As Program Coordinator at American Councils for the State Department's NSLI-Y program, I am passionate about facilitating transformative international exchange experiences for U.S. students.My journey into international education started as an alumna of NSLI-Y’s summer program to Amman, Jordan, igniting my passion for Arabic and helping me to discover the impactful role of cultural exchange in personal growth and community development. At Boise State University, I built an academic foundation in Public Diplomacy by studying Arabic, international relations, gender studies, global studies, and TESOL education. Using the tools I collected from a globally minded interdisciplinary education, I gave back to my local community through teaching ESL classes at the College of Western Idaho, the REACH K-12 summer camp for refugees, and educating others on Arab culture and Islam through campus clubs and community volunteering. I further strengthened my regional knowledge by studying abroad in Palestine and Morocco, leading to my role as a abroad advisor at Boise State University, and the completion of my Fulbright grant (2022-2023) as an English Teaching Assistant in Amman, Jordan. Working and interacting with communities across the Middle East, the U.S. embassy’s RELO staff, and my local community has provided me with first hand insights into the benefits/impact of international exchange, and the role of education in achieving US foreign policy goals. Public diplomacy is one of the United State’s strongest tools for fostering cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, which drives me to continue my work in facilitating outbound and inbound student exchanges.As I continue to build upon my career in international education, I am dedicated to empowering and encouraging students from diverse and underrepresented background to participate in study abroad programs and achieve their language learning goals.