A fan of home improvement shows while growing up in rural Colorado, Aimee Wallner set her sights on a career in interior design. What she didn’t envision was that someday she’d find herself in Rome, sketching the city’s ancient landmarks.
“When I first arrived in Italy, I was terrified – I had never traveled overseas,” says Wallner (‘22 interior design), a past participant in the College of Design’s Rome program. “But that first day exploring with my roommates, I realized it would be an amazing semester.”
Many design graduates remember the program, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in May, as the highlight of their college careers.
“My professors and peers pushed me to better my craft – to be curious and ask more questions,” Wallner says. “And I’ll never forget stepping into the Pantheon. Experiencing architecture that has existed for thousands of years blew my mind.”
Providing more students with study abroad experiences is key to Iowa State becoming the most student-centric leading research university. Scholarships, such as the Debra L. Furman Pulver and Robert G. Pulver Study Abroad Scholarship, make these life-changing opportunities possible for students who otherwise could not afford them.
“Receiving the scholarship changed the way I think about the world,” Wallner says.
Today, Wallner works as an interior designer in Portland, Oregon. She credits her semester in Rome with developing the confidence to start her professional life far from home.
“I’m more open to others’ perspectives and better at building relationships,” she says. “Iowa State prepared me well for what I’m stepping into.”