Alexandra Mitchell, Senior Director of Regional Programs - France & the Netherlands

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