Jenna Schumann | University Studies Abroad Consortium

Jenna SchumannInterviewed in 2017

After studying abroad in Tanzania, participating in volunteer programs in Uganda and Czech Republic, and teaching in Thailand, Jenna knew she wanted to help college students see and experience the world. Since receiving her master’s in higher education, she has spent her career in the industry, a majority of which has been focused on study abroad. When she’s not advising students on the best program location for them, she’s reading (mostly Harry Potter on repeat) and working on soaring high (or not falling) in her aerial silks class.

How did you get started with USAC?

I first learned about USAC while I was working as a graduate assistant in the Study Abroad Office of a university that is an affiliate of USAC. I would advise students on USAC programs, and I learned how USAC focused on non-traditional locations and affordable prices - both of which I support when it comes to students studying abroad. 

What inspired you to work in the field of international education?

I knew that I wanted to work in higher education by my sophomore year of college when I realized I enjoyed working my on-campus jobs in Undergraduate Admissions, Orientation, and First Year Experience offices more than I enjoyed my classes on fashion merchandising (my major). The summer after my sophomore year I studied abroad in Tanzania (my first time abroad), and after that I spent the rest of my summers during my college career abroad (Uganda then Czech Republic). I loved learning about different cultures, tasting new foods, exploring new places, and hearing the life stories of the locals in the countries I visited. I feel that going abroad gives people the opportunity to learn that though we may live in different places, speak different languages, look different, and eat different foods.  We’re still very similar. I’ve joined the field of international education so that I can help students have that same opportunity - to enjoy the similarities and appreciate the differences.

Describe a typical day at work for the Program Advisor at USAC.

Every day at USAC is a little different because something new always pops up. A lot of my time is spent advising students through email, phone calls, or in-office appointments. Talking with students is probably my favorite part of the day, so it’s a good thing that is how the majority of my day is spent.

What is your most memorable experience abroad and how does it continue to motivate you in your current role? 

I spent a summer volunteering in Uganda. The day my team arrived we were picked up from the airport and brought to a tiny village in the middle of nowhere.  It didn’t have running water or electricity where we were staying for the first week. By the time we got there, it was nighttime and we were extremely jet-lagged, tired, and our luggage was still in Chicago. Some of the people on my team forgot to pack their malaria medicine in their carry-on, so they didn’t have it, and I was the only one who had packed an extra pair of clothes. It was a rough start. 

The following morning we realized we were in the middle of a beautiful, lush jungle where all the locals were so excited to meet us. We spent the day talking with the locals, eating great food, dancing, and singing. It was one of the best days of my life.

I think of this day a lot when advising students. First off, it’s a good story to remind students to pack their medicine and extra clothes in your carry-on just in case your luggage gets lost. But it’s also a good example of how a bad situation can turn out to be a good one, and that those unfortunate events that can easily frustrate you turn out to be the best stories. It also motivates me to encourage students to go to those non-traditional locations. Non-traditional locations can be a little scary at first just because of the major differences, but you get experiences there that you won’t get in other countries because of those differences. 

What are some of the most commonly asked questions you receive from students?

My program locations are so diverse that it’s hard to pick common questions that all students ask. Most questions are pretty site-specific. I get a number of questions about vaccinations (Ghana is my only program that requires a vaccination - yellow fever). I also get questions about the visa process, which is understandable because getting a visa can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before or if you’re doing it for a country you’ve never been to since each country has different requirements.

Being an experienced traveller, what advice can you give to students planning to study abroad?

Respect the culture of the country you’re in. Yes, you grew up with certain mindsets, beliefs, values, and laws, but you need to put those aside to learn about the culture in the country you’re in, in order to fully appreciate the country and your time spent there. 

My other advice just about studying abroad in general would be, however long you initially plan to study abroad for, sign up for a long program. If you originally plan to study abroad for a summer, instead do a semester; if you plan to study for a semester, stay for the whole year. When you are out of school, travel will be limited, so do as much as possible while you can.

What do you think makes USAC unique?

I think the staff relationships makes USAC unique. If a student has a question and it’s not something I can answer, I will pass it on to one of my co-workers who can help the student. Anyone who talks to one of my students usually keeps me updated about the situation or question. I am also in contact with the on-site staff for my programs daily. I keep the on-site staff  updated on what’s happening with the students as they prepare to go abroad, and the on-site staff keeps me updated on any onsite situations. USAC functions as a family organization with students at the center of it, which is pretty incredible considering the thousands of students we’re working with on a daily basis.

What do you love most about your job?

I love that I get to assist students during a life-changing adventure. I get to work with students before they head abroad when they have a lot of questions about what they can expect abroad, and it’s always fun to hear their stories once they’ve returned and see how they fell in love with the culture and how it’s altered their future life paths. 

If you could study abroad in any of the location you advise for, which one would you choose and why?

This is a hard question to answer. I’m torn between Chile and Thailand. I would want to study in Thailand because the classes and tours are intriguing to me. I also taught in Thailand for a short time and absolutely loved the culture and people there, so I know I would enjoy studying in Thailand. Chile piques my interest for the location. The country is so diverse since it covers the majority of South America’s western coast. I’ve spent very little time in South America, especially compared to my other program continents so I think I would choose to study in Chile.

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