Madeline Grace Ortenzio
I was born and grew up in Pennsylvania in the United States, but my grandparents are Italian. I love traveling and learning new languages and discovering different cultures. In fact, my ambition is to visit 30 countries before my 30th birthday—I’ve been to 27 so far! I’d describe myself as open-minded, energetic and curious about the world around me. In my free time I do Brazilian jiu-jitsu and CrossFit. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina and studied in Singapore and Argentina as part of the course. I’ve also been involved in volunteer work in Mexico and Honduras. Before starting at IE University I worked as a business English teacher for two years in Madrid and fell in love with this beautiful city!
"I’m grateful for the world-class professors, who are not only passionate about and extremely knowledgeable in their fields but have also been able to transmit that passion onto us students and inspire us."
Professional and personal partnerships that will last a lifetime
Madeline always knew she wanted to pursue postgraduate studies in the field of international development, but when she discovered the Master in International Development at IE University, she knew it was the perfect match for her interests and skills. As someone with a keen interest in food security and nutrition, gender equality, tackling climate change and working with refugees, Madeline was really inspired by the program at IE University and its partnership with the United Nations.
Before deciding to enroll, Madeline spent a lot of time researching different programs in different countries. The partnership with the UN was one thing that attracted her, and she was very impressed with the possibility of a UN Immersion Week in Geneva. Another part of the Master in International Development that really interested Madeline was the program’s Capstone Project, which allows students to put the theories they’ve learned into practice. The combination of all these features sealed the deal and she knew it was the place for her.
“When I discovered the Master in International Development program, I knew there couldn’t be a more perfect match.”
Madeline has traveled to many different countries and one of the aspects of travel she most enjoys is getting to know new people from different cultures. She thrives in diverse environments, so she has loved having such a diverse range of classmates. The 24 nationalities drawn from across five continents represented in her classmates truly demonstrate IE University’s commitment to diversity as one of its fundamental values. This was important to Madeline, as it gives her the chance to learn from and collaborate with all kinds of people, especially people from countries undergoing development challenges. For her, it’s been an invaluable part of her learning experience.
Her classmates have been a great support, and she has appreciated their kindness and been inspired every day by their work ethic, kindness and passion to challenge some of the biggest development challenges in their home countries. It’s not just the students; she says the “world-class” professors are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their fields and transmit that passion to the students, helping to inspire them about their futures after graduation.
She has taken full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the program, from talks and workshops led by leading experts in international development and diplomacy to a small-group discussion with Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed and other students. Madeline was also thrilled to have had the chance to attend an international conference in Saudi Arabia on sustainable tourism recently.
These networking opportunities are an amazing way to learn from companies and organizations. Something that’s been particularly beneficial to Madeline is the different topics covered in the curriculum. Not only have they introduced her to new areas of study and sparked her interest in areas she hadn’t considered before, but the fact that she has the option to specialize in a specific topic in the last semester has also opened up new horizons for her. She’s now considering the possibility that she might like to work for an international development or humanitarian crisis-response organization as a field officer after graduation.
At IE University, Madeline has been impressed by the way the program prepares students for professional life. It’s also brought home to her how vital it is to keep an open mind and an open heart. She’s learned to listen to others and to have her ideas, biases and perceptions of the world challenged. One thing that has helped her on this journey is the support of her classmates, both inside and outside the lecture hall. She’s sure they’ll become lifelong friends and maybe even partners in future endeavors.
Madeline believes in making the most of every opportunity offered to her on this global experience at IE University in the beautiful city of Madrid. Time seems to be flying but she’s having great fun, growing professionally and personally and making lasting friendships. We wish her all the best for her future career!
