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U.S. Team
See more of our corporate leadership team by visiting the Worldstrides website.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Jennifer Acosta
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Jennifer Acosta
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Jennifer Acosta joined the ISA team in 1996 as the Director of Admissions, and has served as ISA’s Senior Vice President, Enrollment Management since 2009. Jennifer leads a team of 30+ staff members who work with students during the pre-departure process, focusing on customer service and student engagement. Jennifer has been an integral member of the ISA leadership team with a special focus on program management and a desire to meet students on their terms. She graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies, and from Southwest Texas State University with a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish. Her international education includes a semester at the Universidad de Sevilla in Sevilla, Spain and a summer at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
Angel (Chicho) Eguiluz Pacheco
Senior Vice President, Global Operations
Angel (Chicho) Eguiluz Pacheco
Senior Vice President, Global Operations
Ángel Eguiluz Pacheco, known by all as "Chicho," is ISA's Senior Vice President of Global Operations. A native of Spain's northern coastal town of Santander, Chicho began his career with the program when he settled in the southern city of Sevilla in 1997. Before beginning work with the Sevilla program, Chicho spent several years at the University of Salamanca, where he received his degree in Spanish Language and Literature and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. His university career also included his own personal study-abroad experience, when he was awarded a grant to study at the University of Leuven in Belgium. Chicho later went on to experience life in the United States while in Virginia teaching Spanish at James Madison University. His accumulated knowledge of foreign language studies, as well as his ability to closely connect with American study abroad students, have given Chicho the reputation that he has acquired within the study-abroad sphere both in the United States and in Spain. Now leading all of ISA's programs in Europe, Chicho is often on the move, although the Sevilla office remains his home base.
Susan Farley
Vice President, Institutional Agreements & Financial Affairs
Susan Farley
Vice President, Institutional Agreements & Financial Affairs
Susan was born and raised in Texas and graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.A. in Latin American Studies and Spanish. Her primary study abroad experience was in Costa Rica, where she enjoyed living with a family and exploring the beautiful country. That first program abroad changed the course of her life and sparked a passion for international education. Susan joined the ISA team in 1997 and has returned to Costa Rica many times over the years for business and personal travel. She has also been fortunate to travel extensively in and around ISA's program locations in Europe, Latin America and the Pacific. In her free time, she most enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her husband, sons and the family dog.
Deborah Morrison
Vice President, Internship Programs and Strategic Initiatives
Deborah Morrison
Vice President, Internship Programs and Strategic Initiatives
Deborah is originally from Colorado and earned her BS from University of Washington in Seattle. She studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico and then lived in Mexico for another 5 years before returning to Colorado. Deborah's passion for living and studying internationally led her to take a position in 2001 with AustraLearn/GlobaLinks Learning Abroad which merged with ISA in 2014. Now with more than 15 years of experience in the field, she continues to enjoy hearing how study abroad has changed a student's perception of themselves and the world. Outside of work, Deborah aims to travel abroad several times a year and enjoys any activity that involves mountains: skiing, hiking, rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking, camping etc.
Jimmy Brazelton
Vice President, Innovation and Product Management
Jimmy Brazelton
Vice President, Innovation and Product Management
Jimmy joined the ISA team in 2009 and works as the Vice President for Innovation and Product Management for WorldStrides. Originally from the Land of Lincoln, he graduated from Illinois State University with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Theatre. During Jimmy's graduate degree, he studied abroad in Paris where he also worked on his graduate research. Prior to joining ISA, he worked for the Office of International Studies and Programs at Illinois State University for seven years, first as Assistant Study Abroad Coordinator and then as Study Abroad Coordinator. His role at ISA allows him to dedicate time to many of his passions: Asian study abroad, international service-learning, education abroad program development, and data collection and analysis.
Mark Gallovic
Vice President, University Partnerships
Mark Gallovic
Vice President, University Partnerships
Mark has been dedicated to the education abroad profession for more than 24 years, having been transformed by his own student experiecnes abroad in Venezuela, Mexcio and Spain, as a high school and undergradate student. Prior to joining ISA in 2014 as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, he served as Director of Education Abroad as the University North Carolina Wilmington, for eight years, as Assistant Director of the Office of International Programs at Arizona State University for eight years before that, and previously for the Institute for Study Abroad, both in the U.S. and Australia. Mark earned undergraduate degrees in International Studies and Spanish at Miami University, and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Arizona State University.When not focused on education abroad program development, he likes to go off recipe, and cook by the inspiration of quircky ingredient baskests. Like many others hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark will always root for the underdog.
