Since the University’s inception 150 years ago, one of Hopkins’ primary goals has been to expose its students and scholars to a variety of global perspectives. Through its many study abroad programs, the Global Education Office (GEO) helps students achieve that goal. On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, students had the opportunity to interact with GEO staff and ambassadors from several study abroad programs at the Study Abroad Fair in the Levering Glass Pavilion.
Tables staffed by student and faculty representatives from six continents and numerous countries filled the Glass Pavilion as students received flyers, candy and other trinkets while learning about study abroad programs sponsored by Hopkins — including the Hopkins Semester, Intersession and Summer programs — as well as opportunities through organizations such as the Consortium for Advanced Study Abroad (CASA), the Institute for the International Education of Students, the Institute for Study Abroad and other third-party providers that work with Hopkins to offer global study experiences for undergraduate students. The fair provided resources for students just beginning their study abroad journey, students who had already studied internationally and those in between.
Sophie Wang, a freshman from Dallas, Texas, who attended the fair to browse options, fell into the first group. While Wang had an interest in Hopkins’ Oxford program, she was excited to learn about the breadth of GEO’s offerings, as she detailed in an interview with The News-Letter.
“I feel like, out of all the options, I'm more drawn to Oxford [...] I'm leaning towards a longer Study Abroad option [...] like a year, or maybe three semesters. I was talking to the person [at the Oxford table] and she had a really good experience. She was able to keep up with the people here at Hopkins, while also maintaining everything going on,” Wang said.
The fair also attracted students who had already participated in a study abroad program. Giancarlo Zambrano, a senior from Baltimore, Md., studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the combined bachelor’s/master’s program, spoke about how an intersession abroad in Spain impacted his perspective in an interview with The News-Letter.
“Even though my heritage is Spanish and Venezuelan, I've never been out of the country. My favorite highlight was the different architecture, and all the cathedrals, the streets — when I was in Seville, Spain, I really liked La Giralda, the clock tower with the orange trees and the green parakeets. It was just very aesthetic, and there's a lot of rich history there that you don't really see here in the US,” Zambrano explained.
Many tables not only offered informational handouts for students considering various programs but also personal anecdotes from Hopkins students who had previously participated in the programs. Organizations such as CASA, one of the third-party providers offering study abroad destinations across Spain, Cuba, Ireland and Australia, featured student perspectives to help prospective participants understand how the experience might fit into their coursework and how to make the most of the program. GEO staff also provided pizza to students throughout the event.
The Study Abroad Fair began 16 years ago as an outreach initiative to raise awareness of Hopkins’ global education opportunities. By allowing students to speak directly with individuals connected to programs of interest, the fair has added an interactive element to many students’ study abroad journeys.
Speaking to the benefits of Hopkins’ study abroad programs, Associate Director of Global Education Greta Decker elucidated the opportunities available through GEO that may not be available elsewhere in an email to The News-Letter.
”Studying abroad pushes students out of their comfort zones. By navigating unfamiliar environments and cultures, they build self-confidence, develop adaptability, and strengthen their critical thinking skills. Students can enroll in unique courses that may not be available at Hopkins, at prestigious institutions around the world,” Decker explained.
When asked what advice she would offer students who remain unsure about studying abroad, Decker encouraged them to fully take advantage of the Hopkins experience and the resources GEO provides.
“I’ve never had a student say they regretted studying abroad, but I’ve met plenty of people who say they regretted not studying abroad. Take advantage of these opportunities while you can!” Decker emphasized.
