Abby Dean

Abby Dean is a junior at Seattle University where she is majoring in International Studies, is double-minoring in Arabic and History, and has graduated from the Society, Policy, and Citizenship track of the University Honors Program. She is originally from the rural town of Gardiner, Montana, which is a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park. Between her studies, her extracurricular activities such as Model United Nations and SU Jesuit Refugee Service Action Team, and her work with diverse populations at her hometown's visitor center, Abby has developed a strong passion for cultural immersion and advocacy for human rights, especially those concerning refugee and immigrant populations. Next year, she intends to study abroad in Amman, Jordan to research refugee health and humanitarian aid, and after college she plans to pursue a master's degree in International Affairs or Immigration Studies.

In high school, Abby was very active in events with the Montana World Affairs Council. As a participant of WACA's Academic Worldquest, she had the opportunity to study international affairs and compete at the national level in Washington, D.C. The Montana Council also enabled her to travel to Japan as a student diplomat in the Kakehashi Project. Her prior experience with and admiration for the national World Affairs Council organization drew her to Seattle's World Affairs Council, and she hopes to use her position with the Global Classroom to instill the same value in global education and cultural immersion for communities within Seattle and beyond.