Beth Price
Vice President, Student Outreach
Beth Price
Vice President, Student Outreach
Beth first fell in love with travel during her semester of study abroad as a Marketing student at the University of St. Thomas. As an avid life-long-learner, Beth most recently completed her MBA at UT Austin. While her Minnesota roots were as thick as her accent, she moved to Austin, TX the summer of 2009 to join the ISA team. Since then she has continued exciting travels, which includes exploring 6 out of the 7 continents (you're next, Antarctica). Some of her favorite highlights include climbing Kilimanjaro, seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, scaling the Great Wall of China, bartering for a rug at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and relishing in Peruvian cuisine while enjoying the view of Machu Picchu.
David Puente, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Academics
David Puente, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Academics
David grew up in Minnesota looking at maps and reading about faraway places when not busy shoveling snow. As a backpacker and later as a military officer he began exploring more temperate parts of the world, and at last count he had visited 45 countries. Shortly after moving to Spain in 2002 he joined ISA. Since then he has worn many hats and shown he's game for any challenge. Currently he leads our site visits and spearheads efforts to enhance and assess students' intercultural learning. David feels lucky to work closely with upper management, resident staff and faculty on both sides of the Atlantic, doing his best to live up to his last name--bridge in Spanish! He is a proud parent, a political news junky, and a bit of a music snob.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Alonso De La Fuente
Associate Vice President, Academic Records
Alonso De La Fuente
Associate Vice President, Academic Records
As a Texas native who lived in Mexico for several years, Alonso developed an interest for cultures and languages at an early age. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he attained a Bachelor's in Hispanic Studies and in Latin American Studies with a focus in business and economics. While at UT Austin, he studied at Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)-Mexico City for two summers where he had the opportunity to interact and learn from students from all around the world. A self-proclaimed foodie, Alonso also enjoys weightlifting, the hike and bike trail, HIIT, and spending time with friends and his beagle and miniature Goldendoodle. With over 14 years at ISA, Alonso is a firm believer that study abroad is essential to become a global citizen.
Elizabeth Erbeznik, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Curriculum & Academic Programs
Elizabeth Erbeznik, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Curriculum & Academic Programs
Hailing from Northern California, Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a BA in English and French and then received her MA and PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. Elizabeth first traveled to Switzerland as a high school exchange student, then studied abroad for a year in Lyon, France, where she enrolled in literature courses with local students and traveled throughout most of Western Europe during long vacations. After graduating from UCLA, she joined the Peace Corps and taught English in Madagascar. Before joining ISA, she taught French language and literature courses at Northern Illinois University and UT-Austin. She loves reading books in their original language (or translations), traveling, camping and going on adventures with her husband and daughter.
Linda Marín
Academic Affairs & Records Support Specialist
Linda Marín
Academic Affairs & Records Support Specialist
Linda was born in Mérida, Yucatán, México, and spent most of her childhood summers in Los Angeles with her family and twin sister. It was during those family trips that she discovered a passion for languages and interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. She has worked in different fields where she has been able to apply her language skills. Most recently, she provided customer service support to students and parents as a bilingual telemarketer for two years prior to joining ISA's parent company, WorldStrides, in January 2018. Linda joined the ISA team as the Academic Affairs and Records Support Specialist in December 2018 and is currently pursuing a Master's in Business Administration.
Health Safety and Security
Robin Reliford, J.D.
WorldStrides Vice President for Health & Safety
Robin Reliford, J.D.
WorldStrides Vice President for Health & Safety
Robin joined International Studies Abroad in 2013 and oversees international risk and crisis management for ISA’s higher education programs. She works with staff globally to monitor world events to mitigate against risks; implement emergency protocols and procedures; and manage student emergencies. She works closely with executive management on policy development and compliance. Robin is a leader in the field, presenting on issues affecting student health and safety at local and national conferences. A Philadelphia native, Robin received her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her B.A. from West Chester University. An avid traveler, Robin is always ready for her next international experience and believes that one day she will learn to pack light.
Patrick Barker
Assistant Director of Health, Safety & Security
Patrick Barker
Assistant Director of Health, Safety & Security
Patrick joined the ISA team in August of 2014 working in the ISA Embedded Office at the University of Kentucky. After receiving his BA in Geography from the University of Kentucky, he spent time in Washington, D.C. interning with the Overseas Security Advisory Council. Patrick later returned to UK for his MA from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, where he focused on national security policy. He studied abroad in Amman, Jordan for a summer where he fell in love with the Middle East. He has also been fortunate enough to travel to over 50 countries all over the world. In his free time, Patrick enjoys trying new restaurants, road trips, Instagraming and cheering on his beloved Kentucky Wildcats.
