Describe a typical day at work as the Managing Director of Loop Abroad.
A typical day at work for me is mostly spent answering questions, solving problems, and communicating with students, parents, staff, and partner projects to make sure that every Loop Abroad student has an excellent, safe experience. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work in study abroad that students don't necessarily see, but I think our students feel supported because they know that someone is there to answer their questions any time, day or night.
Loop Students learning from a cheetah vet in South Africa
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is seeing what our students go on to do after their Loop Abroad experiences. Many of them continue to learn more about the animals they've worked with, support amazing organizations, and travel to new locations. And of course lots of them go on to vet school! We love to see them meeting their goals and taking on causes that matter to them.
What challenges do you often face in your role and how do you overcome them?
Pre-vet students often think that study abroad won't work for their schedule, or they aren't sure how they can get the most out of their study abroad experience on their journey to vet school. So part of my job is to help pre-vet students understand the different study abroad and travel options available to them so that they can find something that works for their academic goals and their budget! I think sometimes people don't know that study abroad can be the same price or even less expensive than staying on their home campus for the semester—so it's really something any college student can explore if they're willing to do the work.
Loop Abroad student at an elephant sanctuary
What are some current projects you are working on?
Right now I'm working on our Global Veterinary Semester Abroad, which is a 12-week, 18-credit program that lets students do a whole pre-veterinary course in the summer. It's really exciting because we have lots of students who want to do a semester abroad, but can't fit our Thailand Veterinary Semester Abroad into their four-year schedule, so the summer semester is a great option. Our students will travel to South Africa, Thailand, and Ecuador on the program, so there is a lot to plan!
What makes Loop Abroad special?
Loop Abroad's focus on animal-based specialities such as pre-veterinary, animal science, and marine biology is unique in the field of study abroad. Following a study abroad model in the pre-veterinary world allows our students to be taught in small groups by a vet whose main job is to teach them, which is a contrast to shadowing a vet. We think our students really get a lot out of following that model.
Why should someone choose Loop Abroad over competitors?
If you are a student looking for a pre-veterinary study abroad experience, Loop Abroad is a clear choice. In particular, programs have great support and information for first-time travelers or students who might not be comfortable traveling on their own. And for pre-vet students wanting to do a semester abroad, our Thailand and Global Veterinary Semester Abroad programs are a stand-out option because of the number of veterinary hours, quality of coursework, variety of programming, amount of biology credits, and variety of experiences you can have during your semester—they are truly one-of-a-kind!
How do you help support participants?
One thing we're very proud of is our student support! Students and parents can call us or email us any time, and we're happy to help. We can help students with everything from choosing a flight to working with their school on college credit. And even once the program's over, we love helping students with questions about resumes, vet school applications, recommendation letters, internships—they become part of the Loop family!
A Loop Abroad group in Thailand
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Our most common questions are about veterinary experience and how to afford study abroad. When it comes to veterinary experience, our programs offer up to 80 veterinary hours during a two-week course, so they can be very valuable to students who are looking to apply to vet school but haven't had that experience elsewhere.
When it comes to affording study abroad, we can work with students and their school’s study abroad and financial aid offices to ensure they know about all opportunities for using financial aid, loans, grants, scholarships, and other support toward their tuition.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
I always advise students to do their research! Talk to past participants, read reviews, ask the organization questions, and find out about the things that matter to you before you commit your time and money to the experience. I also advise those students who do choose to go abroad to make the most out of their experience in every way they can, including reflecting on what they learn and building on it once they return home.
A Loop Abroad group on a Thailand summer program
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I think the answer to this would really depend on the person. Anything that is "meaningful" to you has meaning, but we like our programs to be meaningful in a broader sense - they are helping students to become better, to grow, and to engage in their profession in a meaningful way.
We want to make sure they are learning things that matter to them and supporting local organizations that make a lasting positive impact! We try to look from a number of perspectives when we design curriculum so that the students will find meaning in what they're doing, but it will also support development in a sustainable and culturally appropriate way.
