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Born and raised in the heart of Texas, she chose to stay in her hometown for her undergraduate studies, ultimately earning a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2023. During this period, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Thailand for two months—a transformative experience that opened her eyes to the vastness of the world beyond their hometown.

Later that same year, Madeline began her master's studies at Umeå University, supported by a Fulbright study grant sponsored by the US government. It also provided her with the opportunity to attend a conference in Belgium. Most recently, she participated in the North2North exchange programme, spending the autumn 2024 in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Eager to continue exploring Europe, Madeline is very enthusiastic about future travel opportunities and is actively seeking to establish a permanent life and career on the continent.

What made you interested in applying for the programme and choosing Umeå University?

My internship in Thailand was my first time out of the country. It sparked my interest in going abroad for my master's. I applied for a Fulbright grant, and chose Sweden because it’s one of the most sustainable countries in the world. Sweden was the perfect environment for me to study sustainability. I chose Umeå because of the large presence of international students and because of the Buddy Programme. 

What are the best things about the programme and the teachers?

I like that the pace is more relaxed - it’s one course at a time and you can retake exams. The class sizes are much smaller so I feel like my professor actually knows me and I am able to get to know my coursemates. 

What are the biggest differences between studying in Sweden and the United States? 

The pace is much faster in the United States and less forgiving. It’s hard to be a student and most of my friends had a job to pay for their tuition, so the work-life balance was brutal. The professors are also less lenient so it was difficult to be a student. Here I’m actually able to enjoy my studies and have free time with my friends. 

What do you like to do in UmeaÌŠ during your free time? 

I like to climb and workout at IKSU and go out with my friends to the clubs and do karaoke. I’m also a frequent reader so I will go out when it’s sunny and read a good book by the river. 

What would you like to have known before you came to Umeå? 

The winter isn’t as bad as I thought. The snow will be great and much more than you can imagine. 

What are your plans after graduation? And where do you see yourself 5 years now? 

I will stay in Umeå while I look for full-time work. I hope to find a job in sustainability at a corporation somewhere in Europe, I’m thinking maybe Vienna or Amsterdam!