Melena Knisely, Governance & Policy in Brussels, Summer 2026
Hi! My name is Melena, and I am in my third year at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. My major is Applied Mathematics, and I have two minors in Actuarial Science and International Studies. I was part of the Governance and Policy in Brussels study abroad program this summer. I chose this experience because, even though I am a math major, I have always been interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of the government. This program aligned with my interests, and also gave me experience in what it is like working in government since I want to do that once I graduate.
I have been to Europe before and I knew I wanted to go back eventually, so I picked somewhere I’ve never been: Belgium. I enjoyed sightseeing, trying new foods, and exploring the cities of Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp. Also, during this program, part of our curriculum was to visit different buildings of the European Union, which is what I looked forward to most of all. I was grateful to witness first-hand how the different sections of the EU work together to create
policies. Not only did we have access to the EU facilities, we also spoke with professionals who work day-to-day to help create and implement real policies within the EU. As part of this experience, we also had a chance to meet with the Irish Ambassador, which was extremely special because Ireland is now the new country to hold the Presidency in the Council of the EU.
Through this program, I expanded my knowledge about foreign policies and government in general. I plan to apply this knowledge to my future career. Outside of the classroom, I was able to put myself out there more and make new friends with my peers. I was the only one in my program that does not go to main campus, so I did not know anyone prior. So, I was grateful that this trip also gave me the ability to establish new friendships with a variety of people.
Photo from the plane ride to Brussels
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