Latvia Student Profiles
USAP Latvia opened doors in 2005. So far there a total of seven students studying in the US from Latvia who graduated from USAP. Below are the profiles of some of our Latvian students.
Arturs Saburovs
St. Lawrence University '10
Arturs Saburovs was born and raised in Latvia. At St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, Arturs was majoring in Environmental Studies and Government and focusing on Francophone Studies. He graduated from Adazi Secondary School in Latvia in 2006. During high school he led the European Union Youth in Action international exchange projects in Lithuania and Turkey. He also worked on an independent project and introduced plastic and paper recycling system at his high school.
At St. Lawrence, Arturs had been very active in international student activities. He organized many events, participated in different committees on spiritual life, studies abroad and student life. He held high leadership positions as the International Students Coordinator and the International House Coordinator. He was also active with raising awareness about climate change. He spent his summer after the junior year doing research on US Climate Change Policy at the Earthwatch Institute headquarters outside of Boston, Massachusetts.
Arturs spent a semester in three French-speaking countries Quebec City, Canada; Rouen, France and Dakar, Senegal where he studied the francophone cultures, history and the French language. He also spent a semester with the St. Lawrence University Kenya Semester Program in Nairobi where he studied biodiversity conservation issues, governance, Kiswahili language and did a month long independent study with the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group on participatory forest management in Tanzania.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude and earning a lifetime membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Arturs worked for the City of Ogdensburg, NY to build their first greenhouse gas emissions inventory and help with various energy and sustainability initiatives.
In 2011, Arturs returned to his home country Latvia and worked for an international translation company as a team leader. He has also contributed to the Latvian LGBT community, especially the youth. In early 2013, Arturs joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia. He has been mainly working with the Nordic-Baltic region, Latvian-Norwegian relations, and been the National Coordinator for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. He was also one of those who worked during the first Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2015. His proudest achievement was managing a large grant and organizing the 6th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region that brought together around 800 participants.
Arturs is a huge fan of the USAP program, and also gives back to his alma mater by participating in a career mentoring program for the current students.
Jelena Jesajana
Middlebury College '10
Jelena comes from Riga, Latvia. In 2005 she became a USAP scholar and since then her perception of the world has changed dramatically. Enjoying plentiful resources available in Middlebury, she is majoring in International studies/European Studies: Political Science and German. Apart from studying, she enjoys a Midd student life and participates in various clubs and organizations. Jelena is a member of RIDDIM World Dance Troupe, Russian and East European Club, Burmese Club, Dialogues for Peace. Being a part of RIDDIM changed her idea of dancing and of using the body language for self-expression.
During the 2008-2009 academic year, Jelena will study abroad in Germany at the Freie Universitat Berlin where she will study political science in Otto-Suhr Institut. While in Germany, Jelena plans to intern at the German Parliament in order to learn more about the German politics and policy making processes. Jelena plans to pursue a career in diplomacy and human rights, and ultimately return home to Latvia where she hopes to contribute to the political future of Latvia.