Michigan State University student Brisbane Asekome spent her summer serving as a student ambassador at the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, Korea.
As a student ambassador, she was on the front lines of U.S. public diplomacy efforts as the public face of the USA Pavilion 2012.
From May to August, Asekome greeted visitors, such as government officials and dignitaries and provided administrative, protocol and programming support.
"Being given the opportunity to act as the 'face of America' has allowed me to exhibit American culture and values as well as absorb cultures from all the world," she said. "I have done it all; I have danced with elderly people in the lines as they wait to enter the USA Pavilion, kissed and held babies and have spoken to crowds in Korean as they stare, surprised that an American can actually communicate in their native language.
"Working at the 2012 World Expo is an experience I wouldn't trade for the world."
All of the student ambassadors representing the U.S. were U.S citizens or permanent residents and were proficient in Korean. The students were selected by a diverse group of applicants by the official USA Pavilion partner, the University of Virginia.
The 2012 student ambassadors received one college credit and participated in a course called "Making Culture Visible While Studying Abroad."
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