Sign Up to Be a Scholarship Reviewer
Each year the Learning Abroad Center administers over $500,000 in study abroad scholarships for UofM students. These scholarships often play a big role in easing the financial impact of studying abroad. Administration of these important scholarships is achievable because of the fantastic faculty and staff from across the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities campus who give their time to review Learning Abroad Center scholarships. Thank you for considering giving your time to help with this important process.
What Is My Commitment as a Scholarship Reviewer?
- Read 20-25 two-page essays/applications or 40–50 one-page essays/applications.
- Give each essay a numeric score using a simple rubric for guidance
- Most reviewers spend 2-3 hours total reading and scoring essays
- The entire process is online. There are no in-person meetings. You do not need to be on campus during the time of review.
- Following the scholarship deadline, the Learning Abroad Center will send you a confirmation email with instructions on how to access and score your assigned essays via the LAC's Online Scholarship Portal.
Upcoming Reviewer Opportunities
Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship
Read more about the Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship.
Essays assigned to reviewers: September 30, 2025
Individual reviewer scores due: October 14, 2025
We have received enough reviewers for this application cycle. We will have another cycle early in the spring 2026 semester and will request reviewers again at that time.
Liftoff Study Abroad Scholarship
Read more about the Liftoff Study Abroad Scholarship
Essays assigned to reviewers: November 3, 2025
Individual reviewer scores due: November 17, 2025
We have received enough reviewers for this application cycle. We will have two cycles in the spring 2026 semester and will request reviewers again at those times.
Past Scholarship Reviewers
The Learning Abroad Center would like to say thank you to our outstanding colleagues from across the University of Minnesota for volunteering their time and expertise to participate as study abroad scholarship reviewers. Study abroad scholarships have the ability to enable our students to participate in learning abroad experiences that can have a life changing impact on their academic, career, and personal goals. The support of the following individuals has made it possible for us to award these scholarships to deserving students over the 2024-25 academic year:
*For those who reviewed more than once for 2024-25 academic year scholarships, the number of times they reviewed is noted in parentheses.
Carlson School of Management
Jackie Divine
Kate Johnson (3)
Ahna Rushmann (2)
College of Biological Sciences
Parker Paulson-Smith
College of Continuing and Professional Studies
Ashley Cruz (2)
Connie Hessburg-Odland (3)
College of Design
Betsy Mowry Voss
College of Education & Human Development
Stephanie Anderson
Seth Christman
Reggie Gandy (3)
Phuong Geiger
Katie Niznik
Liza Pierre
Mallory Schweim (2)
Lamia Shapiro
Andrea Silva
Ah Vang-Lo
College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences
Mary Brakke (2)
Holly Klinger
Michelle Overtoom (2)
Tracene Marshall (2)
Robin Perez
Julia Reich
College of Liberal Arts
Katie Detwiler
Leya Didur (2)
Judy Grandbois (4)
Kevin Gahona
Korrina Griffith (2)
Fadumo Haji-Aweis
Sierra Hough (2)
Stephanie Lawrence
Katie Morley
Margaret Rodgers (2)
Shelby Scheel
Paula Pentel (2)
Delia Woodward
Michelle Yener
Christopher Xaphadky (3)
College of Science & Engineering
Nicholas DeMaris
Sam Franco
Kyle Kunzmann
Erin Piper
Inês Sacchetti
Cooper Shea (2)
Marc Skjervem
First Gen Student Success Center
Kaitlin McKinley
Housing & Residential Life
Sadie Carrillo
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Abbe Holmgren (5)
International Student & Scholar Services
Kathryn Gaylord-Miles
Mary Beth Polk
Learning Abroad Center
Anna Dewitt
Christina Dunbar (2)
Dana Elliot
Jackie Gmiterko
Molly Green
Ann Hubbard (2)
Ilya Kravchik
Jaclyn Lewine
Antonia Lortis
Jemma Lund
Julia Marks
Ryan McCarthy
Ashley Metz
Zach Mohs
Emily Mraz
August Nelms
Cassidy Nelson
Emily Newhall
Jill Reister (2)
Stuart Robbins-Butcher (2)
Maria Schrupp
Dunia Tesfaye
BJ Titus
Pashoua Vang (2)
Claire Volna
Vanessa Walton
Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence
Daniel Morales (2)
Office for National and International Scholarships
Ja'de Till
Office for Student Affairs
Melanie Soland (4)
One Stop Student Services
Ralph Daby
Office of Undergraduate Education
Beth Ambrose
Pre-Health Student Success Center
Laura Fyfe
Pre-Law Services
Erin Reichelt (2)
President's Emerging Scholars Program
Lissa Martinez Greer
Joe McMahon
Mohamed-Khadar Qas
Hnub Xiong
School of Nursing
Maigos Nguyen
School of Public Health
Tony Och (2)
University Honors Program
Ellen Bozzer
Vanessa Cambier
Faith Estelle-Velez
Alejandra Watkins-Melgarejo
UM-Rochester
Miranda Nelson
Gerrit VanSteenbergen