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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 has been with ISA since 1996 and now as Senior Vice President & General Manager for International Studies abroad (ISA) and The Education Abroad Network (TEAN). She graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies, and then from Southwest Texas State University with a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish. Her education abroad includes a semester at the Universidad de Sevilla in Sevilla, Spain and a summer at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
Jennifer believes in providing exceptional study abroad experiences for college students and is an avid traveler herself. She served as Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management for 10 years prior to her appointment as General Manager. Jennifer has played a key role in ISA's development during her tenure and cites a passion for meeting students on their terms. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two daughters.
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.
Beth Price
Senior Vice President, Student Outreach
Beth Price
Senior 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.
Susan Farley
Vice President, Financial Affairs
Susan Farley
Vice President, 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.
Mark Gallovic
Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Mark Gallovic
Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Mark has been dedicated to the education abroad profession for more than 24 years, having been transformed by his own student experiences abroad in Venezuela, Mexico, and Spain, as a high school and undergraduate 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 quirky ingredient baskets. Like many others hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark will always root for the underdog.
David Puente, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, Academics
David Puente, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, 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.
Elizabeth Erbeznik, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, Curriculum & Academic Programs
Elizabeth Erbeznik, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, 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.
Health Safety and Security
Robin Reliford, J.D.
Head of Health & Safety
Robin Reliford, J.D.
Head of 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
Director, Health, Safety & Security
Patrick Barker
Director, 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.
Kate McSurley
Assistant Director, Health, Safety & Risk Management
Kate McSurley
Assistant Director, Health, Safety & Risk Management
Kate first traveled abroad as a participant of TEAN, studying in Australia at the University of Queensland. Her time overseas allowed her to examine English literature from a fresh, new angle and have a proper introduction to Australian literature. Before joining TEAN, Kate also served as a National Admissions Advisor for a fashion & interior design college as well as a technical writer for a sport technology company. Kate holds a BA in English/Communications from Saint Xavier University and earned her M.A. in English at DePaul University, both in Chicago. Since her time at UQ, she has continued her travels throughout Europe and the U.S., but she will always have a soft spot for Australia.
DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Yolanda Golden
Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Yolanda Golden
Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Yolanda Golden leads WorldStrides’ strategic planning and implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that impact employee training and development, product delivery, and customer service.
Yolanda has enriched communities by serving, training, and developing programs to support diverse populations for over 25+ years in K12 and Higher Ed spaces. She joined WorldStrides in 2017 and has enhanced the lives of thousands of students by delivering exceptional STEM programs within the Envision unit of WorldStrides. Yolanda has spearheaded, collaborated, or supported various aspects of WorldStrides’ current DEI infrastructure and programming to include the development of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and the DEI Council.
Yolanda earned a BS in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago. She's previously served as Associate Dean of Student Success at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago as well as Adjunct Professor and Academic Advisor Coordinator at Loyola where she was responsible for ensuring policies and curriculum were inclusive, and equitably met the needs of unrepresented populations. While at Loyola she developed coursework centered on the differential needs of vulnerable populations and practice strategies for invention to budding undergraduate and graduate level educators and social worker scholars.
Enrollment Management
Emily Busse
Senior Director, Enrollment Management
Emily Busse
Senior Director, Enrollment Management
Emily grew up in a family that celebrated international student exchange, leading her to spend her junior year of high school living with a host family in Melilla, Spain. After graduating from DePaul University, Emily spent another year in Spain, this time living in Malaga and teaching English at a local school. During this period, her younger sister studied abroad in Malaga through ISA. Upon returning home to Chicago, Emily was happy to land at ISA headquarters in Austin, TX as a Program Manager. After six years on the Enrollment Management team, she relocated to Melbourne, Australia for a new role with ISA, which by then had joined the WorldStrides family of companies. In her role as Global Mobility Manager, she helped open a new student recruitment market, partnering with Australian and New Zealand universities to send their students on WorldStrides programs worldwide. Following two exciting years down under, Emily returned to the US to explore new opportunities, expanding her experience in the higher education experiential learning space by working in corporate university recruiting, managing the hiring of interns and new college graduates. Emily is thrilled to have returned to international education and WorldStrides in her role as Senior Director, Enrollment Management. Emily oversees management of ISA & TEAN programs, supporting the Enrollment Management team and all ISA and TEAN students through every phase of the program lifecycle.
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.
Anthony Viltro
Associate Director, Enrollment Management
Anthony Viltro
Associate Director, Enrollment Management
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.
Brittany Lavornia
Senior, Enrollment Management
Brittany Lavornia
Senior, 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!
Amy Remondi
Senior Region & Account Manager, Spain
Amy Remondi
Senior 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!
Gloria Trueba
Senior Region & Account Manager, Europe
Gloria Trueba
Senior 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.
