CIEE Announces Latin America Student Fellows

Thirty-two students awarded up to a full scholarship to study abroad with CIEE in Latin America

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) announced the Fall 2025 cohort of CIEE's Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellows, including 32 students from 26 colleges who will study abroad on scholarship in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

CIEE's commitment to Leading Change in Study Abroad in Latin America includes providing up to 100 full semester scholarships and a living stipend of $2,000 to 100 US college students in Fall '25 and Spring '26. Combined with 30% financial grants on all CIEE programs in Latin America brings the total Leading Change in Study Abroad in Latin America investment to over $2 million.

CIEE hopes to encourage more students to embrace the rich history, culture, and languages of Latin America. In addition to awarding scholarships and discounts, CIEE has launched dozens of new study abroad programs in Latin America, including programs in business, engineering, computer science, ecology, and sustainability, as well as offering international internships in all CIEE locations.

CIEE's Latin America locations include Buenos Aires, Argentina; São Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Monteverde, Costa Rica; Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic; Mérida, Mexico; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The CIEE Latin America Student Fellows will share their journeys with peers via social media, blogs, and video storytelling to inspire their fellow classmates to consider studying abroad in Latin America. When they return home, they will serve as CIEE campus ambassadors at their US colleges and universities, continuing their impact as advocates for global learning and cross-cultural exchange.

Below is the full cohort of Fall 2025 CIEE Latin America Student Fellows, their home colleges, and their CIEE study abroad programs:

Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Carmen Rodriguez, Merrimack College, Semester in Buenos Aires
• Sarah Cavallaro, Central Michigan University, Semester in Buenos Aires
• Joscelyn Caldwell, Tulane University of Louisiana, Semester in Buenos Aires
• Sophia Neal, California Polytechnic State University, Semester in Buenos Aires
• Olivia Goering, Allegheny College, Liberal Arts
• Angelina Bourgi, The New School, Liberal Arts
• Abby Russ, University of South Alabama, Liberal Arts

Mérida, Mexico

• Dylan Boling, Tulane University of Louisiana, Semester in Yucatan
• Tziavi Melendez, Tufts University, Semester in Yucatan
• Emma Bryzik, Oakland University, Open Campus Block
• Julia Hanson, University Of Kansas, Liberal Arts

Monteverde, Costa Rica

• Leticia Avila, College of Lake County, Semester in Monteverde
• Olivia Bohl, Northern Michigan University, Semester in Monteverde
• Milad Khezrefaridi, The University of Texas at Austin, Semester in Monteverde
• Emma Lim, California Polytechnic State University, Open Campus Block
• Naomi Kramer, University of Florida, Open Campus Block
• Claire Wolfe, Arizona State University, Sustainability + The Environment
• Melissa Santiesteban, University of Florida, Sustainability + The Environment
• Aden Howell, University of Colorado-Boulder, Sustainability + The Environment
• Chiharu Imaki, University of Washington, Tropical Ecology + Conservation
• Jennifer Adu, Virginia State University, Tropical Ecology + Conservation
• Jazlyn Howell, Virginia State University, Tropical Ecology + Conservation

Santiago, Chile

• Emily Tiihonen, Kalamazoo College, Semester in Santiago CH
• Kara Juhl, University of Iowa, Liberal Arts
• Isabella Wilson, Indiana University-Bloomington, Liberal Arts
• Duncan Gallagher, Western Washington University, Liberal Arts

Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

• Crislenny Mendez, Hunter College, Semester in Santiago DR
• Margaret Stapleton, Wofford College, Liberal Arts

Multiple Open Campus Block Locations 

• Jacqueline Martinez, Rutgers University, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Monteverde, Costa Rica + Mérida, Mexico
• Mariana Londono, Merrimack College, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile + Monteverde, Costa Rica
• Madison Altenbach, Northern Arizona University, Open Campus Blocks: Mérida, Mexico + Monteverde, Costa Rica + Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Alma Wigzell, Western Washington University, Open Campus Blocks: Santiago, Chile + Buenos Aires, Argentina

For updates from the Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellows, follow CIEEStudyAbroad and the hashtags #CIEELATAM and #CIEEStudyAbroad on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

This Latin America Student Fellowship is just one of several CIEE initiatives designed to open doors to Latin America for students of all backgrounds, including:

• $5,500 grants for Open Campus Block programs (semester cost: $11,000)
• $2,500 grants on Summer Global Internships (now $4,950)
• Reduced pricing for all Mérida programs starting January 2026

With these efforts, we hope to lead a new generation of students to embrace learning opportunities in Latin America.

About CIEE: Since 1947, CIEE has built bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures through study abroad and international exchange programs that advance peace in our world. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org.

Media contact: Leslie Taylor, [email protected], (207) 553-4274

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SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)