Ayla Stover studies International Affairs and International Business, with a minor in Food Systems Sustainability, Health, and Equity. She is especially interested in emerging markets across the Balkans and the Middle East, with a focus on peacebuilding, refugee aid, and sustainable development.
Her global perspective has been shaped both personally and academically. Ayla frequently spends summers visiting family in Turkey, which has fueled her curiosity about the region’s culture, politics, and role in migration. She also participated in a semester-long Dialogue+ program traveling through Bosnia, Serbia, and Egypt with a small cohort of students. Through conversations with Bosnian Muslim survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, Palestinian refugees in Serbia, and listening to speakers in diplomatic foreign affairs across the myriads of locations, she engaged deeply with stories of displacement, resilience, and identity—experiences that continue to inform her academic and professional path.
On campus, Ayla is a director of the BSIB Mentorship program and is involved in student-led initiatives such as a Fashion Stylist with TFS and helping conduct research in current global sustainability affairs. She brings people excited to contribute to the CEM community through research, programming, and meaningful conversations around emerging markets.