Meaningful Travel Insiders

After growing up in a small town in Southern Michigan, Elsa earned her bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2009, she embarked on her first international volunteer trip to the Philippines. After returning multiple times, she began her own community project in a rural village called Cangumbang. Elsa joined the GoAbroad team as a Content Intern in 2013, but she eventually became the company's first CMO. She now fills the role of COO for GoAbroad, coordinating day to day to day operations and business development.

Bianca holds a BA in Communication Arts degree from UP-Tacloban College. She loves baking cakes and cooking - always eager to try new recipes. She is fascinated by reading and watching documentaries. She dreams of exploring Italy and the Baltic region, with her heart set on witnessing the Northern Lights.

Kayla graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Colorado State University while working for GoAbroad, and has been there ever since. She has spent time in the Philippines, Thailand, Guam, Australia, Ireland, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and several states in the US. When she's not pouring over the latest social media news, she enjoys movies, country music, dessert, shopping, and traveling the world!

Troy Peden is a study abroad pioneer and the founder of GoAbroad.com, the first website devoted to meaningful travel opportunities. He has studied abroad, attended language schools, volunteered, worked, and traveled in multiple countries the world over. More recently, Troy is on a mission to visit every country on earth.

Rachael graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. When she studied abroad in Jönköping, Sweden, she fell in love with the concept of international education. Upon her return she began working in the International Affairs Office at SDSU, helping students find the perfect study abroad program. Eventually she ventured out west, with her husband, to Colorado where she is now Operations Manager for GoAbroad.

Eric Jamarr is a study abroad veteran, having studied in both Finland and South Africa. He has nearly 15 years of experience traveling, teaching, and living abroad while working with students of all ages and navigating cultures. He has a bachelor's degree in communication studies and has certificates in TEFL and professional writing. His interests include adventure travel, karaoke, biking, rivers, and beaches. He currently lives in Cali, Colombia, where he works as a content editor and Spanish teacher while contributing to content on GoAbroad.com.

Originally from Cyprus, Yaren is an island girl who writes about all things travel and expat life. As a Languages major, she loves learning about different languages, cultures, and countries all over the world. After studying in the UK and France, interning in Belgium, and backpacking in Latin America, Yaren wants to continue traveling for as long as she can. She wants to show that the best things in life come when we push our limits and broaden our horizons.

Having lived in Singapore, Qatar, Japan, and now Mexico, Munira is basically a walking GoAbroad experience. She now lives on the Pacific Coast of Mexico between Jalisco and Oaxaca and is a strong advocate for traveling responsibly and living abroad consciously, always enforcing the importance of respecting local customs around the world.

Jhasmine is a travel and lifestyle blogger promoting personal growth and development through travel. She has traveled extensively and shares her experience on her travel & lifestyle blog, Sincerely J. Wade. In her stories, Jhasmine highlights alternative ways of living and shows the world that the lines between travel, living, and working are no longer blurred. As an HBCU graduate, Jhasmine proudly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, where she discovered her passion for writing and travel.

Jacquie is originally from Southern California. She embarked on her first study abroad adventure in Italy in 2016. In her final semester of college, she interned in Germany to gain invaluable experience in her field. Jacquie’s travel style is planned with room for spontaneity, which translates to her work as a content writer and an international education professional.

Farryl Last is a poet and international educator from New York. She studied abroad in Paris and Berlin, taught English in Mantova, and worked as a study abroad advisor at CUNY Hunter College. Her poems appear in publications such as Cream City Review and SAND Journal. Her last name really is Last.

Julie fell in love with traveling in Costa Rica which led to years of volunteering, teaching, and studying on 5 continents. As a former guide for Rustic Pathways, Julie has experience leading student programs around the world, and enjoys the educational aspects of travel. Working at AFS-USA, an intercultural student exchange organization, continues to inspire her. When she’s not on the road, Julie enjoys running, biking, reading, and of course, writing!

Jessica grew up in California, where she learned to love the beach and sunny weather...and then spent the last eight years living in the snowy mountains of Utah. After earning her bachelor's degree in English, Jessica decided to fulfill her dreams of traveling the world. Her latest traveling adventures were in Venice, Rome, and Athens, with England next on the list. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can almost always find her around her sweet standard poodle, Maximus.

Hannah Sorila (she/her) aims to align intention and impact in global education and education abroad. After living through the chaos of studying and living abroad herself, Hannah strives to challenge the field of global education to become more ethical, decolonial, sustainable, and accessible. She believes in encouraging critical considerations of power, privilege, and positionality within travel, and strongly encourages individuals to deeply reflect upon their experiences in order to unpack them fully. She enjoys living in the question (and only sometimes gets stressed about it).