Brynne Shannon
Senior Program Manager, Latin America & Spain
Brynne Shannon
Senior Program Manager, Latin America & Spain
Brynne’s first experience overseas was when she studied abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Captivated by experiencing a different way of life, she decided to go back and spend the year after graduation teaching English in a rural Northern Thai town. After the experience of a lifetime, she became hooked on the love of travel and international education and landed her dream job working with students on their journeys to studying abroad. She has traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and Australia, dabbled a bit in Europe, and is eager to venture to Latin America someday soon. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, tending to her urban garden and many houseplants, and taking barre classes.
Abby Satchell
Region & Account Manager, Latin America & Spain
Abby Satchell
Region & Account Manager, Latin America & Spain
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Abby graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Business Finance and a B.A. in Hispanic Studies. She was fortunate with the opportunities to travel to Mexico, Spain, and Costa Rica in high school, which sparked her love of travel and adventure. Her passion for the Spanish language and culture encouraged her to study abroad her sophomore year in college in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Abby is thrilled to help students grow independently while experiencing the adventure of learning a new language and culture. In her free time, she loves to read books, exercise, try new restaurants, but most of all values spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Millie.
Lillian Nguyen
Program Manager, Italy
Lillian Nguyen
Program Manager, Italy
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, England & Scotland
Hannah Hamilton
Program Manager, England & Scotland
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.
Kat Clark
Program Manager, Spain
Kat Clark
Program Manager, Spain
Kat graduated from the University of Arkansas with a major in Communications and minors in Spanish and Sustainability. She attended a study abroad program in Madrid, Spain and was greatly impacted by her educational courses, fascinating new friends, and the beautiful culture that surrounded her. Upon graduation, Kat headed back to Spain, this time to the Canary Islands, to teach English! Next, her journey led her back to her home state of Arkansas to participate in an AmeriCorps service term focused on teaching garden and nutrition education to elementary-aged students. Kat is passionate about creating sustainable communities, traveling, and pursuing hobbies like cooking, yoga, and gardening. Through her position as Program Manager, Kat is excited to aid students as they enrich their educational experience and embark on an adventure of a lifetime!
Will Chavez
Program Manager, Spain
Will Chavez
Program Manager, Spain
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico Will graduated from the University of New Mexico with a double major in Political Science and International Studies. As an undergrad Will had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain. His favorite thing about Spain is the 'no pasa nada' mentality and the blissful feeling of riding the metro home after a long day. Upon returning home he began working with his university's international education office where he built strong relationships with many in the international community. Upon graduation Will left to explore the world and found a job teaching English in rural Thailand. He now spends his time mountain biking, working out, and of course travelling.
Katie Chaffin
Program Manager, Europe
Katie Chaffin
Program Manager, Europe
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Katie received her Bachelors in Management with a concentration in Sustainability from UMass Amherst in 2017. While in school, she discovered her love of travel when she studied abroad in Prague with ISA. After graduation, she moved to Texas and served for one year as an Americorps member working in K-12 schools in Austin, which strengthened her love of working with students. She has also worked as a farm and garden manager, and at various summer camps. In her free time, Katie loves to go camping, bake, and play guitar. She is excited to work with students and help them on their study abroad journeys!
Bella Nunez
Program Manager, Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Africa
Bella Nunez
Program Manager, Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Africa
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Bella graduated from Texas State University with a B.A. in International Business. Having experience traveling internationally, Bella knew she wanted to utilize her time as an undergraduate to see more of the world. Bella studied abroad at the University of New York in Prague, where she took International Economics courses and gained an even greater appreciation for her Czech heritage. The opportunity of exploring other cultures while being able to incorporate education is what Bella values most about her experience abroad. Bella is very excited to be a part of the ISA team so that she can help students have unforgettable study abroad journeys like her own. In her free time, Bella enjoys trying new restaurants, hiking, and gardening, but most of all values spending time with family, friends, and her cats.
Olivia Watson
Program Manager, Florence
Olivia Watson
Program Manager, Florence
Olivia is an Arizona native who graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Justice Studies and Global Studies. After participating in a study abroad program in Florence, Italy, she began working with ASU’s global education office. Having experienced great personal growth while abroad, Olivia knows first-hand how impactful international education can be and is excited to continue helping students embark on their own journeys! In her free time, she loves learning new languages, watching movies, and trying out new recipes.
Anna Bonura
Program Manager, Spain
Anna Bonura
Program Manager, Spain
Born and raised in Florida, Anna graduated from Rollins College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Spanish. Always ready for new opportunities to travel and see more of the world, Anna spent a summer in Madrid, Spain and a semester abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon graduation, Anna moved to the small little island of Menorca, Spain to teach English to primary school students. She loved everything about her experience in Spain and is so excited to share her knowledge and stories with students. Anna is passionate about international education and language learning, and she loves music and yoga. As a Program Manager, Anna is so excited to help guide students on an exceptional and unforgettable adventure, much like her own, abroad.
