Bonderman Fellow Profiles

Travel Locations: South America

Bergsma is a lifelong naturalist who has worked in the UW seismology lab and developed public earthquake preparedness education programs while majoring in Zoology. Bergsma will travel along the Pacific coast of South America exploring local human and wildlife communities and learning about their existence in the presence of intensive volcanic activity.

Travel Locations: Malawi, India, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Belgium

Brauer's travels will allow him to experience the poetry of birth and death via photography and conversation with the people of Malawi, Germany, India, and Russia.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“I've been working as a photojournalist for nearly 20 years, which is a completely different track than I was on before going on my Bonderman fellowship. It instilled a life-long passion for travel and meeting people around the world and somehow managed to make that into a career. I'm still in contact with a few of the people I met on my trip continue to travel in the spirit of the Bonderman fellowship whenever I can.”

What are you doing now?

“I had a photo exhibition in Bulgaria earlier this year and will hopefully be doing an art residency in Estonia next year. Now I've got a 5-year-old, but that only opens up new opportunities to explore; we took her to India when she was 8 months old and continue to travel with her. "

Travel Locations: Mongolia

Fehr wants to go back to the basics in Mongolia to wander, explore, relax, and learn, letting the cultural tide move him at its pace.

 

Travel Locations: Rome and the Mediterranean to the Caspian and Black Seas

Locker will undertake a modern-day pilgrimage starting in Rome, moving eastward across the Mediterranean to the Caspian and Black Seas, and visiting holy sites, museums, and ruins. He will study the Mediterranean, and take this opportunity to explore how earlier inhabitants might have experienced travel by restricting himself to travel by boat, train, and foot.

Hometown: SeaTac, WA

Travel Locations: Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, Jamaica

Mihret believes in the spirit of the youth and wants to explore how young innovative entrepreneurs are shaping the future of the African continent and developing Black nations. With a deep passion for the collective liberation of all oppressed people, Mihret plans to use her positionality in this world to actively support young people creating sustainable solutions for their communities. Through this experience, she hopes to define her role in returning to her roots in Africa. Mihret plans to travel to Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, and Jamaica.

Travel Locations: Africa

Van Leeuwen began medical school in Holland straight out of high school; but after successfully completing his first year of study, chose to transfer to the University of Washington to complete an undergraduate education. "How, I reasoned, will a 24 year-old doctor who has studied nothing but the sciences since eighth grade be able to connect on a human level with his patients?" Van Leeuwen plans a Bonderman journey through the "AIDS-Belt" of Africa, around Lake Victoria. He wrote: "I want to be moved, to allow these people and this disease to come into my heart and change me in ways that could not happen here in the West. I want to have a deep-rooted sense of humanity, one that will be the driving force in my medical studies and future practice."

Travel Locations: Cuba, India

Vanderwarker, an English major planning a career in medicine, wants to explore his commitment to public health by volunteering with organizations that help people with HIV/AIDS. He will travel to Cuba and Kerala, India to experience communities that have been transformed by networks of support and care created in the face of overwhelming poverty and disease.

Travel Locations: Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Nepal, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Jordan, Turkey

Kevin looks forward to experiencing and understanding these cultures by using art as a lens, partaking in traditional dishes, pursuing an interest in filming and photography, and reflecting on all his thoughts and ideas in a journal. After considering the culinary, visual, and literary arts, he would like to return home more inspired to express his own creative side, drawing from all that these countries have to offer, and hopes to be able to encourage the same inspiration in others.

Alumni Reflections

What's a favorite memory from your Bonderman experience?

“Obviously the street food in Bangkok is incredible, but I found plenty of unexpected opportunities all over Zambia. Once, I snuck a triple decker pizza into Guardians of the Galaxy, and another time I found a Chinese restaurant in the back of warehouse on a fairgrounds. After I ordered wonton soup and dumplings, the waiter replied “oh, soft things!”"

What are you doing now?

"In general trying to constantly improve my work, hobbies, and daily routine to be more beneficial for the environment and my community."

Kevin cooking a meal in Bangkok on his Bonderman.

Hometown: Nordland, WA

Travel Locations: Greenland, Tanzania, Madagascar, Thailand, Nepal, India, Palau, Japan

Griffin is interested in people’s relationship with their natural resources, whether it is conservation or utilization-based, and in countries facing the immediate threats of climate change. He wants to visit cultures where the ancient past and present are interwoven, places as diverse in geography and biodiversity, culture, and art from each other as they are from his home in the Pacific Northwest. He will travel to Greenland, Tanzania, Madagascar, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Palau, and Japan, seeking kindness and to gain understanding. On his return he hopes to enact awareness and collaboration help promote a global community.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“I don’t know if I can succinctly explain how Bonderman impacted my life without sounding trite, but I will give it a shot. The experience humbled me, altered my perceptions, made me more appreciative of nature and community, made me more conscious and mindful of my actions, and more empathetic to the diversity and complexity of the world. Bonderman has also made it difficult to settle for a ‘real’ job.”

What are you doing now?

“I’m happy to be in a thriving community, enjoying life, on the ocean, in the mountains, and in the forests. I work as a scientific diver, a marine educator on a tall ship, and a ski school director. I am passionate about marine conservation, and I am actively trying to find where I best fit in that space to make the most positive impact. I’m also still traveling and wandering as much as possible."

Griffin Hoins on Bonderman.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, Mexico

Travel Objectives: Sam is a passionate marine enthusiast who revels in the natural beauty of the outdoors. Interested in marine science and ecosystem conservation, she hopes to explore cultures with ties to the ocean and experience its influence from the perspective of others. Regions where conscientious eco-tourism has been successfully implemented are of particular interest. She hopes that leaving her comfortable Northwest bubble will challenge her beliefs, expose her to new sights, tastes, and experiences, and open her up to new shared adventures with strangers from around the globe. She will travel to Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico.

Hometown: Poulsbo, WA

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore

Indonesia has mystified Esparo since her first anthropology course, and the mountains and wilderness of South America have always called to her from glossy pictures in books. She specifically chose these regions because of the indomitable characters of their inhabitants and the value of their natural resources to science, both historically and in modern times. She wants to walk in the footsteps of courageous indigenous peoples and revolutionary scientists. Whether traveling by foot, bus, boat or plane, she is excited to explore.

Alumni Reflections

What is a favorite memory from your Bonderman?

“One of the things that I think about frequently these days is how grateful I am that I spent a few days in Hong Kong (when I could have just transferred flights there). It wasn’t on my original itinerary and I wasn’t terribly interested in going there because I didn’t think I would like such a dense city, but it ended up being one of my absolute favorite places I’ve ever been to. I’m somber now thinking about how much it’s changed in the last few years - I wonder to what degree it resembles the place I visited anymore - and I feel lucky that I was able to see it when I did.”

What is inspiring you?

“Lately I’m inspired by the thought of becoming a published writer."

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Travel Locations: India, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil

Ramoin plans to immerse himself in indigenous societies by participating in their traditional pastimes, games and sporting events, while exploring how the preservation of their heritage works to strengthen local organizations.

Travel Locations: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia

White will travel through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece by bike, spending two to three weeks in each country, learning to cook and play music according to local customs.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Prior to my Bonderman travel experience I was very reserved and self-conscious, and I can pinpoint the exact moment that changed for me. I was sitting in my tent in the Dolomites in northern Italy having biked more than half the length of the country on this wonderful, fully-funded experience... and I was absolutely miserable. Moreover, I felt an overwhelming guilt about feeling miserable because I was living my dream and everyone I knew was excited for my opportunity. Thinking deeply about it, I identified the source of my misery was not having engaged in a conversation with virtually any person for days on end, in an attempt to stay on schedule with my travel. Right there I made a commitment to speak with every person I could, even if I only knew four words of the language, My Bonderman experience and indeed my entire life was forever changed.”

What are you doing now?

“I'm currently a professor of Physics at the University of Vermont, focusing my research efforts on photonic crystal organic light emitting diodes and solar energy harvesting technologies. Passing forward the spirit of the UW Bonderman fellowship, I lead two projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation that send a cohort of undergraduate students from around the US to Japan each summer for an 8 week international research and cultural experience."

Photo of Matthew White in 2002 on his Bonderman.

Travel Locations: Australia

Garcia will travel throughout Australia to experience and discover its diversity, especially in its plant life.

Travel Locations: India, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iceland, Spain

Stephanie chose not to have a specific theme in mind, in the hopes that this would allow her to travel somewhat spontaneously and take in all aspects of these new places— including the history, food, natural beauty, music, and hospitable people. She hopes to learn more about the role food plays in culture, how distinct cultures both differ and relate, and what her place is in the global community.

Travel Locations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Nepal, Tibet, India

Waters will travel through South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and South America to explore the nature of labor by doing a photo journal of people's hands.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Kenya, Ethiopia, Turkey, Panama, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica

Win's interest in the environment extends beyond the classroom and into volunteer positions with EarthCrop, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Urban Horticulture Library. Through traveling, Win wants to see the fish, wildlife and natural landscape he's sen seen on television growing up. He plans to explore the jungles to find the bright and deadly frogs of Panama, snorkel the dwindling colorful coral reefs in Indonesia and Belize, feel the hot sand between the toes in the deserts of Gobi, and see the ever growing cities of China. His trip is structured around learning about the social, cultural, and financial impediments present in various landscapes and societies to see how they might hinder conservation efforts and find ways to balance the immediate needs of the people with the needs of the wildlife.

