Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award

Susan Glairon — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:30:49 +0000

Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award Susan Glairon Wed, 11/26/2025 - 05:30

Susan Glairon

Caroline Mumm in front of Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps in southwest Germany.

While studying architectural engineering at CU Boulder, Caroline Mumm participated in a summer abroad program at Freie Universität Berlin International Summer University (FUBis) in Berlin, Germany, where she took an intensive German language class as well as a sustainability and a business class. She also served as an ambassador for the university.

Mumm is the recipient of the College of Engineering and Applied Science Global Engagement Award.

“Caroline represented CU Boulder and her department with professionalism and enthusiasm,” said Associate Professor Steven Ayer. “Her experience broadened her understanding of key topics such as sustainability, enabling her to bring valuable global insights back to Boulder and integrate them into her coursework and professional growth.”

Major

Architectural Engineering

Post-graduation plans

Visit family, then start a lighting design position at a Denver company

What sparked your interest in studying abroad?

When I was in the third grade, I lived in Germany with my family for six months. Since then, I’ve had only a few chances to travel abroad, but each one brought the same excitement of the unknown. Living in another country is an engaging experience that challenges what you perceive to be normal and pushes you out of your comfort zone. A summer abroad program felt like a fantastic way to explore again, while earning credits and gaining academic experience.

How did studying abroad shape the way you think about sustainability?

The sustainability class I took pushed me to think about building practices more broadly. Before this, I mainly focused on approaches used in the U.S. Studying in another country helped me see the different challenges and innovations happening elsewhere, and how the rest of the world is working to advance sustainable practices for the future.

How’s your German these days?

I still try to keep up with it! There are some great German shows to watch, and I stay in touch with a few people I met who live there. I’ve definitely lost some of my language skills, but I hope to regain them one day.

What was the most meaningful lesson from your global engagement experience?

The biggest lesson from my global engagement experience is that growth happens when you're uncomfortable. Navigating daily life, using transit and interacting with people on my own in a country with a different language often felt scary and uncomfortable. But through

those uncomfortable moments, I met amazing people, saw incredible places, learned alongside students from around the world and ate amazing food. I came home with more confidence in my ability to take on difficult tasks, one moment, one minute, one step at a time.

Did this experience change the way you see yourself or the world?

Yes! This experience changed both the way I see myself and how I see the world. I see a new version of myself — a more confident, well-rounded and well-spoken person. I see the world as smaller and less intimidating. To be able to fully immerse yourself and experience different cultures is an eye-opening event. Why stay in your comfort bubble when there's so much to explore, so many sights to see and so many amazing people to meet?

If you could offer one piece of advice to students interested in global engagement, what would it be?

If you're interested in global engagement, just do it! Find a program, a project, anything that gets you out of your comfort zone. You'll meet amazing people, see beautiful places, try new foods and come home wanting to explore even more of the world.

Anything else you would like to add?

Completing my degree at CU Boulder was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ll miss this university I’ve called home for the past few years. Sko Buffs!

Learn more about study abroad for civil or architectural engineering students.

Caroline Mumm, an architectural engineering major, represented the department during a summer abroad program at Freie Universität Berlin International Summer University (FUBis). Mumm returned with a deeper understanding of the diverse challenges and innovations in sustainable building worldwide.

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