Alumni & Friends

Kathleen Whelton '08 Spanish major

Kathleen Whelton, a Spanish major who graduated from Salem State in 2008, studied in Spain one summer with the Salem State program in Oviedo, and it put her on the path to an international career. Kathleen's senior research project, entitled "La importancia de las ONG en el tratamiento médico del SIDA en Latinoamérica," examined the role of nonprofit organizations in the fight against AIDS in Latin America. The urge to travel, to teach and to assist developing Latin American countries led to her post-baccalaureate plans. In an interview from spring 2008, Kathleen announced: "After graduation this summer, I am moving to Chile for six months to teach English in rural area schools to both students and teachers as part of a team of volunteers. I will be living with a family in a small town, teaching in the local K-12 school and leading community activities. This opportunity is a very exciting way to improve my language, as well as learn about the culture."