Enrollment Management
Rebecca Anderson
Senior Director, Enrollment Management
Rebecca Anderson
Senior Director, Enrollment Management
Proudly born and raised in Grafton, North Dakota, Rebecca attended St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and graduated with degrees in International Relations and Spanish. Rebecca studied abroad in Chile and then again in China. Rebecca moved out to Salida, CO sight unseen in 2007 where she worked in International Business Development with the Minister of Environment in Spain. In 2008, she landed a dream position with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, now ISA and has been helping students realize their positive potential in the world since. Rebecca is passionate about International Education, women's advocacy, and she serves as President of the PTA. In her free time, you will find her outside, in the beautiful Colorado weather, with her 2 little girls, husband, and golden retriever.
Matt Gulizia
Associate Director, Enrollment Management
Matt Gulizia
Associate Director, Enrollment Management
Originally from Omaha, NE, Matt earned his B.S. in International Business, B.A. in French, and M.Ed. in Higher Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. He studied in Paris through ISA as an undergraduate, which sparked his passion for education abroad and the French language and culture. In his spare time, he likes practicing yoga, baking, and exploring different coffee shops in whichever city he finds himself. Matt finds study abroad to be one of the best ways to contribute to personal growth and loves being a part of that for his students.
Kim Sarna
Associate Director, Enrollment Management
Kim Sarna
Associate Director, Enrollment Management
Kim is an Arizona native who earned her degree in Hispanic Studies from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile and loved it so much that she returned upon completing her degree to work as an English language teacher. Kim's passion for international education ignited during her time in Chile, as she gained self-confidence and greater awareness of other customs and cultures. She is proud to work as the Associate Director of Enrollment Management and serve as the Geographic Oversight Manager for Spain and Latin America. Kim works with a team of outstanding staff abroad to support and encourage students to experience their own achievements abroad. In her free time, Kim enjoys walking her dogs Holly and Gordo.
Brittany Lavornia
Senior Program Manager, Enrollment Management
Brittany Lavornia
Senior Program Manager, Enrollment Management
Originally from little Rhode Island, Brittany acquired her desire for travel when studying abroad for a semester at the University of Roehampton in London, England. During this semester, she traveled the U.K. extensively and collected passport stamps from a dozen countries in Europe. Brittany received a B.S. in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and went on to join ISA in 2015 to advise on programs in England and Scotland. She enjoys enabling students to gain the confidence and self-awareness that comes from studying abroad, and helping plan their big adventures! Brittany enjoys playing with her pitbull Amira, learning coding and graphic design, has started collecting passport stamps from Central America and the Caribbean, and helping her husband begin his collection, starting with Japan!
Anthony Viltro
Senior Region & Account Manager, Europe
Anthony Viltro
Senior Region & Account Manager, Europe
Anthony is from Ohio and attended The Ohio State University where he earned degrees in Psychology and Italian. It's hard to believe that once upon a time, Anthony dreaded the idea of learning a second language and studying abroad. Nonetheless, he studied in Italy on two occasions, once in Lecce and again in Siena, and hasn't looked back since. He also taught Italian language at East Carolina University and worked as a Resident Advisor in Florence. Study abroad helped Anthony achieve things he didn't think possible, and he hopes the students he works with will have similar life-changing experiences. In his free time, Anthony enjoys playing beach volleyball, cat-sitting for friends, and planning his next trip.
Gloria Trueba
Region & Account Manager, Europe
Gloria Trueba
Region & Account Manager, Europe
Gloria Trueba Garcia is a Santander native who spent part of her youth in Germany. Upon graduation, she moved to Salamanca to study German/English translation at the Universidad de Salamanca. After studying abroad in Dublin, she worked in Scotland, England, and Ireland. She started working for ISA 11 years ago in the ISA Salamanca office. After a few years there she moved to her hometown Santander to be the Resident Director there. She also was the Resident Director in our office in Brussels until she moved back to Spain to be the Director of the office in Madrid. She is now living in Austin and has joined our team here. She loves travelling, puzzles and going on long walks with her puppies.
Amy Remondi
Region & Account Manager, Spain
Amy Remondi
Region & Account Manager, Spain
Amy received a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Miami, during which time she studied abroad in Granada, Spain for a year. She fell so in love with the Spanish lifestyle and culture that after graduating she moved to Barcelona to teach English for 3 years, and then moved to Japan to continue teaching. Amy loves working with students and feels strongly about cultural exchange. Inspired by her years abroad to help students experience the thrills of learning a new language and culture, she now works as the Barcelona Program Manager. In her free time, she loves biking, camping and hiking - all with her 'adventure' cat!
Jenna Tantillo
Program Manager, Spain
Jenna Tantillo
Program Manager, Spain
Jenna completed her first semester abroad in a small town in southern Spain during high school and international education has been an important part of her life ever since. She has participated in three other study abroad programs, including a year in Santiago, Chile and has earned an MA in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Jenna finds joy and meaning assisting students in realizing international experiences to meet their language goals and increase intercultural competency. Outside of work Jenna spends her time knitting, frolicking outdoors, stretching and breathing, and visiting her home state of California.