Andi Sciacca is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and their four-legged family. She is an Associate Professor of Writing & Humanities at The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and the Founder & Executive Director of The MKE Food School. Andi also works in nonprofit leadership and is into collaboration of all kinds. She values honest conversations about big ideas and little moments. When not working or writing, she loves to experience music, see the world, and learn new things. Her favorite places to travel include anywhere she can eat good food—and swim.

Growing up as an “army brat,” Sydney could not help but develop a thirst for traveling. She has visited all 50 states as well as England, France, Canada, Germany, and Australia (volunteered here for a month). She graduated with a master’s degree in public communication and technology in Colorado and taught abroad for a year in Quito, Ecuador. Her favorite things to do include studying Spanish, practicing yoga, and writing for GoAbroad.com.

Dominic has studied abroad in India, worked for GoAbroad’s content team in the Philippines, travelled throughout Europe and Asia as a freelance writer, and collaborated with ESL students from all over the world. He now lives in New York City and works in international relations media.

Rebecca’s desire to experience the world began as a young child during her first viewing of The Sound of Music. Four languages, 17 countries, and two misadventures to Maria’s Meadow later, Rebecca now fills her time writing about and marketing amazing places all over the world. Her travel experiences include studying abroad in Austria and Argentina, as well as backpacking Europe. When not talking up meaningful travel, she can be found playing the piccolo, enjoying the great outdoors of her Vermont home, and planning theme parties.

Carter can typically be found in Paris, where he's a professor, freelance writer, and student of public health. Sometimes he's at the pool swimming or commuting by bike. Previously, he lived in India and after, the Philippines, where he collaborated with GoAbroad's content team. One thing's certain, wherever he's at, he'll take a coffee and a few photos.

Char is an introverted lover of dragon fruit juice. She loves sitting with Nicaraguan children on the side of the street while patiently breaking down North American stereotypes. With a short haircut and watermelon shaped earrings, she is passionate about mental health and the rewards that come with vulnerable travel. Not only does she write for five different blogs, she also teaches art and English classes in the mountains of Nicaragua.

Julia is an avid traveler, lifelong artist, theater geek, interior designer, future author, and occasional teacher. Originally from Germany, she was raised and started her university studies in Texas, before moving to Italy for her first formal teaching experience. Since then, she has traveled throughout Europe and the Americas, constantly on the look-out for the next adventure. Julia has a habit of getting stuck in love-and-hate relationships with various countries…but love conquers all.

Julia recently graduated with a master’s in intercultural relations from Lesley University in Boston and moved back to her beloved Bay Area. During college, she fell in love with long term travel after spending a semester in Krakow, Poland. She has also spent time in Izmir, Turkey, teaching English and eating her weight in Turkish breakfasts. Julia prefers to travel through taste, learning about a country’s culture through its culinary highlights.

Joe is a travel writer, filmmaker, and podcaster who loves good beer, long bike rides, and getting lost in a new city. When he's able to sit still for more than a week, his videos and editorial work have been featured in a variety of domestic and international publications.

Kerianne Baylor is a curious world wanderer and a lover of languages, journaling, and random dancing. Studying abroad in Spain for a year wasn't enough, so she set her sights on South America. After teaching English on the Colombian coast, she headed to an equally-as-hot coastal city in Brazil to do the same. You'll find her scoping out ice cream spots, checking out yet another Brazilian beach, and snapping tons of pics along the way.

Steph is a literature graduate and former high school English teacher from the UK who left her classroom in July 2014 to become a full-time writer and volunteer. Passionate about education and how it can empower young people, she’s worked with various education NGOs and charities in South America. A cheese addict and Bolivian television personality (well, almost), she’s a lover of the great outdoors and never says no to an adventure.

Raised in a multicultural family in the colorful Chicago suburbs, Raquel’s greatest joy is gallivanting around the world, and learning about its endless cultures, languages, and foodie treasures. Raquel taught English abroad in Germany through the Fulbright program as a gap year after college graduation. She currently works at a software company and runs a tea blog called Steeped Dreams, picking up other eccentric hobbies in her spare time.

After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Global Studies, all this California girl wanted to do was travel! So she booked a one-way ticket to Mexico and has been hooked ever since. She's traveled to 6 of the 7 continents (coming for ya Antarctica!) and has worked in nonprofits around the world while getting her masters in International Development.

