Advisor Spotlight: Kim Kroeger
What is your name, title, and unit?
I’m Kim Kroeger, and I’m a Study Abroad Advisor in the CALS Academic Affairs Office. This is me with my new kitty, Cora (short for Corona!), who I adopted from the Dane County Humane Society during my first week of working from home. She’s been a great quarantine companion so far, though she doesn’t seem to understand the concept of physical distancing!
What’s your job in CALS?
I help CALS students explore how study abroad could fit into their time at UW-Madison and find the best program that aligns with their academic, professional and personal goals. As part of the CALS Study Abroad team, we provide resources and support for students before, during, and after their study abroad experience.
How can students connect with you remotely?
If students want to explore their study abroad program options or want more information about a particular program in my portfolio, they’re welcome to schedule a phone or Skype appointment with me through Starfish. For quick questions, they can always send me an email at kim.kroeger@wisc.edu.
What is one tip you have for students considering studying abroad?
It’s never too early to start thinking about how study abroad could fit into your time at UW-Madison, so talk with your academic advisor about what that might look like with your particular academic track, and know that the CALS Study Abroad team is always here to help you explore your options. Also, be open to embracing the unknown! A major part of studying abroad is about encountering and learning from new situations and challenges, and the current worldwide COVID-19 crisis is certainly good practice for all of us in terms of developing flexibility and grace in the face of uncertainty.
What’s your favorite thing about CALS?
The people! I feel very grateful to be part of the community of CALS students, faculty, and staff, all of whom are working to solve real-world problems that we are facing in our world today. Navigating a huge institution like UW-Madison can be daunting, and CALS offers a welcoming, supportive home-base to its students within the larger campus community.
What have become some of your favorite social distancing hobbies?
I’ve always enjoyed cooking, and now I have more time to try out new recipes and make some of my old favorites. I’ve also been staying active by doing 30 Days of Yoga with Adriene on YouTube after work, and going for lots of runs/walks in my neighborhood. I’ve really enjoyed seeing all of the fun and creative ways that people are keeping up morale by putting rainbows and hearts in their windows, decorating the sidewalk with chalk, and making signs of thanks and support for essential workers!