Crystal Giedt
Program Manager, Asia & Pacific
Crystal Giedt
Program Manager, Asia & Pacific
Born and raised in a small town in Minnesota, Crystal’s various homes range in cities coast to coast including, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Honolulu and now Austin. In 2015 Crystal went on a cruise with her family that changed her life drastically. She was inspired by hearing stories from fellow passengers and cruise ship staff of living abroad. Upon returning from the cruise a decision was made to quit her job, donate her things and move to Thailand to teach English. Upon completion of her TEFL certification Crystal taught English at a private school in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Crystal has traveled to all Southeast Asian countries and aspires to continue checking countries off her list! The experience of working, living and traveling abroad motivated Crystal to steer her new career path, back in the US, towards International Education. In this new role, Crystal is excited about encouraging students to take a leap and see the world while studying. In addition to searching airline tickets on Google Flights, she enjoys running, taking group fitness classes, going to the movies and being a tourist in her home town, wherever that may be.
Bridget Naphen
Program Manager, Africa, Europe & United Kingdom
Bridget Naphen
Program Manager, Africa, Europe & United Kingdom
Bridget Naphen graduated from Clark University with a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy. Although she was not able to study abroad while she was in college her passion for wildlife conservation lead her on a journey to South Africa post graduation. After countless hours spent analyzing data and literature relating to African wildlife, she was awestruck to able to witness these magnificent creatures in their native environments - while soaking up a wealth of knowledge that never could have been obtained behind a computer or book. This experience opened her eyes to the power international travel has to stimulate understanding and support for issues across the globe. Bridget is overjoyed to begin a new journey with ISA to help others embark on life changing adventures of their own.
Lillian Nguyen
Program Manager, Europe
Lillian Nguyen
Program Manager, Europe
Born and raised in Texas, Lillian attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned her B.A. in European Studies and Italian. As an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Rome, Italy and in Würzburg, Germany, which sparked her interest in international education. After visiting the Sassi in Matera and viewing the beautiful artwork in Galleria Borghese in Rome and in Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Lillian hopes to help students have once in a lifetime experience studying abroad. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, roller-skating, and reading.
Hannah Hamilton
Program Manager, Europe & United Kingdom
Hannah Hamilton
Program Manager, Europe & United Kingdom
Born in Corvallis, OR, family stories of adventures and travels were joyfully shared and impressed upon Hannah at a young age. As an undergraduate at the University of Texas here in Austin, she jumped at the opportunity to circumnavigate the world aboard a ship. The experience was life-changing and led her to pursue a Master’s Degree in International and Comparative Education from The George Washington University. Hannah started at ISA in 2006 and worked closely with our programs in Morocco and Europe. After six years with ISA Hannah made the decision to stay home to raise her two children. She served on their school PTA board for four years, further fueling her interests of advocacy and equity in education. Having recently returned to ISA in 2021, Hannah is thrilled to continue advising students as they pursue their own international education efforts.
Shelby Huff
Program Manager, Spain
Shelby Huff
Program Manager, Spain
During her undergraduate semester abroad in Florence, Italy, Shelby fell in love with international education and travel. After finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, she knew she wanted to have an internationally-focused career. She moved abroad to teach English for 1 year in Busan, South Korea, and 3 years in Medellin, Colombia. Through teaching English abroad, she discovered a passion for working with students and went on to pursue a Master’s degree in International Business Administration at the Universidad de Almeria in the sunny, coastal city of Almeria, Spain. Her own experiences abroad have been such a valuable part of her life, and she is passionate about helping students to find the best program for their interests. In her free time, Shelby loves going to concerts, studying new languages, watching baseball, and traveling to new parts of the world.
Karlee Kaltz
Program Manager, Spain
Karlee Kaltz
Program Manager, Spain
Karlee graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and minors in Global Engagement and International Law. During this time in undergrad, Karlee studied abroad twice with ISA. Her first trip led her to London, England and her second to Granada, Spain. Her passion for international education and experience in the field has brought her to become a program manager with ISA. When she is not busy getting her passport stamped, Karlee can be found hiking, teaching English as a second language, finding new coffee shops, or practicing yoga.
Alejandra Olais
Enrollment Associate
Alejandra Olais
Enrollment Associate
Alejandra was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. She studied Business Administration in college where she decided to explore the world and study abroad. She studied Real Estate and Urbanism at the Complutense University of Madrid during the summer of 2014. Later in 2015, she enrolled in an Au Pair program and moved to New York City for a year. During the program she studied at BMCC of Manhattan Community College. This was a wonderful experience for her and it solidified her love of travel and all things international. To continue her love for traveling and studying, Alejandra went to Barcelona in 2016 for her Master's degree in Communication, Public Relations and Event Planning at Formatic Barcelona University. She loves the adventure of traveling and meeting people from all over the world.
