There’s spreading your wings at college, and then there’s what McKenna Weber (’26) is doing at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
The senior modern language studies and political science double major from Lincoln returns home over winter break after studying abroad for a semester in Tunis, the capital city of the Northern African country of Tunisia.
Studying abroad is nothing out of the ordinary in the college experience. But Weber wanted more, taking on the challenge of studying abroad for three semesters in two countries. This December marked the end of her journey.
“I’ve had this plan since high school,” Weber said. “I love language learning. I’ve been studying Spanish since I was pretty young, and French since I was in middle school, so I knew the value of study abroad.”
Weber’s mother, Catherine Nelson, is a professor of Spanish at NWU, and a young McKenna often accompanied her on travels around the globe, frequently spending a month in Spain over the summer.
Weber’s affection for her modern language professors at NWU doesn’t stop with her mother.
“I've had so many wonderful professors in that department, as well as in political science,” Weber said. “I think they all really understand the value of study abroad and encourage students to do that. My advisors have been really good about working with me on my schedule to make sure that I can make three semesters happen.”
During this semester, Weber completed a political science-focused internship with InnoPeace, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on civic engagement, human rights, and peace.
The Tunisia experience came after Weber spent the previous school year studying in Tarragona, Spain.
So committed was Weber about studying abroad for three semesters that she took college prep courses in high school, and once at NWU, finished nearly all her undergraduate coursework in just two years. She will complete her senior projects and capstones in modern language studies and political science in the spring before graduating.
After that, Weber may well return to Europe. She applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship that, if she is selected, would send her back to Spain later in 2026.