Kiri Johnson
Program Manager, France and Morocco
Kiri Johnson
Program Manager, France and Morocco
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Kiri graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Science. She studied abroad in Paris with ISA, where she fell in love with the culture, food, and the fashion. Having experienced firsthand how impactful studying abroad is to an individual’s growth, she is enthusiastic to help students plan their study and ease any stress or nerves that may come up. Happy to be back with ISA as a Program Manager this time around, Kiri aims to ensure everyone’s study abroad has the same impact as hers. In her spare time, she loves to sew and craft and be with her cat, Beignet.
Danielle Ramsey-Smith
Program Manager, Spain
Danielle Ramsey-Smith
Program Manager, Spain
Iowa Native Danielle graduated from Central College with a B.A. in Spanish and Sociology. During undergrad, Danielle studied abroad in Spain, Germany/Austria, and Mexico. After graduation, she worked as an English teacher for high school students in Madrid, Spain. Upon to her return to the U.S., Danielle worked as a summer camp director and eventually went back to get a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Iowa so she could better help students in their journeys. Danielle loved her international experiences and can’t wait to share her knowledge about international education, Spain, personal experiences and more with students! In her free time Danielle likes hiking with her dogs, kayaking, music, language learning, and reading. As a Program Manager, Danielle looks forward to guiding students on their journey to international adventures, educational experiences, and unexpected opportunities!
Michelle McRaney
Interim Program Manager, Europe and Latin America
Michelle McRaney
Interim Program Manager, Europe and Latin America
Michelle graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a focus on International Management. She studied International Business in Caen, France and Spanish and International Management in Monterrey, Mexico. Michelle joined the ISA team in 1998. Michelle has led programs in Guanajuato, Mexico; Salamanca, Spain; Granada, Spain; Santander, Spain; Sydney, Australia; and Santiago, Dominican Republic. She also accompanied several ISA site visits in Chile and Argentina, and conducted new program research and staff training in Mexico and Brazil. In 2006, Michelle moved to Lima, Peru, where she set-up ISA's first program in Peru, which expanded to include Cusco. Michelle is excited about sharing the Peruvian culture and cuisine with all ISA participants and helping to adjust to life in Lima.
Cindy Tejero
Enrollment Associate Team Lead
Cindy Tejero
Enrollment Associate Team Lead
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!
Helen Cuevas
Enrollment Associate
Helen Cuevas
Enrollment Associate
Helen was born and raised in Merida, Mexico. She has a degree in Fine Arts from the Autonomous University of Yucatan and was able to study one term at the University of Guadalajara, in Jalisco, making her knowledgeable in most aspects of the studying abroad experience, even if domestically. She was also able to travel through Belgium, France and Great Britain in 2017, where she enjoyed visiting Museums and relishing the colder weather. During that trip she met her favorite author, Neil Gaiman, at a book festival and promised herself to go back someday. In her free time, Helen loves all things crafts, learning new languages (such as German and French) and tending to her garden. She enjoys listening to 80's music, synth pop, new wave, and is a big fan of comics and cartoons.
Mariela Orta
Enrollment Associate
Mariela Orta
Enrollment Associate
Mariela is happy to help students in their process to study abroad. She joined her first exchange in high school; spending a year in France studying and living with a warm French family is an experience that shaped her life path, and she believes doing an exchange is a once in a lifetime experience that no one regrets. She studied International Relations and Political Science on a double bachelor’s degree from UDLAP class of 2019. She thanks her exchange during high school for my academic decisions and curiosity for learning as much as she can about the world she lives in. She have travelled to Canada where she took Business English classes and did a backpacked during Christmas 2018 in Europe, because she loves the Christmas markets. Mariela is a bookworm and a yoga amateur and is currently studying a master’s degree in communications and digital media, and it will help students during their enrollments.
Karina Abarca
Enrollment Associate
Karina Abarca
Enrollment Associate
Born in Mexico City, Karina graduated from the Anahuac Mayab University with a degree in Business Administration and Management. She has participated in professional exchanges in Argentina with a focus on organizational behavior and management, multiple civil society organizations, and intercultural community development projects. Her participation in these has led her to become passionate about and develop in the field of human rights, globalization, economy, and gender parity.
Inclined toward the benefits of international education and growth opportunities for students from all over the world, Karina is extremely happy to accompany and advise all those seeking new challenges on this path of learning. In her spare time, Karina enjoys photography, coffee, and sports.
