Student Team

Study Abroad Workshop

Peer Advisors

Peer advisors are an integral part of the Global Education team and play a significant role in supporting study abroad operations. They are often the first individuals that students meet when coming to the Global Education Office (GEO).

As students who have previously studied abroad, the peer advisors are here to guide fellow students through the study abroad process. They conduct study abroad workshops, advise students on program options and processes, and promote study abroad on campus.

Peer advisors can be contacted at peeradvisors@wm.edu and are available for walk-in advising Monday through Friday, 11 am - 5 pm. Students can also make an appointment to talk to a peer advisor one-on-one for more in-depth advising.

Current Peer Advisors: 2024-25 Academic Year

Veena Larsen (she/her)

Major/Minor: Neuroscience with Minor in Russian Language & Literature
Study Abroad Program/Location: Dublin, Ireland with Arcadia Abroad
Hometown: Reston, Virginia
Graduation: Spring 2025
Find me in Reves: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00am-1:30pm & Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am-12:30pm

Livia Martinez (she/her)

Major/Minor: Communications & Digital Media Management with Minor in Psychology
Study Abroad Programs/Locations: Berlin, Germany & Madrid, Spain with CIEE
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
Graduation: Spring 2025
Find me in Reves: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00pm-5:00pm

Josh Budzinski (he/him)

Major/Minor: International Relations with Minor in Hispanic Studies
Study Abroad Programs/Locations: Sevilla, Spain with W&M
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
Graduation: Spring 2025
Find me in Reves: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30pm-2:00pm & Fridays from 11:00am-1:00pm

Neah Nixon (she/her)

Major/Minor: Psychology with Minor in Biology
Study Abroad Program/Location: Berlin, Germany with W&M
Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
Graduation: Spring 2025
Find me in Reves: Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00pm-3:00pm

Jack Sanfilippo (he/him)

Major/Minor: History and Finance
Study Abroad Program/Location: Prague with W&M and CIEE Open Block in Kyoto, Copenhagen, & Rome
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Graduation: Spring 2025
Find me in Reves: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:00pm-5:00pm

Study Abroad Student Advisory Board (SASAB) * On Hiatus *

sasab info

Mission & Bylaws

Mission

The W&M Study Abroad Student Advisory Board (SASAB) seeks to support the Global Education Office in ways that promote student awareness of study abroad experiences and increase student preparation, helping students maximize their opportunities before, during, and after their time abroad.

Board Functions

To fulfill the mission, SASAB serves the following functions:

Sounding Board – SASAB will provide recommendations to assist GEO in improving services or programs to better serve students seeking study abroad opportunities and SA returnees. SASAB will thus also gather feedback from study abroad students formally or informally to gauge effectiveness and progress. Topics of discussion should include the decision-making process, navigating through the application process, pre-departure resources and orientation, returning back to campus, etc. Students should be prepared to give feedback as well as feasible ideas to improve processes.

Community Building – SASAB will build relationships and community among study abroad students and with the Global Education Office.

Program Facilitation – SASAB will facilitate programs to engage study abroad students and promote study abroad and cross-cultural interaction on campus. SASAB will have an integral part in the planning of outreach events to prospective students, cultural programming, and re-entry events for returnees.

Advocacy – SASAB serves to raise the concerns of study abroad students collectively and formally and to educate students about study abroad opportunities and processes.

Marketing & Promotion

Advising & Consulting

Engaging & Transitioning

Membership & Structure

SASAB is comprised of W&M students who have participated in study abroad programs with a desire to promote study abroad on campus. SASAB members must serve on the Board for one academic year, however can serve for more than one year if desired.

General Responsibilities of SASAB Members

Members are required to participate in Mandatory Training/Orientation at the beginning of Fall semester.

SASAB members are expected to attend all meetings and represent the large population of undergraduate students participating in study abroad. Only two unexcused absences will be permitted. The Advisory Board meets once a month. Members should be aware of their class schedule and plan to be available for meetings once a month. Meetings will be held on Friday afternoons. Meeting dates and times will be confirmed prior to first meeting.

Members will fulfill their outreach and advocacy roles for study abroad by agreeing to assist in the Global Education Projects. Members should be prepared to devote approx. 4-8 hours each month toward SASAB initiatives.

