Hi, I’m Owen Teufel, and I’m ecstatic to be going to Spain this May! I am from Pittsburgh, PA and have lived there my whole life. I am a freshman industrial engineering student in the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. I chose industrial engineering because it is a very versatile degree. This allows me to work in multiple fields in my career which is perfect because I love to explore new things. I’ve always been interested in athletics and played soccer and lacrosse in high school. Some of my hobbies include playing sports, working out, walking my dog, and exploring new places with my friends. My other interests academically include math, science, and innovation. Another thing that has always fascinated me is how things work, which is what led me to engineering along with my other interests.

I am very excited to experience a completely new place such as Spain, as it will be my first time in Europe, and I am always looking to adventure. I think it is a very unique and important thing to be able to say that you have studied in another country, and am appreciative of the opportunity. Spain seemed like a great fit for my major because a lot of industrial engineers work in the healthcare field as there is a lot of room for efficiency improvement. Seeing how healthcare systems work in another country will be a great way to understand benefits or each country’s respective healthcare system. Professionally, Spain is a great opportunity because it will allow for me to gain experience not only in another country’s culture, but another country’s workforce and professional scene. Overall, I’m am very excited to learn about all that Spain has to offer professionally, academically, and recreationally.