Meet Our New Summer in South Asia Fellowship Mentors

Matthew Robinson 

I am originally from Madison, Alabama. I am a third-year student in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience.  My plans for the future are to apply to law school and pursue a career in law.  

I decided to apply for the SiSA fellowship because I wanted to go abroad and experience a different country while doing something productive with my time. The fellowship seemed like a great way to spend my summer enriching myself in another nation’s culture, and it lived up to all of my expectations.  

My favorite part of the fellowship was connecting and working with people who had different lives than myself. Whether it was village children in Coimbatore or my tour guide in Agra, I made friends everywhere I went during my time in India. The food was amazing everywhere I went, and I loved being able to try so many delicious, authentic Indian cuisine options.  

The fellowship allowed me to work with a great organization and become a part of my organization's community. The experience helped me learn more about my values and what type of work I want to pursue.  It allowed me to have hands-on experience in an environment vastly different from what I am used to. Being outside my comfort zone during the fellowship makes me feel like my people skills and self-confidence have significantly increased. I also feel stronger about my ability to face adversity. 

Being a mentor for the program will give me great experience helping those on their own journeys. 

As a mentor, I want to help other students gain the most out of their time in India. I want them to be comfortable going into their trip and avoid facing adversity during their time there. I would also love to hear about their experiences and connect with them over stories from our trips. 

Mariya Jahan

I am a senior from Grand Rapids, MI. I am of Bangladeshi origin—loud and proud. I’m studying Political Science and International Studies. After college, I will be working in government consulting at KPMG. 

I decided to do the SiSA fellowship because I knew I could not study abroad with my course schedule. I wanted to gain a new sense of independence as I had never been alone out of the country for a long time. 

My fellowship was an incredible experience, and I can certainly look past my least favorite part: the sweltering heat. My favorite part was my friend group, which I made quickly through my hostel. It was such a breath of fresh air to come home and know I had a squad of girls with whom to debrief my day. 

It was my favorite college summer I had throughout my college career. I explored India, made lifelong friendships, and developed great relationships with my coworkers at the company where I worked. 

SiSA helped me develop a story of growing independence and forcing myself to learn and grow as a person. I also took away such a meaningful internship that I am passionate about and will continue to talk about for jobs. 

I know the hardships that a student can go through during this process. It’s nitty gritty, and one must remember small, tedious tasks for everyone to work out. I also wish that, at the time, I had more accessible people and had completed the SiSA program recently. 

Mackenzie Woock

I am a senior studying Neuroscience with a minor in Gender & Health. On campus, I work in a lab studying the effects of hormonal contraceptives on the brain. I am a research assistant on a global health clinical project with the Michigan Medicine Department of OBGYN. I am also a peer facilitator with SAPAC and am involved in Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity and Delta Gamma sorority. I am currently on a pre-medical track, so after graduation, I plan on applying to medical schools to become a physician! I hope to one day use an MD to get involved in health policy, research, and education to reduce disparities in our current medical system.

Coming into Michigan, I knew I wanted to participate in an abroad experience at some point, but as I sifted through every website and brochure, none of the traditional semester/classroom-based programs stuck out to me. So when I came upon the SiSA booth at a study abroad fair, I knew it was a perfect match. The program's total immersion, independent experience, and unique hands-on aspects appealed to my interests and goals. I really wanted to grow academically, professionally, and personally, so the challenging yet exciting nature of the program intrigued me. 

My favorite part was the people that I met. I still keep in touch with several individuals I got to know there- including my host family, coworkers at the NGO I interned at, and other friends I met along the way (I still exchange Taylor Swift TikToks daily with a girl I met in India). 

My least favorite part, which arguably also became a favorite, was the “uncomfortability” you must have while traveling alone and pursuing an internship abroad. You genuinely are forced out of your comfort zone. I had to learn how to independently problem-solve in a place that is very culturally different from where I am from. However, the growth I experienced was unmatched to anything else I have ever done. I returned feeling competent in my abilities to adapt to new environments, engage with individuals despite a cultural and sometimes even language barrier, and gained a valuable professional experience that has shaped my interests and goals. 

My experience was far beyond my expectations. I’ll never forget the nerves I felt as I waited to board my flight, as I had pretty much never traveled abroad, let alone solo for 8 weeks. I had no clue what was waiting for me, whether I would have a positive experience or grow professionally in the way I was hoping. I can confidently say that my time, chalk full of chats over Chai, nightly bike rides, and incredible learning experiences at the NGO was better than I ever could have imagined. The personal growth, specifically, was exponentially high.

SiSA is an experience like no other you will find on the Michigan campus. Traveling and interning alone abroad is not for everyone, but for those up to the challenge, I more than highly recommend it. I still feel the growth I experienced during my time there and I want to help other students have a similar, positive experience.

SiSA introduced me to the field of public health research and the stark inequities in women’s health during my time in India. The leadership in the organization was composed entirely of OBGYNs and other medical professionals, and it was incredibly inspiring to see how they applied their medical background to community work. The experience working under and learning from their work has allowed me to pursue other opportunities back at Michigan that align with their mission. Additionally, the skills I learned through the fellowship, including confidence, independence, and problem-solving, have been invaluable to all facets of my professional and academic life. I am a better thinker, leader, and solver because of SiSA.