Brianda Diaz
Enrollment Associate
Brianda Diaz
Enrollment Associate
Xiana Entenza
Enrollment Associate
Xiana Entenza
Enrollment Associate
Xiana received a degree in Tourism Management from Anahuac Mayab University. After graduation, she decided to volunteer in Costa Rica. At the end of this experience, she joined an International NGO in Merida, which was a turning point in her professional career, especially in 2018 when she moved to Seville to study her master's degree in Developmental Education, Social Awareness and Culture of Peace at Pablo Olavide University, helping her focus more in the social field and falling in love with education. Xiana has always loved to travel and even more when she had the opportunity to live for a period in another country. In 2020, after obtaining her master's degree she moved to Italy as part of a European Union social project. Xiana has been to several countries, learning about different cultures, taking on new challenges, growing in her own self-knowledge and improvement, while falling in love with amazing places, incredible people and delectable cuisine. Xiana is happy to help you and be part of your study abroad journey.
Daniela Gaspariano
Enrollment Associate
Daniela Gaspariano
Enrollment Associate
Born and raised in Mérida, México, Daniela graduated from IUP with a degree in foreign languages specializing in Spanish, English, and French. Daniela also has diplomas in digital marketing and design. She has had the opportunity to help exchange students from Florida, Texas, and other states, assisting them, translating when necessary, and advising them during their time abroad. Daniela is passionate about international education and learning language through cultural immersion. She loves music and sports and enjoys starting the day by working out and meditating. Daniela is also a bookworm and really loves her black coffee!
Signature Programs
Jenna Tantillo
Strategic Programs Manager
Jenna Tantillo
Strategic Programs Manager
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.
Campus Partnerships
Eric Anderson
Senior Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Eric Anderson
Senior Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
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.
Melissa Chambers
Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Melissa Chambers
Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Melissa is grateful to have spent the past 20 years transforming students’ lives though international education. Her professional areas of expertise include developing strategic partnerships for international education, sexual health and sexual violence prevention, and diversity, equity, and inclusion for education abroad. She is the author of NAFSA’s Sexual Health Abroad: A Guide to Healthy Practices (2009 and 2016). As a thought leader in the field, Melissa has presented at state, regional, and national conferences and sits on the Rainbow SIG of NAFSA Advisory Board. She has undergraduate degrees in Spanish and creative writing and a master’s degree in communication studies. Melissa loves exploring new places with her husband and two young sons or just hanging at home with their crew of dogs and cats (including fosters from time to time), cooking, and devouring a good book. Melissa proudly supports local agriculture by hosting a farmer's market pop-up at her home once a month and is co-leader of an inclusive scouting group, Navigators USA. She volunteers on the grant writing team with YES! to Consent, a Philadelphia based nonprofit offering body-positive, consent-based sex education for youth.
Zac Einerson
Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Zac Einerson
Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Zac has been professionally active in international higher education since 2004. Volunteering in an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya when he was 16 allowed him to practice travel with a purpose and experiential learning. From this encounter, Zac concluded that properly reflecting upon his experiences was an integral part of the learning process. While earning a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Colorado State University, he also studied abroad in Prague, the Czech Republic, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon his return, Zac worked as a peer study abroad advisor, and then became a full-time study abroad advisor after graduation. Based on his strong regard for reflection, he additionally co-founded Lessons From Abroad, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping students who have recently returned from study and internship abroad programs to articulate their experiences and communicate their program’s value academically, socially, and professionally. Zac has two master’s degrees and expects to receive his Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland this year. He has traveled to nearly 100 countries and all seven continents. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA and is eager to see more students experience the world.
Dan O'Brien
Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Dan O'Brien
Associate Vice President, Campus Partnerships
Dan‘s interest in people, places, and cultures started at age 13 when his grandfather took him to Austria for a week-long stay. Since that time, Dan has traveled to more than 25 countries, and has more than 16 years experience in education abroad. Dan has a Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Management from the School for International Training. He studied for a semester at the Universidad de Sevilla as an undergraduate student and as a graduate student served as a group leader for the Experiment in International Living – Spain. Dan is passionate about the power of education abroad and the global competencies it provides students.
Michael Saenz
Director
Michael Saenz
Director
Michael has been in the field of international education for over 10 years. Before joining Worldstrides, he worked for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) for almost seven years as a Programs Abroad Coordinator and then as Assistant Director. Prior to his time at UTK, he worked for the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) where his career in international education began. One of Michael’s fondest memories of studying abroad was witnessing the Spanish National Soccer Team win the World Cup while he was studying in Spain. Michael has undergraduate degrees in Business and Spanish and he recently completed his MBA at UTK in 2019. When Michael is not behind his desk working, you can find him traveling domestically or internationally, hanging out with family and friends, exploring the great outdoors, or playing sports.
