About us

Ask her about: International Professional Development, teaching abroad, International Studies Advisory Committees, Faculty Study Abroad Ambassadors, events, the Semester in Regensburg program and the London Spring Break program

 Bio: Melanie has worked with Murray State study abroad since 2001, a career built from military parents who traveled Europe on motorcycles and bragged about it, leading naturally to an undergraduate semester in England and semester teaching in Japan. Melanie has directed and assisted on study abroad programs in Belize, Costa Rica, England, France, Ireland, and South Korea and led multiple workshops and sessions at CIEE, NAFSA, and the Forum on Education Abroad. She currently serves on the Advisory Group and as past Chair of the Kentucky Council on Education Abroad and as a member of the Steering Committee for the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS). She co-authored Faculty-Led 360: Guide to Successful Study Abroad (Agapy Press) and was recognized in The Chronicle of Higher Education "Innovators in Internationalization" series in February 2010 for the extensive support provided to teach abroad faculty at Murray State. Occasionally Melanie gets the opportunity to teach with the Commonwealth Honors Academy, putting her undergraduate BA in Creative Writing and MA TESOL to use. Her first love, however, is her soccer-playing son, with whom she dreams up ways of teaching the world an appreciation of differences. 

270.809.4270
115 Blackburn
cdambrosio@murraystate.edu

Ask her about: Study Abroad Programs for students in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the Hutson School of Agriculture, or the School of Nursing and Health Professions; KIIS and Loop Abroad programs. Click here to schedule an appointment with Christy.

Bio: Christy joined the Education Abroad Team in March 2018. Her passion for study abroad began as a high school junior when she spent the summer in St. Brieuc, France, as part of a language immersion program. This amazing experience propelled her to study abroad in Luxembourg for a semester as an undergraduate, during which she traveled extensively across Europe, visiting France, England, Spain, Germany and Austria. Returning to Europe as often as possible continues to be a priority, and the study of French language and culture a life-long interest. Christy holds two music degrees: a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Miami University (Ohio) and Master of Music in Piano from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. She has served as Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Music at Murray State University since 2008, teaching keyboarding classes and performing with students and faculty. She loves making music with friends, practicing yoga, and spending time with her husband Mike and their boys, Leo and Vinny.

270.809.2960
118 Blackburn
rwylie@murraystate.edu

Ask her about: Data and statistics, events, Horizons, student billing, program budgets, general questions

Bio: Rebecca joined the Education Abroad Office as the Coordinator in March 2019. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Leadership Studies from Murray State University in 2015. During her years as an undergrad, Rebecca traveled to England, France, Italy, and Greece studying History and Human Rights. While abroad, Rebecca loves to connect with locals, venture off the beaten path, and eat as much food as possible. When she is State-side she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, crafting, reading, and being at the lake with her dog Simon- all while dreaming of Europe.

270.809.4216
119 Blackburn
rcornwell1@murraystate.edu
Ask her about: Budgets, forms, extra comps, PAs, general questions

Bio: Rachel officially became part of the Education Abroad Office in July of 2019. Previously, she began working for Murray State in September 2018 under the Office of Experiential Education, which served the Education Abroad Office and two other departments here on campus. Rachel attended Murray State while receiving her undergrad, but eventually received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from a different institution. Although never having studied abroad as a student with MSU, she has been abroad and loved everything about seeing the sites, learning about new cultures, trying all of the amazing cuisine and making memories. When she isn’t working (or dreaming of her next adventure) she spends her free time getting lost in a good book, binge watching Downton Abbey and The Great British Baking Show, frequenting the movie theater, and spending time with friends, family, her fiancé and their adorable, but spoiled goldendoodle, Charli.