Travel Locations: Asia

Marquardt's interest in cooking "foreign" foods and curiosity about the stories behind these dishes took her to Asia to explore influences on regional cuisine and take part in preparing food with people she met.

Travel Locations: Malaysia and several provinces in Indonesia

Senter became interested in the concept of the "flow state" when he was separated from his tour group in Paris. He wants to explore the nature of "flow state"-which emerges when a person taps into unexpressed potential to meet a new challenge-as he travels by bicycle through Malaysia and several provinces in Indonesia.

Travel Locations: India

Williams will travel through India to research a variety of cave temples representing the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhists influences on Indian culture.

Travel Locations: France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, and Morocco

Witte wants to travel through Mediterranean civilizations through the back door on foot, bus, and ferry. He plans to travel through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, and Morocco.

Hometown: Coralville, IA

Travel Locations: Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos

Rachel will be traveling to Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos to experience attitudes and interactions with mental health in different regions of the world. She hopes to better understand traditional practices, cultural norms, and mindsets surrounding mental health to drive her work in health care and evolve her personal outlook on consciousness. With local transportation and rural communities at the forefront of her agenda, Rachel is excited to break away from her comfort zone and immerse herself as much as possible into each new culture.

Travel Locations: Peru, Brazil, the Caribbean

Zarkades travels will explore the history and culture of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. She will use a variety of transportation: feet, canoes, planes, boats, and even a llama.

Hometown: Ulm, Montana

Travel Locations: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos

Flanagan grew up in a small town on the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Through his work as an imaging assistant at a medical center he experienced the joy of helping others and interacting with people of different cultures. His experiences made him want to learn more about other cultures, sparked an interest in traveling the world, and focused his interest in pursuing a career as a medical oncologist. August intends to travel to areas of the world with statistically low rates of cancer. He will examine how diet and lifestyle of different cultures affects overall health. He intends to start with Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica before busing through South America. He will then travel to Southeast Asia to finish his journey.

Hometown:  Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Bolivia, Nicaragua, Tunisia, Morocco, Brazil, South Africa, Palestine/Israel, India, Burkina Faso

Chahim's itinerary takes him to countries that have historically experimented with a variety of development paths different from the West. He hopes to appreciate one of the greatest modern ironies: ignorance in the global North of alternative definitions of development that transcend economics. He wants to challenge himself to begin to see the world in the multitude of ways people in the "developing" world do - and understand the world as they imagine it could be.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“In short, I discovered that I loved listening to and documenting people’s stories from all walks of life. And then I realized that this was actually something I could do for the rest of my life as an anthropologist.”

What are you doing now?

“I’m a professor of environmental studies - I was trained as an anthropologist and now research and teach about environmental justice and disasters, with an emphasis on Mexico."

Hometown: Monroe, WA

Travel Locations: Mongolia, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Botswana, Madagascar, Argentina, and Ecuador

Noah hopes to obtain a more holistic view of the world by exploring and experiencing a multitude of diverse cultures, customs, geology, fauna, and flora. In his travels, He looks to witness the developmental processes these cultural and natural forces have on each other through their interactions. Some of Noah’s primary interests include the role of the environment with health disparities and climate change; he hopes to obtain a deeper perspective of the challenges individuals face in different environments. Noah hopes to travel to a multitude of diverse locations, including Mongolia, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Botswana, Madagascar, Argentina, and Ecuador.

Hometown: Pullman, WA

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi

Savage plans to travel through South America, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa. During this time, she plans to re-examine her passions and make new connections within different societies. Erin is considering multiple possibilities upon her return, including graduate work in biology or philosophy, veterinary school, or law school. Of course, those ideas aren't binding and could change through the course of her travels!

Travel Locations: France, Spain

Evans will follow the traditional pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain starting from le Puy, France. She is interested in the unique religious history of the pilgrimage and the art and architecture along the route.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“There are really no words for how deeply the Bonderman impacted my life. It was foundational in adapting to change, unpredictability, taking risks, and seeing the best in humanity.”

What are you doing now?

“Currently working in public health research and practice to disrupt disparities and bring culturally responsive health promotion programming to the most underserved communities."

Travel Locations: Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal

Ngo will travel to Southeast Asia and Nepal to explore the practices of traditional medicine and the quality of life of the mountainous and tribal people.

Hometown: Sumner, WA

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Uganda, South Africa, Lesotho

Logan has chosen a bicycle as his tool to literally and figuratively break down barriers, cross borders, and engage with the world around him. He continues to cling to the hope that at our core there still exists a common humanity. To witness the oneness within our diversity was a driving factor in his choice of countries. Recognizing that he daily wakes up in a place where he is the majority, he anticipates that this trip will, in many ways, challenge his preconceived notions and sentiments about the world. But he truly believes that if we seek out unique perspectives, different ways of seeing the world, and living in it, we’ll be changed for the better. Therefore, he’s beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to test this belief by traveling the world for eight months!

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru the Caribbean

Moravia-Rosenberg is most interested in learning about the role that music plays in people's lives around the world, and how that role differs from that in the United States. As a cultural ambassador representing his community, he hopes to converse and collaborate with other lovers of music from all corners of the earth. As an active musician he expects to return from this experience enabled and inspired to bring ideas and change to his home community.

 

Hometown: Renton, WA

Travel Locations: Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Nepal, India, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia

Dan is on the hunt for a changed perspective and a more in-depth and nuanced understanding of the human experience, across cultures and regions. In his travels he hopes to learn about a diverse range of religious traditions and how these traditions can facilitate greater conflict and/or harmony. As a student of global health and human rights who has read extensively about the rights of different people and places, he now seeks to gain a real-world understanding of our global community. Dan hopes to travel to Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Nepal, India, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.

Hometown: Denver, CO

Travel Locations: Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, India, Thailand

Havana’s experience as a student athlete has shown her the overwhelming strength of collaboration and that, regardless of past experience, it is possible to achieve something meaningful within a diverse group. As she transitions away from athletics, she hopes to further explore these principles of unity in new ways, challenging herself to find community and teamwork in different contexts. Her solo journey will trace places impacted by the African Diaspora and transatlantic slave trade, with the goal of seeking deeper understanding of her own identity, blackness, history, and privilege. Her travels will include visits to Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Chile, Brazil, Liberia, Nigeria, India and Sri Lanka.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Bonderman has made a forever transient out of me. I am still daily gleaning insights from my travels coming up on the 6th anniversary of my departure. Talking to other other Bonderman's about the experience is super impactful and something I always look forward to. One way I think it has impacted me the most is my perspective of the US government in other places, and my own responsibility to decenter myself and a US politic when navigating other places in the world. This 'decentering' is going to be a lifelong process, and one I wouldn't have any scope for if it weren't for the foundation of solo travel through Bonderman.”

What are you doing now?

“Lots of things! But coming off about two years of remote working/ transient living/ volunteering in the UK, US and Mexico. Very much informed by my Bonderman."

Travel Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Israel

Eney will begin his travels in Moscow and continue through the Ukraine to Odessa. He will then go by boat to Istanbul, on to Jaffa, and complete his journey by walking 40 miles to Jerusalem. He will travel mostly by foot and with a destination in mind but a willingness to stop and listen.

Hometown: Litchfield, NH

Travel Locations: Mexico, Central America, Spain, Morocco, Sicily, Lebanon, Greece, the Balkans, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India

Candage is interested in the role of spirituality in people’s everyday lives, including how they cook and eat together, communicate and commune with each other, and experience the environment and other species.

Travel Locations: Nepal and Tibet

Kagan has been intrigued by Kathmandu ever since her mother told her about it when she was a little girl. Further intrigued by people who have returned from Nepal and Tibet " drenched with the energy of the Himalayas and Hindu and Buddhist mysticism," Elizabeth is traveling through these countries compiling a collection of images from panoramas to portraits, and joining in festivals and celebrations in the small villages she visits.

Travel Locations: Northern Arctic

Marshall spent much of his undergraduate education studying and doing research in Glacial Geophysics in Antarctica. He will use the opportunity of his Bonderman Fellowship to travel to the northern arctic where he will live with the Gwitchin people and learn about their way of life in Old Crow. Hans-Peter has found an opportunity to volunteer in a local school in a remote fly-in only community, enabling him to extend his stay to 5 months.

Travel Locations: Japan, China, Thailand

Bliss will travel through Asia and Southeast Asia with a sketchbook. He hopes to challenge himself while meeting diverse people, exploring new ways of thinking, and removing himself from inherited paradigms.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“It was an incredible experience for someone interested in learning about the world with an interest in culture, justice, and creative writing. Because you visit so many places, you can't really prepare for much of what you'll experience. This puts you in a constant state of heightened awareness. I'd also note that spending time in China influenced my career--I've returned there multiple times for teaching and research.”

