Spotlights
Haley Gerlofs
I graduated from GVSU in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and minor in Arabic. Studying abroad in Jordan did more than just improve my Arabic. The most important thing I took away from my month in Jordan was my respect for the Jordanian culture. Studying in Jordan also taught me to be more independent, to be more open-minded, and it brought me to some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Post-graduation, I participated in an internship program through the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations in Washington, DC. I was able to meet with key players in U.S.-Arab relations from the State Department, the Arab League, and various embassies.
After returning home from DC, I moved to Bilbao, in the Basque Country of Northern Spain, for 7 months. I taught English to all ages, from 7 to 55, in local schools, after-school academies, and as a tutor. Living in the Basque Country was great for an IR graduate, as the political and cultural history is unique.
Next, I worked for AmeriCorps VISTA in Refugee Resettlement at Bethany Christian Services. I loved putting the knowledge I learned from study abroad and at GVSU to use by helping settle refugees from across the globe.
In July 2017, I accepted a long-term position as an Account Manager, coordinating blood drives in metro Atlanta, Georgia.
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