Zac Macinnes
Director
Zac Macinnes
Director
Zac has served the field of international education for nearly 15 years and believes deeply in the power of study abroad to create a better, more compassionate world - one student at a time. Zac’s own life was transformed by global education experiences in Peru, Mexico, Spain and Australia, and has since been privileged to visit 75 countries on 6 continents. Zac has presented at dozens of national, state and local conferences, and his professional areas of expertise include forecasting and strategic planning, faculty and cross-campus engagement, the alignment between career development and study abroad, marketing and technology, and matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion. A native of Austin, Texas, Zac holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy degree from Trinity College, and a Bachelor’s in Spanish and International Affairs from Emmanuel College in Boston. Zac started his international education career fresh out of college as a University Relations Representative with ISA in 2009. Zac went on to serve in leadership roles at Trinity College, CIS Abroad and the University of Connecticut, and was thrilled to come “back home” to his ISA roots as Director of Campus Partnerships with WorldStrides Higher Education in 2021. Zac believes in nourishing a sense of adventure, and takes pleasure in exploring new places and trying new things - whether it’s around the corner or across the world. He enjoys hiking, cooking, foreign languages, the occasional Netflix binge at home with his husband, and - of course - planning his next big adventure.
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.
Alicia Vinal
Regional Director
Alicia Vinal
Regional Director
Alicia grew up in Maine, and little did she know her high school Project Graduation raffle win of a flight voucher would begin her love of international travel. Her first time on a plane during winter break of undergrad took her to Birmingham, England to visit a friend she met while working at a camp the summer before college, and an overnight trip to London started her obsession with what is now her favorite city! Alicia returned to London during her semester abroad while studying at Wheaton College (MA) and she was a Peer Advisor during her senior year; she thought everyone should study abroad, and distinctly recalls saying “I don’t know what one does, but one day I want to work with study abroad programs.” After obtaining her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University, she entered the international education field as a study abroad advisor. Alicia has been a part of the Region XI Leadership and Consular Affairs Liaison (for Boston Spanish and Italian Consulates) Teams, and the NAFSA Academy. Outside of work, Alicia is usually plotting her next travel adventure in the U.S. or internationally…and her bucket list of destinations keeps expanding! The ultimate destination? Australia! You will also find her outdoors as often as possible (except in the winter), reading and at her local CrossFit gym.
Caitie Chiaverotti
Regional Director
Caitie Chiaverotti
Regional Director
Growing up in Wisconsin, Caitie attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and earned undergraduate degrees in International Studies & Spanish, as well as minors in Latin American Studies and Business Administration. Her first trip outside of the United States was to El Salvador with a family member who was born and raised there, as a test from her mom to see if she could handle being away from home before following her dreams of studying abroad. Caitie fell in love not only with Salvadoran pupusas, but also with travel & experiencing other cultures. This led her to study abroad for the spring 2016 semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While there, Caitie improved her Spanish while adopting the Argentine accent, traveled to Iguazu Falls, hiked in Patagonia, trekked on the Perito Moreno Glacier, and ate an exponential amount of empanadas, dulce de leche, alfajores, ice cream, and medialunas. After returning from her program abroad, Caitie got involved with the International Programs Office at her university by volunteering as an International Student Orientation Peer Leader and an Education Abroad Ambassador. Everything came full circle when she returned to her alma-mater to work as the Education Abroad Outreach Specialist for a few years before taking on her Regional Director role at WorldStrides. In addition to her interest in International Education and travel, Caitie enjoys reading, writing, hiking, being the best dog mom to her mini-goldendoodle Milo, and spending time on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Nicole Darvin
Regional Director
Nicole Darvin
Regional Director
Growing up in a multicultural and diverse community in California, Nicole has always loved learning through immersion and dreamed of traveling around the world. She attended the University of California Irvine and earned a bachelor’s degree in Korean Literature and Culture while also pursuing a minor in Film and Media studies. Her time studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea ignited a passion for global learning and inspired her to begin working in the field of international education at her university’s study abroad office as a peer advisor. She also has a deep passion for promoting international education in minority and underrepresented communities and hopes to continue to be a resource for minorities looking to study abroad. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys traveling, spending time with her dogs, and finding new places to eat.
Stacy Phelps
Regional Director
Stacy Phelps
Regional Director
Stacy has always been extremely interested in traveling abroad and learning about different cultures at a young age. Her first trip was in high school to Costa Rica, where she discovered her love of coffee. Graduating from St John Fisher University in Rochester, NY with a BA in Political Science and History, Stacy was interested in learning about the history of the world, while getting to see it all. Stacy studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria, learning German and eating schnitzel! During that semester she was also able to see sites across Europe; from Big Ben in London to Lake Bled in Slovenia. After graduating, she spent many years working in the international education field with international students at both the high school and higher education levels and advising for study abroad at Utica University. When she’s not thinking about her next trip, she likes to try new restaurants, cook, work out and ski in the winter!