Grethel Chavez
Enrollment Associate
Grethel Chavez
Enrollment Associate
Grethel was born and raised in the beautiful and friendly city of Merida, Mexico. Always intrigued by opportunities where she is able to utilize her English skills, Grethel has had a lot of experience translating official documents to Spanish and has been able to implement her license in Communications towards her everyday life. Grethel previously worked for ISA's parent company, Worldstrides, where she was able to provide excellent customer support to students and parents. Grethel is always open to new opportunities for professional and personal growth, and is eager to collaborate and work with the Admissions team at ISA. Grethel has traveled extensively throughout the Yucatan and developed a profound appreciation for her culture and heritage. During her free time, Grethel loves to bake yummy treats for her friends and coworkers, and enjoys listening to all types of music while doing so!
Cindy Tejero
Enrollment Associate
Cindy Tejero
Enrollment Associate
Cindy received degrees in Marketing from Anahuac Mayab University and Digital Marketing from the University of Yucatan. After graduating, she spent a few months volunteering as an English Teacher in Jaipur, India. During this time, she had the opportunity to travel around Asia visiting her dream locations: Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. Some highlights of her time spent abroad include visiting the Taj Mahal in India and caring for rescue elephants in Thailand. Cindy's favorite aspect of working and traveling abroad is getting to encounter people who feel like friends/family the minute you meet them! Cindy continually looks for ways to challenge herself, which includes solo-travel adventures. Cindy recently pursued an English immersion program in Santa Barbara, California, where she quickly fell in love with the charming Californian people and the beautiful landscapes of the U.S. Cindy is thrilled to play a part of your study abroad journey!
Ronnie Morales
Enrollment Associate
Ronnie Morales
Enrollment Associate
Ronnie was born and raised in the beautiful and friendly city of Merida, Yucatan Mexico and studied English at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. He had the opportunity to travel to Paris, France and getting know more about French culture, and as a result, Ronnie’s favorite aspect of working and visiting other countries is getting to know about the culture, customs, and history. As a Scout Wood Batch Director, he has participated in different international moots and jamborees as a volunteer. He loves the adventure of traveling and meeting people from all over the world!
University Partnerships
Eric Anderson
Associate Vice President
Eric Anderson
Associate Vice President
Before joining ISA in 2017, Eric spent three years with Up with People as the Vice President for Admissions. Prior to Up with People, Eric was with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad for 10 years as a Regional Director and then Director of Institutional Relations. Eric also lived in Coogee, Australia for three years as the Operations Manager for the Olympic Youth Camp as part of the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. He has been a member of NAFSA for 15 years, and the Forum since 2008. Eric has visited over 40 countries and all 50 states, but these days prefers spending free time at home in Colorado catching bugs and watching Moana over and over and over with his wife and two daughters.
Jeehye Lee
Director, Asia Programs & Strategic Initiatives
Jeehye Lee
Director, Asia Programs & Strategic Initiatives
Born and rasied in Seou, South Korea. Jeehye joined the ISA team in 2012 as the resident director in Seoul, South Korea and moved to Denver, USA in 2014. She graduated from Dongguk University in South Korea with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Management Information System. After that, she received MBA from Schiller International University in the USA. Prior to joining ISA, she worked for private universities as a financial aid advisor. Her role at ISA allows her to dedicate time to many of her passions: US study abroad, Asia study abroad and data collection and analysis.
Staci Hanrahan
Director
Staci Hanrahan
Director
With Texas roots and an adventurous spirit, Staci has made her way around the world and back to Texas. Her life was forever changed during her senior year at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville when she was given the chance to study abroad for a semester in Málaga, Spain with ISA. She went on to get her M.Ed., but found her way back to ISA as the Regional Director for the Pacific Northwest. Since then, she's had the chance to teach English for a few years at Soonchunhyang university in South Korea, travel and WWOOF around Asia/Oceania, and scuba dive in some incredible Southeast Asian waters. Most recently, she served graduate and transfer students at an HSI here in Austin, Texas, but couldn't stay away from International Education for long. She's excited to continue her journey with ISA to keep supporting our university partners, students, and communities that work to make education abroad accessible and transformational!
Shelly Alfaro
Regional Director
Shelly Alfaro
Regional Director
Shelly grew up in an immigrant household and regularly visiting family in Mexico City. Shelly had the opportunity to study abroad a semester in Paris, France with ISA before receiving her bachelor’s degree in International Relations with minors in Geography and French from Texas State University. Before completing her undergraduate studies, Shelly was an ISA Global Ambassador and a Texas State Study Abroad Peer Advisor. She joined the ISA team in 2016 as an Academic Records Coordinator, but she now works more closely with university partners as a Regional Director and is passionate about engaging and increasing participation of underserved students in education abroad. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, thrifting, drinking espressos, and binge-watching the newest Netflix Original.
