For Jess Mercier, travel was never a given - it was a choice that changed everything. Born in Indiana and raised in South Carolina, she didn’t grow up in a family that traveled much. However her participation in Semester at Sea as an undergraduate student opened her eyes to the world and quickly turned her international curiosity into a calling.
Today, Jess serves as the Assistant Director of Outreach & Marketing for UF Study Abroad, where she helps inspire students to take their first steps toward transformative international experiences. Jess’s current position is a conglomeration of various outreach and marketing outlets – social media, the student blog, on-campus events, the Study Abroad Peer Advisors, and of course, the Study Abroad Fair! The Fair is a biannual event, with the latest event having taken place on September 29th. “This year we had over 1,600 students and the biggest tent available! It just keeps growing!” Jess has also continued her advising duties for one special program - her Alma Mater, Semester at Sea.
Jess attended undergrad at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, earning a degree in Political Science & Sociology. At the time, she imagined a future of public service or non-profit work, but her focus shifted after she studied abroad with Semester at Sea. Semester at Sea is a unique study abroad program in which students visit 10-12 countries while circumnavigating the globe on a ship. “In my family, it wasn't normal to travel, she says, “so I wanted to see as many places and experience as many cultures as I could!"
When Jess returned from her study abroad, she applied to be a Peer Advisor in her college’s study abroad office, but got hired on as a Student Assistant instead. “I never thought this could be a career!” Not long after working there, Jess realized that her interest in public service and her interest in travel could be paired by working in this field – “I feel like traveling makes people better - it makes them global citizens with cross-cultural understanding.”
Upon graduating from the College of Charleston, Jess went back to her roots in Indiana and attended Ball State University, where she earned her master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration. After that saw a short stint in Los Angeles, where she gained experience in the field of study abroad at ArtCenter College of Design. She then made another huge cross-country move to be here in the Swamp.
Jess first started as a Study Abroad Advisor, then moving up to Coordinator of Outreach, and then was promoted to her current position as Assistant Director of Outreach & Marketing. She was excited to take over the @UFStudyAbroad Instagram when the previously advisor managing it left, and she has grown it from around 2,000 followers to over 10,000 in just a few years. She calls Instagram a tool we can use to help fill our programs, build brand awareness, and funnel students into study abroad.
“I wish students would assume that there *is* a study abroad program for them, rather than the opposite,” Jess says, adding that even with complicated degree paths like STEM or pre-health, there are still study abroad options that exist that will complement their degree. And once students are on their study abroad path, Jess has a piece of advice - “It’s okay to be uncomfortable!” She’s noticed a trend where students are constantly anxious and trying to control every aspect of their experience, even though for study abroad that can be counterproductive. “You are an outsider, and that’s okay,” says Jess, “try to challenge yourself and your perspectives, and learn from another culture.”
When Jess isn’t at work, she spends time with her husband and their family of pets – a 15 year old chihuahua, a 4 year old golden retriever, and a 1 year old cat. She also devotes a lot of time to her other passion – her vintage home décor business Vint Condition. “I initially started the business to normalize secondhand shopping,” she says. “I don’t say ‘resell’, I say ‘rehome’.” Jess has an appreciation for older things, a passion for keeping things out of landfills, and a mission to give vintage items a second life. Her business specifically focuses on home décor from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
Jess’s journey - from a first-time traveler to a passionate advocate for global learning - is a testament to the transformative power of international education. Whether she's inspiring students to study abroad, managing outreach and social media, or giving new life to vintage treasures, Jess brings heart, purpose, and authenticity to everything she does. Her work encourages students to step outside their comfort zones, embrace the unfamiliar, and discover not only the world - but themselves - in the process.
Story by: Terrence Funke
UF Photos by: Christina Cozart