What are you doing now?

“I'm a social scientist and legal scholar on the tenure track at the University of Denver. Most of my research is qualitative--interviews and ethnographies where I'm immersing myself in the culture or community under study. The Bonderman experience was a big influence on my pursuit of this methodology and some of the substance of what I study--taking a global perspective on movements for social change."

Hometown: Bellevue, WA

Travel Locations: Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, Turkey, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Venezuela

McKeon plans to visit places with unique storytelling traditions that are sometimes portrayed negatively in western media, with the goal of complicating and challenging her preconceptions of the cultures she passes through.

Travel Locations: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos

Leeson will travel throughout Southeast Asia. She identifies herself as a late-blooming naturalist in a time when the nature she has come to love is shrinking at a mind-boggling rapid rate.

Travel Locations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste

Lundry will travel to East Timor (Indonesia).

Alumni Reflections

What is a favorite memory from your Bonderman?

“Although the whole trip was incredible and eye-opening, my experiences of Timor-Leste stand out. Then under Indonesian occupation with no signs of the independence that would come, it was quite harrowing at times, but I was able to make contact with people who became my friends and who I still see when I go. And, of course, I made other life-long friends in Indonesia, where I stayed for the majority of my time.”

What are you doing now?

“I am a tenured professor in the Centro de Estudios de Asia y Africa at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City, I teach at Arizona State University, I still travel a lot (although COVID and my 3-year-old son slowed that down), and I am still a staff photographer and writer for Thrasher skateboarding magazine. The experience of Bonderman prepared me for so many amazing things that followed -- working as a UN-accredited observer in the referendum in Timor-Leste, working for the Carter Center in the 2004 Indonesian presidential election, research and language training under Fulbright and Blakemore Freeman fellowships, and my professional career. My son inspires me the most, but also my wife, my family, and my students."

What should Bonderman Fellows know?

"Bonderman fellows should know that it's best to be yourself and let it show -- my essay for the Bonderman was about how I bought a 1973 Dodge Dart for $100 and drove it around the USA to go skateboarding."

Hometown: Whidbey Island, WA

Travel Locations: Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos

Fisher was born in Sitka, Alaska and raised on Whidbey Island, Washington. She intends to travel throughout northwestern Africa, South Asia, and throughout the Andean countries of South America. Brita plans to walk as much of her journey as possible, hoping to get to better know and understand the people and places she's visiting. As she travels, she'll look at notions of womanhood, particularly how the people in various locations approach and understand the ritual and process of childbirth. When she returns, she hopes to become more active as a doula and embark on a career in education.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman Fellowship impact your life?

“The Bonderman experience continues to impact my life as a touchstone of deep perspective. It serves as a sort of internal sounding board, reminding me of the vast diversity of the human experience, and of the beauty, destruction, (and everything in between) that humanity can create. The experience was ultimately both humbling, and an inspiration. A reminder and guide to be a steward of healthy relationships, community, and environment, no matter where I am. And, to find beauty wherever I can.”

What are you doing now?

“Working with Vashon Youth and Family Services and doing art and floral design."

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Travel Locations: Indonesia, China, Nepal, Jordan, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, Namibia, Madagascar

Each of the countries on Rafae’s itinerary either has a majority-Muslim population, distinct and unique natural spaces, or a combination of the two. In his travels, he hopes to learn about how Muslims live in different parts of the world to shed the idea that those of the faith are all similar. Aside from an interest in religious demographics, he has always loved the outdoors, and he particularly enjoys experiencing the vastly different, yet still Earthly environments, like the desert landscape of his home, Las Vegas, and the lush Pacific Northwest. He plans on immersing himself in many more unique cultural and natural spaces when traveling Indonesia, China, Nepal, Jordan, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, Namibia, and Madagascar.

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA

Travel Locations: Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Peru, Mexico

Barnett plans to follow the global spice trade to see the evolution of the modern food system. This journey will hopefully provide a deeper understanding of being both a global consumer and a local food activist by experiencing street food and cooking with people of diverse backgrounds.

 

Hometown: Longview, WA

Travel Locations: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Kenya, Tanzania

Lichty served as a resident adviser and is a volunteer and tutor in Seattle-area schools. She plans to travel to countries with large groups of dispersed peoples due to conflict. These plans will bring her through Southeast Asia, the Balkans and East Africa. The purpose of her journey is to expand global education and encourage cultural tolerance and understanding. Upon her return to the United States, Lichty wants to expand study abroad programs for community colleges.

Alumni Reflections

What is a favorite memory from your Bonderman?

“While visiting Pula, Croatia in January (the off season, so I was completely alone, the only visitor in town) I stayed at the home of a Professor and his family who allowed me to visit his campus and told me about the education system, his own experience as a Professor and shared his family’s own history and impact of the war. It was an incredible and insightful moment and the entire reason I had decided to travel.”

What are you doing now?

“I am working on The Sims 4, and although my life direction changed greatly from where I thought I would be, my entire life and career have been shaped by my experience. I think about how I want every person across the globe to experience games, play, and entertainment. And personally, I’ve never stopped traveling. My world was so small before I went on my trip, the fellowship opened up opportunities I didn’t even realize were possible or obtainable."

Hometown: Eastsound, WA

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Thailand

For Jack’s fellowship, he will be traveling through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Indonesia to gain a more holistic sense of the world. Along his way, Jack will explore the dramatic landscapes, unique cultures, and traditional practices of the places—from crowded cities to alpine forests to archipelagos—he passes through. As a young international writer, Jack hopes to experience different perspectives throughout his travels, for he believes that no story can be accurately told from a single point of view and that we often have the most to learn from those that are not asked for their opinion.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Raised on a small island in the PNW, the Bonderman Fellowship truly allowed me to see the world and explore my place in it.”

What are you doing now?

“I work for a land trust and help local communities get connected with the land"

Jack Russillo on his Bonderman.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, South Africa, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bhutan

Travel Objectives: Stella will travel to Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, South Africa, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Bhutan. Her goal is to rethink her taken-for-granted understandings of the places she visits and those she calls home. She hopes to use this opportunity to learn more about herself in relation to the world and to deeply consider the politics and ethics of travel. Additionally, as an enthusiast of the PNW outdoors, she is excited to explore the rivers, mountains, and forests of the places she visits.

Travel Locations: Chile, Argentina, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa

Easton-Calabria intends to explore the ways different cultures address reconciliation. Specifically, she hopes to expand her understanding by learning how youth are expressing themselves in regard to recent civil wars, national conflicts, genocide and apartheid. Through listening, communicating and writing about her experiences, she hopes to better understand the ways different countries, communities, and citizens are dealing with their pasts.

Hometown: Spokane Valley, WA

Travel Locations: Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Argentina

Hailee plans to travel to Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Throughout all of these countries, she hopes to explore the ways religion is intertwined into each country’s way of living. Hailee will spend time visiting ancient religious monuments and ruins while also exploring modern religious practices in new and foreign places. She’s also excited to examine various national parks and wildlife reserves in each country, hoping to see how nature has been preserved and incorporated into the foundation of a nation. She wants to see how beautiful spaces can be preserved while simultaneously enjoyed by humans. Hailee is excited to have time to journal, reflect, and expand her worldview throughout her travels.

Hometown: Stanwood, WA

Travel Locations: South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Tanzania, Oman, Morocco

Annie has explored storytelling and narrative formation through her various coursework and through her employment at CLUE and UAA Advising. As an aspiring educator, she hopes to use her travels to explore diverse expressions of vulnerability, observe universal and culture-specific stigmas around displaying weakness, and gain greater multicultural awareness. Upon returning to the United States, her goal is to create new types of culturally-sensitive academic support programs that better assist underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized groups. To explore how higher education can be more equitable and intentional about supporting social justice, Annie will travel to China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Morocco.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman helped me to re-envision not only what I believed could be possible for the world, but what could be possible for myself. While adversity often exists between people of different backgrounds and identities, there are also so many forms of shared humanity and goodness; I did not go anywhere on the Bonderman where I did not meet at least a handful of kind strangers. On my travels, I also continuously pushed past what I believed I was capable of, mentally and physically, and learned that resilience and optimism are never overrated.”

What are you doing now?

“I'm working a Program Coordinator for the International Student Experience at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The theme of my Bonderman was to explore how the United States education system can more equitably support learning and development through culturally-responsive and student-centered practices, so I think about my travels and the fellowship almost every day!"

Photo of Annie Lewis on her Bonderman.

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, India, China

Hanlon proposes to travel to South America, South Asia, and China in an attempt to gain an intimate view of how other people live all over the world.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman Fellowship impact your life?

“The Bonderman fellowship gave me an opportunity to experience solo travel. An opportunity to learn about myself as I was learning about other cultures around the world. I think about my trip often, nearly 20 years later.”

What are you doing now?

“I own a coffee shop and restaurant in Seattle. I am inspired by my interactions with the diverse community that I interact with daily. I still like to walk around and take pictures, which was a huge part of my Bonderman trip."

Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA

Travel Locations: Nepal, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam

Emma loves being a student: her destinations were chosen because at one point her curiosity was ignited for a location, culture, or experience in a place she could only imagine visiting someday. She is grateful that “someday” has arrived and she can learn from the global community as a Bonderman Fellow. Her first destinations include Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia to learn about race and the complex formation of nation-identities. She will also travel to Nepal, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam to learn about the role of religion in everyday life.

Hometown: Port Angeles, WA

Travel Locations: Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, India, Nepal

James will explore southern South America, particularly the Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego regions. He'll continue on to the Mediterranean, spending time in Seville, Spain. Spencer also plans to visit Egypt, Israel, and Turkey, then head to the Karakorum and Kashmir regions of India. While in that corner of the world, Spencer will also spend time in the Himalaya. When he returns from his journey, he plans to finish his biochemistry degree and eventually attend medical school.

Hometown: Pullman, WA

Travel Locations: Thailand, India, Japan, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, Bolivia, Peru

Bryan was exposed to many diverse cultures during his academic career in Seattle, and he hopes to continue building on this with a global perspective through the Bonderman Fellowship. He also expects to learn to connect with others on a more individual level, discover other methods of storytelling, and further explore how to relate across cultural difference. In addition, he hopes to gain insights as to how other people in the world find fulfillment in their lives. Bryan’s travel itinerary includes Thailand, India, Japan, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, Bolivia and Peru.

Travel Locations: South America, Thailand, the Indo-Pacific, Madagascar, Southern Africa.

Nicola is very interested in how different people and age groups interact with the environment and how these interactions can either foster the preservation of the environment or facilitate the degradation of nature. During her travels she will look at the junction between science, culture and the socioeconomics in a given place in order to understand the environmental values and beliefs in that community. She picked her regions because they contain landmarks she wishes to see, relate to the field of marine science, or simply because she has an unexplainable urge to explore and immerse herself in the culture of the country.

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Travel Locations: Greenland, Iceland, Chile, the Galapagos, Indonesia, East Timor, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa

Katie’s love for the ocean extends from the equator to the poles, so she will be traveling to sub-polar locations as well as low-lying tropical countries. She is excited to engage with local communities to explore themes of resilience, ecotourism, and hope in the face of climate change. Katie wants to learn how different people engage with, depend on, love, and destroy their environment. She is also eager to explore incredible, fragile ecosystems across the globe, and hopes to use her experiences to drive work in science communication and reconnecting people with their environment. She plans to visit Greenland, Iceland, Chile, the Galapagos, Indonesia, East Timor, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.

Travel Locations: The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand

McCabe will backpack through Southeast Asia to experience life as it is there and to survey the medical conditions of these countries.

Travel Locations: Chile

Eklund is fascinated by the close relationship between cooking and storytelling, the subject of many novels she has read. In her proposal Hilary wrote, "there is something magical about food, about the lengths to which humans will go to make their survival palatable, spicy, pleasurable. To prepare food is, in many ways to create culture and to facilitate the sharing of stories." Hilary will eat her way through Chile, exploring the cultural importance of food and stories.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman did so much more than introduce me to another culture. I gained independence and an ability to make and sustain connections with people across linguistic, cultural, social, and generational divides. My experience shaped how I understand travel: not as a collection of places visited but as a series of relationships that, each in their own small way, have the power to make the world less violent and more joyful.”

What are you doing now?

“I'm writing a book about wetlands in literary history in the 16th and 17th centuries. Although Chile doesn't figure in my research, I'm using the Spanish I learned to read and write about Mexico and Florida."

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, Ecuador, Guatemala

Rachel is excited to step away from the familiar world of science to investigate the less tangible. She will use this journey to explore different cultural approaches to death and mortality, the immediate effects of climate change, and the role of scientific research in a global context. A lover of biology and conservation, she will also explore the natural spaces and abundant biodiversity of her destination countries: Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, Ecuador, and Guatemala. Rachel’s previous experience with solo travel in the U.S. has been extraordinarily formative, sometimes difficult, and amazingly rewarding. She is eager to find out how this journey will shape her outlook and her future.

Travel Locations: Northern Europe, Russia, and China

Christensen, one of fifteen siblings in a blended family, grew up in small communities with little opportunity to travel. His educational experiences at the University of Washington created in Nathan a thirst to understand and experience other cultures with his own eyes and ears. He envisions a trip around the world by train, in part to travel slowly, and as well to encounter fellow passengers in a more prolonged setting. He will begin his rail excursion in Northern Europe, move through Russia, and then on to China.

Hometown: Honolulu, HI and Mercer Island, WA

Travel Locations: Costa Rica, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia

For the past four years, Chloe studied the world through the lens of policy mistakes, injustices, conflicts, wars, and human suffering. Through traveling to Costa Rica, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia, Chloe hopes to experience the other side humanity’s story: a story about survival, love, wonder, and community. Although she seeks to explore the impacts of U.S. foreign policy and powerful “Western” ideas, Chloe aims to deconstruct, question, and challenge these powerful narratives by deeply engaging with alternative lifestyles and ideologies.

Hometown: Longview, WA

Travel Locations: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China

Sudar will travel north to south in South America, starting in Caracas and ending in Puntas Arenas. He'll then travel south to north in Asia, starting in Singapore and traveling to Mount Tai in China, ancient home of the poet Cold Mountain. Sudar, who has never traveled outside the United States before, is also a 2009 Gates-Cambridge Scholar, and will be entering Cambridge after he returns from his journey.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“It opened up the world to me. After the trip I feel confident going anywhere in the world.”

What are you doing now?

“I work for an independent publishing platform."

Sam Sudar at Huayang Cave in China during his Bonderman

Hometown: Omak, WA

Travel Locations: Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Mongolia, Finland

A member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, Noyes grew up in the town of Omak, Washington. With her fellowship she hopes to make personal discoveries in understanding indigenous solidarity by experiencing the everyday lives of people in the places she is inspired to visit. Emma excitedly admits she will most likely create at hundreds of potential itineraries before her departure. Her passion lies in furthering community based participatory research with indigenous groups/tribes and rejuvenating the physical, emotional and spiritual support for Native peoples from within their own communities.

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar

In the context of our complex and sometimes chaotic world, MaKenzie looks forward to exploring what creates hope and resilience in others. As she draws on her interest in feminism and religion, and her progressive political values, MaKenzie wishes to explore these subjects in relation to the experience of hope. She is excited to take a step outside of her field of engineering to explore a range of globally relevant topics. She also hope that this opportunity will help her grow into a more well-rounded individual who is capable of collaborating with a broader spectrum of people. This experience will also serve as a strong foundation for her future career in international development. MaKenzie hopes to travel to Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, Tanzania, Kenya, and Madagascar.

Alumni Reflections

What is a favorite memory from your Bonderman?

“One of my favorite memories from my Bonderman experience was spending Christmas in a small village in Kenya with a family. It was really interesting seeing how the community celebrated Christmas and their annual festival. We watched a lot of dancing, played games, and cooked a lot of food I'd never had before. I still stay in touch with my host years later.”

What are you doing now?

“I left my engineering job to travel! I've been traveling through SE Asia and Central/South America for over a year now. I will soon be getting more scuba certifications to work in the dive industry for a while."

Makenzie Fockler on her Bonderman

Travel Locations: Chile

Boulding is passionate about Chile. She has studied Chilean literature and politics, as well as Spanish. Captivated by the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and at the same time troubled by the violence and torture of contemporary Chile that she learned about in her studies, Carew will travel to Chile to experience this complex society on the ground. Beginning her travels in Santiago and Valparaiso, she will move on to the mountain highlands and the Southern Lake District, making her plans en route as she meets and talks with local villagers.

Hometown: Newbury, NH

Travel Locations: China, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Papua New Guinea

Thadeus plans to explore how people around the world rely on their natural spaces and resources, and how environmental protection laws may differ among countries. He also wants to see how a combination of government, citizens, and indigenous people manage these unique and often imperiled places. Thadeus developed his knowledge of the United States’ laws regarding land use, park systems, and endangered species through studies in resource management and wildlife conservation. He believes that with a greater understanding of other countries laws, or lack thereof, he will gain a better understanding of non-westernized laws and perspectives in his field.  He hopes to visit countries with unique ecosystems including China, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, and Papua New Guinea.

Travel Locations: Nepal, India, and possibly Tibet

Duncan is a photographer, mountaineer, and champion of the wilderness, and will be trekking in the Himalayas with his camera, and plans to continue on to Nepal, India, and possibly Tibet.

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Travel Locations: Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Israel, Chile, Peru, Argentina

Travel Objectives: Whether biking in the Andes Mountains, or practicing yoga near the Ganges, Allison desires an experience that is off the beaten path, far from tour buses and people of her own cultural background. Allison hopes this immersion will challenge her world views, while also expanding her understanding of global culture and its ancient ties to religion. She plans to examine the many aspects of humanity’s connection to a God or gods, histories of violence and beauty inspired by religion, and the ways in which we incorporate spirituality into modern cultural identity. She will travel overland as much as possible, using local methods of travel, while engaging with new people and experiences along the way. She will be traveling to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Israel, Chile, Peru, and Argentina.

