Briana Arenas

Program Coordinator

Contact: briana.arenas@austin.utexas.edu

Briana was born and raised in The Rio Grande Valley (Weslaco), she left the RGV in 2014 to attend Michigan State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Community Governance and Advocacy. After graduating Briana was hired by MSU to work as a Student Service Assistant for the Office for Experiential Learning in the College of Social Science. This role allowed Briana to interact with students and present them the different opportunities in Study Away, Study Abroad, Internship and Research programs that were available to them.

Growing up as a Seasonal Migrant Farmworker taught her the beauty in traveling for whatever purposes it may be. This gave Briana the courage to participate in a semester abroad in the Philippines during her undergrad, as well as spring breaking with a purpose on Community Engagement programs to Mexico. These experiences intrigued her to learn the behind the scenes of education abroad programs and what it took to make them happen. Briana began working as an assistant for program coordinators and knew that this is something that she wanted to be. She also knew she wanted to come back to Texas and UT Austin just happened to have both! She looks forward to helping students get the full UT experience through education abroad programs.

Briana’s travel goal is to visit the 7 continents. She has 3 down (Asia, Europe, North America) 4 more to go.