Junior Amber Tiongson’s triple major has opened doors to international experiences and internships.

The power of three

Article by Margo McDonough Photos courtesy of Amber Tiongson | Photo illustration by Jaynell Keely April 01, 2025

Triple major gives UD junior a competitive edge

They say good things come in threes. That certainly has been the case for University of Delaware junior Amber Tiongson, who is triple majoring in international relations, Spanish studies, and Latin American and Iberian studies. Plus, this avid dancer and member of UD’s Isodynamic Hip Hop Dance Crew picked up a minor in dance.

“Having three majors will put me in a stronger position when I graduate,” said Tiongson, of Olney, Maryland. “I’m interested in working in the foreign service or civil service, but my varied academic background and experiences give me the flexibility to go in a number of different directions career-wise.”

Tiongson credits her Spanish studies advisor Julia Domínguez, a professor of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, for helping her identify the pathway to a triple major.

Tiongson traveled to Costa Rica as a UD World Scholar.

“I’ve always been pretty ambitious, but there’s no way I would have thought about a triple major if Dr. Dominguez hadn’t suggested it,” Tiongson said. “I’m not taking 21 credits a semester to make a triple major possible. It’s just a matter of being strategic and mapping out my semesters well in advance.”

Tiongson also recognizes the power of three in her approach to getting the most out of her UD education.

“The way I see it, you need to take advantage of all the opportunities found here — academics, experiential learning and the co-curricular experience,” she said.

As a World Scholar, Tiongson studied in Madrid in her first year and spent her sophomore Winter Session in Costa Rica.

Amber Tiongson celebrated her birthday in Costa Rica with her “host mom” during her World Scholar internship.

“Costa Rica was absolutely amazing,” Tiongson said. “We lived with host families, and I was fortunate to build a strong relationship with my host mom. It brought my Spanish skills to a whole new level. You’re using Spanish 100% of your waking hours, and even find yourself dreaming in Spanish.”

Last fall, she had a third study abroad experience, interning for a nonprofit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She worked with La Diáspora Africana de la Argentina, an NGO focused on combating racism and advancing the rights of Afro-Argentines. She did a bit of everything, from redesigning the NGO’s online shopping website to assisting with public workshops. Hip hop is an important part of the Afro-Argentine culture, and she was able to interview two hip hop dancers considered legendary in the Buenos Aires dance scene.

She wrote a paper in Spanish that translates to “Reclaiming Black Consciousness Through Dance: Conversations with Afro-Argentine Hip Hop Artists.”

“While in Argentina, Amber let us know she would be interviewing several artists,” said Monica Frichtel, assistant professor of Theatre and Dance. “By sharing this experience, I was able to suggest several additional opportunities. She then reached out for feedback on her interview prompts and later shared her article. Her interviews could inform her required interdisciplinary dance capstone.”

Tiongson spent fall semester interning at a non-government organization in Argentina.

Tiongson applied for the Summer Scholar undergraduate research program in hopes she can expand on this article and ultimately publish it. She also applied to present her work at UD’s Regional Undergraduate Student Conference next fall.

She also has completed an internship in international relations. Last summer she interned in the U.S. State Department, in the Office of Public Liaison within the Bureau of Global Public Affairs. She helped support the Hometown Diplomat program that sends civil servants to community events throughout the country and other domestic initiatives.

Because Tiongson spent her first semester abroad, she was hyper focused on finding her “communities” when she arrived on campus. She is an “iBuddy Mentor” for the International Student Community and participates in the English Language Institute’s American Host Partner Program.

“I was paired with a student from Oman and he’s now a matriculated student and one of my closest friends,” Tiongson.

She also takes part in English conversation nights open to non-native speakers, offered by the International Friends of Delaware.

“Amber Tiongson exemplifies the sort of student who is constantly opening doors by making connections, exploring suggestions, taking risks and challenging herself,” Frichtel said. “I am thrilled to be encouraging her along her path.”