Overseas Ambassador

The fact is, with every friendship you make, and every bond of trust you establish, you are shaping the image of America projected to the rest of the world. That is so important. So when you study abroad, you’re actually helping to make America stronger.” - Former First Lady Michelle Obama

The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. The Overseas Ambassadors will serve as overseas correspondents, sharing their experiences to motivate other members of the DiversityAbroad.com community to go abroad. By writing insightful articles, sharing inspiring videos and pictures about your new surroundings, cross-cultural observations and personal growth, your words will inspire other diverse students to go abroad and challenge them to rethink how study abroad experiences can be for everyone.

The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. The Overseas Ambassadors will serve as overseas correspondents, sharing their experiences to motivate other members of the DiversityAbroad.com community to go abroad. By writing insightful articles, sharing inspiring videos and pictures about your new surroundings, cross-cultural observations and personal growth, your words will inspire other diverse students to go abroad and challenge them to rethink how study abroad experiences can be for everyone.

• Represent Diversity Abroad for the duration of your program overseas (fall and spring semesters as well as summer term)
• Document your experience with photos and videos which will be shared on the Diversity Abroad platform(s) (Diversityabroad.com, YouTube, etc.)
• Write one article per month on a topic related to education abroad and your identity, location and career/field of study.
• Write about your experience on social media on a weekly basis
• Share your experiences upon your return via an article and video

• You are currently enrolled full-time at your college or university based in the United States or a recent graduate (1-3 years out)
• You will participate in a semester/quarter/summer or year long study, intern, volunteer, or teach abroad program.
• Have a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA at an accredited U.S. university or college
• You are energetic, creative and have a passion for international engagement
• You are a leader on campus and in your community
• You are committed to challenging stereotypes and leading a dialogue that promotes positive social change
• You possess strong writing skills and social media presence
• You have experience with photography and video production (added bonus)
• Students from the following backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply:
  • Economically disadvantaged
  • Ethnic & racially diverse
  • First-generation,
  • LGBTQ+
  • Students with disabilities,
  • Students of faith

Diversity Abroad, in cooperation with the AIFS, will offer a $500 stipend for fall and spring (five stipends are available for the both semesters) and two $500 stipends for summer term.

• Opportunity to have your articles, blogs, pictures and video published and promoted on social media and DiversityAbroad.com
• Gain professional career experience in marketing, social media, writing, and international education and travel
• The opportunity to be part of the Diversity Abroad Community as a representative of the Diversity Abroad mission, vision, and values

Overseas Ambassadors serve during a 4-6 month time frame, depending on the length of their chosen study abroad program.

To apply for the Overseas Ambassador Program, please complete the scholarship application here. Please note we have three cycles of the Overseas Ambassador Program, one for the fall, spring and summer semesters.

If you are interested in additional summer scholarships, check out our Diversity Abroad Consortium Summer Scholarship here!

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Current Scholars

1. I am a Diversity Abroad scholar and my program was cancelled due to COVID-19, what are my next steps?

If your program was cancelled please let Diversity Abroad know as soon as possible via email. Provide details as to if you are being relocated, returning to your home campus, or returning home and when. The Diversity Abroad team will determine what requirements you have left for your scholarship.

2. Am I still required to complete my final blog posts?

If you are an Overseas Ambassador, you will need to complete the number of blog posts OR videos required to receive your final payment and submit your returnee materials (10 high resolution photos and returnee reflection video or blog). All other Diversity Abroad Scholars (AIFS, Hebrew U) will be asked to submit their returnee materials only. We encourage scholars to share their experience navigating the global impact of COVID-19 in their blog posts and how their host countries were experiencing the virus.

3. Should I continue posting on social media?

If you are still in-country, you can continue to post on social media. If you would like to adapt the prompts slightly to fit what is happening in your country feel free to get creative!

If you have returned home, we ask that you upload the number of social posts that you would have posted online for the completion of your trip to your Google Folder and write out captions in a Google Document that we can use in the future.

4. As an Overseas Ambassador, do I still receive a final payment?

If you were able to spend at least 50% of the semester in-country you will still receive your final payment after submitting the same number of blog posts, social media posts, and your returnee materials.Please notify Diversity Abroad via email when all of your materials have been submitted and you will be paid on either the 15th or 30th of the month depending on your time of submission/our review of your materials. If you are going to complete your semester overseas, continue to follow the submission timeline as outlined in your acceptance letter.

If you were not able to go on your program due to COVID-19, you will not receive a final payment and will be asked to complete supplementary materials to account for your first payment as an Overseas Ambassador. Please contact rshields@diversityabroad.org for the specific requirements if this is your case.

For Current Scholarship Applicants

1. Should I still apply for a Diversity Abroad scholarship if my chosen host country is affected by COVID-19?

Please check that your program provider is still sending students to your host country, if it is impacted by COVID-19. Also reference the CDC and State Department travel advisories regarding the level of risk before committing to any travel.

2. Should I still apply for a Diversity Abroad scholarship if my chosen host country is NOT affected by COVID-19?

At this point the state of COVID-19 is unpredictable. If you are still planning to go abroad this Summer and/or Fall, we encourage you to apply to the Diversity Abroad Scholarship(s) that you are eligible for. It is best to prepare for going and adjust accordingly if you are no longer able to participate in your program. Before distributing any funds you will need to submit your acceptance to a program and provide confirmation that you program is still planning to move forward for the term you are studying abroad.

3. What happens if I get a Diversity Abroad scholarship and then my program is cancelled?

No funding for Overseas Ambassadors will be distributed prior to confirmation that your program is moving forward. If your program is cancelled while you are already in-country, we will adjust accordingly in the same fashion we have during the Spring 2020 semester. Please see the FAQ for ‘current scholars’

4. If I am on a partner program and serving as a Diversity Abroad Scholar, how does my program being cancelled impact my scholarship?

Please reach out to your program provider specifically with questions regarding your scholarship if your program is canceled. Follow up with us regarding your scholarship requirements.

Please contact community@diversityabroad.com with any questions regarding the scholarship process.