Honor Society® member
Caroline Baldwin
- Travel and Tourism Management
- Class of 2027
- Mount Airy, North Carolina
Member since September 2026
About
I am a Travel and Tourism Management student at the American University of Rome with academic and professional interests in sustainable tourism, international business, and destination strategy. My education and experiences across Europe have shaped my goal of building a career focused on creating tourism systems that support local communities, protect cultural and natural heritage, and remain economically viable.
At AUR, I serve as the Business Administration and Travel and Tourism Management Student Assistant for Academic Operations and Advising and as Head of Marketing for the Business Club. Outside the classroom, I am an ultramarathon runner, traveler, and former retail store manager. These experiences have strengthened my leadership, resilience, adaptability, and ability to work across different environments.
Outside of my academic and professional pursuits, I am happiest when I am moving, exploring, or creating. I have been an ultramarathon runner for several years and have a particular love for trail running, hiking, mountains, and the outdoors. I also enjoy traveling, cooking, learning languages, and experiencing the everyday details of different places and cultures. Whether I am running through a new landscape, experimenting with a recipe, or learning how to communicate in another language, I am naturally curious and drawn to experiences that challenge me and expand the way I see the world.
Education
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The American University of Rome
Travel and Tourism Management
2024 – Present
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Haverford College
Biology; Behavioral Neuroscience
2018 – 2019
Honors and awards
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Dean's List
Recognized on the Dean’s List for academic excellence during every semester of study at the American University of Rome.
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Transfer Student Scholarship
Awarded a merit-based scholarship upon transferring to the American University of Rome in recognition of prior academic achievement.
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Academic Field Trip Scholarship
Selected to receive a competitive academic scholarship supporting participation in an AUR faculty-led field study program to Krakow, Poland to study tourism.
Goals and interests
- Career goal
I intend to pursue a career in sustainable tourism and destination strategy, working at the intersection of international business, tourism development, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. I am particularly interested in helping destinations develop tourism models that are economically successful while protecting the communities, cultures, and natural environments that make them worth visiting.
Following my undergraduate degree, I plan to continue my education at the graduate level in tourism management, international business, and sustainability. My long-term goal is to work internationally in destination strategy and development, ideally contributing to organizations such as UNESCO and other institutions focused on sustainable tourism and cultural and natural heritage preservation.
As my career develops, I also hope to pursue entrepreneurship by creating EpicMilesTourism, a sustainable tourism venture connecting ultramarathon running with lesser-explored destinations. Through both my professional work and future business, I hope to demonstrate that tourism can create meaningful economic opportunities while strengthening rather than compromising the places and communities it depends upon.
- Graduate school interests
Master's in Creative Tourism Management at KEDGE Business School in Paris, France
Master's in International Business and Sustainability at Science's Po in Paris, France- Outside the classroom
I have always been happiest outdoors, particularly when I am running, hiking, or exploring somewhere new. Ultrarunning has been a major part of my life for several years and has taken me through everything from familiar trails at home to mountain races abroad. Traveling is another major passion of mine, and I love experiencing new places through their landscapes, food, languages, and everyday culture. In my quieter moments, I enjoy cooking, practicing French and Italian, listening to music, and finding new places to explore. I am naturally curious and tend to gravitate toward hobbies that allow me to learn, challenge myself, and experience the world from a new perspective.
Experience
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Client Services Receptionist
Foothills Pet Healthcare Clinic Description: Thrive in a high-volume veterinary and urgent care setting by balancing multiple competing priorities, frequently managing the reception area independently while simultaneously answering multi-line phone calls, assisting clients, coordinating with veterinary staff, scheduling appointments, processing payments, and maintaining accurate electronic medical records. Foster a welcoming client experience through compassionate communication while supporting efficient clinic operations with strong organizational skills, adaptability, attention to detail, and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
Apr 2026 – Aug 2026
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Merchandising Supervisor
Bealls, Inc. Description: Oversaw merchandising execution and sales-floor presentation by managing product flow, visual standards, inventory placement, and team support in a fast-paced retail environment. Contributed to store performance at the district’s top-performing location through strong visual merchandising, brand consistency, and customer-focused execution while providing operational and customer-facing leadership.
