Name: Ella Kuntze
Instagram handle: @ella.kuntzee
Major(s) and Minor(s): Global Studies major with minors in Political Science, Anthropology, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, and Women and Gender Studies
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Year at UNL: Senior
Favorite book and why: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
I love this book because I feel like it represents female friendships, especially ones in adolescence, in such a real light and I personally could see a lot of comparisons to the relationships I have had in my own life. The book and the series also takes place in 1950s Italy so the inclusion of history and politics in the plot is also why I love this book.
Favorite movie and why: Wake Up Dead Man
This movie made me so unexpectedly emotional, and the themes of religion really drew me in as someone who considers themself to be agnostic. The fact that there is a comedy element as well really made this one of my favorite movies.
Why these majors and minors?
Since high school, I knew that I really wanted to be able to study comparative politics and work on a global scale. So, when I came to UNL, I was deciding between Global Studies and Political Science as to which one I would major in and which one I would minor in. I ended up choosing Global Studies because I really liked how interdisciplinary it is and the flexibility it had for all of my different interests.
Some of the most interesting classes that I have taken at UNL are Women in the Totalitarian Experience, Sex and Gender Around the Globe, and Problems in International Relations. Suggestions that I would have for new or other majors would be to really follow what interests you and what you think fits you the best. I also think that the best way to really know what fits you is to find different opportunities and experiences that can really define your goals and what you want in regard to your education. This can be through clubs or internships or even events that are held at UNL. If someone is currently in another major, I would really emphasize the structure of Global Studies and the academic ability of the major.
Global Studies allows for a lot of flexibility, so you are easily able to have a second major or multiple minors alongside it and still have room for experiences such as study abroad before you graduate. In Global Studies courses you are able to see so many different sectors like politics, economics, and culture on a global scale which is extremely beneficial in any path you decide to take.
Extracurricular Experiences:
In my junior year I was able to study abroad in Lüneburg, Germany! I studied through the organization USAC and took classes through them at Leuphana Universität. The courses I took abroad were absolutely amazing and have shaped my academic career since. My German skills also greatly improved while living there as well and I ended up feeling very confident about my ability to communicate with anyone while living there. I always knew I wanted to study abroad in some form, and I had studied German in the past but this program and its classes were the best fit for me even if I didn’t have prior language experience. A lot of my friends I made in this program came to Germany knowing no German and left being able to speak it extremely well, so if you’re thinking about studying abroad but are worried about not knowing the language, just go for it! I truly think that everyone should try studying abroad, for any amount of time. It gave me a new perspective on a lot of things and everyone I know who has done some sort of study abroad has talked about how impactful it was for them.
Post Graduation Plans:
My plans for post-graduation are to apply to graduate school in Germany, specifically in Berlin. School in Germany does not start until a couple months after the US does so the applications for Winter 2026 aren’t even open yet though I plan to apply to the Global History Master’s Program at the Freie Universität of Berlin!