Alysia Finger
Alysia Finger travelled from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milano, Italia, to break away from her standard business courses so that she could immerse herself in the rich history and culture of design in Milan. Her coursework included Interior Design (similar to theoretical and abstract architecture) and Visual Design (including lessons on global marketing practices and technical skills involved in commercials and motions graphics). Outside of the classroom, Alysia focused on building relationships with local students and business owners, learning quite a bit of Italian along the way. She participated in the Milano Gay Pride Parade, sought out various Italian design exhibits, and attended local music festivals. Her interactions with locals taught her the importance of leading a happy, healthy, and sustainable lifestyle. Her summer experiences have helped her to shape her future goals as a designer and a world traveler.
CEE Title: Bridging the GAP
For her CEE, Alysia helped to design Bridging the GAP, a program designed for students in the tenth grade to gain a sense of global awareness and openness. That, in turn, would allow them to have a greater curiosity and acceptance of different cultures and values. She and her team volunteered at the Obama Academy for International Studies for five days, with each day relating to a different aspect of their goal.