CEA CAPA Paris, France Directory

As the Senior Director of Regional Programs, and Center Director for the CEA CAPA Paris Center, Alexandra is responsible for overall programming and operations for CEA CAPA sites in France and in the Netherlands, maintaining CEA CAPA standards across all educational programs. Alexandra provides strategic leadership in areas including long and short-term Program Development, managing Finance and Human Resources, overseeing Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, and working with students in and out of the classroom.

Alexandra earned a DEA after earning a Master of Arts, both in Art History at the Université de Paris-IV Sorbonne (France). Before her graduate studies in France, Alexandra completed a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and French at Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.). As a student, Alexandra was drawn to study abroad straight away. A high school travel program in Western Europe inspired her to complete study abroad programs in Florence, Italy and Caen, France as an undergraduate.

Alexandra started her career in International Education as a one-person office Program Coordinator for CAPA International Education in Paris in 1999, where she gained experience in hands-on programming. She began a position as Program Director at CEA Study Abroad in 2004 before moving into her current role at CEA CAPA. Through experience and professional development, Alexandra has taken a particular interest in questions of health & safety abroad, and how meaningful integration can help students better understand their host environment and, consequently, stay safer while studying and travelling abroad.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Alexandra also lived in the U.S. for many years, as well as France, Italy, and Greece. She often tells students that, "studying abroad is not easy, but when home starts to feel foreign and your host country starts to feel like home, you know that you have been profoundly marked by your experience."

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• APUAF: Association des Programmes Universitaires Américains en France
  • President: since 2021
  • President: 2013
  • Executive Board Member 2008-2013
• Washington University in St. Louis APAP (Alumni organization)
• OSAC France: Active member of OSAC Steering Committee, U.S. Embassy in Paris (Overseas Security Advisory Council)

PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS

• “Representing the European Voice, Onsite Perspectives to Key Issues in Education Abroad”, panelist, Forum European Institute, Strasbourg, France, November 2023
• “Facing the New Normal in Safety Abroad”, co-presenter, AACUPI Workshop, Rome, Italy, October 2019
• “After the Paris Attacks: Education Abroad & the New Normal”, co-presenter, Forum Webinar, January 2016
• “After the Paris Attacks: Working with Students Facing the New Normal”, co-presenter, Forum Post-Conference Workshop Athens, Greece, October 2016
• “Post-Paris: Study Abroad in the New Normal”, co-presenter, AASAP Workshop, London, England, March 2017
• “Status Report on Gender Studies in France : Resources for Accommodating LGBT Students in France”, APUAF Annual Meeting of US Program Directors in France, March 2011
• “Homestay and Apartment Living Arrangements”, APUAF Annual Meeting of U.S. Program Directors in France, March 2011
• Participation at Resident Director's Fireside Dialogue, Forum European Conference – Dublin, Ireland, December 2012
  
  

Morgan is a project manager specializing in international, educational, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) project management. Her career has allowed her to gain experience in a variety of different contexts (including in multiple education institutions, a start-up in the social and solidarity economy, and a major French corporation in the video game sector), as well as to work with clients and colleagues in France, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, and Romania. She is excited to build upon these experiences and put her acquired skills to use in her role as Program Director in Paris, France.

Originally from North Carolina, Morgan first fell in love with France during an exchange program during her first year of high school. Since then, her love affair with the country has only grown stronger. After spending a year in Montpellier during her undergraduate years, she permanently moved to France in 2016. During this time, she has been fortunate enough to expand her worldview in ways she once thought impossible and now very much considers herself a global citizen.

On a more personal level, Morgan enjoys learning new languages (including Spanish and German!), traveling to new countries, reading (historical fiction is her favorite genre), and taking long walks in the forest with her partner and dog.

Christopher oversees academic programs offered through CEA CAPA Paris. His responsibilities range from curriculum development to faculty training, as well as student advising and partner program oversight. He has developed an extensive working knowledge of academic approaches to topics ranging from world health care systems to global management information systems.

Christopher holds a Masters of Arts in French from New York University (N.Y.) and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French from Auburn University (Ala.). Prior to joining CEA CAPA, Christopher was an Instructor of French at Clemson University (S.C.). In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he facilitated study abroad programs for Clemson's College of Art, Architecture and Humanities, and directed a summer language program in Paris.

As a long-time U.S. citizen living overseas, Christopher thinks that "students should be increasingly aware of the monumental competition they will face in an increasingly globalized job market. Learning languages and developing an ethical and responsible contact with non-U.S. cultures through structured study abroad programming is one way in which to do so."