Members must be available for the occasional evening or weekend events, as determined by SASAB. Each member must participate in at least 2 events each academic year/appointment (in addition to other projects).

Members will help provide feedback to current Global Education Office priorities and objectives.

Members will research and survey the current student body throughout the year. SASAB members will work with the Global Education office to overcome some of the ongoing challenges and obstacles certain majors, underrepresented and marginalized students face when studying abroad.

Application & Selection Process

Applications typically open in March or August for the following academic year and selections are made prior to Fall semester. SASAB seeks to seat a board that is diverse and broadly representative of W&M’s student body. Members must be on academic and non-academic good standing. Applicants should have strong public speaking skills, compelling stories about their study abroad experience, and a willingness to accept a variety of projects.

Programming

SASAB should be prepared to program at least 1 event each month.

Sample Program Calendar:

FALL	August	SASAB Mandatory Training SASAB Initial Meeting Welcome Back Pizza Party
	September	SASAB Meeting Study Abroad Fair Freshman Dorm Visits Sorority/ Fraternity Visits Visit with Athletics Department-Freshman course
	October	SASAB Meeting Summer Study Abroad Open House Diversity Abroad Panel Discussion/Event Collaborate with Student Engagement Team Freshman Dorm Visits GEO Photo Contest
	November	Pre-Departure Orientation (Spring) SASAB Meeting GEO-Social Media Campaigns
	December	SASAB Meeting GEO-Social Media Campaigns
SPRING	January	Welcome Back Pizza Party SASAB Meeting GEO-Social Media Campaigns Swem Study Abroad Event One-on-One Advising Freshman Dorm Visits Classroom Presentations
	February	SASAB Meeting Sustainability Abroad Panel Discussion or Event (with W&M Sustainability Club) National Study Abroad Day Cheese From Around the World Tasting Event
	March	SASAB Meeting St. Andrews First Abroad Student Event
	April	Pre-Departure Orientation (Summer, Fall, Academic Year) SASAB Meeting One Tribe One Day Events
	May	SASAB Meeting GEO-Social Media Campaigns

Key: Meetings, Global Education Office Event, SASAB Event, Training

Assist with special projects as assigned
Marketing and Promotion to student groups on campus throughout the year
Collaboration with Student Engagement Team for study abroad events

Expectations

Members will treat colleagues and meetings with respect.

Show up on time and prepared with any information or materials you might need.

Do not speak over each other.

Communicate with the Board via GroupMe.

If you are unable to attend a meeting or event, find a replacement.

Members are only allowed to 1 excused absence from Board meetings per semester. If you have more than 1 unexcused absence, your membership may be re-evaluated.

Members should be prepared to devote 4-8 hours each month to SASAB duties/events. Some months may require more effort than others due to scheduling and study abroad deadlines/events.

History/Background

SASAB was established in 2012.

Board Functions/Goals

Marketing and Promotion
Advising and Consulting
Engaging and Transitioning

General Responsibilities of Members

Members are required to participate in Mandatory Training/Orientation at the beginning of Fall semester.
SASAB members are expected to attend all meetings and represent the large population of undergraduate students participating in study abroad. The Advisory Board meets once a month. Members should be aware of their class schedule and plan to be available for meetings once a month. Meetings will be held on Friday afternoons. Meeting dates and times will be confirmed at the first meeting.
Members will fulfill their outreach and advocacy roles for study abroad by agreeing to assist in the Global Education Projects
Members must be available for the occasional evening or weekend events, as determined by SASAB.
Members will help provide feedback to current Global Education Office priorities and objectives
Members will research and survey the current student body throughout the year. SASAB members will work with the Global Education office to overcome some of the on-going challenges and obstacles certain majors, underrepresented and marginalized student’s face when studying abroad.

Apply for SASAB

Application for SASAB opens in March for the academic year.

Members should be applying with the intent to fulfill their board membership for the entire academic year.

Student Testimonial: Alison Gray '20, SASAB Member, 2019-2020

“After participating in incredibly valuable study abroad programs through W&M, I wanted to support other students to pursue their own global experiences. SASAB was the perfect way to do this. During my time on SASAB, I collaborated with other students to come up with fresh ideas to promote study abroad at W&M. My favorite experience was helping to organize a campus event that featured cheese from around the world. I also gained a better understanding of how the Global Education Office worked. Now, I am looking into starting a career in international education!”