International Studies Alumni Spotlight: From Arkansas to the World

As the fall 2025 semester comes to an end, the International and Global Studies Program at the University of Arkansas celebrates its graduates whose accomplishments continue to reflect the program's values of global engagement, cultural understanding and interdisciplinary learning.

Across a range of careers — from education and diplomacy to law and intelligence — alumni of the International and Global Studies Program are using the skills they developed at the U of A to make meaningful contributions worldwide.

Alumni

Avery Frances (B.A. '25)

Frances graduated magna cum laude in spring 2025 with majors in international and global studies, political science and Italian. During her time at the university, she studied abroad in Rome for a year, interned with a humanitarian aid organization in Greece and led campus initiatives as president of the Rotaract RSO and outreach lead for Tree-Plenish.

Now serving as an English literacy educator with the Peace Corps in Samoa, Avery works alongside local communities to promote education and cross-cultural understanding. She credits the International and Global Studies Program with helping her find her path: "The friendships and community I found in INST carried me through the tough moments of college. I always tell students to connect with their professors and explore study abroad programs — you never know what might change your life."

Daise Rehbock (B.A. '24)

Rehbock, a 2024 summa cum laude graduate, combined academic excellence with a passion for social justice. Her concentration in European and Transatlantic affairs, along with minors in Spanish, history and gender studies, shaped her globally conscious perspective.

Her honors thesis, Gender Equality Threatened: A Digital Communication Analysis of Spanish Right-Wing Political Parties, won first place in the Arts and Humanities category at the U of A Honors Research Symposium. Today, Rehbock serves as a youth development facilitator with the Peace Corps in Panama, focusing on youth empowerment and community leadership.

"The INST program prepared me immensely for a hands-on role in international development," she said. "The mentorship and encouragement I received helped me grow as a student, a leader and a global citizen."

Allyson Layman (B.A. '21)

Since graduating in 2021 with a triple major in political science, international studies and Arabic, Layman has pursued a career at the intersection of global security and analysis. After earning a master's in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas at Austin, she joined the British intelligence firm Sibylline, where she now serves as an embedded threat monitoring and global intelligence analyst at Apple Corporate in Austin.

Her role involves assessing geopolitical risks and monitoring global security issues. She points to international studies courses as key to her professional readiness: "A research writing course through INST really strengthened my graduate-level writing, and Dr. Hammond's Islam in Asia course helped me see global cultures from new perspectives."

Her advice to current students is simple: "Lean into the classes that excite you — and take a few that push you out of your comfort zone."

Benjamin Hepler (B.A. '19)

Hepler graduated in 2019 with a degree in international studies (concentration: international security) and a minor in criminal justice. After earning his law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 2022 and passing the Colorado Bar, he began working as a deputy district attorney in the 1st Judicial District.

Benjamin now maintains a felony docket, prosecuting cases from theft to domestic violence and sexual assault.

"I absolutely love my job," he said. "It's incredibly meaningful to advocate for victims and keep the community safe."

He credits INST for developing the problem-solving mindset that has shaped his legal work: "My professors taught me how to approach issues creatively and think from multiple angles—skills that make me a stronger attorney."

Looking Ahead

The International and Global Studies Program continues to build on this spirit of inquiry and engagement. In spring 2026, INST will offer Special Topics: Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Resistance and Advocacy, taught by Taylor Downs. The course examines Indigenous activism and global advocacy movements, reflecting INST's ongoing commitment to inclusive global perspectives and social justice.

With alumni making an impact from Fayetteville to Samoa, Panama, Austin and Colorado, the international studies community continues to demonstrate how global learning leads to local and international change.

To know more about Interntional and Global Studies' course offerings for spring 2026, visit its website: Home | International & Global Studies | University of Arkansas.