Some say experience is the best teacher, and that is certainly true for Megan Bennett, an advisor at the Education Abroad Office. With years of experience in international travel, she brings a global perspective to her work, helping Lumberjacks find the best fit for their study abroad experiences. Having visited more than 40 countries—some for leisure, others for study and professional opportunities—she shares the most memorable parts of her journeys and advice for students who want to see the world.
What brought you to NAU?
NAU’s opportunities, values and culture align with my career goals and personal passions. Not to mention, Flagstaff has a plethora of hiking opportunities, irresistible cafes, caring people and an impressive arts scene. I also wanted to live closer to the Grand Canyon since I’m writing a futuristic novel set there. Every day is an adventure working at NAU, and if there’s one thing in the world that I appreciate, it is being on an inspiring, meaningful journey.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is working with the Education Abroad team, all of whom are extremely passionate, well-traveled and extraordinary people. I also enjoy the professional development opportunities and being based in the Blome building on a beautiful section of campus. Another favorite part of my job is seeing the students I advise develop and expand their sense of self, from having the seed of studying abroad planted in their minds and watching it grow and ultimately seeing them thrive while studying abroad and accomplish huge things upon return. In three words, I would describe my job as energetic, collaborative and colorful.
Tell me about your experiences studying abroad. Include where and what you have studied.
- McGill University in Montreal, Canada, on a May term program for first-generation students for an independent project on biomedical engineering
- Interning with a solar energy startup in Taipei, Taiwan, for a summer
- Hosting a girls-in-STEM high school empowerment camp in Nepal
- Volunteering service project for global health in Costa Rica
- Interning with a PR startup in Shanghai for a different summer
- Studying journalism for a semester in Edinburgh, Scotland, and interning with the Regional Equality Council
- Spending a year on the Thomas J, Watson Fellowship for my independent project on connecting with worldwide women in STEM communities (Rwanda, Oman, Vietnam, Australia, Malaysia, Cambodia, South Korea, Argentina, Chile)
- Trondheim, Norway, for my master’s in global health (2+ years) with three months of research in Tanzania (where I also got engaged at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro!)
What has been the most memorable part of your experiences?
The moments where I found myself in complete awe and wished that time could stop: at a night market in Shanghai, in the deserts of Oman, wading in the oceans on the coast of Australia, hiking the Andes at sunrise with an engineer I’d only met the day before. I write a lot of stories and poetry based on my experiences abroad, and that is how the memory lives on and how I share them.
What would you say to students who want to study abroad?
That there are nearly endless possibilities out there, and you should never hesitate to go after your dreams and seek out support. Take ownership of your study abroad experience and make the most out of it—define what it means for you to have a successful time studying abroad. Imagine how you can foster a reciprocal relationship with the community you will be living with. How could you become involved with community engagement? How could you expand your comfort zone to include ambiguity, uncertainty and flexibility in a new place?
What would you say are the most important things students will learn if they go abroad?
They will learn what they are truly passionate about and make lifelong friends. They will learn more about independence, perhaps for one of the first times in their lives. They will learn more about career opportunities. They will also learn that the world is so large, and there are so many different perspectives, and it will be humbling and nostalgic when they are in the airplane flying back home and realize how fast their time went by and how much they will miss it. Perhaps most importantly, they will learn about different attitudes and ways of life and incorporate a new day-to-day mindset and self-confidence when they re-enter.
Tell me about the different study abroad programs available at NAU.
At NAU, there are a tremendous number of accessible programs for students of all studies. From exchange programs to faculty-led programs, there is indeed a program (if not two or three or more!) waiting for every student to take the leap and join. Some unique programs we have are High School Momentum and Global Citizens Project Scholars. Programs like these widen access for international education in a creative and sustainable way. I am the advisor for programs in central and southern Europe, particularly in Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Malta. A few of my favorites that I work with are the summer programs in Italy with the study abroad provider USAC, as well as semester programs in Austria through the International Student Exchange Program. Students can take the first step toward their global journey by booking an appointment with an education abroad advisor.
Tell me about your travels and what you enjoy most about them.
I have traveled to more than 40 countries, and it all began with a short trip to Montreal, Canada, during my first year of undergrad. It was a program for first-generation students to carry out independent projects at McGill University, and coming from a small town in Indiana, I fell in love with the city: the noise, the chaotic flair, the art, the people, the smells, the conversations. Since then, I have traveled every chance I get. What I enjoy most is observation. I love to sit on a bench in the middle of a megalopolis and watch people go about their days or attend a festival or roam the city without a destination in mind. I most enjoy the interactions—especially the unexpected ones!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist, a neurosurgeon and fluent in French.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Going fishing with my cousins in the backyard of my aunt’s house.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
A sunrise hike in Sedona with dinner in Jerome.
What are three items on your bucket list?
Having a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia at sunrise, reading next to the Red Sea by Asmara, spending a day in Admont Abbey Library in Austria.