KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 17, 2026

Nelly Koz has always made an impact in her community through her love of the outdoors.

It started when she was a junior at Kell High School in Marietta with a research project on food insecurity that culminated with her starting a community garden. Later, at Kennesaw State University, a public speaking assignment evolved into a petition to prevent the use of plastic confetti at graduation ceremonies, a goal achieved during KSU’s December Commencement exercises.

Now, she’ll have a chance to make an impact on a global level.

The environmental science major recently accepted a lucrative internship at Freiburg University in Germany, where she will help with data collection and recording observations on a section of the Black Forest that serves as a living laboratory.

The program, formally known as DAAD Rise (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) Germany, pairs undergraduate researchers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland with professors and researchers in STEM fields at universities in Germany. The project explores sustainable forest management strategies to rejuvenate forests suffering from dieback due to multiple stressors.

Koz was one of 350 recipients selected from more than 3,000 applicants.

“I’m looking forward to learning about the impacts of climate change in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley,” said Koz, who also belongs to the President’s Emerging Global Scholars (PEGS). “So much of what I’ve done so far has led me to this internship, and it’s just a natural progression for my interest in the environment.”

Koz learned about the internship from an acquaintance with connections to Germany, after studying abroad in Germany with the PEGS program in May 2025, and that person referred her to KSU’s Office of Prestigious Undergraduate Awards (OPUA), an office embedded in the KSU Journey Honors College dedicated to connecting students to national and international scholarships and internships. Honors College Dean Karen Kornweibel said Nelly’s initiative and academic drive make her especially well-suited for the opportunity.

“Nelly represents the KSU Journey Honors College and the PEGS cohort well, and this internship will provide her an incredible opportunity to expand her knowledge of ecology and her skills as a researcher,” Kornweibel said. “Already a world traveler and passionate environmentalist, Nelly will grow immensely this summer.”

College of Science and Mathematics leadership points to Koz’s experience as a powerful illustration of how academic preparation and experiential learning intersect at KSU.

“Nelly’s success exemplifies the kind of hands-on, globally focused opportunities available to students at KSU,” said Heather Koopman, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “Her initiative, curiosity, and commitment to environmental science show what’s possible when students fully engage with the resources and mentorship we offer.”

Koz credited OPUA for providing guidance in the process of applying for this internship as well as other scholarships. With so many boxes to check and tasks to complete, she said KSU benefits from an office dedicated to helping students pursue scholarship opportunities on national and international scales.

“It was kind of intimidating to just apply for this scholarship and a couple of others on my own without any guidance,” Koz said. “I sent OPUA one of my essays and they reviewed it and kept me in the loop about the upcoming dates and deadlines. It was helpful to have someone helping me out with the process.”

As associate dean for academic affairs in the KSU Journey Honors College, Jamie Elliott heads up this effort and said Koz’s achievements at KSU served as a springboard.

“Nelly is already an accomplished scholar with a wide range of achievements and activities at KSU, including her work with OPUA as a Truman Scholar nominee,” Elliott said. “This experience will open even more doors for Nelly while also inspiring fellow KSU students to pursue their academic interests with confidence.” 

Koz started at KSU as a dual-enrollment student, then enrolled full-time in Fall 2024 as a media and entertainment major with a strong interest in nature, owing to a childhood spent largely outside. She changed majors to environmental science before the current school year and has pursued enrichment opportunities accordingly, helping Assistant Professor of Communication Sangsun Choi with his documentary “About a Bowshot Away,” about the role of archery in an immigrant family. She also serves as president of KSU’s chapter of Adopt-a-Stream, a service organization that focuses on preservation of streams, creeks, and rivers.

In Germany, she’ll spend her days immersed in scientific research away from a laboratory setting – maintaining forest plots, supporting irrigation campaigns, measuring tree vitality and physiology, meeting with the lead researcher – all things that will equip Koz with the skills to carry out her own research in the future. In addition, she said she hopes to use her skills with a camera to create a short documentary about her experiences and studies.

Between the research and the documentary, Koz hopes to tie together everything she has discovered at KSU.

“College is what you make of it,” she said. “KSU has so many resources and so many different opportunities. All you have to do is ask the right questions to the right people.”

– Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Darnell Wilburn Jr.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.