Experiential Learning at RWU Shapes Elena Sewall’s Global Career Path

April 14, 2026By Angie Garippa '26

Through experiential learning at Roger Williams University, Elena Sewall developed an approach that transformed internships, study abroad experiences, and campus leadership roles into a clear path toward a global career.

BRISTOL, R.I. - For Elena Sewall, experiential learning at Roger Williams University has not been a single opportunity, but a deliberate approach - one that has turned internships, study abroad, and campus leadership into a clear path toward a global career.

A senior from Kutztown, Pa., Sewall is an International Relations and Spanish double major with a minor in Sustainability Studies. When she arrived at RWU in fall 2022, she already carried a strong sense of direction, shaped in part by a high school experience abroad that revealed the interconnected nature of global issues.

"I was abroad during the 2020 election, and I found it interesting how much people cared and spoke about our election cycle," she said. "I paid more attention and realized everything's connected in the world through International Relations. I learned how complex our world is and how important it is to understand different perspectives. There's not two sides to every story, there's many more."

That global perspective has been deepened through her Spanish studies, which have expanded both her ability to communicate and her understanding of international issues.

"In International Relations, we spend a lot of time talking about policies or theory," she said. "Knowing Spanish allows me to hear different stories, experiences, and viewpoints. Connecting those perspectives is really important - otherwise, you could miss key parts."

Leadership and Campus Involvement

Throughout her time at RWU, Sewall has taken on a wide range of leadership roles. She has been actively involved in the International Relations Organization, serving as both Treasurer and President, while also participating as an Honors student, Presidential Student Ambassador, former Orientation Advisor, and Vice President of the Alpha Chi Honor Society.

She credits these experiences with shaping her understanding of leadership as a collaborative, behind-the-scenes effort.

"Without collaborating, there's no feasible way to see all of the challenges you're going to run into," she said. "A lot of what I've learned about leadership is coordination from behind - making sure others have what they need so everyone can succeed."

Real-World Experience Through Internships

Elena Sewall interned with the U.S. Department of State during the spring of 2025.

Sewall's professional experiences have further clarified her goals, particularly her spring 2025 internship with the U.S. Department of State.

"I worked with the United States Mission to the Organization of American States," she said. "I supported the political section, but also the broader mission in their daily activities of an active diplomatic mission to an International Organization"

In that role, she took notes at meetings, prepared briefing materials, managed data, and contributed to a campaign for commissioner at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Rosa María Payá.

The experience, she said, helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

"Coming back to the classroom and seeing what I did was one of the best things," she said. "It helped me realize I enjoy coordinating information, working through complex challenges, and understanding how different groups interact on the international stage."

Global Learning Through Study Abroad

In addition to her internship, Sewall expanded her perspective through two study abroad experiences.

During the fall of 2024, she studied in Costa Rica, where she was exposed to new academic and cultural perspectives.

"There were many professors in Costa Rica who had completely different life experiences," she said. "You might be learning the same information, but the way it's presented varies. Understanding those differences was incredible."

While there, she also interned with Soy Niña, a nonprofit organization in San José that empowers girls in underserved communities.

"I helped with fundraising and outreach and got to engage with their programming," she said. "Seeing how global nonprofits function - and how they sustain their work - was incredibly impactful."

She later studied abroad in Vietnam during winter 2025 with Professor of Politics and International Relations Joseph Roberts, further connecting academic concepts to lived experience.

"We were learning while actively experiencing what we were studying," she said. "That provided so much context and showed how what we learn can have real, tangible impact."

Preparing for a Global Future

Through these combined experiences, Sewall has developed a clearer understanding of how to apply her academic knowledge in real-world contexts.

"Learning how to take academic information and apply it to what's happening around us is one of the most valuable things I've gained," she said. "I've been able to connect what I've learned in Bristol to broader global communities, and RWU gave me the support to branch out and move forward with that."

Advice for Future Students

For incoming students, Sewall emphasizes openness and initiative.

"Come to college ready to seek out support and opportunities," she said. "You don't have to have everything figured out, but you do have to be open and willing to put yourself out there. If you don't ask how to make something happen, it's not going to happen."