Sarah Swanner
Regional Director
Sarah Swanner
Regional Director
An American by passport, and a global citizen by heart --- Sarah took her first plane ride in 2013 at the impressionable young age of sixteen to Osaka, Japan, where she studied abroad for a year in high school through AFS Intercultural Programs. Although the two cultures and languages were about as similar as sushi and sandwiches, Sarah discovered her passion for breaking down big walls and building strong bridges, so she pursued a degree in Sociology at Oklahoma State University. As a first-generation university student, there were certainly a few challenges, but this did not stop her from studying abroad again in South Korea in 2016 for an academic year. These two experiences were vital in deepening her passion for studying abroad, foreign language acquisition, and getting lost. Sarah enjoys weight-lifting, Minecraft, collecting children's books in other languages, caring for her baby succulents, and sharing "fun facts."
Craig Jefferson
Regional Director
Craig Jefferson
Regional Director
Craig has always had a passion for experiencing new cultures. His first study abroad opportunity, a week-long exchange with a school in Quebec City, was the culmination of seven years of elementary education at a French immersion school. That sixth-grade experience was the first of many; he has since traveled to a total of 38 countries. He continued his cultural exploration at Frostburg State University, earning dual degrees in Mass Communication and French. In the spring of his junior year he left for Amiens, France to study French literature at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne, and then returned to FSU where he worked as a study abroad ambassador on campus. After all these experiences, a career in international education was inevitable. Craig’s decade-long career in IE includes serving as a Program Officer/ARO for the J-1 Intern/Trainee visa category, on-campus roles supporting the International Centers and Programs at Johns Hopkins University and serving as the Senior Admissions Officer/DSO at the University of Baltimore. Most recently, he served the Mid-Atlantic region as Manager of University Relations with CIEE. In addition to his passion for International Education, Craig is interested in environmental sustainability, hiking with his dog, Molly, and trying to improve his sourdough bread making.
Sara Kochuba
Regional Director
Sara Kochuba
Regional Director
Sara fell in love with learning about other cultures during her high school French class and then spent a semester in Paris during college. From there, she was hooked on the magic of travel and found her passion: to help others have access to intercultural opportunities. To date, she has spent time in Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America and has led groups of students in France and The Netherlands. Sara brings over 10 years of professional experience in study abroad on the higher education side, most recently as a Senior Director of Global Initiatives at Washington & Jefferson College. Her areas of expertise include nurturing partnerships, student advocacy, risk management, health & safety, as well as policy development. Outside of the office, Sara loves cooking, reading, her cats, and prides herself on her packing skills. At home, she can often be found trying out a new recipe or preserving something grown from her husband’s giant garden.
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 thattime at the University of Idaho Education Abroad Office coordinating 22 faculty-led programs each year and sending thousands of students abroad 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!
Sarah Warren
Embedded Office & Senior Regional Director
Sarah Warren
Embedded Office & Senior 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.
Snow White
Regional Director
Snow White
Regional Director
While growing up, Snow spent every summer traveling around the United States, camping and visiting as many national parks as possible, which sparked her love of travel. A Florida native, Snow attended the University of South Florida (USF), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology and studied abroad twice—a full semester in Melbourne, Australia and a summer in Florence, Italy. She actually began working in international education right after her first study abroad trip, in the USF Education Abroad Office, and continued to work there for five years after graduation while also completing a master’s in business administration. Snow is a passionate advocate of study abroad for all students and loves helping them explore their possibilities. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her two guinea pigs, Muffin and Koala, and plan her future travel adventures.
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.
Michelle Dippold
Assistant Director, Curriculum and Academics
Michelle Dippold
Assistant Director, Curriculum and Academics
Born and raised in Central Ohio, Michelle received an Individualized B.A. in Environmental Sociology from Otterbein University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina. Despite being an avid solo traveler, she didn't collect most of her passport stamps until her late 20s. Now a self-proclaimed expert in optimizing 48-72 hours at a destination, she is always planning the next adventure. As an international educator who "tripped and fell" into the field, she is passionate about designing experiences that align with students' long-term personal and professional goals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors (in moderation), supporting local businesses, and conspiring to take over the world with her cat.
Israel May
Support Specialist, Academic Records and Affairs
Israel May
Support Specialist, Academic Records and Affairs
Born and raised in Mérida, Yucatán , Israel double majored in Accounting and History. In 2020 he moved to the UK where he fell in love with traveling. During his time abroad, he had the opportunity to explore plenty of British small villages and cities where he experienced the local culture and traditions. In 2022, he joined WorldStrides with the goal of helping students have the best educational experience abroad. When he’s not busy trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee, Israel enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading The Lord of the Rings...again, watching movies, and keeping up with the latest tech news.
Financial Aid
Rachel Mullikin
Financial Affairs Coordinator
Rachel Mullikin
Financial Affairs Coordinator
A New Jersey native, Rachel's first trip to Europe was in 2018 and it sparked a huge passion for European culture. After that trip, she went on to study abroad with ISA in Paris to continue her studies and become more fluent in French. Studying abroad changed her life course. She completed her degree in Business Administration at Montclair State University and decided to move to Texas. Now that she has begun her journey with ISA, Rachel is eager to be part of the student's process of having a unique and unforgettable educational travel experience. Other than traveling, Rachel enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and painting.