Travel Locations: France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco

Roberts will travel through France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco to pursue her interests in literature and language. She is specifically interested in the nature of identity that is created through language, especially that of colonial languages.

Travel Locations: Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Haiti, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda

Motivated by her education and her personal experiences with adversity and difference, Kartman wants to travel to post-colonial countries rebuilding from systematic racism, to witness and experience the strength of art. From the Ghetto Youth Uprising in Port Elizabeth to Islamic hip hop movement in Morocco, she wants to learn beyond what the classroom can teach and feel the narrative through art - essential to getting whole picture.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“It's impacted my life in profound ways. I've built lifelong relationships with people who I met and lived with along the way and committed to global solidarity for movements for liberation because of the experience.”

What are you doing now?

“I am the Community Education Director at a local nonprofit that I co-founded in 2017, after graduating law school. I am inspired by the communities I organize alongside near and far."

Travel Locations: Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, France, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Ukraine, Russia, and Mongolia

Westall will follow the 49th Parallel around the world. Desiring to capture the unique quality of light during sunsets at this parallel, Andy plans to travel from Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island to France, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Ukraine, Russia, and Mongolia.

Travel Locations: Budapest, Turkey, India, and other areas of Asia

Fox plans to work as an artist following graduation. He will begin his travels in August in Budapest, then continue on to Turkey and then India with plans to explore other areas of Asia, looking at the ways in which art is presented and received and how it functions in different cultural contexts.

Travel Locations: England, Ireland, Amsterdam, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, and Portegua

Morely plans to travel throughout Western and Eastern Europe (including England, Ireland, Amsterdam, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, and Portegual) in pursuit of the concept of a 'nation'.

Travel Locations: Chile, Russia

MacPherson proposes to examine the disparity between the zeal he has for life and the way way he has been living his. While it sounds paradoxical but in college he has fallen in love with books and ideas, but these ideas urge him to leave the library and explore the world in other ways. Mike embarked on an exploration of Eastern Russia and Siberia.

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA

Travel Locations: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Greece, Albania, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia

Kevin has a profound interest in the construction, interactions within, environmental stewardship, and continued development of urban centers. As such, Kevin plans to visit, immerse himself within, and explore an array of urban environments throughout Japan, Southeast Asia, and Turkey, as well as Southern and Eastern Europe. It is Kevin’s hope that he will return from his excursion with new and exciting ideas about how to better serve his community’s social, economic, and environmental needs through more sustainable approaches to urban planning and development.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The positive impact the Bonderman has had on my life cannot be summed up in 3-4 sentences. That said, my best memory was getting engaged when my then-girlfriend (now wife!) came to visit me in Albania.”

What are you doing now?

“I'm working for UW's Puget Sound Institute as a Research Scientist where I am developing a land cover change model to project land cover into the far future. The model is part of one of the largest linked modeling projects in the world (Puget Sound Integrated Modeling Framework)."

Hometown: Mercer Island, WA

Travel Locations: China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel

Tan, a Mary Gates Research Scholar and a UW Undergraduate Achievement Scholar, is a member of the student organization Students for Equal Health. While traveling Tan hopes to learn about countries and their respective cultures and histories through the lens of food. After completing her travels and working for a few years, Tan plans to earn a master's degree in Public Health.

Travel Locations: Egypt, Israel

Farhang proposes to wander between two great wonders, the great pyramids of Egypt and the Wailing Wall of old Jerusalem, as she is curious about how much of a person's potential is shaped and limited by the symbols that surround them.

Travel Locations: New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji

O'Connor proposed to create a photo-journal of the children and landscapes of the Pacific islands. He hoped to experience the cultures, geography and people that vary so greatly from island to island.

Travel Locations: England, France, and Italy

Kimmel will travel throughout England, France, and Italy to visit the great exhibits of Naturalist art and read the Naturalist literature of Zora, Bastien-Lepage, Lhermitte, and Van Gogh.

Travel Locations: New York City, London, Prague, Cairo, Bangkok, Tokyo

Crossman will purchase a round-the-world plane ticket and travel to selected major cities throughout the Northern Hemisphere ( New York City, London, Prague, Cairo, Bangkok, Tokyo). Angela is interested in focusing on daily life and human interactions in each of these cities. Beyond that, she hopes to gain insight into what is being done in each city in response to HIV & AIDS.

Hometown: Tukwila, WA

Travel Locations: South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, China, Russia

Travel Objectives: Charlie plans to undertake a solitary, meditative journey to explore the unifying language of art. In traveling she plans to draw and interact with people and cultures to further comprehend the interconnected stories of a global community and to expand the limited margins of her own comprehension. She will travel to South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, China, and Russia.

Travel Locations: Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Norway

Willis will travel across the the northern Atlantic and Scandinavian countries before going through the Middle East.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Antarctica, Argentina and South Africa

Carletti wants to travel to these places to appreciate the natural beauty of our world, engage in dialogue with local communities, and participate in sports in order to learn to understand their role in the lives of other peoples and cultures of South America and Africa. He also wants to use the opportunity to focus on writing. He wants to write about his experiences, as a mode of self-reflection and documentation for others, and to hone the art of storytelling. 

Travel Locations: Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Fiji, Nepal, India, Bangaladesh, Japan

Craft wants to see past the science of climate change. She intends to spend time with the people of Central America, Brazil, the Pacific Islands, India, China, and Russia in an effort to discover how the world feels about the imminent impacts of global warming. Upon her return, she hopes to use these shared experiences to move the people of the United States towards a sustainable future for all the world's people.

Travel Locations: Turkey; Bulgaria; Romania; Moldova; Ukraine

Mandarino will circle the Black Sea in an effort to have the different cultures of each country effect his perception of the sea, to be recorded via painting.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Turkey

From Southeast and Central Asia to Armenia and Turkey, Bertram plans to visit cultures to experience various stages of social upheaval—those “making history”—and explore the ways that local storytelling customs help people in such situations historicize their own experience. She’ll observe storytelling and historiography, not only through conversation but through arts, children’s stories, rituals, games, names, jokes, advertising, media and museums. As she examines how history making relates to consumerism, age relations, the idea of place, conflict resolution, and power structures, she hopes to be challenged to complicate her preconceptions about world history and to narrate her own experiences differently. 

Hometown: Bend, OR

Travel Locations: Peru, Brazil, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, China, India, Nepal

Phillips hopes to see the great diversity of flora and fauna in some of the world’s richest ecosystems. His goal is to bear witness to the ways in which local ecosystems sustain human communities and, in turn, how recent human activities are shaping those ecosystems.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman Fellowship gave me a new perspective on my life and an appreciation for the world's many varied cultures, traditions, peoples, and lands. I developed a love of travel and of meeting new people. It made me realize how small we are and how much we all have to learn. Finally, it made me comfortable being alone and in my own skin and mind for long periods of time. There is probably no single experience in my life that has had a greater impact on me.”

What are you doing now?

“I am currently working as an Ophthalmologist in the US Air Force. The Bonderman solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine and ophthalmology specifically with its great potential for making impacts in global medicine. Traveling the world made me realize how fortunate I was to be born in the US, and inspired me to join the armed services."

Travel Locations: Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina,

Bressler will travel through South America taking photographs and documenting the lives of the people he meets.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Nepal

Travel objectives: Emily is a Registered Nurse interested in compassionate end of life care. In the United States, death is viewed mainly with sadness and grief and she believes that, while death is always difficult, in many other countries it is celebrated as a part of life. She will attend festivals and ceremonies that honor loved ones who have passed on, and examine how other cultures care for their ageing and dying populations. Emily plans to focus on family, community, alternative healing, and spirituality, and by doing so, gain a greater understanding of what it means to be alive.

Travel Locations: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Kelly will trek through Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe in an attempt to experience the reality of these countries, not merely their academic representations.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, India, Nepal, Lebanon, Spain

Schreck will travel around the Pacific Rim and across Eurasia exploring non-Western performance traditions (such as the Javanese wayang, Madurese loddrok, Japanese Noh and kabuki, the Ilkhom Theatre of Tashkent, and the Yuyachkani company in Lima) and exploring the physical, sonic, and human landscapes of cities, rural areas, and wildernesses. He is particularly excited to make long distance walking journeys in Peru, Chile, and Hokkaido, as he feels that the best way to interact with and learn about a place is at a walking pace. He will also make field audio recordings of theatrical and musical performances, narratives and interviews, and wild places of great solitude and beauty.

Travel Locations: Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana

Kaiwen hopes to get to know and understand new and radically different cultural ideologies. He is fascinated by the way cultural values and world outlooks differ so much among different societies, and how difficult it is to reflect on them since they are so deeply ingrained. He is particularly interested in the way different cultural ideologies affect the beliefs, values, and interactions between people of those cultures, and what the differences tell us about how people can perceive life differently.

Alumni Reflections

How did Bonderman impact your life?

“It’s not that I can pin down the one day or even one week that was the most amazing, but rather the sum of all the days, the totality of the experience has been overwhelming. Every day is rather normal in its own way – everything is quite normal in its own context of the particular place I’m in, but now when I look back on it all, I realize that I have seen so much, done so much, learned so much.”

