Terann Selman Found Big Lessons in Argentina’s Small Neighborhood Markets

When Terann Selman ’27 arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to begin her study abroad semester, she was excited to practice speaking Spanish and to experience daily life in a new culture. But she had other plans too: to give back to the local community by supporting women-led microbusinesses. 

Before her flight even touched down, Selman had secured a communications and social media internship at Fundación Chaka, a nonprofit in Argentina that empowers microbusinesses led by historically marginalized Indigenous women.  

“Chaka’s mission is to help women create sustainable, profitable businesses through access, visibility and long-term empowerment,” says Selman, a double major in Language, Culture and Business (with a concentration in Spanish) and Management (with a concentration in Global Management and a minor in Nonprofit Leadership). “That aligns with my passion to weave a social impact angle into a hands-on international experience.” 

Forming Connections Through Markets and Mate

Even though Selman knew she wanted to study abroad during college, she didn’t know exactly where. But she did have her sights set on a Spanish-speaking country with a vibrant startup culture. Bentley’s Cronin Office for International Education connected her with the Council on International Educational Exchange Buenos Aires for an Intern + Study Semester program. 

“Entrepreneurship is huge in Latin America,” says Selman, who spent weekends exploring Buenos Aires neighborhood ferias — little open-air markets where local vendors and artisans sell their products.  

One memorable tradition she experienced was the sharing ritual of mate (pronounced mah-tay), the national drink of Argentina. The hot, leaf-based beverage is brewed in a small cup and passed around a circle of people who drink from the same metal straw. “It’s a very social drink and reflects the Argentine culture of supporting and uplifting each other. That kind of trust is beautiful to see.” 

Experiencing those kinds of moments, she adds, is critical to building self-awareness, especially with a goal of creating social impact. “When working in a community different from your own, the first step is understanding where they’re coming from and respecting cultural differences before you can work effectively with them.” 

A Family Tradition of Breaking Barriers 

It’s not by accident that Selman chose to work with a nonprofit focused on empowering women. Strong women are a family tradition dating back to before she was born. In 1968, her grandmother joined the United States Air Force at a time when relatively few women served. When she was just an infant, her mom returned to school for a nursing degree to support her family as a single parent. Today, Selman is forging a path of her own. 

“Thanks to my mom and grandma, I came to Bentley confident that I had the power to change the world; I just didn’t know how yet,” says Selman, who is part of the university’s Women’s Leadership Program. “But because of my involvement with the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center and cultural student organizations like Black United Body, La Cultura Latina and Coming Full Circle, I’ve realized my passion for activism and uplifting the community.” 

A big moment when it all came together was through the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center (BSLCE) when Selman taught English language learners at an elementary school in Waltham. “I was like, ‘This is my calling.’ I knew it was what I wanted to do in life, and so much of that came from my experience at Bentley.” 

Aside from the joy of discovering her passion, there was a bonus for Selman, who applied to 10 schools but knew Bentley was “the one” after she toured campus. “I remember my mom telling me she was concerned because I might have changed my mind about attending a business school. But given everything I’ve done so far, my experience goes way beyond business.” 

Beyond a lighthearted “I told you so” moment with her mom, Selman remains serious about defining business on broader terms: putting community first.  

The Power of Language 

Selman grew up in an English-speaking household outside of Austin, Texas. She “fell in love” with the Spanish language during high school but first started taking classes in seventh grade.  

“During high school I worked at a supermarket customer service desk doing bookkeeping, and at the time, I was the only person in a leadership role who could speak another language,” recalls Selman. “Whenever there would be someone that spoke Portuguese or Spanish, and even Creole, I was able to serve as a bridge for communication. Seeing their faces light up was my first taste of the intersection of business and Spanish — and realization that I could make a difference by combining both.” 

At Bentley, she has become even more fluent and confident in her Spanish through her language major and BSLCE as a tutor for English language learners. But her semester abroad brought lessons to a whole new level. 

“I had the opportunity to visit women entrepreneurs in San Miguel de Tucumán and Santa María to hear their stories and document them for social media,” she recalls of her internship at Chaka, which focused on website optimization and social media strategy. “Using Spanish allowed me to connect more deeply with the community while applying the passion for activism that I’ve developed at Bentley.” 

Providing guidance on website optimization, she adds, allowed her to use skills she learned in the classroom. “In the Introduction to Nonprofits course, we analyzed a local and international nonprofit organization by reviewing their website to identify opportunities for improvement. During my internship I saw how practical it was.” 

Gaining a Beautiful View of the World 

Selman’s study abroad experience included coursework in intercultural communications, cross-cultural psychology and Latin America in global affairs. 

Amid her internship and coursework, she found time to explore the region, including Rio de Janeiro; the Iguazú waterfalls and rainforest in northeastern Argentina; and La Boca, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires known for its brightly colored buildings, strong immigrant heritage and tango culture. Day trips included Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.   

“Having never left the U.S. before studying abroad, it was exciting to see all these different landscapes,” says Selman, who credits Bentley’s Office of International Education for facilitating opportunities and helping her navigate the passport process. “One of my biggest takeaways from studying abroad is that you cannot speak for communities you have not taken the time to understand. I prefer to be out in the community working alongside people.” 

Among her other meaningful lessons from her semester abroad: Just say “yes” and be adaptable. “Before going to Argentina, I considered myself to be very culturally competent. Being mixed race, I feel like I can understand a lot of different perspectives. But I experienced culture shock in a new country and I was humbled. It gave me a beautiful view of the world and opened my eyes to where I can improve and become better. It was a journey of self-growth.”

Making Room for Every Voice 

Wherever Selman lands after graduating from Bentley, she plans to continue working with English language learners in some capacity — and leading with purpose. 

After returning from Argentina, she began a summer internship in assortment strategy and enablement supplier scalability at The Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta, working with the retailer’s smaller brands on promotions, communications and marketing. 

“One of my favorite things about working with The Home Depot has always been the culture and values that are so evident within the stores,” says Selman, who has worked part-time as a store associate since 2023. “Seeing how deeply these same values — including leading with intention and putting people first — are prioritized within the corporate space was truly inspiring.” 

A Juneteenth panel, “Legacy in Motion” hosted by The Home Depot’s African American Pulse, left a significant impression on her. “I learned that leadership isn’t defined by the circumstances you inherit, but by what you choose to do with them,” says Selman, who is beginning a term as president of Black United Body this fall and is an ambassador for Bentley’s MOSAIC Experience, a pre-orientation program for incoming students of diverse backgrounds. “Having a seat at the table matters, but great leaders ensure every voice at the table is heard.”