Feb 2026 – Apr 2026
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Academic Operations & Advising Assistant
The American University of Rome Description: Compiled and maintained lists of required textbooks for business courses. Supported academic and departmental operations by collating and organizing course offerings to assist students with registration and academic planning. Contributed to departmental communications, including participation in a published feature story on the AUR website and attendance at guest speaker events. Represented the Business Department at registration and admissions events, engaging with prospective students and families and answering program-related questions. Developed structured four-year academic plans for incoming students in collaboration with faculty and advising staff. Assisted with website redevelopment projects, including content organization and updates to improve clarity and usability.
Aug 2025 – Dec 2025
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Assistant Store Manager
Kendra Scott Description: Motivated the store team to deliver extraordinary customer experience to a diverse customer base on the busiest shopping street in Boston. Took charge of inventory in order to effectively stock the sales floor to move old and new product. Communicated with other store leaders to merchandize the store in the most visually-please manner possible. Handled high-price merchandise in a meticulous and delicate way in order to preserve the beauty and impact-fully sell.
Feb 2024 – Jul 2024
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Store Manager
Outdoor Voices Description: Managed day-to-day operations on the floor and in the back-of-house. Screened candidates, performed interviews, hired, and trained new employees. Collaborated with multiple external brands to organize events to increase foot traffic and sales. Perfectly crafted schedules for eight employees multiple weeks in advance to ensure the store was fully staffed and everyone had work-life balance. Participated in company-wide meetings and collaborated with other store managers to improve in-store operations.
Jun 2023 – Feb 2024
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Retail Sales Specialist
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) Description: Supported customers through the education of products, services, and Co-op memberships (including the REI MasterCard). Collaborated with the visual lead to maintain and optimize merchandising standards. Utilized past inventory experience to process products, track stock, and organize two warehouses.
Apr 2022 – Jun 2023
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Restaurant Manager
Earls Kitchen & Bar Description: Supervised and maintained front-of-house operations, including building connections with guests and staff to ensure a personal and exemplary dining experience. Responsibilities included overseeing the flow and environment of the restaurant, conversing with guests at every table, ensuring quality check for all food and drinks, generating financial reports, and summarizing the principal components of each shift.
Oct 2021 – Apr 2022
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Educator
Lululemon Description: information about the functionality of the products. Worked mainly in "Back of House" to track inventory and helps the store run more efficiently. Trained directly with the inventory lead in order to develop into the lead-assist.
Aug 2019 – Feb 2022
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Laboratory Research Assistant
Duke University Graduate School Description: Researched the effect of epigenetics on the brains of the Drosophila Melanogaster (fruit fly). Learned many valuable lab skills and how to work with a team to produce a final product. Presented a scientific poster at the end of the summer research and gave a presentation on the work in front of professors and researchers at the Duke Graduate School.
Apr 2019 – Jul 2019
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Keyholder
Great Harvest Bread Company Description: Quickly, accurately, and efficiently performed a wide variety of responsibilities while overseeing the entire facility alone. Responsibilities included providing customer service, cleaning and maintaining the facility, tracking inventory, and closing the store.
Jul 2017 – Jul 2019
Volunteering
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Crew Member for Women's 10k Race
REI, Inc.
May 2022 – May 2024
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Volunteer Coach
Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club (CHAVC)
Nov 2017 – Aug 2019
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Baker and Delivery Person
Meals on Wheels America
Jun 2016 – Aug 2016
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Associate
Habitat for Humanity
Jun 2016 – Jul 2018
Languages
- English (US) Fluent
- French (France) Intermediate
- Italian Beginner