Sarah Warren
Embedded Office & Regional Director
Sarah Warren
Embedded Office & Regional Director
Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Sarah always wanted to get involved in international education. She earned a B.A. in German Language, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Kentucky. During her time at UK, she studied abroad outside of Munich, Germany to improve her language skills and learn about the culture firsthand. Studying abroad not only improved her German but also gave her an appreciation for international cultures and a host family she still talks with, even years later. Helping a student discover the same things for themselves is something that Sarah is excited to be involved with as part of the ISA team. In her spare time, Sarah likes to write, cook, play video games, and spend time with friends.
Candace Ricks
Regional Director
Candace Ricks
Regional Director
A native of Washington, D.C., Candace began to appreciate the marriage between education, travel, and personal development after her curious and determined spirit led her to Meknes, Morocco, where she studied Language, Culture, and Politics with ISA. This experience challenged her worldview and she returned home equipped with a newfound confidence.
After graduating in 2012 with a B.S. in Psychology from Towson University, Candace went on to serve as a Reading Interventionist with Americorps in New Orleans. At the end of her service, she decided to indulge her curiosity once again by earning an English teaching certificate and moving to Istanbul, Turkey where she taught a lively group of kindergarteners. In the years that followed she continued to say yes to life and her journey as an international educator took her to countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania as a teacher and traveler.
She strongly values education, exploration, health, and curiosity, all of which have been guiding lights on her path to discovery through experiences like trekking through the Sumatran jungle and volunteering with local children on the beautiful islands of Samoa. Each country she's visited has given her insight into how other communities define and foster success in the youth and she is eager to share her knowledge and empower university students to curate and share their own unique academic and professional journeys abroad.
Zoe Crowe-Barnes
Regional Director
Zoe Crowe-Barnes
Regional Director
Zoe was born and raised in Chicago, Ilinois and first discovered her passion for travel after participating in a High School Service Learning program in Cocle, Panama. She graduated from University of Missouri with a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish. During her time at Mizzou, Zoe participated in Service Learning programs to Nicaragua. Zoe had the opportunity to explore Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua and enrich her cross-cultural learning and understanding through experiencing Central and South America. She is excited to be a proponent of international education and cultural awareness with ISA.
Suzanne Fils-Aime
Regional Director
Suzanne Fils-Aime
Regional Director
Raised in South Carolina, Suzanne first set foot outside of the United States on Semester at Sea's Spring 2013 voyage. She spent the semester studying in 12 countries and has never looked back. She went on to participate in The Washington Center's International Affairs program and traveled throughout Japan with the Building the TOMODACHI Generation Program. More recently, she researched at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in Germany as a 2017 GW UNESCO Fellow. Currently, she is pursuing her master's in International Education at The George Washington University and working with ISA, based in Washington, DC. Her research interests include making study abroad more equitable and inclusive. As Regional Director, she is beyond thrilled to share international education opportunities with students throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Colton Oliphant
Regional Director
Colton Oliphant
Regional Director
Colton has been a member of the International Education community for just shy of a decade and has spent most of that time at the University of IdahoEducation Abroad Office coordinating 22 faculty-led programs each year and sending thousands of studentsabroad on their programs. He has presented at multiple professional conferences including NAFSA, ACADA, and LFA—including a session where he taught people how to use creativity as a tool in their professional lives. His international experiences have led him to 24 separate countries over 5 continents for a combination of work, study, and pleasure. Now he has taken residence at International Studies Abroad (ISA) and looks forward to being a part of their facilitation of student dreams. Exploring the world and expanding minds is his passion and he’d love to help you do the same!
Alex Halvorson
Regional Director
Alex Halvorson
Regional Director
Alex is a Wisconsin native who earned undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Community Health from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Alex first developed a passion for international travel and education during his undergrad after he went to Germany to visit a German exchange student friend from high school. With an invested interest in the Spanish language, he decided to study in Granada, Spain for 2 semesters. He is also an ISA alum! His love for study abroad and higher education is what led him to pursue his Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from St. Cloud State with hopes of helping more students travel the world and broaden their horizons. If Alex isn’t working or daydreaming about eating tapas in Spain, he enjoys running marathons, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, playing his ukulele, re-reading Harry Potter books or staying at home watching The Office.
Student Outreach
Zach Muskin
Director - Student Outreach
Zach Muskin
Director - Student Outreach
Originally from Omaha, NE, Zach graduated with a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Communications from the University of Kansas . He studied through ISA in Barcelona as an undergraduate which jump-started his passion for international education and intercultural experiences. After his graduation in 2011, Zach spent two years in Spain teaching English and American Culture in both Sanxenxo and Sevilla. Zach finds study abroad to be an incredible way to get a better understand of our globalized world and develop both personally and professionally.
