Hi everyone! My name is Ellie Kosmala and I am so excited to be headed to Cyprus in a few weeks!!! I am currently wrapping up my freshman year at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering where I plan on pursuing bioengineering, specifically the medical product engineering track. My goal is to use my degree to work on medical devices and prosthetics. When I have free time, I love hanging out with friends, going to Pitt games, and spending time outside, whether that be hiking, sitting on Cathy lawn, or hammocking in Schenley!

One of the reasons I chose Pitt was because of their great study-abroad opportunities (especially for engineering majors). I choose Plus 3 because it allows me to learn cross-disciplinary content while experiencing a new part of the world: Cyprus! This program allows me to see how business and engineering intersect, which is something I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to explore. I am interested to learn about supply chain management, as it is an important component of any business. Visiting local companies will allow me to learn firsthand how international business operations are run.

I have never been to the Mediterranean so I am looking forward to the nice weather and the beautiful beaches! I am most excited to learn and immerse myself in the Cyprian culture by trying new foods and learning about the history of the country. One of the things that interests me most are the many historical sites/ruins that can be found around Cyprus. I know all of this will only be made more enjoyable by experiencing it along with a group of new people. Because this program includes both business and engineering students I hope to make connections, both professional and personal, that will remain once we arrive back.