Laura Jensen is a senior double majoring in German and Secondary English Education. After spending a semester abroad in Berlin and volunteering with Yazidis at Juniper Refuge, she realized the importance of cultural relations and supporting those who are seeking safety and security. She applied for the Community-Based Combined grant in Austria to be stationed in Vienna as a teaching assistant, a student at the University of Vienna, and a volunteer at Integrationshaus, a local refugee organization. While in Vienna she plans to introduce her students to a variety of minority voices in American Literature, to grow in her understanding of intercultural relations, and to better understand the different kinds of support that can be provided to newcomers. After she returns from Austria she plans to get her Masters in Literature and continue working with local refugees.
