Maya Marrero English ’20 Awarded Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Fellowship

Maya Marrero English ’20 has been selected to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) fellowship program. Funded by the United States Congress and German Bundestag, CBYX is a cultural immersion program in which 75 American and 75 German young professionals spend one year studying, interning, and living with hosts in each others’ countries.

An economics major from Chino Hills, California, English was a Bonner Scholar and a two-year captain for the Women’s Track and Field team. She was also an officer for the Student Finance and Investment Club, participated in Oberlin Business Scholars, and was active in the Women and Trans Economics Committee. 

English applied to this fellowship thanks to a semester spent abroad in Germany, along with learning about experiences that her father had in the country. “My father was stationed in Berlin for most of his 20’s, and growing up, we had a piece of the Berlin wall in our home. His time in Germany shaped his world view and impacted who he is today, and I am hoping to have a similar experience through the CBYX program.” 

During her CBYX fellowship, she will intern in the field of economic development and take intensive German classes. “I'm excited to enhance my German language skills, build professional relationships in Germany, and gain meaningful experience that will help me prepare for graduate school,” she says. 

After her time abroad, English plans to attend graduate school focused on international development, with the goal of working for a development bank or a foundation. She credits the experience she had in Oberlin’s Career Communities program for her interest in the field of development. “The opportunity to intern with Chris Canavan '84 at Soros Fund Management on the global policy and development team shaped my career aspirations,” she says. 

English says that someday she would like to work in mirco-finance and help women start businesses in developing countries.