About OIP – Study Abroad
Facts & Figures
Highlights:
- Valpo Study Abroad has been helping students’ study abroad for over 50 years, with the first students studying abroad in 1968.
- Each year, students study abroad in a year-long, semester, summer, or spring break programs.
- Many of the semester and year-long programs include a supervised internship. Other programs offer a service-learning component for community involvement.
Institute of International Education. (2013). “Institutions by Undergraduate Participation in Study Abroad, 2011/12.” Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. Retrieved from https://www.iie.org/opendoors.
Study Abroad Staff
Director of Study Abroad Programs
Allison oversees all operations of Study Abroad and also serves as primary advisor for the Valpo Study Abroad programs. Additionally, she coordinates faculty-led and other special international programs. Prior to this role, Allison worked in Valpo’s Office of the Provost for three years.
Allison holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Loyola University (Chicago) and her area of focus was International Relations. While a graduate research assistant at Loyola, she provided support for the International Studies Program, which included assisting with study abroad. She has a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish, with a minor in French, from Wittenberg University. During her undergraduate studies, she spent a summer abroad in Nantes, France, and a semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain.
Outside of the office, Allison enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends, baking, and taking daily walks with her active dog.
Study Abroad Coordinator
Rachel serves as an advisor to students for the Valpo Study Abroad programs. She manages the student interns and oversees the social media sites for Study Abroad. Additionally, she conducts student orientations and workshops for the Study Abroad programs. Rachel also maintains and updates the Study Abroad program database.
Rachel has a Master’s degree in Second Language Acquisition, Policy, and Culture from the University of Southern Indiana. She has a B.A. in German Language Studies from the University of Southern Indiana. During her undergraduate studies, she spent her final semester abroad in Marburg, Germany.
Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling, reading, and indoor rock climbing.
Study Abroad Student Interns
Program: Valpo Study Center Cambridge, UK
Term: Fall 2025
Major: Biology
“Studying abroad in Cambridge was my first chance ever to go abroad, and it was an unforgettable experience! Throughout the course of that semester, I developed connections with my amazing fellow students from VU as well as with those from other universities. I’m most grateful for the opportunity I received to make those connections, travel, and further develop myself!”
Programs: CONHP Healthcare in Greece & CONHP Healthcare in Ireland
Term: Spring Break 2025 & Spring Break 2026
Major: Physician Assistant
“Going on the CONHP spring break trip to Greece was a once in a lifetime experience. Not only was I able to see the beautiful parts of Greece and learn about Greek culture, I was also able to learn about healthcare in Greece. I am so lucky to have had this opportunity and will definitely take everything I learned into my future career as a Physician Assistant! Now, working as an intern in the Study Abroad office allows me to share my amazing experience and encourage others to step out of their comfort zone and study abroad!”