100 Ramsey Library, CPO 1560
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
On Campus Initiatives: Come Join Our Community
The Global Ambassador Program and Friends of Study Abroad initiative are two ways to get involved directly with the Office of Study Abroad and make meaningful connections with both international students and your local community!
The Global Ambassador Program is an initiative on campus that works to support the cultural adjustment of incoming exchange students and to connect them with the broader campus community. We take pride in giving students access to a tight-knit group of Global Ambassadors who are experienced mentors, so they immediately have people they can rely on when they come to UNC Asheville.
Want to be involved and have fun with the Study Abroad Department, but don’t have the time to be a Global Ambassador? Being a Friend of Study Abroad is perfect for you! Join our mailing list so you can be in the know about any future events or activities the office is planning. There are lots of opportunities for Friends of Study Abroad, so make sure to check out the dedicated section below.
Become a Global Ambassador
Join our Global Ambassador Program and participate in cultural and social activities with our international exchange students. Exchange programs only last a semester or a year, and so quickly getting involved in campus activities is an important part of making the most of the study abroad exchange experience. Ambassadors actively get to know our exchange students the moment they arrive and socialize with them throughout the semester or year they are on campus. We do hikes, downtown exploration, lots of cooking and eating activities, and intercultural activities to help maximize cultural exchange. Some Global Ambassadors invite a student home for a holiday. Others study together. Some prepare meals together. Don’t worry if you have not studied abroad before! As long as you have a genuine interest in cultural exchange and community building, there is a place for you in the Global Ambassador Program!
We hire new Global Ambassadors before each Fall and Spring semester. To apply, go to OnePort → Student Employment → Find On-Campus Jobs → Advanced Search → Type in “Study Abroad” → Click on the “Global Ambassador” position and submit your application. If you have any other questions, please email Cameron Baum at cbaum@unca.edu.
Friends of Study Abroad
The Office of Study Abroad offers a “home away from home” for students who won’t be studying abroad this term, for students who have already returned, or for anyone who is simply curious about intercultural interaction. All are welcome! Students hang out together, on and off campus, with exchange and other international students through a mix of structured and unstructured activities. Returnees can keep processing and reflecting on their study abroad experience alongside folks who are currently living it. Come join a variety of activities hosted by the Office of Study Abroad! See below for ways to get involved as a Friend of Study Abroad.
Explore Ways to Get Involved
International Athlete Fan Club
Be our international Bulldogs’ greatest fans!! We attend tennis, soccer, volleyball, and basketball games together to cheer on our international student-athletes!
School Visits
Visit local schools and share your international knowledge and experience through interactive, grade-appropriate lessons that bring classroom learning to life.
Special Events
Have a meal with us! We host international festivals to highlight holidays and celebrations you might not otherwise see on campus. In 2026, we hosted an Iftar meal open to students of all backgrounds.
Third Thursday Socials
Join us on the quad for Third Thursday Socials, featuring seasonal activities, games, and snacks. Make a pie and share it, carve a pumpkin, paint a picture, or play a board game. Our Global Ambassadors will be there to make sure you can jump right into the conversation with our international students.
Radical Hospitality
Experience radical hospitality, home away from home, Monday through Friday. Come on in and stay a while! Make yourself comfortable with a Turkish coffee, a chai latte, or a proper cup of tea. Catch a World Cup match or the Premier League game with us (we call that futbol e Food!), or just settle in with your homework. We love learning from each other about the world!
Promote Study Abroad
Interested in working with the office to promote study abroad opportunities? If you have already studied abroad (maybe you want to reciprocate for a scholarship you have received), you can promote study abroad to the country where you went, you can provide advanced travel tips to people who are getting ready to depart, and so much more! Contact Doug Rhein at drhein@unca.edu.
Meet Our Global Ambassadors
Cameron is currently a senior at UNC Asheville, studying Computer Science. He is enthusiastic about using his experience from the faculty-led trip to Japan in May 2025 and a solo trip to the country in June 2026 in his role as Global Ambassador Program Coordinator. He hopes to make an impact by raising awareness of the office’s initiatives and the benefits of intercultural communication across the broader campus community!
Contact: cbaum@unca.edu