Faces of FIUTS | Rachel Greenwood

Rachel Greenwood pictured second from right with former FIUTS friends on the University of Washington campus, 2018.

Rachel Greenwood began her FIUTS journey as a SUSI ambassador in 2018 and finished her time at FIUTS as Student Board President as the world was in the midst of the pandemic. When she joined FIUTS as a student ambassador, she was an undecided major. A dual-citizen from the United States and New Zealand, Rachel always regarded a global outlook as important, but FIUTS allowed her to truly discover her passion for cross-cultural engagement and understanding.

Rachel discovered FIUTS through a call for ambassadors to support the Southern Africa SUSI cohort in winter 2018 and, a few months later, served as an ambassador for the annual visit of Japan’s Ehime students. Rachel quickly realized the value of cross-cultural connections during that year’s SUSI overnight retreat. An impactful experience was an afternoon workshop where each participant created a timeline of the ten most important events from their lives. Rachel remembers recognizing the many similarities in the group, even though everyone came from continents apart, and finding something special in that recognition.

As a dual-citizen, Rachel found community among the like-minded individuals of FIUTS. She was excited to connect with people who also appreciated the global community and the value of cross-cultural connections. When the pandemic hit and Rachel was Student Board President, the community that she had built at FIUTS easily shifted online. At a time when people sought connections more than ever, FIUTS was still able to provide just that.

After her SUSI experience, Rachel decided to major in International Studies and graduated from the University of Washington in 2020. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, with a focus on Africa and human rights.

Now, in her graduate program, Rachel sees the mission of FIUTS as more important than ever. It is easy to learn about other countries in the classroom, but to engage with cultural humility and understanding is much more important, she says.