What is a favorite memory from your Bonderman?

“I was hitchhiking in the West of Mongolia passing a lake called uureg nuur. The herders who lived there saw me at the lake walking by and intending to pitch my tent. They invited me in, gave me tea and drinks, then led me into a yurt where a musician band was passing by, the whole community was gathered for the performance and I heard Mongolian throat singing. ”

What are you doing now?

“I recently started traveling on my sailboat in Baja California. I plan to hunker at the islands and write software code for money."

Hometown: Othello, WA

Travel Locations: India, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina, Peru, Chile

While at the UW Melissa has discovered her love for traveling and learning about other cultures. She first set her eye on the Bonderman Fellowship her sophomore year, and is beyond excited to have been selected as a recipient. While traveling, she plans to explore the cultural variation of gratitude. Her hope is to learn about how people across cultures express, understand, and interpret gratitude; and that through her experiences she can expand her own capacity for gratitude. She is eager to explore the world and challenge her beliefs about herself and grow to be more independent and adventurous throughout her journey. Melissa’s travel will include Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India, Chile, Indonesia, and Samoa.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman changed my life completely -- it opened my eyes to the world, in the realest form. It forced me to mature, be open-minded, and flexible. I would not be the passionate and adventurous person I am today without it. I'm very grateful for the Bonderman Fellowship.”

What are you doing now? What is inspiring you?

“I am teaching English in Vietnam. Travel is still inspiring, learning about Vietnamese culture, and creative endeavors inspire me... I am still traveling -- 4 years after the Bonderman. I've created a lifestyle that allows me to experience new places and worlds, and it is possible to do so."

Travel Locations: Latin America

Simer will undertake a cultural and political exploration of Latin America. Particularly passionate about connecting his bilingual education with social justice issues, Jeremy seeks to immerse himself in the popular cultural and political life of Latin America, experiencing it from the bus and in the homes of people he meets as he traveled.

Travel Locations: Italy

Kensel will be traveling to Italy, Turkey & Greece.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman Fellowship impact your life?

“Receiving the Bonderman Fellowship fundamentally changed how I perceived myself (as an traveler and adventurer) and what I understood as possible (you can figure out how to operate in other countries and that you can travel by yourself).”

What are you doing now?

“I’m a Professor and academic librarian at a public university."

Travel Locations: England, Wales, France, and Spain

Pasco will travel through England, Wales, France, and Spain examining medieval textiles and decorative arts in museums and monuments.

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Turkey, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos

Lee proposes to explore the developing countries of South America and Southeastern Europe out of a desire to understand the forces and circumstances that shape lives both within villages and throughout the world.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman connected me with kindred spirits everywhere, and that spirit has stayed with me. Professionally, I’ve made my career as a civil servant and developed global policy as a White House lawyer. Internationalism has also manifested for me personally as a core value for the nonprofit coalition I co-founded three years ago.”

What are you doing now?

“I work for the U.S. government as an environmental lawyer. My job has ample opportunities for international travel. I love my job and the chance to work with people from different countries and to travel abroad as a representative of the U.S. government."

Jennifer Lee sitting near giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands during her Bonderman.

Travel Locations: Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Hungary, Croatia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia

As someone who has spent most of her life purchasing food, clothing and furniture, Spiker is curious about the lives of people who are able to produce things she only knows how to consume. What means of survival - such as growing food or working with fabrics - has she forgotten or never even learned? She is excited to spend time with people who know things that she does not. These people exist everywhere, but she will be starting her lifelong search by wondering first through South America, Eastern Europe, India and Southeast Asia.

Hometown: Newport, OR

Travel Locations: Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Chile, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India

Sarah plans to explore foods across different countries and the role of food within cultures and religions. Through her travels, she hopes to develop more globalized—and less western-centered—knowledge and beliefs surrounding food, nutrition, and health. Specifically, she aims to explore multicultural perspectives and approaches to understanding and attaining health in different regions of the world. After completing her travels and working for a few years, Sarah plans to earn a master’s degree in Public Health and pursue a career in the global health field. Sarah hopes to travel to Brazil, Peru, Chile, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China.

Alumni Reflections

What is a favorite memory from your Bonderman?

“One of my favorite Bonderman experiences was the day before my trip came to an unexpected end due to COVID-19 in March 2020. I met a rickshaw driver in India’s Thar Desert named Salim. After a ride from the airport turned into a day tour of the city with Salim as a local guide, he invited me to stay with his family. Over a homemade meal, we connected through shared smiles, a back-and-forth of laughter, photo sharing, and miming of stories. I was floored by the universality of human connection and the power of travel to bridge cultural gaps, thousands of miles from home and with very few words exchanged. This fellowship has left an indelible mark on my life, enriching it with a deep appreciation for humanity and the diversity of our world.”

What are you doing now?

“I just finished my Master of Public Health at Columbia and am beginning my new job working as a Health Scientist at the CDC next month! Every place I visited during my fellowship deepened my understanding of global interconnectedness and strengthened my commitment to serving diverse communities through culturally informed public health care."

What would you like future Bonderman Fellows to know?

"To future Bonderman fellows, I would want them to know that this incredible opportunity has expanded my horizons, cultivated my sense of empathy, and forever changed the way I view the world. It's a journey of self-discovery and independence, and a chance to engage with people and places in a profoundly meaningful way."

Hometown: Gardnerville, NV

Travel Locations: Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

Higgins will begin in South Asia and then travel to Southeast Asia, and trek through Eastern Europe. He wants to immerse himself in a location and culture, listening to its music, eating traditional foods, learning its history, seeking recommendations from locals, and exploring the land itself to see the world with fresh eyes. He says, "I want to figure out what I truly value in life, and if that thing is different from others. In the end, I want to discover who I am and gain a new perspective, hopefully changing those that I meet in turn."

Hometown: Boise, ID

Travel Locations: Brazil, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Cambodia, Vietnam

While traveling Trosper is interested in seeing the role that medicine plays in people’s lives, and ways in which we can participate in engineering which respects and enhances cultural identity. She seeks to connect with people through a love of the land, cooking, and art. Her journey will take her through Brazil, southeastern Africa, Cambodia and Vietnam. By visiting these diverse and vibrant places, She hopes to engage in personal growth and foster a sense of global understanding.

Travel Locations: Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Nepal, Thailand, Laos

Drescher would like to spend time in places where people's immediate needs conflict with environmental preservation priorities. She hopes that those people can help her see ways in which these needs can be balanced. To that end, she would like to visit areas like the rainforests in Thailand, the mountains of the Himalaya, and desert ecosystems like those in Ethiopia. She is also interested in the way that culture is shaped by environment.

Travel Locations: Mexico, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt

Rabel once proclaimed, "If I were to wake up with one magical power, I would make everyone love math. I think math is cool." Eagerly planning a career as a high school math teacher, Carrie had never considered travel. A Bonderman Fellowship will take Carrie beyond her affinity for the familiar and comfortable to experience the mathematical wonders of the world in both hemispheres. Carrie's criteria for such 'wonders'? She selected sites that are historical, not reproducible, and that reflect mathematical principles and approaches to their creation.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Bonderman changed my life in the most profound sense. I discovered a passion for experiencing the world by moving slowly and living in different cultures. In fact, I never really returned "home": I lived in the Czech Republic, UK and Oman. For the past 17 years I have lived in Perú, raising my three children. I can scarcely imagine my life without traveling with the Bonderman, but all I can think is that it would have been 'small'.”

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Travel Locations: Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Peru, Argentina, Ghana, Egypt, Jordan

Saige plans to use her time travelling to not only examine what social justice looks like abroad, but to also experience a life outside of the people and comforts she has been surrounded by since childhood. Whether that be observing race relations in South Africa and Brazil or looking at what it means be a feminist in more religiously conservative places such as Egypt, she is thrilled at the opportunity to challenge her beliefs and gain a greater, more personal, understanding of the world. Her travels will also include Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Peru, Argentina, Ghana, Egypt, and Jordan.

Travel Locations: Romania

Newman will bring her violin to Romania to participate in village music.

Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR

Travel Locations: India, Nepal, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos, Japan

An aspiring educator, in his travels Cramer will explore education across an array of cultures in hopes of learning how to empower the next generation of young students. He is excited to visit the Himalayas and learn how Buddhist monks have integrated teaching modern science with ancient Buddhist principles. Cramer seeks to learn how cultural differences impact teacher preparation, resources for student development, and math and science preparation. "Everywhere I go," says Cramer, "I will share my passion for children and education to connect with people and encourage a hope for unity in our world.

Travel Locations: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey

Angell will travel through the Middle East to explore questions of cultural identity.

Travel Locations: India

Hershey, whose childhood travel experiences were confined to family car destination blitzes, has embarked on a slow journey by rail and bus throughout India. He is interested in photographing sights, colors and cultures, and experiencing other world views at an intersection of modern and traditional worlds.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Mexico (Chiapas), Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Palau, Indonesia, Iceland

Travel objectives: Stephanie wants to explore places with both abundant biodiversity and a strong indigenous presence. She plans to spend her time outside, biking, backpacking, swimming, and exploring bioluminescent and geothermal features. Stephanie hopes to build new relationships and challenge her ideas about the world while exploring new communities and environments. Because we leave a footprint everywhere we go, she would like to be intentional about where she spends time and money, and hopes to foster exploration based on foundations of respect, responsibility, reciprocity, and accountability. Her destinations include Mexico (Chiapas), Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Palau, Indonesia, and Iceland.

