In this episode, we are joined by Jay’Len Boone who was born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, a small township just outside Detroit. He graduated from UTSA in the summer of 2020 with a BA in Global Affairs and a secondary BA in Sociology. He is currently a first-year Masters student at the University of Pennsylvania where he is studying International Education Development.

Jay’Len is passionate about youth empowerment and global development. Most recently, Jay'Len served as the 8th United States Youth Observer to the UN, advocating across the country for a stronger US-UN partnership and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He is a Global Citizen Curtis Scholar, Cultural Vistas Fellow, and a winner of the 2016 Gates Millennium Scholarship. His desire to combat social issues such as extreme poverty and climate change has taken him across the globe, working on the ground with communities in Hong Kong and South Africa.

One of his primary goals is to increase local action and involvement in the Sustainable Development Goals. It is his belief that community activists and young change-makers at the local level will play a pivotal role in determining whether the SDGs will succeed or not.

The Study Abroad Experience is a podcast brought to you by the Study Abroad Office at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Join us as we talk with phenomenal students and alumni about their unique journeys abroad and dig deeper into the minds and behaviors of young globally-minded leaders. For more information visit our website at https://global.utsa.edu/education-abroad/ and connect with us on our Instagram and Facebook @utsastudyabroad!