Minneapolis native Robinson was selected for the USA Pavilion Student Ambassador Program in Milan, Italy. The fair’s theme is focused on eradicating world hunger by focusing on industry, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Robinson will walk dignitaries and other visitors through the pavilion, sharing her personal experiences on American food culture while communicating in English, Spanish and French.
“This seemed like a great opportunity where I could go and not only learn more about Spanish, but I could learn a mixture of cultures,” says Robinson, who is majoring in Spanish and global studies.
Experiences at Concordia have helped her develop a zeal for the Spanish language and international affairs.
“Both the global studies and Spanish departments have helped me,” Robinson says. “Spanish solidified my passion for the language. For the sustainability factor, the interdisciplinary courses through global studies have been monumental.”
Robinson studied abroad in Spain in 2013. Living in another country for five months and working for a nongovernment organization and as a barista in a fair trade coffee shop helped her gain the confidence to pursue a career with international fair trade organizations.
In addition, last summer Robinson traveled to Nicaragua for a Justice Journey trip. She later worked as an intern for Honest Tea, traveling around the country to share information about fair trade.
“It has helped me become interested in the world,” Robinson says.
Between trips with Concordia and her family, Robinson has been to 22 countries. To articulate her experiences, she is co-president for the Student Association for Living and Studying Abroad. Through this organization, she and other students who have traveled around the world share their stories.
“When you put a group of students together who love to talk about traveling, it induces the desire to travel more,” Robinson says.
More than 1,000 applicants applied to work at the World Fair; only 120 were accepted.
Robinson’s World’s Fair adventure starts in August and ends in October. Afterward, she wants to exercise her language skills to explain the positives of fair trade to various communities, work that possibly could be done with Fair Trade USA.
“As long as I can continue to use language skills and learn about new cultures, then I’m fine,” Robinson says.