Lorraina Scolaro completes fourth study abroad experience, tied for most by a Mizzou student
By Jack Toal
University of Missouri graduate student Lorraina Scolaro has become a global nomad, having now completed four programs through the J-School’s Global Programs — tying the unofficial record for the most study abroad experiences by a Mizzou J-School student. Her international coursework and internships have taken her across three continents, shaping both her professional goals and her worldview.
Scolaro embarked on a travel mission from the moment of her arrival at Mizzou.
“I came to Mizzou knowing that I wanted to study abroad. One of the things that I was actively looking for as I was searching for colleges was a good study abroad program [Travel] is one of my main interests. I love learning about other cultures. I love getting to experience different things, go different places,” Scolaro said.
That ambition quickly turned into action. First, during the fall semester in 2023, Scolaro went to Delhi, India, as an intern for Teamwork Arts. She worked in a program called Be Inspired, a scientific wing of the company they were building, where she helped support communications and research initiatives. The experience immersed her in both professional media work and daily life in India, broadening her cultural and academic perspective.
The following fall, Scolaro went to Beijing on the two-week China program, where students report on the China Open professional tennis tournament. She also managed social media channels covering the event.
She then went on to complete a two-week internship with VML in New York, constructing a campaign for New Balance before her final semester. She concluded with the McCann Worldgroup experience, with a two-week culture course at Sophia University in Tokyo, and a two-week internship through the McCann agency, representing the California Prune Board. The program blended cultural immersion with strategic communications, offering Scolaro insight into global marketing practices and cross-cultural messaging.
“What really interests me about Mizzou is the fact that they have journalism-specific study programs, Scolaro said. “That’s what allowed me to do so many of them, because I wasn’t taking a semester away to be an exchange student. Because of how ambitious a student I am, I still needed to be able to get experience and have those internships while not missing too much school.”
Global Programs Coordinator Drew Dumas said Scolaro’s willingness to venture off the beaten path sets her apart from the typical student traveler.
“Lorraina has been a bit of a pioneer in some senses, since she was willing to go to places we don’t traditionally send students, like Japan and India, as well as in the first group back to China since COVID for Mizzou,” Dumas said. “She completed a lot of real-world work, even continued working with her internship from India when she got home to America… I think she’s changed a lot with each trip as she adds such varied experiences.”
Scolaro attributed studying abroad as one of the most important features to her education. As she focuses on a career based in research and environmental reporting, her interest turned into a requirement.
[Studying abroad] gave me a deeper appreciation for other cultures and kind of like other ways of being and of knowing. As someone who’s researching very personal, but also very important topics, I think it’s necessary for me to be that mindful and to know that my experience or my way of being isn’t the only way or isn’t the right way of being,” Scolaro said. “It just helped me learn how to integrate myself into other societies and build relationships with people across cultures.”
Through four global programs, Scolaro has gotten to see the world along with building a foundation for an internationally informed career — one shaped by curiosity, adaptability and a commitment to understanding stories beyond her own borders.
Updated: March 11, 2026