Global co-op

Khushal Safi, associate director of public safety and security at Northeastern, studies a map in the university’s Emergency Operations Center that shows the locations of students, faculty, and staff across the globe—as well as potential safety risks they might face. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Better call Khushal, the man who provides vital intel for Northeastern's global network

Khushal Safi, who heads the international safety office at Northeastern, ensures that students, faculty, and staff who are planning to travel understand the risks associated with their destinations. Safi is not there to keep them from traveling where there’s risk; his job is to make sure that they can do what they set out to do by preparing for potential disruptions, and by leading the response when situations arise.

by David Filipov - contributor July 29, 2021

Hana Kabira, a second-year student who is pursuing a degree in communication and media studies, is doing two co-ops in Tokyo. Creativity is an important part of her work, but it took a hit during the pandemic.

For this global co-op, the pandemic struck a creative chord

Hana Kabira, a second-year student who is pursuing a degree in communication and media studies, didn’t let the stress of the pandemic stifle her creativity. She landed two co-ops in Tokyo that allowed her imagination to flourish.

by Peter Ramjug May 21, 2021

He created his own global co-op during the pandemic

The coronavirus initially threw a wrench into Saul Blain’s dreams of a co-op abroad, so the electrical engineering major with a desire to work in a Spanish-speaking country cold-emailed 30 renewable energy companies in Latin America until he found one that said yes. “Throw a bunch of feelers out there until you find something,” he recommends.

by Peter Ramjug May 12, 2021

Millions of dollars in cosmetics were stranded on the ship stuck in the Suez Canal. This Northeastern co-op stepped in.

On co-op at L’Oréal, Kristine Aleksandrovica relies on her positive mindset to help her through stressful moments, such as the recent grounding of a cargo ship in the Suez Canal that was carrying millions of dollars worth of cosmetics. The business major’s supply chain expertise and make-it-happen attitude kicked in.

by Peter Ramjug April 13, 2021

Zipporah Osei was recognized for her “rich, balanced sourcing” and “expressive language and eye for detail.” Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

She dug deeper, and found her career path

During Zipporah Osei’s five months at the Chronicle of Higher Education, she tackled big topics, such as the tense relations between police and residents in Baltimore, and what happens to students when universities shut down.

by Irvin Zhang November 4, 2019

Jessica Slevin, who studies conservation science at Northeastern, carries bamboo sticks, a palm tree, and a banana tree to plant. Photo by Hiroko Tanaka for Northeastern University

When you can’t imagine living in a city again

Jessica Slevin pushes a wheelbarrow full of farming equipment along a muddy jungle trail. She is among a half-dozen Northeastern students doing co-ops at a farm nestled in the mountainous rainforest 25 miles southwest of San Jose.

by Alexander Villegas - contributor October 31, 2019

Northeastern student Chase Bivona smooths out the rough edges of a stringer—the foundation component of a staircase—as part of his structural engineering co-op in Braeside, Australia. Photo by Ying Ang for Northeastern University

It’s always a beautiful day to be a custom staircase builder in Australia

Northeastern student Chase Bivona has traveled to the other side of the world to learn production and management techniques he hopes can take his father’s 35-year-old custom stair building business, Hardwood Design Inc., to the next level.

by Andrew Fenton - contributor October 16, 2019

Ben Moran stands on the rocky shore at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant, Massachusetts. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

He found an electric blue, iridescent fish—and became a Knight

Ben Moran’s research on the rare Maya hamlet fish species off the coast of Belize quickly evolved into a marine conservation effort. Now, the Northeastern alumnus has earned a prestigious scholarship to continue his studies at Stanford.

by Greg St. Martin March 12, 2019

Claire Celestin, a fifth-year behavioral neuroscience major, received a Marshall Scholarship. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Three seniors receive prestigious honors

Claire Celestin, Minhal Ahmed, and Erin Bourque have received prestigious scholarships or fellowships that will support their graduate studies and advance their professional careers in the fields of women’s health, bioengineering, and diplomacy.

by Greg St. Martin December 10, 2018

Northeastern student Madeline DuBois is catching lizards in Panama to study how the reptiles are adapting to climate change. Photo by Elizabeth King/Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Want to find out what lizards have to say about climate change? First you have to catch them.

Northeastern student Madeline DuBois is catching lizards on co-op in Panama to study how the reptiles are adapting to climate change. “With some practice you know what shape to look for and you can see their heads peeking out of a branch,” she says.

by Debora Almeida November 5, 2018