ASEF Junior Fellow Vincent Vombergar’s Research Visit and Business Ambitions
We are delighted to announce that our ASEF Visit Slovenia Junior Fellow, generation 2025, Vincent Vombergar, has successfully completed his research visit in Slovenia. A determined and adventurous student of business at Miami University, he conducted his fellowship at Center Rog, under the mentorship of Maja Towndrow. His work focused on enhancing his skills in an office environment and gaining valuable, diverse perspectives to help him on his professional journey to one day work with Slovenian businesses. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors!
In the following, read his portrait.
An ASEF Fellow’s Perspective: Hoping to find his own sense of home
For Vince Vombergar, a business student at Miami University, his journey is more than just an academic pursuit—it’s a deeply personal exploration of his family’s history, cultural heritage, and a passion for connecting with his roots.
A Search for Identity
Since childhood, Vince has felt a strong connection to the Slovenian community in Cleveland. Attending St. Vitus Slovenian School and volunteering as a counselor at the Slovenian camp at Slovenska Pristava were not just activities, but formative experiences that shaped his identity.
These experiences have strongly shaped my Slovenian-American identity. They’ve made me realize how important my cultural heritage is to me and given me a sense of belonging. At school, I learned about language, traditions, and history. At camp, I was able to pass that knowledge on to the next generation.
His grandparents, Maria and Vinko, are central to this story. A memory that particularly resonates with him is his grandmother’s story about living on a farm before she came to the United States. Visiting that farm was a powerful moment that strengthened his bond with Slovenia.
It showed me how much my grandparents gave up for my family, which strengthened my connection to Slovenia and my heritage.
Ambitions in Business and Research
Vince’s passion for market research began during his freshman year of college while working on a project for a solar power company. With a dream of one day helping Slovenian businesses grow their tourism and strengthen their economic presence in Europe, he applied for the ASEF fellowship.
My main motivation for applying was to deepen my cultural roots by immersing myself in Slovenian culture while also getting the opportunity to have great mentorship and research opportunities.
His fellowship at Center Rog was an invaluable learning experience. The work itself provided him with a new, diverse perspective and essential skills for working in an office environment.
Discovering a Home in Slovenia
Vince arrived in Slovenia hoping to find his own sense of “home.” He was especially curious about his grandfather Vinko’s story, about whom he knew little. While he hasn’t found all the answers yet, he has embraced every moment to discover new places, sounds, and memories.
One of his biggest goals was to climb Triglav. Together with fellow student and ASEF Junior Fellow Visit Slovenia 2025, Matthew Matej Klepec, he embarked on the journey. Though they didn’t make it to the top, the experience was unforgettable, reminding him that the path to a goal is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile.
They say you’re not a true Slovenian until you climb mountain Triglav.
Looking to the Future
Vince is excited about what the future holds. He plans to share his experiences with his friends and peers back home, showing them photos and videos and encouraging them to explore their own roots. His advice for anyone considering the ASEF program is simple.
Don’t take a moment for granted. Although 10 weeks seems like a long time, it will go by very quickly.
We are immensely proud of Vince and the academic and personal successes he achieved during the ASEF Visit Slovenia program. We extend our best wishes for his continued professional journey and look forward to the possibility of a future reunion.
Finally, a few things that remind Vince of Slovenia
- Favorite Slovenian dish: palačinke (eng. pancakes)
- Favorite Slovenian city: Bled
- Favorite Slovenian music: Polka and the song Razbijam glaže by Modrijani
- Favorite Slovenian word: Riba
We also thank the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad and all ASEF donors for supporting the work of ASEF and our Junior Fellows.