.png)
Meet our Executive Board!
Together we have almost 30 years of dealing with sending Michigan students to Nicaragua. Each of us also went on the trip ourselves before becoming a part of the executive board. We love what we do. Feel free to contact any one of us at any time! Email fne.um-eboard@umich.edu for more information.
Brendan Schuen
​
Co-Executive Director
Courtney Bober
Co-Executive Director
Hello!! I'm Brendan, and I'm a junior in the School of Nursing. This year I have a chair position with Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-health Honors Society on campus, and I am organizing our Alternative Spring Break! I like to read, go to the gym and hang out when I'm not studying... I went to Nicaragua summer of 2017, and absolutely loved it! My takeaway from the trip was the passion of the people, both the Nicaraguan people and the members of fneUM, that drove progress and change in the community. That experience cemented my desire to travel during undergrad and beyond, using my education in hopes to heal and to make change alongside members of international communities, something fneUM does very well. I hope this year's delegation has the same transformative experience as I did! Please contact me with any questions/concerns: bschuen@umich.edu
HI! My name is Courtney and I'm a senior studying Industrial Operations Engineering with an International Minor for Engineers. In my free time I volunteer with organizations focused on education and community development such as Phalombe Initiative for Education and Elementary Engineering Partnerships. I went to Nicaragua in 2018 after my sophomore year. My favorite part of the trip was hanging out with all the kids around the community, including my host siblings Wendy and Joél. The trip challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and take initiative on projects I felt passionate about. I learned so much by throwing myself into every activity, whether it be a dance party, laborious digging, or a scrimmage soccer game and I am excited to help more students do the same! I can't wait to help prepare the next delegation for their trip to Nicaragua and am eager to see how FNE continues to grow in the future. I can be reached at courtbo@umich.edu for any questions!
Lauren Rainey
Delegation Coordinator
Hello everyone! I'm Lauren, and I'm a senior studying Sociology pre-law. Around campus I'm involved in Young Life College, the LEAD Scholars Program, and am a 2019 Ginsberg Community Leadership Fellow! In my free time I enjoy reading, writing, and taking care of my plants. I traveled to Nicaragua with fneUM during the summer of 2018 and it was absolutely life changing! Being there for a month challenged and pushed me to engage in community activism in any way I can. The people that I met there both inspired me and demonstrated to me the importance of using your privilege to lift others. I can't wait to meet this year's delegation, and I hope that they come to love Nicaragua as much as I do! For questions, email raineyla@umich.edu
Breanna Johnson
​
Delegation Coordinator
Greetings!!! My name is Breanna Johnson. I am currently a sophomore majoring in BioPhysics and Spanish. When I have free time, you can usually find me playing Mario-Kart with my friends or hanging around in a bookstore. I am a student in the Residential College and I am involved in the Society of Women in Physics. I spent this past summer, 2019, in Nicaragua. I loved living with my host siblings and working with the local children, both young and high school aged. I also, slightly unexpected, really enjoyed adventuring around the local farm in Chacraseca. I learned so much by jumping into the environment and discovering my role working inside a community that was very different from my own here in Ann Arbor. I am so excited to introduce myself to the 2020 delegation members and I cannot wait for them to immerse themselves in the culture and learn many unexpected things about themselves this coming summer! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via brejohn@umich.edu!
Jordan Sengenberger
​
Recruitment and Social Media Chair
Hi! My name is Jordan, I'm a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Here on campus I'm a member of M-STEM Academies, am a tutor for America Reads, and am a researcher for the Biomedical Manufacturing and Design Lab. I grew up in northern Michigan (Alpena, Rogers City, Traverse City) so I love the outdoors and nature. I went to Nicaragua with FNE in the summer of 2018 and absolutely loved the trip. My experiences in Nicaragua changed my outlook on life and what I'm interested in and want to pursue. I loved seeing and travelling the beautiful country of Nicaragua and I enjoyed my time with my host family and all of the dogs! I'm so excited to see the new delegation go to Chacraseca and share in the experience!
Sam Szuhaj
​
Recruitment and Social Media Chair
Hey guys! My name is Sam Szuhaj, and I am a Sophomore studying Political Science and International Studies on the pre-law track, with a minor in Spanish! I am from San Francisco, CA, and love anything outdoors! In my freetime I love playing tennis, running, and hanging out with my friends! I am also super adventurous and love to travel! My favorite part of Nicaragua this past summer was living and working in a community of such welcoming people, and truly feeling like a member of one big family! The trip for me, was chalked full of amazing memories, and I cannot wait for everyone to go and create their own!
Chloe Hale
​
Finance Chair
Phoebe Wraith
​
Grant Writer
Hello there! My name is Chloe Hale and I am a sophomore, majoring in Political Science and Social Theory and Practice. I am a tutor for America Reads, on the Ginsberg Student Advisory Board and in the Environmental Professional Fraternity, Epsilon Eta. When I am not on campus, I love to hike and camp! I went to Nicaragua this past May and it was incredible. It has absolutely changed how I view community activism, education and privilege. I had such an amazing time connecting with people in a culture so different from my own and made friendships with my host family and with students that I will never forget. I cannot wait to send more students on this trip in the hopes that they find it as enriching and fun as I did!