Parker Deabreu’s passion for environmental economics is fuelling her pursuit of a career in the oil and energy sector.

In Jan. 2020, the fourth-year Economics student will be attending the University of Maine on exchange to study their world-renowned environmental economics courses.

Deabreu is the 2019-20 Killam Fellowship recipient, a new program Brock University announced last year through a partnership with Fullbright Canada. The program gives Brock students the opportunity to study at a handful of post-secondary institutions across the United States.

Along with having access to programming and awards, Deabreu will also receive $5,000 USD to alleviate the financial stress of studying south of the border.

“Killiam is a very prestigious program,” said Debreu. “It’s a big deal to be a part of this.”

Deabreu is no stranger to studying abroad. Last fall, she went on exchange to the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago, where she enrolled in environmental economics courses and immersed herself in local culture and regional hotspots.

Admittedly, she was also excited to trade in Canada’s colder months for the tropical climate.

“Exchange is a nice thing to have on your resumé, but it turned out to be so much more than what you think going into it,” said Deabreu.

She was able to develop meaningful friendships with local and international UWI students and even convinced one to pursue a semester-long exchange at Brock.

Deabreu says one of the most surprising things about embarking on an exchange was how affordable it can be.

“If you budget properly, it’s affordable and costs the same amount you’d be spending in a regular school year here.”

She’s hoping that her time at the University of Maine will provide her with experience and connections in the American energy sector, as well as a broader sense of the connection between Canada and the U.S.

Brock students interested in applying for the Killam Fellowship program in 2020-21 are encouraged to submit an application online through Brock’s International Mobility office by Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019.

Deabreu’s advice for students considering studying abroad is to be objective.

“You need to see what you value the most in a school, a community and a culture,” said Deabreu.

Interested students can also attend Brock’s International Mobility Fair Wednesday, Oct. 9. The event provides students with the opportunity to learn about the various global experiences available through Brock’s partner institutions. One lucky attendee will also have the chance to win a $500 Air Canada gift card to help with the costs of travel. For more details, please visit ExperienceBU

For any questions or assistance with applying, please contact Brock’s International Mobility Office at intlmobility@brocku.ca