Karen Alvarez
Team Lead, Program Advisor
Karen Alvarez
Team Lead, Program Advisor
Born and raised in Merida, Mexico, Karen studied Graphic and Publicitary Design. The summer of 2005, she enrolled in an Au Pair program and moved to Rockville, MD. She lived with a host family and really enjoyed this experience, reason why she recommends that everyone goes abroad at least once in a lifetime to experience the world. She has traveled to a few places within Mexico, her favorite spot was Playa del Carmen. She also lived for a short time in Norway. In her free time, Karen enjoys going to the movies, spending time with her schnauzer, watch Netflix, read, and lately she's been retaking her passion for photography! Karen really loves snow and everything London related, she hopes to travel there one day!
Luis Alonzo
Team Lead, Program Advisor
Luis Alonzo
Team Lead, Program Advisor
Born and raised in Yucatan, Mexico, Luis grew up meeting dozens of foreign students who have visited his hometown and stayed at his house, to learn Spanish, Mexican culture and local folklore. Thanks to that, he knows what students are looking for when going abroad, and will be thrilled to help everyone that asks for his assistance. He has a Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, and absolutely loves food, especially desserts! So, you can expect from him a very sweet and friendly chat. Luis also loves learning new languages, he's passionate about studying new cultures through their spoken language.
Guadalupe Hernandez
Program Advisor & Training Coordinator
Guadalupe Hernandez
Program Advisor & Training Coordinator
Born in Tabasco and raised in different southeast states of Mexico, Guadalupe finished her studies at Universidad Anahuac Mayab where she studied Administration and Tourism. While attending school, she worked for international oil companies and experienced traveling by herself for the first time. She loved it and has continued to do so (around Mexico, US and Netherlands) with no plans of stopping anytime soon. Regularly hosting international couchsurfers helps her understand the unique experience of knowing new cultures and peoples.
In her free time she loves to dance, practice her (coffee) barista skills, paint, read a good book or just take her car and drive to explore new places in the Yucatan.
Jerry Spillane
Program Advisor
Jerry Spillane
Program Advisor
Born in New York City, Jerry’s first travel abroad experience was to Ireland, visiting relatives, when he was 14 and, subsequently, every summer throughout his High School years. After a stint of volunteer social work with impoverished families in the north of Mexico, his academic curiosity moved him to study philosophy in Spain and Italy, where he fell head over heels in love with the people, the history, the languages, the art, the cuisine. Jerry has taught language and philosophy in schools in Europe and Mexico with the personal objective of lighting a fire in students’ minds and hearts. In his free-time he enjoys writing, listening to music, investigating history and the evolution of human thought, and having friends over to share good food, robust wine and spirited conversation.
Andrea Maza
Program Advisor
Andrea Maza
Program Advisor
Andy was born and raised in Merida, Mexico and she studied psychology at the Universidad Modelo. The English language has been Andy's passion since she was little. She asked her mother for English classes when she was eight years old and she fell in love with the language instantly! Andy has traveled to several states in the Mexican republic and also to Guatemala. In her free time, Andy loves to play and go out with her dogs and her partner! Andy is not married but she has been with her partner for more than 17 years. With this new position in ISA, Andy hopes to develop more skills and new opportunities to grow professionally and enhanced her knowledge of the language she already loves.
Alexandra Diaz
Program Advisor
Alexandra Diaz
Program Advisor
Alexandra was born in San Jose, California. She lived in several parts of the US for 13 years and then moved with her mother and brothers to Mexico at the age of 14. Since then, she has been living in Merida, Yucatan. She is a mother of 3 children, and her mission in life is to raise her children the best that she can with a wonderful childhood and the best education provided. She possesses two native languages, English and Spanish since she has Mexican parents. She is always looking to improve her life and work quality and she’s never afraid of taking risks!
Cristina Mayagoitia
Outreach Support
Cristina Mayagoitia
Outreach Support
Born and raised in Merida, Yucatan, Cristina grew up with an innate passion for nature and the ocean, so she decided to study Marine Biology. Although she started giving English classes to nursery students when she was in her first year of college, she then had the opportunity to teach English to elementary, junior high and high school students. She lived for a short time in Scotland and visited some European countries. Cristina enjoys field trips, the beach, riding her bicycle, reading, cooking and food in general!
