EGL Alumni Panel

I'm excited to announce an upcoming EGL Alumni Panel, centered around Working & Living Abroad. This event is designed to give current EGLs insights into full-time opportunities and life beyond borders. Panelists will share insights on securing visas and sponsorship, travel and digital nomadship, overcoming language barriers, adapting to new cultures, and more. Thank you to all those who have demonstrated interest in being a panelist! 

TiL 1 Connect Effect

It's almost time for the semi-annual TiL 1 Connect Effect session, which will include a live networking workshop as well as 1-1 networking post-sessions with alumni volunteers. This is an amazing chance to mentor a TiL 1 student and to share valuable insights from your academic and professional journey. For more details, see the Alumni Engagement Opportunities section below, or express your interest by filling out the relevant form: Live Session | Post Session.

Board Elections

Annual elections for our new executive and general EGBoard members are scheduled for this December, and will include the newly added Strategic Funding Chair role.

It’s time for our annual Fall Alumni Campaign! This is a chance for us to say thank you for all the support, generosity, and mentorship you share with the EGL student society. It's ongoing throughout the Fall semester, featuring events including a Thank-A-Thon, fundraising campaign, as well as Homecoming and our upcoming Alumni Panel in December.

This campaign is intended to celebrate you, and to give thanks to all of your support, which truly makes a difference to current EGL students! It helps power global projects, cultural immersion, hands-on learning, and unmatched professional opportunities for our students. We’re so grateful for every chat, every piece of advice, and every contribution you give. Thanks for keeping EGL strong and connected!

Sixteen EGLs kicked off their Thailand Volunteer Abroad experience on August 11th at Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary (BEES) in the lush valley of Mae Chaem. The passionate founders, Burm and Emily, have created BEES to be more than just a refuge for elephants, but also a safe place for the entire community. Volunteers learned about the sanctuary’s holistic mission: providing safe haven for retired elephants, rescuing stray animals, offering work opportunities for locals, and strengthening the local economy. Their first days were filled with travel and adventure, from exploring waterfalls and markets to preparing meals for elephants Thong Dee, Mae Kam, and Mae Dok.

Over the next several days, students immersed themselves in hands-on service and cultural work. They built new sandbeds for the elephants, repaired sanctuary roads, and cleared farming fields under the hot Thai sun. Each night, the group shared reflections on gratitude, culture, and teamwork, enjoying meaningful moments like jungle hikes, river swims, and bat cave explorations. The experience highlighted the balance of physical work and thoughtful learning, with lessons that extended far beyond the sanctuary.

The week wrapped up with powerful cultural exchanges, including teaching English at local elementary and high schools, teaching English to monks, learning about handwoven Thai textiles, and exploring Mae Chaem’s iconic rice terraces and waterfalls. The students discovered that service doesn’t only mean helping animals or building things; it’s also about listening, learning, and building human connections. By the end of their stay, the Thailand team left behind happier elephants, and with a deep appreciation for Thai culture and language.

A group of 15 EGLs traveled to Carriacou, Grenada to volunteer with Caribbean Reef Buddy on important marine preservation and protection projects. Their experience began with an immersion into the Grenadian lifestyle, including local meals and early morning swims. They then dove into scuba certification and skill-building exercises, in preparation for coral reef restoration.

Throughout the week, they participated in numerous underwater tasks, working to clear invasive algae from damaged coral gardens and place cement “biscuits” to promote new coral growth. The group also learned about the ecological threat posed by invasive lionfish and took on efforts to control the lionfish population, such as spearfishing culling dives, which reduced the threat to native species and deepened their understanding of the challenges facing reef ecosystems.

The week demonstrated in action the transformative power of collective action and environmental responsibility. Facing unpredictable currents and challenging underwater environments, group members reflected on teamwork, adaptability, and the critical importance of environmental stewardship. The group’s impact extended beyond the immediate ecological benefits; they left with a greater sense of community, broadened worldviews, and a lasting sense of accomplishment in preserving the beauty and biodiversity of Carriacou’s reefs.

Eight EGLs from the University of Michigan spent a transformative week volunteering on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana, focusing on community-driven projects and cultural exchange. Throughout the week, they helped out at the local food pantry to combat food insecurity and assisted with maintenance at public schools.

