Congrats to the new INTL Fellowship Awardees

The International Studies Committee has selected three juniors and seven seniors as the 2025-26 International Studies Fellows.

These students have shared insights and demonstrated leadership in their courses. Each fellow has a unique set of skills that can build community, but the primary objective is to knit together the curricular and co-curricular, to help other students see the relationships between the classroom and the campus, and, by extension, the on-campus to the off-campus.

Senior fellows are Fiona Coleman, Alyssa Contreras, Kendrah Mpare, Ashlee Salmon, Sophia Scime, Eliza Scoggin, and Anna Laura Ragazzoni Xavier Batista.

Junior fellows are Avery Maurer, Kendall Polen, and Nancy Wachino.

These fellowship awardees will receive a stipend and represent the international studies program this year. As ambassadors for the program, they will make connections among individuals, communities, and groups in their Denison co-curricular encounters. The International Studies committee is excited to work with this group of fellows as they share unique perspectives and ideas in the coming year.

Meet this year's fellows

Nancy Wachino

A woman in a black blazer stands on a building balcony with the Washington Monument and trees visible in the background.

Hi! My name is Nancy Wachino and I am a junior from Philadelphia, PA! I am a double major in international studies and PPA. I’m particularly interested in studying refugee migration patterns in Europe. This past summer I worked at the United States Trade Representative Office. I assisted with passing the African Growth and Opportunity Act and worked on free trade agreements with African nations and the EU. In the spring, I will be studying abroad in the Netherlands at the Hague. Outside of class, I serve as a recruitment data assistant for Kappa Alpha Theta and enjoy spending time with my friends.

Kendrah Mpare

A woman with long braids and glasses, wearing an orange top and gold jewelry, sits at a table in a lush, green outdoor setting.

Hi, my name is Kendrah Mpare. I am a senior majoring in international studies and global health. I was born in Maryland and raised in Ghana.

On campus, I am a wellness ambassador at Hoaglin, a first-year fellow, an advising circle leader, and an ambassador for IES Abroad. 

In the spring of 2025, I completed my off-campus study with IES Abroad in London and Jamaica for a program focused on health practice and policy. During this experience, I interned with Faith Forums of London and shadowed many hospitals and schools in Jamaica! I am so excited for the upcoming events in the International Studies Program.

Sophia Scime

A smiling woman in a green shirt stands near a wall that's covered in leaves, vines, and white flowers.

Hi! I’m Sophia Scime, and I’m a senior from Buffalo, NY. I’m double majoring in international studies and German, with a minor in women’s and gender studies. On campus, I serve as president of the Ballroom Buzzards dance club, work as a senior admissions docent, tutor through the Academic Resource Center (ARC), and am a German teaching assistant. Last spring, I studied abroad in Munich, Germany with the Junior Year in Munich intensive immersion program. While there, I completed an internship as an English teaching assistant at a German high school, which gave me the chance to further immerse myself in German language and culture. I am now researching the evolution of reproductive rights in Germany from the Cold War to the present day for my senior capstone project. In my free time, I love working out, dancing, listening to music, and spending time with friends.

Fiona Coleman 

A woman in a black v-neck shirt standing in front a wall of large windows and modern-style steps.

I am a senior double major in PPA and international studies, with a special interest in areas of international relations, geopolitics, lobbying, and strategic/security studies. Outside of school, I am a member of Denison’s track and field team, an executive officer for the Ignite Women in Politics club, and an office assistant for the International Studies Program. After graduation, I hope to move to Washington, D.C., to pursue a career in politics and lobbying!

Eliza Scoggin

A woman wearing a navy-blue shirt with small white polka dots and beige pants stands in front of a mosaic tiled wall.

I am a senior from Kentucky, double majoring in international studies and women’s & gender studies (WGST). Last spring, I studied global health and development policy in Nyon, Switzerland. On campus, I am a WGST Fellow, a member of Triota Honor Society, and also work for the International Studies Program. This past summer I interned with NC4K, a nonprofit supporting families facing pediatric cancer, where I helped with fundraising and boosting their digital presence.

Avery Maurer

A woman in blue plaid shirt and jeans, carrying a tote on her shoulder, stands in a city plaza surrounded by ornate stone buildings, holding her right hand in a traditional "peace sign" symbol.

Hi! I’m Avery Maurer, and I’m from Livonia, MI! I’m a junior international studies and history major, with interests in Eastern Europe (especially the Balkans) and nationalism. In the spring 2026 semester, I’ll be studying in Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade! Here at Denison, I work with DU Votes, serve as secretary of the Golf Club, volunteer with DCSA, and collaborate with various non-profit organizations. In my free time, I like learning new languages (I speak Spanish, Russian, and I’m now learning Macedonian), reading, and watching movies! 

Ashlee Salmon

A woman wearing a sleeveless blue dress stands indoors on a patterned carpet, with her hands behind her back, looking at the camera.

My name is Ashlee Salmon, and I am a senior from Brooklyn, New York. I am majoring in international studies with a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean studies. On campus, I serve as the event coordinator for the African Caribbean Student Association and as vice president and head of choreography for AfroSpice. I also work in the Center for Belonging and Inclusion as a program assistant, and you can often find me at the Call Center as a student ambassador for the Alumni and Family Engagement team.

During the fall semester of my junior year, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Ghana with SIT. What I loved most about my time there was the warmth and friendliness of the people, along with the bustling markets full of everything you could imagine.

Alyssa Contreras

A woman in a black "Los Angeles" tee shirt and New York Yankees baseball cap stands in front of a Mayan pyramid in Mexico.

I’m Alyssa Contreras and I’m from Mercred, California! I am a senior double majoring in international studies and Spanish with a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean studies. On campus, I work at the Academic Resource Center, the Center for Global Programs, and I am a Spanish TA. I am also the treasurer of La Fuerza Latina and president of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc.! I spent my spring semester of 2025 abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico! I took Spanish and immigration classes and learned about U.S. and Mexican affairs. It was an amazing and rewarding experience! This summer I interned for El Centro de Servicios Sociales, an Ohio non-profit that serves the Latino community!

Anna Laura Ragazzoni Xavier Batista

A woman in a black sweater and long red scarf smiles excitedly for the camera while standing in front a United Nations building.

I’m Anna, a senior from  São Paulo, Brazil, majoring in international studies with a data for political research minor! On campus, I serve as the vice president of the student body, and the vice president for the International Student Association. I am also a presidential fellow for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, and a technology policy writer for the Alliance for Civic Engagement.

I spent spring semester 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, where I conducted a study on Brazil’s strategic partnerships after the creation of the BRICS+ bloc. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, watching silly romcoms with my roommates, and cooking Brazilian dishes!

Kendall Polen

A young woman with long brown hair stands smiling in a large, sunlit cobblestone plaza in front of a historic, curved building.

I’m Kendall from New Philadelphia, Ohio! I’m a junior double majoring in international studies and politics and public affairs, as well as minoring in German.  I am a coordinator for the Denison Community Service Orientation, vice president of foundation for Delta Gamma, a fellow for the PPA department and a Studium scholar-leader.  I work at the Eisner Center, the Office of First-Year Experience, and occasionally pick up research assistant gigs.  In the spring of 2026, I will be studying abroad in Vienna, Belgrade, and Budapest. Outside of Denison, I enjoy movies, concerts, and talking about my cat, Benny.