Jennifer plans her adventures from her bungalow in Maryland where she lives with her sweet family. From floating down the Niger river in Mali on a passenger steamer to watching the sunrise on a rooftop in Morocco, she’s passionate about travel to Francophone Africa and appreciates the tender moments that traveling abroad has to offer. Her favorite artists are Yuna and Stromae, and her dream is to write a book while traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway!

Rebekah is a culturally curious, dog-loving gal from Colorado with a strong affinity for desert landscapes. She studied Communication and Journalism at Colorado State University and took all classes with "international" in the title. She also spent a semester abroad in Thailand and is always looking for another opportunity to hop on a plane and explore.

Liz is a collector of grand adventures. She first discovered her passion for meaningful travel while interning abroad at an Italian newspaper nestled into a quiet alley in Florence and has since made her way through more than twenty countries and counting. This New Jersey native is now enjoying expat life in Australia, where you can find her hiking to epic waterfalls, frolicking on white sand beaches, or cooking her own homemade pasta.

Lucy is an avid reader and a travel junkie! She hopes to write her own book one day and inspire people with her travel stories.

Aaron is a Project Integration Manager at an international technology company, currently working in Da Nang, Vietnam. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he has spent the last two years working internationally in Asia. Through his website, 12hourdifference.co, he is sharing his insights as well as the insights of other professional expats from around the world with millennials who are curious about taking an international career path.

Born and raised in Northern California, Andrea is passionate about outdoor adventures, the environment, and meaningful travel. When she's not freelance writing or working at an ESL school, you can find her rock climbing, camping, or attempting to salsa dance . She's taught and studied abroad in four countries and is stoked to visit New Zealand next! She earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University.

Jade is a freelance writer, teacher, intercultural exchange facilitator, and non-profit consultant. In the past, she managed a small Ethnographic Field School in Morocco, did research for the United Nations in Beirut, and edited a newspaper in Cairo. She has a master’s degree from the American University in Cairo, which mostly qualifies her to smoke copious amounts of sheesha and rant about foreign policy at parties.

Mariel is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where she studied public policy and sociology. She fell in love with meaningful travel as a study abroad student in the Czech Republic, where she returned as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant after graduation. Mariel is dedicated to all things international exchange and spends her free time learning languages and always planning her next trip.

After intermittent volunteer stints in South Africa, Guatemala, and India, Niki decided to quit her job in the U.S. to pursue a life of full time international volunteering and writing. She uses her experience working in non-profits to volunteer wherever her heart leads her and plans to pursue an international master’s program to further her impact, because, Ubuntu.

Mary Ellen first knew she wanted to travel the world when she was 8 years old, staying up past her bedtime to read stories about international adventures. She has since worked, volunteered, and studied in five different countries, including receiving a Masters from the London School of Economics. Mary Ellen currently works in DC at the intersection of cultural anthropology, international development, and gender equality.  

Danielle graduated from the University of Mary Washington with degrees in English, creative writing, and Italian. She lived in southern Italy for five years and has so far traveled to fifteen countries, in addition to studying abroad in Bath, England and Bologna, Italy. Next up in her travel plans: Iceland! Danielle is currently the social media manager and assistant editor at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), where she gets to combine her loves of writing, Instagram, and pasta.

Joe emits a distinct enthusiasm that echoes across borders. Having recently graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s in business marketing, Joe spent much of his undergraduate career pursuing a worldly perspective, whether that was studying abroad in Prague, mentoring exchange students, or co-founding CSU’s first international business organization. Joe aspires to learn how to surf, fight crime, and find the world’s best milkshake.

Suzanne is a freelance travel writer and international educator. Although originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she first caught the travel bug when she studied abroad in the UK. Since then, she has interned in the U.S., taught English to high school students in Japan, and traveled to 19 countries. When she’s not working, she loves hiking, going to the beach, writing short stories, and swapping recipes with other travelers.

Kendall is a travel junkie, sustainability activist, nutrition guru, personal chef, writer, and missionary. She studied nutrition communication at Arizona State University and is currently living in Michigan. Kendall has traveled to Australia, Europe, and Africa.

A proud Wisconsin-native, Laura has been calling the mountains of Colorado home since 2014. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in 2013 with a communication major and minors in nutrition and psychology. Laura has volunteer abroad in Costa Rica, interned abroad in Germany, and spent time exploring various Central American and European destinations. In addition to writing for GoAbroad, she is currently tending bar and fostering shelter dogs while figuring out her next endeavor.

Alisa began traveling overseas at age 16. With every new destination since then, the desire to do something meaningful with her experiences has grown. She has worked for study abroad organizations, advised international students, and taught English overseas. Alisa holds a master’s degree in international public service and enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and of course, traveling.