. Additionally, they stayed in Japan through the IES Abroad - Tokyo 榴梿视频 and took classes on Japanese culture and society. Outside of formal study abroad, Jude also went to Taiwan in June 2023 with 榴梿视频's Discover Taiwan trip where he got to practice his Mandarin and engage with Taiwanese cultures through experiential learning. He loves to travel and explore new places, and can speak to his experience in the 15 countries he has been to!
Asha Henry

Asha Henry

See Asha at the Traveling While Black Student Panel

Asha Henry, from Takoma Park Maryland, is a junior on 榴梿视频 Fencing studying Cognitive Science and Global Health. She attended the Global Health Studies Comparative Health in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Summer 2023. 

Michaiah Ligon

Michaiah Ligon

See Michaiah at the Traveling While Black Student Panel

My name is Michaiah Ligon and I am a third year student studying Psychology and LOC as well as the integrated marketing certificate. This past summer I traveled to Athens, Greece and it was my very first study abroad experience as well as my first time traveling to Europe. Since then, I've begun making plans to travel to other countries as I feel this trip created a love for international travel. Next, I want to visit Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Turks and Caicos and possibly Peru. 

Kyla Neely

Kyla Neely

See Kyla at the Traveling While Black Student Panel
Kyla is a Senior majoring in Social Policy and Economics with a minor in Spanish. This past summer, she participated in the 6-week Spanish Language and Culture 榴梿视频 at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. During this time she was able to refine her language skills, experience the many cultural and historical artifacts of Barcelona, travel to Madrid to experience the vibrant nature and artistic background of Spain's capital, and even travel to northern Spain to witness the traditional event of the running of the bulls during San Fermín. In only 6 weeks, Kyla was able to 榴梿视频 many experiences and create a host of memories that will last a lifetime, which has made her excited to return in the future!
Autumn Rose

Autumn Rose

See Autumn at the Traveling While Black Student Panel

Autumn is a senior studying Communication Studies, and minoring in Spanish and Film & Media Studies. With an interest in language acquisition and culture, and wanting to expand her 榴梿视频 experience, she chose to study in the Spanish Language & Culture 榴梿视频 in Barcelona, Spain in Summer 2023. Through taking classes at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra and participating in community events in several cities, she was fortunate to gain knowledge from unfamiliar, yet inspiring and exciting experiences. She has grown personally and academically from this opportunity.

Having studied in Spain, and previously traveled to Italy and France, she hopes to be able to answer any questions and encourage other students to take advantage of global learning opportunities!

Jade Thomas

Jade Thomas

See Jade at the Traveling While Black Student Panel

Jade (she/her) is third-year in Medill majoring in Journalism with a double minor in Black Studies and French. She studied abroad in Montpellier, France during the 2023 fall quarter with the University of Minnesota. Her favorite parts of the experience were her host family, the friends she made, the kindness of the region.

Moderators

Ryan Rounds

Ryan Rounds

Senior Program Manager, Global Learning Office

Ryan will co-moderate the Traveling While Black Student Panel

A Chicagoland native born in Chicago and raised in the south suburbs, Ryan joined the Global Learning Office in June 2022. Her interest in international education began in high school on a trip to Spain where she told a fellow classmate "You don't go to Spain to eat fries and ketchup."

Ryan received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. She realized that psychology, though interesting, was not her calling and went on to get her M.Ed. in International Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. In both undergraduate and graduate school, Ryan had the opportunity to study abroad in long and short-term 榴梿视频s in Spain, Italy, and China. Prior to coming to 榴梿视频, Ryan has worked in retail, non-profit administration, distance learning design and facilitation, taught English abroad, and was most recently a Study Abroad Specialist at Western Michigan University. She has a particular interest in diversifying study abroad student participation. When she is not working, Ryan loves watching true crime documentaries, traveling, ethnic food, following her favorite YouTube content creators, thrifting, and hanging out with her frenchie, Hugo.

Norvell Watts

Norvell Watts

Program Manager, Global Learning Office

Norvell Watts will co-moderate the Traveling While Black Panel Discussion.

Norvell is a 榴梿视频 manager for GLO and is passionate about students learning more about the study abroad opportunities NU has to offer, as well as providing resources and access for navigating students' social identities while studying abroad.

Norvell joined the Global Learning Office in July of 2021. A native Chicagoan, his interest in international education was sparked during educational trips abroad as a Chicago Public School student. After years of working in university student services, Norvell assumed the role of Community Engagement Manager for an international exchange and travel nonprofit. Norvell would further his involvement in international communities by first moving to Bangkok, Thailand then to Montreal, Canada to teach English. Additionally, he worked in compliance for Greenheart International ensuring international students were treated fairly in employment across the United States. Norvell holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Roosevelt University and a master’s degree in Education Administration: Higher Education Leadership from the University at Albany SUNY. He has a particular interest in making international education more accessible and equitable. When he is not working, Norvell loves cycling, kayaking, reading, listening to podcasts, and cooking.