Meet with an Advisor
Our team is here to help you through every step of the study abroad process. From pre-departure to your return to UMD, we can assure you that you're in the care of dependable professionals.
Getting started:
Get the guidance you need to explore different program options, finances, and other resources to kickstart your international journey.
Want to hear from a real student about what it's like to study abroad? Meet with one of our Peer Mentors today for how to get started, application advice and more.
Connect with an Advisor
I need help...
I want to apply to a Maryland-in program.
Applicants for each program benefit from the dedicated support of a program advisor. Select your program below.
I need help selecting a program or have chosen a program that is not Maryland-in.
Meet with the Global Learning Advisor for your primary major's school or college! Select your school or college to jump to the correct advisor.
Our Advising Team
D'Kiya Bynum (she, her, hers)
D'Kiya advises students with majors in the:
- College of Arts & Humanities
- College of Information
D'Kiya is the program advisor for:
- Arts & Humanities-in-London
- Maryland-in-Aix
- Maryland-in-Amman
- Maryland-in-Nice
- Maryland-in-Sevilla
Joy Gursky (she, her, hers)
Joy advises students with majors in the:
- College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
- College of Education
- Philip Merrill College of Journalism
- School of Public Health
Joy is the program advisor for:
- Maryland-in-Florence - Attend an info session
- Maryland-in-Perugia
Alex Breitling (he, him, his)
Alex advises students with majors in the:
- Robert H. Smith School of Business
Alex is the program advisor for:
- Maryland-in-Barcelona
Make an appointment (BMGT majors)
Make an appointment (All majors)
Aisha Ouattara (she, her, hers)
Aisha advises students with majors in the:
- College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences
- School of Architecture, Planning, & Preservation
Aisha is the program advisor for:
- Maryland-in-Copenhagen
- Maryland-in-Stockholm
- Maryland-in-Florence (ARCH & PHYS)
Julia Xia (she, her, hers)
Julia advises students with majors in the:
- College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
- School of Public Policy
- Undergraduate Studies Programs (HONR, CPSP, IAP, AAP)
- Letters and Sciences
- Individual Studies Program (IVSP)
Open Advising Hours, Fa26:
Starting on Sept. 17, every week unless specified otherwise (or when campus is closed)
Thursday, 2-3:30pm on Zoom (No session October 15)
Friday , 3-4:30pm in person in HJP 1102 (No session September 18th)
Julia is the program advisor for:
- Maryland Honors-in-Oxford
- Maryland-in-Rome - Attend an info session
Office of Global Engineering Leadership
Katherine Schwarzentraub (she, her, hers)
Katherine advises students with majors in the:
- A. James Clark College of Engineering
Katherine is the program advisor for:
- Clark-in-Prague
- All ENGR Exchanges except those located in Madrid
- ENGR Direct Enroll
- ENGR winter, spring break and summer programs
Julia Blatchford (she, her, hers)
Julia advises students with majors in the:
- A. James Clark College of Engineering
Julia is the program advisor for:
- Clark-in-Madrid
- ENGR Exchanges located in Madrid
Center for Global Business
The Center for Global Business advises all students interested in the following programs:
- BMGT Exchanges
- BMGT Summer, Winter & Spring Break
Peer Walk-in Hours
Join our peer mentors for advising and to hear about their experiences abroad! The Education Abroad office is located in H.J. Patterson Hall, room 1118.
Regular Peer Mentor Fall 2026 hours forthcoming.
Meet Our Student Staff
If you still have questions after watching Study Abroad 101, reach out to a peer mentor to learn how to get started with study abroad and hear about their experiences via email to eapeers@umd.edu.
Mia Owens - Peer Mentor
Mia (She/Her) is a junior Global Health Major here at UMD. She studied abroad in the Peloponnese region of Greece during the Summer 2025 term. There, she studied the cultural significance and health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. During the 2025-26 academic year, Mia was a student ambassador for the Seeing Me Initiative at Education Abroad, and attended their pilot Winter 2026 program in Panama. In the future, she aspires to do a semester abroad in France. As a Peer Mentor, she is looking forward to connecting with students and helping them identify the best global learning experiences that align with their goals.
Hannah Soo-Tho - Peer Mentor
Hannah (She/Her) is a Senior International Relations Major at UMD. In Spring 2026, she studied abroad in Zürich, Switzerland, taking political science classes on welfare and climate policy. Taking advantage of Switzerland's public transportation, she also traveled extensively throughout Switzerland and around Europe. Studying abroad was life-changing for her, and she hopes that as a Peer Mentor, she can support and encourage other students to pursue study abroad opportunities of their own.