Andy Quackenbush

Biography

As a Senior Study Abroad Advisor, I advise students and manage a portfolio of study abroad programs in Asia and Central and Eastern Europe. I also work with several of our programs for College of Engineering students.

As a first-generation college student from a small high school, I found UW–Madison overwhelming, and it took time to adjust. Eventually, I hit my stride and found ways to make it feel smaller, including getting involved in research. As an undergraduate, I majored in psychology and assisted with research in Professor Yuri Miyamoto’s Culture and Cognition Lab, which encouraged me to explore the world. After graduation, I helped teach English outside Sendai in Japan’s Tohoku region through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. I completed my M.S. in Counseling through UW–Madison’s School of Education, which emphasizes the importance of cultural and social identities in counseling.

One of my study abroad interests is support for LGBTQ+ students, and I’ve contributed to national resources in our field on this topic. As a professional, I’ve also had the opportunity to take part in a short-term staff exchange and language course through our program in Freiburg, Germany. UW–Madison opened the world to me, and I’m grateful that I can help make this possible for our students as well.

Outside of work, I like to read, play games (video, board, and dice), and explore Madison’s amazing food culture.