Rachael Criso, PhD

In her role within the LSA Opportunity Hub at the University of Michigan, Rachael leads the Global Opportunities team that strives to provide quality international work and volunteer experiences for students enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Rachael sources international internships in over 20 countries, often connecting students with international UM alumni who serve as local mentors. Rachael is expanding the program to include: English as a Second Language training workshops, the Touchdown Series (survival language and culture instruction for departing interns), and Global Immersions (group visits to Global UM alumni in their workspace to learn about their industry). Rachael maintains strong ties with colleagues, partners, and UM alumni across the global in order to enhance the experiential component of the University of Michigan undergraduate experience.

Rachael has been placing UM students in international internships since 2001; 140 were placed summer 2016 and the projection for 2017 is 200+.  Having placed more than 500 students, she has witnessed how adaptable and effective liberal arts undergraduates can be in off-campus, out-of-country, out-of-comfort zone work situations; and how much they can learn from these transformative experiences.

Rachael also serves as a faculty member in the UM Romance Languages & Literatures department, teaching courses in Business French. In addition, she has developed the curriculum for two UM internship classes that prepare students to live and work abroad, connecting the practical experience they will gain with their undergraduate studies and career path.