Meet University of Massachusetts Boston student Mariely Guerrero, a junior in the Honors College. She is studying International Relations, a new major now offered at UMass Boston. Mariely will be the first recipient of the Building a Better World award, based on her commitment to international learning. Mariely is proficient in English and Spanish and will be studying at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy this semester. Her goal in studying in Italy is to acquire Italian language skills as well as international experience for her goal to one day join the United Nations young professional program when she graduates. “I have always been interested in how the world works politically. Studying abroad is one of the best ways to learn about the politics of that particular nation because you can learn it while you are experiencing it which is a whole different and fuller way of learning,” said Mariely.

Be sure to check back in for her exciting guest posts and news from Italy!

Congratulations to Mariely, inaugural recipient of this prestigious award, Building a Better World.