During December 2014, the first group of Ahlers Center for International Business Fellows was named. Many students completed an extensive application and interview process last fall, and ultimately three were selected as Fellows because of their past accomplishments as well as for their perceived ability to succeed in the field of international business. This program will be offered yearly to international business (IB) majors and minors, and will give students a chance to further their academic development through experiential opportunities in this area. Once students are accepted to the program, they commit to participate in three international business related activities as Fellows. Upon completion of these activities, they are eligible to receive a scholarship during their final semester at USD. Further, once the students graduate from USD, the Fellows also commit to mentor future IB majors and minors in their efforts to build a global mindset at USD. Now let’s meet our first group of Fellows!

Kayla Meijer

• Junior at USD, majoring in international business with a focus on Latin American, and minoring in environmental studies.
• Currently is President of the international business club
• Upon graduation hopes to find a career in sustainability and business
• Her passion for travel and culture initially lead her to pursue international business as a major and she hopes to continue finding ways to explore the major through the Fellowship program

Matt Oney

• Junior at USD, majoring in marketing and minoring in international business
• Recently returned from Semester at Sea
• Upon graduation, hopes to work for a large multinational company (ideally in an international setting) and then eventually transition to a small startup company
• Is excited to take advantage of additional international opportunities to supplement what he has learned on two study abroad programs, and eventually connect to future majors and minors as an alum

I-Shen “Kelly” Wu

• Junior at USD and is double majoring in accounting and international business
• International student from Taiwan who has been studying in the United States since 2009
• Speaks three languages fluently – English, Mandarin and Taiwanese
• Works as a student worker at the Office of International Students and Scholars, was co-chair of the International Orientation Welcome Team in 2014 and is also a member of the international business club at USD. These experiences have helped prepare her for international customer-oriented careers, a segment she hopes to pursue after graduation.
• Peer mentor in the Link program where she advised freshman from minority backgrounds.
• Is excited to take advantage of additional international opportunities outside of the classroom including study abroad, ABCs of international trade and an internationally-focused internship.

We look forward to working with this distinguished group of young students, and to helping them prepare to be outstanding contributors in their fields upon graduation!