MEET YOUR FRONT DESK STAFF

Hello! My name is Karuna Owens and I am a Sophomore studying Engineering, Design, and Society here at Colorado School of Mines. In addition, I am minoring in Humanitarian Engineering and focusing on areas such as Healthcare and Infrastructure. In my Freshman year, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Antibes, France, a beautiful coastal town in the South of France. Living abroad taught me a lot and I am grateful for the incredible friends, cultural experiences, and knowledge I gained along the way. My favorite part about studying abroad is learning how to adapt to a new environment you’re in. When you look back you realize how much bigger your worldview has gotten and those thoughts and experiences are ones you will carry through with you for the rest of your life. Whether that’s in your career, workplace, or social interactions. Studying abroad will change your life!

Hello! My name is Lexi Cates and I am a Senior studying Mechanical Engineering. I am originally from Oklahoma and my hobbies include doing just about anything outside, as well as sewing, crocheting, and reading. I spent the Spring of 2023 in Madrid, Spain studying abroad and I absolutely loved it! It is such a unique experience to be a part of an international community. A few of my favorite activities there were meeting people and practicing Spanish, going dancing, playing volleyball with an international group, and of course traveling all over Spain and a few other parts of Europe. I also got to spend 6 weeks over the summer in Hanoi, Vietnam as an English teaching assistant which was very different from Spain but so incredible as well. I highly recommend making study abroad a part of your Mines experience!

Hello! I’m Sara Núñez, an international student from Quito, Ecuador. I decided to come to Mines for the amazing opportunities that this university offered for my major. I’m currently a biochemistry senior here at Mines. I’ve been studying here in the U.S. for the past 3 years, which I also consider as my own studying abroad experience. I mostly work with international students who need help with their immigration process and any general questions about living in the U.S. I love meeting and helping out new students at our office! 

Hello! My name is Pamela Banuelos, and I am a senior in Chemical and Biological Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. I studied abroad sophomore year in Paris, France through the program CEA Paris and summer 2024 in the Technical University of Augsburg, Germany doing a research internship. I am from Colorado, and some of my passions are traveling and sports/working out. My favorite thing about my study abroad experience in Paris, was the opportunity to travel every weekend anywhere in Europe with my friends. Study abroad gave me a different perspective of the world. It taught me that there is much more beyond what we are comfortable with. Learning and experiencing new cultures has giving me more opportunities to change my life for the better, such as implementing the best things/lifestyles I found of each culture into my life. I believe that everyone should experience this wonderful opportunity!

Hello! My name is Steve Dillard and I am currently a senior in Computer Science. In my first semester of my freshman year, I studied in France through the FYSAE program. I enjoyed traveling to different countries in Europe and seeing new places with my friends. Then, in my junior year, I studied abroad in Japan for the fall semester and in Australia for the spring semester. Through study abroad, I learned how to be independent and responsible.