Iriz Delgadillo
Outreach Support
Iriz Delgadillo
Outreach Support
Iriz was born and raised in Mexico City. Her love for culture, history, and language started ever since she was little, while listening to her grandmother’s stories about her travels abroad, the way she explored archeological places and all the wonders she discovered all around the world. While growing up, her parents took her and her brother in endless road trips to several places around México, getting to know every little town on the road, archeological places, museums, people, customs and more. She loves learning languages and looks forward to traveling abroad, meeting new places and cultures, and share that passion with everyone else. On her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music and writing.
Alumni Relations
Maya Curto
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Maya Curto
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Born and raised in New York's Hudson Valley, Maya grew up in a small town north of NYC. It was during college when she caught the travel bug and has been seeking out international experiences since. Maya graduated from Tulane University in 2018 with a Communications major and Social Entrepreneurship minor. While at Tulane, Maya studied abroad for a semester in Cape Town, South Africa and participated in an intensive service-learning course in India studying philosophies of nonviolence and ecology. After her return, Maya worked with Tulane's Study Abroad Office as a Study Abroad Mentor to connect with students interested in globalizing their college experience. Once Maya graduated, she decided to explore her passion for intercultural experiences and international education by teaching English in Suphanburi, Thailand. She believes that international experiences both in and out of the classroom allow us to look at the world through different lenses, enhancing our ability to connect, empathize and adapt both personally and professionally.
Service-Learning
Kristine Barer
Service-Learning Director
Kristine Barer
Service-Learning Director
Hailing from San Jose, CA and eager to explore the world, Kristine studied abroad in Durham, England and Lund, Sweden before graduating from Santa Clara University in 2006 with a B.A. in Communication. Prior to joining ISA in 2011, Kristine lived and worked in Australia and South Korea. In 2014, she earned her M.B.A. at St. Edward's University with an emphasis in Global Entrepreneurship. As a veteran of the service-learning department, Kristine is excited by the growth of experiential program offerings and models. Observing student progress and development from connections made with host communities abroad is what keeps her ticking. Kristine has traveled to over 35 countries and hopes to travel to at least 35 more.
Rebecca Richey
Service-Learning Academic Coordinator
Rebecca Richey
Service-Learning Academic Coordinator
Born and raised in Miami Springs, Florida, Becky received her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Florida and M.A. in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Her international experience includes interning in London, studying abroad in Valencia (with ISA), and working onsite with Syracuse Madrid. Her favorite travel memory is visiting her host family in Valencia and playing with their dog, Byron, whenever she finds herself in Spain. She loves working at ISA because she believes in intentional program design based on good practices in the field of education abroad. Working with an amazing Service Learning team doesn't hurt either! In her free time she enjoys experiencing all the live music Austin has to offer, going to the movies and theatre, and kickboxing!
Internships
Monica Taylor
Assistant Director, Internships
Monica Taylor
Assistant Director, Internships
Originally from Texas, Monica graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2015 with a BA in Art History. As an undergrad, Monica had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy and Nicaragua, and travel extensively throughout Europe and Latin America. She has several years of experience working in International Education, both domestically in the US, and abroad in Italy, Argentina, and Peru.
Monica values the personal and cultural growth living, working, and studying abroad has afforded her, and believes it builds a more interconnected and compassionate world.
In her spare time she loves to spend time in nature, connect with fellow wine and food enthusiasts, and spend time with friends!
Erin Willis, Ph.D.
Academic Supervisor - Internships
Erin Willis, Ph.D.
Academic Supervisor - Internships
Erin Willis is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the department of Advertising, Public Relations & Media Design. She earned her doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Willis's research examines the ways in which health messages influence people's behaviors. Prior to academia, she worked in public relations and marketing communications.
Veritas Christian Study Abroad (Missions)
Aley Bedair
Director, ISA Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Aley Bedair
Director, ISA Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Born and raised a native Texan, Aley developed a love for travel at a young age. Graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in International Studies: Spanish Arts and Culture, Aley had the amazing opportunity to study abroad with ISA-Veritas in Cusco, Peru for the Summer of 2016. Aley spent her mornings taking classes, and the afternoons doing mission work at an after-school program for young children. Her time in Cusco really deepened Aley's passion for culture and experiential learning. Aley loves Broadway musicals, whether seeing one live, or singing along in her car. She also has a deep love for alpacas, and thinks them to be one of world’s greatest creatures. Aley is excited to share her love of study abroad and missions as part of the ISA-Veritas!
Jessica Korn
Regional & Academic Director, ISA Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Jessica Korn
Regional & Academic Director, ISA Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Travelling runs through Jessica’s veins. She is originally from Germany, grew up in the United States, lived a school year in Uganda, did international development work in the South Pacific, and has volunteered in Spain and Guatemala. She has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Liberty University. She values how being a part of the Veritas team allows her interests in international work, education, and missions to merge. She enjoys art, listening to music, and learning about new cultures. Jessica is excited to see how God works in and through the lives of students who go abroad!
