The following are profiles of University of Minnesota alumni who benefitted personally and professionally from learning abroad experiences.

Ben al-Haddad Studied in Senegal
Ben studied on the MSID Senegal program for the academic year 2004-05. As an undergraduate, he majored in Political Science and minored in Biology and French. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Health Policy Planning and Finance. Now, he’s a second-year medical student at the University of Minnesota.

Thomas C. Johnson studied in Fremantle, Australia
While studying in Australia, Thomas C. Johnson took a digital film course that had a great affect on him and continues to shape his career goals. He graduated with a double major in communications and political science in 2002. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communications Studies at the University of Minnesota.

Libby Plowman studied in Australia as a graduate student
Libby spent the summer of 2008 interning in Australia. She details the highlights of her experience and stresses the importance of study abroad for graduate students.

Andrea Myers studied in Toledo, Spain
Spanish language study and extensive travel throughout Europe had a great affect on Andrea. She is now a commercial interior designer for a large corporation, and occassionally gets to satisfy her continued wanderlust with work projects abroad.

Talitha Kolbow studied in Ghana, Africa
Talitha spent the academic year of 2004–05 participating in the Minnesota Studies in International Development program in Ghana. Her experience abroad had such a profound effect on her that she's contemplating a return to Africa in the near future. In the meantime, she's been working as an Office and Marketing Associate in the Learning Abroad Center.

Kelly Hudick studied intensive language in Toledo, Spain
Now an IT consultant at Accenture, Kelly embraced all the challenges involved with living in a foreign country. Her experience was so enriching that she feels compelled to pass the learning abroad opportunity on to future students by contributing part of her monthly income to the Learning Abroad Scholarship Fund.

Lisa France studied in Germany
France enjoyed three study abroad experiences in Germany, one of them as an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, before returning to the US to complete a graduate degree. She made lasting friendships while honing her German language skills and traveling throughout Europe. She works as Research Manager of Client Services for Maritz Research in Minneapolis.

Bill Johnson studied in the Netherlands
As an undergraduate, Johnson was slated to study in Germany, but financial constraints caused him to cancel at the last minute. Luckily, he eventually seized the opportunity to study in Amsterdam while in law school. He continues to use his foreign experience while specializing in international business transactions as an attorney for the national law firm Foley and Lardner LLP.

David Musolf studied in Graz, Austria
Musolf lived with an Austrian family and greatly advanced his German speaking ability in a short time. He also formed such strong bonds with fellow study abroaders in Graz that many of them met up for a 20 year reunion in the fall of 2007. As Midwest Sales Director for New York-based Rebel Digital, Musolf occasionally finds his study abroad experience coming in handy when working with international clients.