My name is Erin, but you may know me as my Spanish name “Elena.” I have studied Spanish my whole life, and love how Spanish allows me to form relationships, connect to cultures, and experience other countries in the context of my second language. Since language acquisition and sharing it with others makes me tick, I double-majored in Spanish and Corporate Communication. I graduated from Belmont University in December 2017. Some highlights of my time in college include studying abroad in Argentina, Turkey, and Spain, walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, and writing my senior thesis on the pilgrimage.

During my time at Belmont, I realized that I wanted to use my Spanish skills for a purpose outside of my personal benefit. My journey to Ecuador on a Lumos award will be a wonderful opportunity to use my Spanish serving in a community development setting. I hope to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish and become a Spanish teacher.