Meet Abbey Welden, Membership and Development Intern!

Join us in welcoming Abbey Welden, our new Membership and Development intern for the Spring 2023 semester!

Abbey is a sophomore at the University of Iowa majoring in International Studies with a minor in Spanish and a Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy certificate. She hopes to work in the international nonprofit sector with a focus on public diplomacy and promoting gender equity in Spanish-speaking countries. Abbey found this internship to be a perfect fit for her career goals, and with us she hopes to gain experience working with international individuals in the nonprofit sector.

Abbey’s interest in international affairs was sparked by her experience attending a bilingual school.

Abbey and an exchange buddy in Paraguay.

“My hometown, Marshalltown, has a Hispanic population of about 30%… and my parents just saw the value in having me attend a school where I could learn how to communicate with the people around me,” said Abbey.

Attending this school not only catalyzed her fluency in Spanish, but also exposed her to the beauty of connecting with people from different backgrounds and cultures, as well as the importance of communication as a means to create understanding.

Abbey’s most defining travel experience was to Asunción, Paraguay for a high school study abroad program. There, she connected with nonprofits and gained understanding of how we can all play a role in the development of nonprofit work.

Abbey participates in a community outreach activity.

“[My time in Paraguay] was just so transformative for me personally, it was incredible. Everyone I met there was amazing,” said Abbey. “I think about that experience every day as the thing that, along with going to this bilingual elementary school, shaped my career goals.”

Outside of Global Ties Iowa, Abbey bartends at a local woman-owned plant-themed bar called The Greenhouse, which has allowed her to connect with many people in the Iowa City community. In her hometown, Abbey also helps individuals with intellectual disabilities through an organization called Central Iowa Residential Services.

We are so happy to have Abbey on our team and are already feeling the impact of her contributions!