Hometown: Edmonds, WA

Travel Locations: Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Spain

Russeff hopes to take full advantage of every opportunity he will have on the road to learn about new cultures and have meaningful travel experiences. He plans to take in historical architecture and vibrant cultures around the world.

Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA

Travel Locations: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, China

Jensen is an undergraduate researcher and the president of the UW chapter of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honors society and the UW chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Jensen will begin his travels in South America via motorcycle, learning Spanish along the way, before moving on to Asia. Most importantly, he will travel with an open mind and a willing heart, to turn his engineering education into a well-rounded understanding of what comes next for him and his neighbors around the world.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Almost everything: Altered my world-view, made me comfortable with international travel which I have enjoyed in the years since, changed my career trajectory, led to me going to graduate school instead of directly to industry, and gave me an arsenal of stories which I tell to this day, 12 years later.”

What are you doing now?

“I am an airline pilot on the East Coast and work as a consultant in aviation environmental sustainability on the side. I've changed careers in that time, a move that would have been quite intimidating but was made quite straightforward due to the comfort with resourcefulness and uncertainty that came from the Bonderman."

Travel Locations: Marshall Islands, Guam, Nepal/Tibet, and China

Horton has approached his Bonderman journey with this aesthetic: "I search for texture beneath my scientific objectives and family history, something in the grand sweep of the Himalayas or the colors of a coral reef. I use my body as an antenna, tracing out the curves of a mountain hillside, or bobbing in the waves of a tropical sea." His plans included exploring islands in the Pacific, then trekking through Nepal/Tibet, and finally traveling across China.

Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA

Travel Locations: Argentina, Ecuador, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Philippines, Tahiti

As a female comedian, Tressa has spent her college career exploring the intersections of feminism and comedy. She looks to the Bonderman Fellowship as a chance to connect with an international community of female comedians as well as explore her identity as an American woman. She will be traveling to Argentina, Ecuador, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, The Philippines, and Tahiti.

Hometown: Enumclaw, WA

Travel Locations: Sub-Saharan Africa, Amazon Rainforest, Russia, Mongolia, Southern South America

Travel objectives: Rachel plans to travel to regions spanning a wide range of cultural and environmental diversity, from biodiversity hotspots in sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon Rainforest to areas with much less ecological focus in Russia, Mongolia, and southern South America. Through her experiences with this range of ecosystems, she hopes to observe the ways human-animal interactions differ across regions and cultures, and how these interactions are influenced by western concepts of tourism and global conservation. She especially wishes to be inspired by non-western and indigenous forms of human-animal cohabitation and to challenge the notions that she has built throughout her life in the Pacific Northwest.

Travel Locations: Vietnam & South Africa

Spittel will travel to Vietnam & South Africa.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil, Argentina, Ghana, South Africa, Indonesia

Music has always been an integral part of Brendan’s life. Whether playing saxophone, clarinet, or flute in solitary meditation, or actively interacting with different musical communities, Brendan will use music as a guide during his Bonderman Fellowship. He seeks to understand its role in different societies, and how this is reflected in the cultures, religions, politics, and laws of each place he visits. Ultimately, he hopes that his journey will show him how music can promote positive social change and inspire people. Brendan’s travels will take him to Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil, Argentina, Ghana, South Africa, and Indonesia.

Hometown: Everett, WA

Travel Locations: Peru, Chile, Argentina, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Iceland

Travel objectives: Matt wishes to use this opportunity to investigate the oldest and most resilient cultures in the world to see what role geography and society play in shaping peoples’ sense of self. He hopes to turn this lens of discovery back onto himself through the continual challenge of overcoming language and cultural barriers and by seeking out esoteric foods and cultural practices. Matt plans to explore places where not even the stars in the night sky will be familiar. While unable to foresee how this experience will shape him, Matt is excited to find what the world has to offer and what he can offer in return as he explores Peru, Chile, Argentina, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Iceland.

Hometown: Duluth, MN

Travel Locations: Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Turkey

Sara considers listening to the stories of others to be one of her sacred duties as a nurse, and in her travels she plans to seek out the stories of refugees fleeing religious persecution and civil strife as well as the stories of those who take them in. Whether she’s pulling herself up the side of a mountain or working 12-hour shifts in the hospital, Sara is a born adventurer who looks forward to the challenge of traveling alone in Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Turkey. She hopes that in learning about daily life around the world she will return with an increased ability to spread compassion and empathy in her path.

Travel Locations: Norway and Iceland

Sletten entered the University of Washington at the age of fifteen as an Early Entrance Program (EEP) student. He has a fascination for Norse literature, history, and mythology. Thor will travel throughout Norway and Iceland with only a small backpack and a camera.

Travel Locations: Tanzania

Cogen is interested in the different ways that time is experienced in civilization, in nature, in wilderness. She has an earnest desire to save the world - since her love of wild things and places nears infatuation, conservation is where she plan to put all her energies. She will travel to Eastern Africa to experience living at a different pace and learn more about the natural world she loves.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“I had an incredible trip to Tanzania including climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately, my trip was only underway for a couple of weeks when 9/11 occurred. It was a very uncertain and scary time to be traveling, but I was still grateful for the experience.”

What are you doing now?

“I work in operations at an engineering company and still love to travel."

Travel Locations: Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Russia, and India

White, originally from Nebraska, moved to Washington at the age of 15. He is planning on traveling to reflect upon his life experiences and reevaluate his future, while making personal connections throughout all of the regions he visits. Upon returning he plans to gain work experience, take the GMATs and LSATs, and eventually enroll in an MBA/JD dual degree program, though all future plans are subject to change!

Travel Locations: Australia

Cahall will travel to Australia, using rock climbing to meet people and travel around the country.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Twenty plus years later, I’m surprised by how often I think about the impact that time to wander, often with out seeming purpose other than to me, altered my life. It gave me the courage to try and create a new profession in the form of podcasting and internet media. It instilled a patient persistence of vision that helped me through periods when I might have quit my creative path. I remember fondly... following the bizarre passion of climbing and writing that has turned into a wonderful if not bizarre path through life.”

What are you doing now?

“I write and create in film and podcasting. I’m very grateful people keep giving me money to do that. It’s all sort of surprising. After many years on the road I’ve become a homebody to the Pacific Northwest."

Travel Locations: Iceland, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia

Johnson says that the hardest part will be finalizing an itinerary! With a Polaroid camera and an iPod he will trek across overland as much as possible.

Travel Locations: Nepal

Tuttle will travel through Nepal in an attempt to reconcile her Western scientific concepts of nature as a force to be mastered and controlled with Eastern concepts of living in harmony with nature and its power.

Travel Locations: People's Republic of China

Wang will travel throughout the People's Republic of China.

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA

Travel Locations: Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar

Susan plans on traveling to Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa to gain an understanding of the constructed idea of “Africa” and to transcend her predominately sub-Saharan focus of African Studies. She will also travel to Patagonia and Easter Island to explore issues facing environments, both past and present.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman immersed me in a world that was once foreign to me, but gradually became familiar. While the unfamiliar can still feel uncomfortable at times, it is now always accompanied with curiosity, openness, and a desire to know more. The curiosity Bonderman instilled in me has been foundational in my personal and professional life.”

What are you doing now? What is inspiring you?

“I just graduated with my Master of Public Health degree and hope to continue working in global maternal and child health. Travel (both at home and abroad), engaging with community, my family and friends, and learning new things still inspire me."



Susan Glenn hiking Rano Kau crater on Rapa Nui

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Travel Locations: Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Nepal, India

Brown plans to romp around South America, including a trip by boat along the entire Amazon River. Following that, he will backpack around Asia. Brown wants to observe and absorb these places and cultures, taking in what he can and hopefully leaving a tiny bit in return. Photography, drawing, writing, and learning languages are how he hopes to catalog and express his experiences. He looks forward to the 'solo' aspect of this journey as an unparalleled opportunity for personal reflection and spiritual development.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“Changed who I am. Extended solo travel has made me confident in my self-sufficiency, adaptability, and willingness to be different. My Bonderman experience instilled me with perspective regarding privilege, grit, and how hard most of humanity works for quite little. Travel has become a lifelong pursuit for me (now 3x sabbatical years, counting the Bonderman) because it is such a personal growth driver.”

What are you doing now?

“My current mission is to unlock digital interactive creativity for all of humanity. Anyone who can mold a lump of clay should be able to craft interactive pixels — as art, as a game, for commerce, communication, or learning — but we lack the platform to enable most people. Writing code is a major bottleneck. Over the coming decades, billions of new people will become able to create software, and won't have to write code to do it. I'm working to empower those billions. The vehicle for this is my third company and second venture-backed tech startup as founder/CEO."

