Program Coordinators and Directors

As part of the Fellowship program, the Foundation also provides an excursion stipend to each student and on-site coordinators in Copenhagen, Madison, and Seattle to organize and lead several student directed cultural and experiential outings in the host country. The Foundation believes that the exchange experience is greatly enhanced by the ability to explore the host country.

Douglas worked in Copenhagen throughout 2015 as a Scan Design intern with Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter. After completing a Master of Architecture at the University of Washington in the Spring of 2016, he returned to Copenhagen to work as an architect.

Douglas was born in Texas; holds a Bachelor of Science in Human and Organizational Development and a minor in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University; and occasionally picks up new hobbies like skateboarding (2012), speaking Danish (2014), or fixed-gear cycling (2016) to stay relevant and youthful. He looks forward to engaging with Scan Design fellows as they learn to live, study, work and play in Denmark.

He supports Scan Design Fellows in Copenhagen

Contact: Doug Brandon

After completing a semester in Aarhus as a Scan Design scholar in 2014, Molly returned to Denmark to pursue her Masters degree in International Studies at Aarhus University in 2015. Molly is passionate about exploring new cultures and countries, and enjoys being in nature.

She is very excited to take on the event coordinator position in Aarhus and give back to the Scan Design program. She Hopes to help American students integrate and explore Aarhus in ways that they otherwise might not, while also welcoming returning Danish exchange students back home. After the completion of her MA degree, Molly hopes to pursue a PhD in Gender Studies and settle in Denmark.

She supports Scan Design Fellows in Aarhus and Aalborg

Contact: Molly Occhino

Natalie Marie Gulsrud is a PhD fellow in the Division of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management in the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. She is researching the role of urban green space in the green city branding campaigns in Denmark and abroad.

She first came to Copenhagen on a Scan Design fellowship in 2009 and promptly extended her stay after falling in love with Copenhagen and the minimalist Danish lifestyle. Natalie's most Danish activity is winterbathing in the icy cold Øresund.

Natalie supports the Danish alumni from both the UW-Madison and UW-Seattle Fellowship Exchange programs and provides support to the University of Washington - Interns.

Contact: Natalie Gulsrud

Maj has a passion for helping students successfully cross cultures. Maj has directed the University of Wisconsin - Madison’s International Internship Program since its inception in February, 2010, having worked in international/intercultural education for 2 decades. Maj has an undergraduate degree (AB) from the University of Chicago and a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) focusing on International Development and Education Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Preceding her current role she served as Director of Academics for DIS in Copenhagen, Denmark; Associate Director of the Peace Corps in Fiji; and Associate Director of UW-Madison’s International Academic Programs office, the largest study abroad unit on the UW campuses. She was also a Fulbright participant in Korea, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Poland, a summer intern in Brussels, and spent a year in both Finland and Sweden as an exchange student. While she has lived around the world, Maj is a proud native of Wisconsin and a “Badger” by birth (her Danish father and Finnish mother met as students in Madison.)

Scan Design Program Director starting in 2016

Contact: Maj Fischer

Tina is a Danish citizen who moved to Madison in 2013 with her husband Michael. They lie 20 minutes outside Madison on a prairie with some beehives. She graduated from Copenhagen Business School "back in the day" and then worked for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was stationed at the Danish Embassies in Germany and the UK for several years before returning to Copenhagen to work for the Danish Prime Minister's Office for 12 years.

Tina taught French, German and English in Junior High School in Denmark. She says, "I love teaching and helping yound people and the Scan Design Foundation has helped me pursue that through my work as a coordinator with all the students coming to Madison from Denmark.

Program Coordinator for Danish Fellows, Madison Scan Design Fellows Alumni and Danish/American networking.

Contact: Tina Hassle Norregaard

Lauren recently graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Architecture. She first traveled to Denmark in 2008 through the Scan Design program, Copenhagen Classroom. She returned to Copenhagen during 2011 as part of a work/study fellowship to research temporary architecture in the urban environment..

She supports the Scan Design Danish Fellows, Seattle Scan Design Fellows Alumni, and Danish Architecture interns.

Contact: Lauren Keene

Julie was a Professor of Danish at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She has been instrumental in establishing the exchange program in 2010 and served as the Program Director from Fall 2011 through Spring of 2016.

Between Spring 2011 and Spring 2016 the UW awarded 170 Fellowships and Scholarships for study in Denmark and welcomed 200 Danish students to the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus. Madison is now the most requested U.S. campus for Danish students interested in studying in the U.S.

The Foundation and all the Madison and Danish students who worked with Julie during her tenure as the Program Director are very grateful for her support, guidance, and enthusiasm. She will be greatly missed.

Contact: Julie Allen

Samantha joined joined the Scan Design team as a fellow in Fall 211 when she studied abroad at the University of Copenhagen. After returning to Madison, she worked as an Activities Coordinator from Fall 2012 through Fall of 216. During her final term as an activities coordinator for both Danes and UW Scan Design Alumni, Samantha was also an Associate Lecturer in the Department of German, Nordic and Slavic Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her MA in Scandinavian Studies from UW-Madison in May 2016.

The Madison and Danish students consistently rated Sam's support as outstanding during her time with the program. We wish her success in her future endeavors.

Contact: Samantha Ruth Brown

Nete is a senior lecturer at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Scandinavian Studies Department. Among other classses, she teaches four semesters of Danish language and culture and a course on Criminal Utopias which is exceptionally popular in the wake of the Steig Larsson books.

She supports the Danish Scan Design Foundation Fellows

Contact: Nete Schmidt

Marianne received a Ph.D from the University of Washington and is an affiliate assistant professor in the Scandinavian Studies department. As a native born Danish citizen who has lived much of her life in Copenhagen, Marianne is well positioned to offer American students an introduction to Denmark and Scandinavian culture.

She joined the Fellowship Program support team in 2007 helping to define and develop the extensive list of excursions and cultural immersion activities offered to students in Denmark. Her cheerful, warm, practical leadership will be greatly missed.

Contact: Marianne Støelen

Kristine studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Fall semester 2010. She completed her degree in History and Russian at the University of Copenhagen and joined the Scan Design Foundation team January 2012.

Contact: Kristine Amalie Rigmør Østergaard

Ditte-Maria joined the Scan Design Foundation team in January 2014. She studied at the University of Washington-Seattle during the 2010-2011 academic year and completed her Master's Degree in Psychology Nov. 2012 at Aarhus University..

Maria has a great interest in International Student Relations since her time at the University of Washington. She supported all students studying in Aarhus and Aalborg until moving to Boston in January 2016.

Contact: Ditte-Maria Toft Henriksen

Jacob studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Fall semester 2010. He is living in Copenhagen and completing his masters thesis in Public Affairs/Administration. He joined the Scan Design Foundation team January 2012 and supported Scan Design Fellows in Copenhagen until moving to Skagen in September 2016.

Contact: Jacob Matzen Thomsen

Sara Line has a M.A. in Art History and Modern Culture. She studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Fall of 2010, where she fell head-over-heels in love with the American culture and the city of Madison.

She joined the Scan Design team in 2012 and supported Fellows in Copenhagen until moving to Skaen in September 2016.

Contact: Sara Line Batson