Nine Baruch College Students Chosen as Fall 2022 Gilman International Scholars

July 25, 2022

This fall, nine Baruch College undergraduates will be studying abroad as recipients of the 2022 Gilman International Scholarships.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Scholarship Program aims to help American students “gain proficiency in diverse languages and cultures, skills that are critically important to their academic and career development” and provides each students with up to $5,000 in funding.

Among the award-winning students, eight are attending a university that is an exchange partner of Baruch College. Richard Mitten, PhD, director of the Study Abroad Office at Baruch College, said participating in an exchange program is beneficial because it offers students a cost-effective means to study abroad for a semester because they only pay Baruch tuition, and there are no international student charges which need to be made to the host institution.

The Baruch students join nearly 3,000 undergraduates nationwide selected this past spring, representing 536 U.S. colleges from 49 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Baruch’s Fall Gilman Scholars

Hear from seven of the nine scholarship winners and learn about their diverse backgrounds, and their personal and professional goals for the future.

Cesar Castro

Cesar Castro (’23), an international business major at the Zicklin School of Business who is also minoring in marketing and English, will be studying abroad in Spain.

He sees the Gilman International Scholarship as an “opportunity to explore new ideas, customs, business strategies, and most importantly, to engage with diverse people around the world.”

Castro adds, “Pursuing this program will allow me to gain knowledge from different business areas, establish relationships with new cultures, acquaint myself with international markets, and discover ways to benefit growing industries as a business professional. Having international experience is incredibly desirable in the current globalized job market.”

Joyce Chan

Joyce Chan (’23), a marketing management major at the Zicklin School of Business with a minor in new media arts, will be studying abroad in Japan. Chan is grateful to be chosen as a Gilman scholar, which has been one of her dreams since she was young.

“Growing up low-income, I see every decision as a potential opportunity cost. Because of CUNY and Gilman, I can study in Japan at no cost. It is a privilege to be able to do this.”

Chan is looking forward to traveling to a highly innovative and adaptive country with “amazing technological advances.”

“Japanese inventions are used worldwide,” says Chan, who was also waitlisted for the Freeman-Asia Scholarship. “As someone pursuing product marketing in the technology industry, I feel that I would have so much to learn from their culture, media communications, and design thinking. I am excited to bring my Gilman project to life and immerse myself in Japanese culture.”

Melissa Chauca

Melissa Chauca (’23), a public affairs major in the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs with minors in journalism and psychology, will be going to Spain in the Fall 2022 semester.

“As a native Spanish speaker, this experience is going to be very immersive for me,” Chauca explains. “I look forward to taking classes in a different language, commuting to school surrounded by an entirely new environment, and exploring the different parts of Spain and nearby countries in Europe and Africa. I also hope to gain more knowledge about the nation’s history and learn about the different cultures that live within Spain.”

Chauca continues, “I know this experience is going to contribute heavily to my growth as a person, student, and professional. My ability to communicate, understand different cultures, and manage new responsibilities will improve, which is necessary for every career.”

Emily Dong

Emily Dong (’23), a marketing management major with a track in advertising and communications at the Zicklin School of Business, is traveling to France with her Gilman scholarship.

“I want to study in France because of my interest in French culture and the fashion scene there,” Dong says. “I believe that I will be able to experience different perspectives which I can’t find in New York City.”

Dong is hoping to gain new knowledge and inspirations during this international experience that can help her decide what to do in the future.

“My career goals involve developing strong, competitive skills that will help me stand out as a candidate,” she states. “By getting the Gilman award, it allows me to gain new experiences that are unique which I can use to share with others. I hope to become a better person, student, and someone independent and cultured.”

Fiona Leung

Fiona Leung (’23) will use her scholarship to study abroad at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark.

“The culture and pride within the country really gravitated me towards Denmark,” said Leung, an international business major at the Zicklin School of Business with a minor in both marketing and French. “I look forward to learning about the historical roots of naval trade and the impact it has had in many countries like Denmark. I have gained basic information on air trade through my own studies and hardly ever got opportunities to be on a boat, so it feels quite interesting to learn about trade in a different environment.”

Leung adds, “I would also love to learn about the culture more in-depth such as beliefs and ways of life. I have barely traveled much out of the United States, so having the opportunity would be a real eye opener and a new experience for me to become more prepared for being independent in the future.”

Syed Sherazi

Syed Sherazi (’23), an international business major at the Zicklin School of Business who is also minoring in Spanish and finance, is planning to travel to Spain with his Gilman scholarship.

Sherazi wants to improve his Spanish language skills, learn about the business world in Europe, as well as indulge in the culture as much as possible.

“This Gilman award helps by providing additional funds that allows me to get a grasp of how we as a civilization tend to understand situations, find solutions to complex problems, and improve budgeting skills,” he states. “I am looking forward to passing all of my classes, making lifelong friends and memories, as well as experiencing everything the country has to offer.”

Sherazi is hoping this Gilman experience can propel him towards his career goal of earning a leadership position at a consulting agency.

Haoxiang Zhuo

Haoxiang Zhuo (’23), a Zicklin School of Business student majoring in international business with minors in marketing and Japanese, is planning to study abroad in Japan.

“I love both the traditional and modern aspects of Japan,” Zhuo comments. “I hope to use this opportunity to improve my Japanese communication and acquire skills that will enable me to adapt to any new environments in the future and be more independent.”

With this award, Zhuo is seeking to become a “cross-cultural” individual with global connections.

“In this exchange program, I will learn to accommodate diverse cultures and communicate across barriers of language and culture. This experience will also help me foster objective thinking from a multidimensional perspective. I believe those are necessary conditions for the achievement of my goals.”

Learn About Study Abroad Opportunities

The Baruch College Study Abroad Office helps students from all three Baruch Schools who wish to study abroad attain their educational and cultural learning goals. The Office helps applicants choose their study abroad destination, fit their study abroad experience into their overall college education, and guide them throughout the application process to study abroad.

Save the Date: Students interested in studying abroad can attend the Virtual Study Abroad Fair taking place on Sept. 15 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Study Abroad Office’s resources here.

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