Travel Locations: Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, and Odessa

Peyton plans to travel throughout Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, and Odessa. Her goal is to interact with individuals as much as possible and gain a glimpse of many different aspects of Russian life and culture.

Travel Locations: Romania

Appleton will to travel to Romania, specifically Bucharest and Transylvania and document her journey through a camera, drawing on her skills and history as a photojournalist.

Hometown: Salida, CO

Travel Locations: Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Rwanda, India, Cambodia, Laos, and China

Guided by art as a medium for sharing felt-knowledge across barriers, borders, and changing environmental baselines, Marco will travel to expand his understanding of the human condition. Mindful of his imprints as he crosses a continuum of complex landscapes, he aspires to embrace uncertainty, connect with others from a place of humility and gratitude, and learn more about processes of healing. Although his exact itinerary is evolving, he anticipates visiting Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Rwanda, India, Cambodia, Laos, and China. In wandering the globe, he hopes to deconstruct his privilege, and in doing so, he hopes to clarify his vision for how he can best serve others moving forward.

Travel Locations: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Mauritius, Brazil, Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands)

Emily is interested in the scope of science outreach in the context of wildlife preservation and observing the conversations (or lack thereof) between scientists and civilians. At the same time, as an evolutionary biologist, she wants to appreciate the biodiversity that flourishes in some of the world’s most dynamic ecosystems as well as walk in Darwin’s footsteps.

Travel Locations: Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan

Andrew intends to see how communities and cultures connect through art, music, religion, dance, and other forms. Modern advancements, technology is particular, have created a more connected global community though this increased level of connection does not guarantee increased understanding and respect for differences. In light of this, Andrew hopes to see how people celebrate their differences instead of using them as ways as sources of division. He also hopes this experience will help him find a way to contribute to our global community in the future. Andrew’s itinerary consists of Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan.

Travel Locations: Nepal

Barash plans to trek in Nepal to explore the beautiful mountains and different culture. She plans to study Nepalese in Kathmandu, explore the Annapurna and Everest regions, explore the Terai jungles, and raft in the lowlands.

Hometown: Federal Way, WA

Travel Locations: South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Tibet, Myanmar, Indonesia

Fernando hopes to explore how different cultures handle intergenerational tensions – and, in particular, how youth worldwide react to concepts like heritage, tradition and filial expectation.

Hometown: Everett, WA

Travel Locations: Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil

Travel objectives: Tom has spent the last 4+ years approaching the world scientifically. While a scientist at heart, he has come to realize that there are questions that science simply cannot answer. As he travels Tom wants to approach these questions and learn about himself, the world, and spirituality via travel in Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Tom wants to be completely unscientific as he travels, embracing the world as he sees it, feels it, tastes it, and hears it. He hopes to open himself to the influence of others, objectively learning new ideas rather than imposing his own.

Travel Locations: China, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Uzbekestan, Ukraine, Belarus, Baltics, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela

Howk is traveling in regions of the world that are all experiencing the processes of "democratization" very differently - Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia, and South America - to explore how local, community-based youth organizations are working to overcome the problems of alienation and identity gaps of the new globalization.

Hometown: Mesa, AZ

Travel Locations: Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Tibet, India, Sri Lanka, Jerusalem, Turkey, Bulgaria

Johnson's planned journey is about stripping away the layers of mental conditioning that have developed throughout her life and revealing the beauty in all things. Throughout her trip she plans to travel by plane, train, bicycle, ferry, and rickshaw to uncover cultural and religious relationships to nature, spiritual manifestations, and the formula for laughter. As she explores these regions her primary goal is to remain open and receptive to lessons that may present themselves along the way. 

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya, Ethiopia, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Mongolia

Travel Locations: Ecuador

Goldman will travel to Ecuador to examine the western influence on the ethnobotanical traditions of indigenous peoples.

Travel Locations: Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Mexico

Piedalue will travel through Latin America, from Argentina to Mexico, as an exploration of global citizenship.

Hometown: Bellevue, WA

Travel Locations: Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil

Born in Anchorage, Alaska and raised in Bellevue, Washington, Wong plans to travel to societies that have rebuilt from civil conflict or transitioned from dictatorial rule. Through Central and South America his primary focus is upon revolution through art and bodily expression. Nick hopes to communicate to people beyond spoken language and instead through the art of dance, poetry and boxing. Afterwards he has absolutely no concrete idea what he is going to do, but has only a dedication towards changing collective mindsets, possibly through the same vehicles he plans to use or something he develops along the way.

Travel Locations: Thailand, Nepal, India, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, France

Bleakley will backpack through Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and parts of Europe. Her plans included expanding every limitation she has ever personally abided by, hoping to lose herself in order to discover her true inner strength.Her inspiration to travel to Asia stemmed from her contact with participants in "Doctors without Borders."

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Travel Locations: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan

Travel objectives: Xoe will be travelling through Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. She has never before been outside of the West Coast. As a barista, she is compelled by the global dynamics of the coffee trade, especially as it reifies histories of colonialism and migration. As a poet, she is compelled by the poetry, literature, and folk music of each region and their roots in community life. She hopes to find some insight into the pieces of art and culture from these regions that have been so significant in her own life so far from their places of origin, and consider how this kind of interconnectedness manifests in other places, in others’ lives.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“I hadn't been outside the west coast ever, or had a break from school and work since I was 14 years old. The experience of solo travel was empowering and paradigm-shifting in terms of what was possible for me, in my own life, which I believe lent itself to join socialist organizing efforts here in Seattle and taking more ownership of the place I live when I returned.”

What are you doing now?

“The aforementioned socialist organizing has been a big part of my life since traveling. I wish I had been more politicized before I left, but every experience builds on itself. I currently work as an admin in medical research and plan to apply to the UW's MSW program."

Hometown: Mount Vernon, WA

Travel Locations: Morocco, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam

Frieda has been deeply influenced by her experiences in outdoor schools and field classes, as well as other instances of non-traditional experiential learning and she is thrilled to be given the opportunity to explore the world in an immersive education setting. As she travels, she hopes to explore the very different ways in which science education is presented in each community she visits, how this learning process inspires a connection with the natural world, and how communities foster a sense of place in education. She is excited to be stretched out of her comfort zone, and to absorb, learn, be humbled, and share. She plans to visit Morocco, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

Travel Locations: Japan, China, India, Thailand, Morocco, South Africa

Catherine wants to immerse herself in cultures totally unlike her own in order to gain a broader understanding of the global community and her place in it. She is interested in seeing how other countries celebrate community through spirituality, food, family, and education, especially those with deep-rooted histories and traditions. She looks forward to taking in the natural beauty of other regions whether it be hiking in the Himalayas, boating down the Ganges River, relaxing on the beaches of Thailand, or strolling through a traditional Japanese Garden. She says “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate completing what has become one of the world’s longest (eleven years, officially!) Bachelor’s Degrees!”

Hometown: Boulder, CO

Travel Locations: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia

One focus of Eileen’s studies is environmental and natural resource economics and she wishes for a more nuanced international perspective on land-use and natural resource management. She’s excited to explore how the natural world is integrated into other cultures, reflect on sustainable cities and communities, and learn more about the interdisciplinary and intersectional work of environmental justice. In addition, she loves wildlife and plans to hike through many national parks and traverse a range of incredible landscapes and ecosystems. She hopes to travel to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Hometown: Downers Grove, IL

Travel Locations: Taiwan, Vietnam, China, South Korea, South Africa, Lesotho, Brazil, Argentina, Chile

Grace is looking to explore the intersection of art, culture, and public space outside of a United States context by visiting Colombia, Chile, Brazil, South Africa, China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. As Grace transitions from academia, she wants to learn the ways in which art can be an agent of social change and a tool for sharing experiences. Grace hopes to use her travels as an opportunity to challenge herself to become a more informed global citizen. Ultimately, Grace is excited to learn and engage more deeply with herself and with others around her.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“My Bonderman fellowship enriched my experience with possibility. I think about it all the time! It feels like another lifetime (2019, right before the pandemic), yet the experiences i had grounded me and gave me more confidence, curiosity, empathy, forgiveness, joy, belonging, wonder.”

What are you doing now? What is inspiring you?

“I work at a nonprofit farmers market doing food access work, I am still writing poetry and doing ceramics, I ride my bike to cover more land. I'm inspired by the seasons, the stars, cycles, change, grief, friendship."

Hometown: Fox Island, WA

Travel Locations: Madagascar, Kenya, Egypt, Laos, Cambodia, China, Mongolia

Noah will travel to explore humanity’s varied relationship with water and to discover weaknesses in his understanding of the world. He wishes to earnestly listen to people about the ways in which water impacts their lives, and how landscape change, political decisions, and natural rhythms affect their experience. With sincere consideration of the politics and ethics of travel, Noah will visit Madagascar, Kenya, Egypt, Laos, Cambodia, China, and Mongolia. He hopes to embrace uncertainty, comprehend his privilege, and examine how he might merge a technical background with experiential knowledge of water to inspire a more just world.

Travel Locations: Northeastern Venezuela to Amazon River delta in Brazil

Lander will be traveling to northeastern Venezuela to Amazon River delta in Brazil.