“When I committed to the Indonesian study abroad program, I started learning Indonesian and I’m so glad I put in the effort to learn and use some of the language…I unlocked a unique connection to whoever I'm interacting with that goes beyond typical tourist behavior.“ | Jillian Mikutsky, UMD Winter: Indonesia

When Annabella Davis transferred to the University of Maryland two years ago, she wanted to focus on conflict, identity, reconciliation, and the real-world consequences of political violence. Now a senior majoring in International Relations and minoring in International Development and Conflict Management (IDCM), Annabella has taken that ambition beyond the classroom.

On a summer morning in Seoul, eight students gathered around a whiteboard and filled it with ideas, from legal knowledge to insight on how migration looks in their home countries. Their challenge: develop a solution to support climate refugees. By the end of the week, their brainstorming evolved into a website tool that earned their team third place in the Climate Corps competition.