Each day brought unique opportunities to contribute and learn. EGLs assisted with food distribution, garden irrigation systems, furniture assembly, and renovations in key community spaces, such as schools and churches. These projects provided valuable lessons in the importance of sustainability and the challenges of long-term building maintenance. The presence and kindness of Browning’s residents, particularly those dedicated to essential community services, also left a lasting impression on the group.

Cultural exploration was woven into their experience, with evenings spent attending traditional Blackfeet ceremonies like the Pow Wow, learning the local history, and enjoying horseback rides across breathtaking landscapes. Stories shared by Blackfeet community members, both celebratory and somber, sparked thoughtful reflection among the EGLs, deepening their understanding of indigenous resilience in the face of historical adversity. 

By engaging directly with the community and forming meaningful connections, the EGLs gained invaluable insights into service, leadership, and cultural humility. Their week in Browning reinforced the importance of approaching volunteer work with empathy and openness, and they brought home a strengthened commitment to respectful partnership and lifelong learning.

Seventeen EGL students arrived in Madre de Dios, Peru on August 11th to volunteer with Hoja Nueva, an environmental conservation and sustainability organization focused on rewilding, research, and preservation in the Amazon Rainforest. Nestled deep in the jungle alongside the Las Piedras River and just north of Puerto Maldonado, Hoja Nueva’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintroduce native wildlife, particularly carnivores like jaguars and ocelots, back to their natural habitats. 

The EGL team quickly adapted to the vibrant, but harsh, environment, and engaged in a variety of impactful projects: collecting food and supplies for rescued animals, assisting with camera trap wildlife surveys, and supplementing the sanctuary’s natural re-wilding enclosures. They accompanied different field experts on morning and night surveys for frogs, caimans, birds, and more, and had the opportunity to learn about each expert’s research in this region of the Amazon. The group also learned about the delicate balance of Amazonian ecosystems through activities ranging from sustainable agroforestry projects that balance profitability for farmers with sustainable growth initiatives, to first-hand exposure to the complexities of re-integrating animals that have been wrongfully domesticated or trafficked back into the wild. The students embraced the jungle lifestyle, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of protecting such a biodiverse, but unforgiving environment. They were able to experience cultural exchanges with nearby village children and with other interns on field placements, playing volleyball and swimming on the riverbanks, further deepening their connection to the place and its people.

Hoja Nueva’s commitment to minimizing human impact was clear: their local advocacy and strict rehabilitation protocols ensure animals destined for release maintain their wild behaviors, while research informs conservation strategies tailored to preserve this unique ecosystem. As the week closed, the EGL team felt inspired by the passion and perseverance of the local staff, the complexity of the ecosystem, and the knowledge that their work contributes to a global effort to preserve the Amazon’s rich biodiversity for generations to come.

“VA was such an eye-opening experience! It allowed me to connect with other EGL students while also giving me space to reflect and feel part of something bigger than myself. As a new admit, it was especially meaningful to meet students in older grades and build relationships with them. Hearing about their experiences, whether it was about past VAs, classes, or Tauber projects, made me even more excited to be part of a program that truly values connection and community.” - Luciana Millan, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering BSE, Class of 2028

From coast to coast, EGL alumni and students came together for fun meet-ups this summer! Read below to hear what our NYC and Chicago leads had to say about these gatherings.

TiL 1 Connect Effect

We're excited for this semester's TiL 1 Connect Effect, the signature event where new EGL admits meet and learn from alumni like you! There are two ways to get involved:

1. TiL Networking Panel and Workshop: Join the live panel and networking workshop on Monday, December 1st, from 6 - 8 PM at the Ross School of Business. Indicate your interest via this form.

2. Paired TiL 1 Alumni Networking Sessions: Volunteer for a 30-minute one-on-one networking or mentorship session with a TiL 1 student, taking place virtually or in person between December 2 - 9. If you’re interested, please fill out this interest form.

Based on my own experience, these conversations can make a real impact and help students navigate their own academic and career journeys. Opportunities like these to connect with alumni directly shape the EGL experience, and we truly appreciate your time, engagement, and support!