Katie Takes on Travel: Graduate School Edition

I am Katie Hummel, I am currently in my first year of the graduate program at the University of Dubuque pursuing my Master’s in Management – Organizational Diversity and Inclusion Leadership as well as a certificate in Communication, I am also the graduate assistant for the Office of Student Activities.

Not only am I getting my masters here at UD, but I also graduated with my undergraduate degree in Communication and Marketing. During my undergraduate career, I was involved in various things on campus from interning in the Office of First Year Experience to the executive board of Lambda Tau Delta sorority. I am normally not the type of person to ask for help; however, I feel it is necessary surrounding this topic. I fell in love with traveling from a young age. I have now been to six different countries. Most recently, I traveled with Professor Michelle Grace and my fellow classmates last May to Ireland.

It is no secret that being a graduate student takes up a lot of time but taking on a graduate assistant position as well as additional jobs outside of that, things add up. I was fortunate enough to receive assistance from the Butler Travel Scholarship for the trip to Ireland as an undergraduate student. Unfortunately, as a higher-level student now, I do not have that opportunity anymore. It is much more to me than a study abroad trip. Being able to travel to these various different countries I am able to apply what I am working on in my graduate studies.

The trip that I am currently wanting to go on is the Portugal, Morocco, and Spain trip that is coming up in May. It is different to read and watch videos about these places compared to physically being there and getting to fully immerse myself in the culture. Portugal is currently doing research regarding education and how education ties into diversity, equity, and inclusion. In Spain, 60% of their companies are devoting more time and resources to DEI initiatives. Morocco is going through human rights initiatives right now surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community and many other topics.

Receiving funding for this trip would make a world of difference in my life. I understand if that is not possible; however, then light will still be shed, and the seed will be planted for this to become a possibility in the future. If you have any questions for me about this trip or my previous adventures, I would love to chat. Thank you!