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

* Phi Beta Kappa

* APUAF : Association des Programmes Universitaires Américains en France

PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS

* Facebook training for study abroad professionals, APUAF Annual Meeting of U.S. Program Directors in France, March 2010

* Student travel abroad: ensuring your student's safety, APUAF Annual Meeting of U.S. Program Directors in France, March 2013

* Digital Video Conference (DVC) Presentation, U.S. Department of State, Africa Regional Services, Paris, France (with US Embassy in Cotonou, Benin). Activism and the LGBT Community. June 2013.

Digital Video Conference (DVC) presentation, U.S. Department of State, Africa Regional Services, Paris, France (with US Embassy in Brazzaville, Congo). Study in the US. November 2013.

As Academic Coordinator, Elisa liaises with local academic institutions in Paris, including the Université de Paris IV - Sorbonne, the Institut Catholique, and the Novancia Business School. She also manages registration, course and co-curricular scheduling, and student advising for all CEA CAPA Paris academic programs.

Elisa supports the Academic Dean, faculty, and students at the CEA CAPA Paris Center, and acts as the main contact for Custom Program visiting faculty. In this capacity, she often finds herself working with faculty to integrate the city of Paris into their curriculum and bring the course to life.

Elisa earned an Associate Degree in Tourism and Hospitality from the Lycée de Tourisme du Val de Loire, after which she spent two years studying at Westminster College in London. Elisa has 15 years of experience in academic administration for Study Abroad programs; prior to joining CEA CAPA, she held administrative positions in the hotel and tourism industry, taught English to children in Cambodia, worked as a Tea Lady in London, and as an extra on a film set in Hong Kong.

Elisa spent several years traveling and living throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and the West Indies, and would love for her travels to take her to the North Pole or Northern Scandinavia to see an Aurora Borealis. Elisa's motto and advice for students is: "Wherever you are, go with the flow!"

Originally from Saint-Malo, France, François’s first international experience was in the US when he traveled to Long Island, N.Y., several times during his undergraduate studies. He then graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English with teaching specialty from the Catholic University of Rennes. After graduation, he was selected to become a French language assistant in Bristol, UK, where he taught in various grades in two high schools. After this experience, he decided to return to France to complete a French as a Foreign Language teaching Master’s degree at the Sorbonne-Nouvelle University. During this two-year diploma, François completed internships teaching international students and took the role of apprentice in his second year of his Master’s. In this role, he joined the French institution France Education International in an administrative position where he was project manager assistant on an international French teachers training program, BELC.

Passionate about the diversity of languages and foreign cultures, François has experienced student life abroad through his multiple travels in the US, the UK, Ireland, and Spain. He is dedicated to creating the best experience possible for study abroad students, using his personal knowledge of the Parisian area and its vibrant culture. In his free time, François enjoys seeing friends and family, and enjoying live music, art, and cultural programs in Paris.

As Program Administrator, Isabelle provides administrative support to the CEA CAPA Paris office and is responsible for human resources, legal, facilities, and financial administrative processes. Isabelle also assists the CEA CAPA Paris team with event planning and tasks that span all aspects of CEA CAPA programming.

Isabelle comes to CEA CAPA with extensive experience in business administration, having worked for over 20 years in human resources and general administration for international companies, mainly in the petrol industry. She has held different positions from Executive Assistant to Human Resources Specialist, and has a particular interest in law. She studied law at the Université de Paris XIII – Saint Denis, before spending two years in Montréal, Canada where she participated in the launch of a French grocery store. Isabelle is a born and raised Parisian and still lives in the city with her husband. She has two sons: one who is a chef at his restaurant in Paris and one who is studying psychology in Montréal, Canada.

As a parent, Isabelle believes that she had two precious things to give her children: roots and wings. She says “it is never easy when they go away from the roots, but if they use their wings to study abroad, it is fantastic!”

Sabrina joined CEA CAPA in 2021 as a Program Coordinator dedicated to sourcing and coordinating CEA CAPA Internships. She also contributes to all areas of program coordination, including assisting with Student Housing, Orientation sessions, activities and excursions.

Sabrina is bi-national (Franco-Algerian) and tri-lingual (French, Arabic and English). She graduated from EHEC in Algeria, before moving to Paris to complete her master’s degree at Ecole Supérieur de Gestion et Communication (ESGCI). Upon graduation, Sabrina moved back to Algiers where she worked as an Account Manager for Mc CANN Algiers, an advertising agency where she had the opportunity to work on several key accounts such as Nestlé, BNP Paribas, and Johnson&Johnson! Sabrina then moved to Toronto, Canada to pursue graduate business studies. After earning her degree, she worked in Toronto as a Student Services Advisor for international students at her university. Back in Paris after an amazing experience in Toronto, Sabrina loves to share her enthusiasm for international studies and professional experiences with CEA CAPA students!