CIEE Announces 2026 Spring Latin America Student Fellows
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The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is pleased to announce the Spring 2026 cohort of CIEE’s Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellows, representing 74 students from 38 colleges. These students will study abroad this semester on scholarships in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Many are already on the ground in their host cities, with more beginning their study abroad journeys next month.
The CIEE Latin America Student Fellows have demonstrated a dedication to expanding their understanding of Latin America and will share their insights to inspire the next generation of students to study in this region through social media, blogs, and video storytelling. Upon return, they will serve as CIEE campus ambassadors at their home colleges and universities, continuing their impact as advocates for global learning and cross-cultural exchange.
The Leading Change Fellows initiative [AD1] reflects CIEE’s commitment to Leading Change in Study Abroad in Latin America by providing up to 100 full-semester scholarships and a living stipend of $2,000 to 100 US college students across the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters. CIEE has also reduced the costs of programs across Latin America by up to 30%, bringing CIEE’s total investment in Leading Change in Study Abroad in Latin America to more than $2 million.
CIEE has also expanded its Latin America program portfolio, introducing new locations and programs in business, engineering, computer science, ecology, and sustainability, as well as global internships. CIEE students now have more opportunities than ever to study abroad in Latin America.
Below is the full cohort of Spring 2026 CIEE Latin America Student Fellows, their home colleges, and their CIEE study abroad programs:
- Cole Ehara, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus
- Cole Farlow, Indiana University-Bloomington, Semester in Buenos Aires
- Cole Menello, University of Utah, Semester in Buenos Aires
- Haimanot Shimeless, Santa Monica College, Buenos Aires Semester Global Internship
- Kassidy Kenworthy, University of Colorado-Boulder, Liberal Arts
- Kiara Vera Rodriguez, Elon University, Liberal Arts
- Leah Wheeler, Western Washington University, Open Campus
- Liam Schwarcz, Pennsylvania State University, Open Campus
- Madeleine Brodeur, University of Washington, Open Campus
- Mason Isaac, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus
- Max Wittenwyler, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus
- Maya Vargas, University of Kansas, Buenos Aires Intern + Studies Semester
- Narrah Wilson, University of Alabama, Semester in Buenos Aires
- Obadiah Jacob Jerrin, University of South Florida, Open Campus
- Olivia Carrasquillo, Tulane University of Louisiana, Semester in Buenos Aires
- Orion Gibbs, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus
- Ryan Mahandru, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus
- Sophia Witis-Hughes, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus
- Tal Recht, Indiana University-Bloomington, Semester in Buenos Aires
- Tia Egan, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus
- Xavier Kolmer, Villanova University, Semester in Buenos Aires
- Josie Dolman, University of Utah, Arts + Sciences at Universidad Anahuac Mayab
- Lila Duarte, Tulane University of Louisiana, Liberal Arts at the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan
- Madeline LaPointe, University of Iowa, Open Campus
- Maria Becerra, Stockton University, Intern + Study Semester
- Nicole Sanchez, Northwestern University, Open Campus
- Ava Thomas, Colorado State University, Ecology + Sustainability in Monteverde
- Ayla Rolsen, Iowa State University, Ecology + Sustainability in Monteverde
- Eliana Danner, Miami University-Oxford, Open Campus
- Kendalla Puckett, University of Illinois at Chicago, Monteverde Intern+Study Semester
- Lily Buffington, Kansas State University, Tropical Ecology and Conservation
- Ren McScoggin, Western Washington University, Monteverde Intern+Study Semester
- Valeria Herrera, University of Illinois at Chicago, Ecology + Sustainability in Monteverde
- Ana Pineda, Morgan State University, San Juan Semester Global Internship
- Darby Fleming, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Semester in San Juan
- Bennett Kohlhepp, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Liberal Arts
- Candace Williams, Hope College, Liberal Arts
- Gabrielle Traina, University of Utah, Santiago Intern + Study Semester
- Lucas Valencia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Liberal Arts
- Rochelle Kanarick, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Liberal Arts
- Stella Newman, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Liberal Arts
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
- Lucaya Navas, Howard University, Semester in Santiago
- Rosalia Machado, Villanova University, Liberal Arts
- Ameera Tai, University of Louisville, Semester in São Paulo
- Emerson Silva, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Sao Paulo Semester Intern + Study
- Ethan Dennis, Morehouse College, Sao Paulo Business and Culture
- Jaiden Whitner, Spelman College, Semester in São Paulo
- Karrington Manley, Tulane University of Louisiana, Semester in São Paulo
- Kayln Coleman, University of Alabama, Sao Paulo Semester Intern + Study
- Keasja Jackson, Howard University, Semester in Sao Paulo
- Kennedy Brown, North Carolina A&T State University, Sao Paulo Business and Culture
- Mouhamadou Kane, Morehouse College, Semester in São Paulo
- Niabelle Comeau, Tulane University of Louisiana, Semester in São Paulo
- Ryan Mbouombouo, Morehouse College, Semester in Sao Paulo
Multiple Open Campus Block Locations
- Aaron Lee, Morehouse College, Open Campus Blocks: Monteverde, Costa Rica + Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
- Abby Buckley, Arizona State University, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
- Alexandra Weisblatt, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus Blocks: Santiago, Chile + Buenos Aires, Argentina + Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Benjamin Wilde, Western Washington University, Open Campus Blocks: Monteverde, Costa Rica + Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Bethany Cutrell, Western Washington University, Open Campus Blocks: Santiago, Chile + Monteverde, Costa Rica + Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Bianca Hernandez-Vasquez, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus Blocks: Merida, Mexico + Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Elizabeth Rohm, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
- Emily Kim, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
- Esmir Ramos, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Merida, Mexico
- Katherine Alley, Tulane University of Louisiana, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Merida, Mexico
- Kyle Hearne, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Lana English, Vanderbilt University, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
- Lily Hanson, Western Washington University, Open Campus Blocks: Monteverde, Costa Rica + Merida, Mexico + Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Mia Driscoll, University of Colorado-Boulder, Open Campus Blocks: Santiago, Chile + Monteverde, Costa Rica + Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Milan Couillens, Rutgers University, Open Campus Blocks: Santiago, Chile + Buenos Aires, Argentina + Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Miles Lanosga, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
- Primavera Rosales, California Polytechnic State University, Open Campus: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Ruth Davie, University of North Texas, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile + Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Savanna Singer, Ohio University-Main Campus, Open Campus Blocks: Santiago, Chile + Monteverde, Costa Rica + Merida, Mexico
- Shiv Chuganee, Indiana University-Bloomington, Open Campus Blocks: Buenos Aires, Argentina + Santiago, Chile
For updates from the Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellows, follow @CIEEStudyAbroad and the hashtags #CIEELATAM and #CIEEStudyAbroad on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Meet the Fall ‘25 Fellows: We encourage you to also meet the cohort of CIEE’s Fall Leading Change Fellows on our website.
You can explore the full list of CIEE’s Latin America locations on our website.
About CIEE: Since 1947, CIEE has built bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures through study abroad and international exchange programs that advance peace in our world. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org.
Media contact: Leslie Taylor, media@ciee.org, (207) 553-4274