Student Outreach
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!
Abraham Ferreyra
Program Advisor
Abraham Ferreyra
Program Advisor
Born and raised in Progreso, Yucatan. Living in a port town, tourism has always been a part of Abraham's life. When he was in high school, he took this interest to a new level, studying tourism and excelling as an English student. Apart from school, Abraham always shown interest in knowing other cultures, languages and to discover all the interesting things that are out there. After receiving his degree in Modern Languages, he started working as an English teacher for kids, an experience he really appreciated. He was also an independent tourist guide at Xcambo Archaeological site, where he had contact with a lot of people from all around the world, getting to know a little of their different cultures, accents, and ways of living. He spends his free time watching movies, listening to music, and making prints with optical illusions.
Yisel Mengelle
Program Advisor
Yisel Mengelle
Program Advisor
Born and raised in Merida, Yucatan, Yisel is passionate about science and has a degree in Biotechnology engineering from the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. When she started college, she began to give tutoring classes to elementary and middle school students, she loves working with them! She also has a passion for different cultures and places, which is why she is very interested in languages, such as Japanese and Korean. She had the chance to participate with students from USA in programs and events in her home university, and that marked her heart making her want to continue meeting people from all around the world. Yisel also enjoys traveling, which has led her to visit various states of Mexico, always carrying a camera with her to capture each landscape. During her free time, she's always making art and crafts while listening to music, mostly k-pop!
Alejandra Rodriguez
Program Advisor
Alejandra Rodriguez
Program Advisor
Alejandra was born in Mexico City and now lives in Merida Yucatan. Alejandra studied International Relations at the Universidad Anáhuac Mexico, with a passion for history and international affairs. She believes that education, as well as the relationship between nations, is the key to achieve a sustainable, inclusive, and better social and economic development in a globalized world. She began her interest in education and international affairs when she volunteered in Katmandu Nepal teaching English to Buddhist monks. Later, she worked in the commercial office at the Israeli Embassy in Mexico, promoting the economic relationship between Mexico and Israel. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, practicing yoga and meeting new people.
Cristy Sabido
Program Advisor
Cristy Sabido
Program Advisor
Born and raised in Merida, Mexico, Cristy has been interested in the English language since she was in kindergarten. She's had the opportunity to live, work, and study abroad twice: first, in Denver, Colorado, and later in Houston, Texas, the city her soul fell in love with. She has also explored multiple cities within Mexico and a few other countries. The different experiences, cultures, and traditions she's been part of have helped her build her character and grow her love for people. During her free time, she enjoys dancing, singing, cooking, and having a good conversation over a cup of coffee or tea with her friends. Cristy is excited to help you discover the adventure that fits you the best, so you can get the most out of your experience!
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.
Iriz Delgadillo
Senior Outreach Support
Iriz Delgadillo
Senior 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.
Andrea Mendez
Outreach Manager
Andrea Mendez
Outreach Manager
Andrea was born in Mexico City but raised in Vienna, Austria. At the age of 18 she moved back to Mexico City where she studied Graphic Design. After several years of working as a graphic designer for advertising agencies in Mexico City, she moved to the state of Yucatan to start a new life. Her destiny decided to place her with a local DMC. This is how her journey in Tourism started and continued up until today. In 2012 she joined Explorica by WorldStrides and moved to the Higher Ed Division in 2017. She has traveled all around Europe with family and friends and has also visited other places in the U.S., Africa, Australia & Costa Rica. Thus far, Namibia and Tavanipupu in the Solomon Islands have been her favorite adventure destinations outside her home country of Mexico. She believes that traveling is a life-changing experience, which is why she thinks that studying abroad should be on everyone's bucket list. In her free time, she enjoys mediation (she is a Kundalini Yoga teacher) and also being in nature while exploring cenotes around the Yucatan.
Alumni Relations
Shelly Alfaro
Associate Director, Alumni Relations
Shelly Alfaro
Associate Director, Alumni Relations
A Houston native, Shelly had the privilege of first traveling out of the States to visit her family in Mexico at a very young age. Growing up in an immigrant household sparked her curiosity for learning about different cultures and systems. She was the first in her family to go to college and received her bachelor's degree in International Relations from Texas State University in 2015. During her undergraduate career, Shelly had the opportunity to study abroad with ISA for a semester in Paris, France where she learned the value and complexity of holding both Mexican and American identities and how these are perceived in different parts of the world and by others. Eager to share more about her adventures in France, she participated in the ISA Global Ambassador program and served as a Texas State University Study Abroad Peer Advisor before graduation.
Nadine El Maalem
Coordinator, Alumni Relations
Nadine El Maalem
Coordinator, Alumni Relations
Nadine is a proud first-gen Moroccan-American and first-gen college graduate originally from New Jersey. She received her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Rowan University in 2021 and her love for travel began early in her college career.
