CEA CAPA Seville, Spain Directory

As Academic Director of CEA CAPA Seville, Mary Alice’s role is to oversee the many facets to the smooth running of academics at the CEA CAPA in Seville – including program elaboration, syllabi development, and coordination of CEA CAPA faculty. Prior to administering CEA CAPA academics in Seville, she held a number of international work experiences. She was a USIA Fellow in Peru, a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, and has taught English to speakers of other languages in Japan, Taiwan, and the US. Currently she is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University – Andalucia.

Mary Alice holds a MS. Ed in Education, Culture & Society from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Pennsylvania State University in East Asian Studies. She studied abroad in Japan and participated in short-term educational projects in Ecuador & Morocco. Through these global experiences she discovered the importance of engaging across cultures to meaningfully connect with the human experience in a global context. These gave her insights to revel in the the unknown and uncomfortable to not only build resilience, but also advocate for justice to promote equity amongst a wide span of global neighbors.

As Student Services Coordinator, Aranoa is responsible for the organization of students’ arrival, orientation, immersion activities, and excursions, along with every aspect of daily life in Seville that helps students immerse in Spanish culture. She also coordinates the communication processes, resources, and health and safety services that CEA CAPA Seville provides for students.

Prior to joining CEA CAPA, Aranoa worked for the Convention Center in Seville, as well as creating traveling initiatives and leading groups for different companies in the tourism industry. Aranoa obtained a degree in Tourism at EUSA and completed her education with a postgraduate course in Entrepreneur Initiatives from the Confederación de Empresarios Andaluces.

Aranoa has also studied abroad in England and lived in the US. For this reason, she is grateful to have the opportunity to help students grow when they are challenged by cultural differences during their study abroad experience. It is always rewarding for her to lead students into a better global citizen version of themselves.

As Senior Housing coordinator at CEA CAPA Seville, Esther is responsible for managing all aspects of Center housing, including selecting and maintaining a network of relationships with local constituents to offer a variety of housing options that provide the best housing experience for all program participants. She works to ensure housing quality and host families' engagement. Esther advises students on issues related to housing, the adaptation process, and making the most out of their study abroad experience. She also supports the Student Services department.

Prior to joining CEA CAPA, Esther taught English as a foreign language and worked in the tourism and hospitality industry. Esther holds a B.A. in English Language and a Master’s Degree in Teaching in Secondary Schools, Vocational Training and Language Centers from Universidad de Sevilla. She is a native speaker of Spanish, speaks fluent English, and has also studied French and German. Esther studied abroad in France and Northern Ireland, a life-changing experience that increased her interest in other cultures. Esther feels that studying abroad influences students' career paths, worldview, and self-confidence, all while helping them better understand their own cultural values and biases.