In 2019, Nadine spent a semester abroad in Meknes, Morocco with ISA, where she explored her Moroccan heritage, studied Modern Standard Arabic, and experienced first-hand the many advantages of going abroad. She then served as an ISA Global Ambassador, connecting with her peers and promoting education abroad opportunities for students at her home university, including underserved students such as first-gen and low-income students. She closed out her undergraduate studies with another semester abroad with ISA in Meknes, Morocco before later joining the ISA team as the Alumni Relations Coordinator. Today, she works alongside the Alumni Relations Team to guide the next generation of ISA Global Ambassadors as they spread the good word about going abroad on their campuses and make study abroad a more widely-accessible and inclusive avenue for learning and growth.
In her spare time, you can find Nadine planning her next adventure to Morocco, continuing her love of language learning in Arabic, Spanish, and French, and exploring music from around the globe!
Service-Learning
Kristine Barer
Director, Service-Learning
Kristine Barer
Director, Service-Learning
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.
Jennifer Yakubek
Placement Coordinator, Service Learning
Jennifer Yakubek
Placement Coordinator, Service Learning
Jennifer grew up in North Texas and graduated from New York University with a major in Science, Technology, and Society and a minor in Biomolecular Science. In her free time, she loves finding new recipes to cook (or places to eat) from all over the world, learning new piano pieces, and playing with her dog!
From when she first visited Shanghai as a child to when she had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Cambridge in high school through Worldstrides, she has loved traveling from a young age and hopes to do so more in the future.
In addition to her own study abroad experience, Jennifer assisted as an on-site program staff member at one of Worldstrides’ programs at Barnard College. Now she’s excited to help students navigate through their service-learning experiences!
Internships
Xena Pulliam
Director, Internships
Xena Pulliam
Director, Internships
Stuart Shreve
Program Manager, Internships
Stuart Shreve
Program Manager, Internships
Hi! My name is Stuart but feel free to call me "Stu", it's been my nickname ever since I was a kid. I was born in North Miami beach, but I was raised in the city of Pembroke Pines, Florida. When I was a kid, my parents would always take me on trips to Disney World, which first sparked a small flame for hospitality, hotels, and travel of course. Over time, we slowly started to travel to other states, to experience some of our Nation's beautiful history, people, and landscapes. I have seen the White House and visited Times square. I will always remember attending Derek Jeter's last game at Fenway Park in Boston, but most of all taking in the view of Grand Canyon was unlike anything I'd seen before. Even so, something was missing. I recently graduated from Florida International University in December '21 with my bachelor's in hospitality management and a focus on travel and tourism. In my time at FIU, I wanted to learn about international cultures and people so that I could continue learning about myself as an individual. I achieved this goal when I studied abroad remotely as an intern in Vietnam, and it was the best decision I ever made. It will be my pleasure to assist you along your journey in making this dream a reality.
Taylor Green
Program Manager, Internships
Taylor Green
Program Manager, Internships
Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Aley Bedair
Director, Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Aley Bedair
Director, 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!
Donald Hawkins
Associate Director, Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Donald Hawkins
Associate Director, Veritas Christian Study Abroad
Donald fell in love with travelling after studying abroad at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados in 2010. Since his time abroad Donald has traveled to 25 other countries and studied abroad in Israel in 2017. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2012 with a B.A. in African American Studies. In 2019 Donald earned a M.A. in Theology from Liberty University. Donald credits his love of travel to his dad who served in the Air Force on deployments all over the world and his mom who started her travelling with a study abroad trip to Mexico. He is passionate about cultural and ethnic identity, history, and education. Before joining WorldStrides, Donald taught history at a middle school for a year and a half. Prior to teaching, he worked as an International Educator for four years at Liberty University. Outside of travel and international education Donald enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing and coaching sports, reading, writing, sneakers and watching movies. He lives in Virginia with his wife and labradoodle.
Administrative Staff
Veronika Pesina
Administrative Assistant
Veronika Pesina
Administrative Assistant
Veronika was born in the Czech Republic in Europe, she has explored about 20 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia. Thanks to living so close to Germany, she had the opportunity to work there in 2016. After having a taste of freedom and new cultures, a year later she decided to move to the United Kingdom where she studied Human Resource Management. Thanks to her passion for foreign cultures, traveling and her ambition, she got the opportunity to move to Austin, TX as a part of her course and experience living in the US. After her internship had been cut short due to the pandemic, Veronika graduated, and decided to come back permanently and ready to start her career this time. She is extremely excited to join ISA since she lives its mission and fully understands the importance of international experience. She believes in pushing oneself and taking chances because these decisions can shape one's whole life story. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks with her dogs, watching Netflix or Hulu, cooking for her family, traveling, exploring Austin, and talking to her family living abroad.
