CEA Directory

Growing up in a multicultural family in the south of France, Isabelle developed a passion for international experiences. She holds a master’s degree in International Relations & Intercultural Communication from Sciences Po Aix, and decided to pursue a career beyond French borders after completing an exchange program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Isabelle has worked in international higher education for over ten years. She has served on the admissions team for a study abroad provider based in Vermont, and on the onsite staff for the Paris campus of St John's University. She has also led multiple short-term programs to Tanzania and Morocco.

Isabelle finds it particularly rewarding to help students develop resourcefulness and confidence that accelerate their education and career. In her leadership position, she endeavors to provide students with a meaningful experience abroad by challenging them beyond what they think they can do, connecting them to the world beyond their familiar bubble, and building a community in which they care about each other and about others, fostering empathy and curiosity.

In her spare time, Isabelle can be found teaching yoga classes, training in a boxing ring, and cooking with a great deal of spices.

Eryn comes to us with 15 years of experience in international education at the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), with 8 years serving as the Director of Health, Safety and Security and the Assistant Director of Health, Safety, and Security. During part of her time at IFSA, she lived abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica, to gain hands-on experience with study abroad students in an international setting. She has also held roles in academic affairs and program advising in education abroad and has a well-rounded view of the many facets of our field.

Eryn is well connected in the field of education abroad and risk management and has collaborated on several presentations at the Forum on Education Abroad conference, held memberships in OSAC, Pulse, NAFSA, and Forum, and has co-authored several health and safety publications for Forum.

As Director of Health and Safety at CEA, Eryn will work closely with CEA staff across the U.S. and internationally, as well as directly with our U.S. partner institutions, to ensure that our coordination of emergency response protocols is seamless and that our CEA staff is abreast of the most current health and safety issues in the field.

If you have any questions about the development and coordination of CEA programs and services that promote student well-being, please contact her directly: ekudzinski@ceastudyabroad.com.

Shawn Coover is the Vice President of Global Operations and Human Resources. In this role, he oversees the development and implementations of policies, processes, and best practices to ensure CEA continues to be a great place to work. This includes consultation on strategic business initiatives, employee relations, staffing plans and recruitment, compensation and benefits, communications, training and development, and legal compliance. Most importantly, Shawn and his team work diligently to make sure that everything we do is true to the organization’s Core Values, Mission, and Vision.

Shawn earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and MBA from Northern Arizona University. He joined CEA in 2018 and brought with him 19 years of international leadership experience, including 8 years in Human Resources. His professional background also includes leadership experience in operations, project management, development, customer service, and purchasing with Honeywell, AT&T, and Belden Wire and Cable. 

An avid traveler, Shawn has traveled to over 30 countries.

Aaron joins the CEA team after spending 19 years at the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA). He served the organization through a variety of roles, most recently as the Assistant Vice President of Institutional Engagement, where he managed their nationwide recruitment team and custom program division. Prior to serving as the AVP for Institutional Engagement, Aaron served as the Field Director, Great Lakes Region and Enrollment Manager, where he was responsible for increasing program participation, growing the number of affiliated programs, as well as expanding the base of sending institutions across a 9-state region. He also served as the Senior Program Advisor for programs in the U.K. and New Zealand, where he actively engaged with students, parents, and advisors to educate them on programs that fit students’ academic needs, as well as exploring ways to remove barriers to make students’ dreams of studying abroad a reality.

Aaron is a graduate of Butler University and holds a BS degree in Finance. During his undergraduate experience, Aaron studied abroad in London, England at Birkbeck, University of London. His time abroad was so transformative for him that he wanted to devote his professional career to promoting life changing, international experiences to other students.

When Aaron is not advocating for students to learn abroad, he can be found planning his next travel adventure and spending time with his family. He is an avid hiker, skier, and golfer, and enjoys seeing live music and collecting vinyl records. Aaron is also very active in his community, engaging and volunteering with a number of organizations throughout his community, specifically with the Indiana Humane Society, Second Helpings, and Newfields.

Dr. María Victoria López

Gender & Body Politics in Latin America

María Victoria is currently a political advisor to the National Ministry of Internal Affairs of Argentina and a Professor of Contemporary History of Argentina at various institutions. She received her Ph.D. in Social Sciences, with a focus in Political Science, from the University of Buenos Aires, a landmark higher education institution where she has also taught courses in Latin American History, Political Theory and Civic Education during the last 13 years. María speaks Spanish, Italian, English and French, she is a published author, has participated as Visiting Researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and completed a fellowship at the CONICET (National Council for Scientific and Technical Research).

International Marketing

Paula is originally from Argentina and received her MBA in Business Administration from the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. Since 2004 she has taught multiple courses in the fields of Business and Marketing at the University of Palermo, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Torcuato Di Tella University, University of Belgrano, UADE Business School, University of Salvador as well as at the Army Polytechnic School in Ecuador and the European Open Business School in Bolivia. Paula has provided Marketing Consulting Services in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil during the last 27 years, for companies such as GeoAgris (Argentine company, computer science applied to the agro), Ipiranga Argentina (Brazilian Petrol Company) and Starrett Argentina (American Tools Company). At CEA she has taught the International Marketing course for the past 10 years.

Dr. Griselda Lassaga

Business Ethics

Griselda holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Belgrano and serves as the current Argentina Center President of the Latin American Society of Strategy (SLADE), and has been a researcher and educator on sustainability for 16 years. Griselda is also the Academic Director of the MBA Double Diploma Alliances initiative between several business schools in Europe and the University of Belgrano, CEA’s partner institution in Buenos Aires, where she also currently teaches the “Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility” course at a graduate level and “Social Economy” at an undergraduate level. Her book “Corresponsabilidad” has been printed three times since 2010, and her current research is focused on women in leadership and cultural change for sustainable development.

Dr. Louis “Lou” Berends comes to CEA from Syracuse University where he most recently held positions as Director of Strategic and International Partnerships, and Director of Academic Programs under the Provost’s Office. Under Lou's leadership, Syracuse Abroad increased study abroad participation and is ranked highly as a national leader in study abroad. Lou has worked extensively in international education at U.S. universities and providers of global education since 2000. He holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago in cultural and educational policy studies with a concentration in comparative and international education.

Additionally, Lou studied at Brunel University (Uxbridge, UK), the University of Oxford (St. Catherine's College), as well as in Rome, Italy, and has visited and conducted research in numerous countries. Furthermore, Lou has presented many papers in various settings including Harvard's Graduate School of Education, the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), the Forum on Education Abroad, and NAFSA (among others). Lou’s most recent publication, co-edited with Dr. Kate Patch, SIO at Grinnell College, is a book on high-impact educational practices entitled, Undergraduate Research Abroad: Approaches, Models and Challenges (2020). Lou currently serves on the 9th Annual Diversity Abroad Conference Planning Committee to be held in October 2021.

Kristin's role is the day-to-day management of CEA's French Riviera and Berlin programs, including student services, host institution relations, local vendor relations, program academics, student evaluations, health and safety, and office administration.

Kristin earned a master's degree in German language and Literature from the University of Nice, Sophia Antipolis, France, and is fluent in English, German, and French. Prior joining CEA, she worked as a Program Planner in London for a U.S. organization specializing in educational tours of Europe for high school students, as well as a Program Director for a study abroad organization in Paris, Cannes, and Krakow, Poland.

A native of Leipzig, Germany, Kristin has lived and worked in France, Germany, England, Poland, and Canada. Kristin loves the great outdoors and would love to run a marathon in Alaska one day.

The best piece of advice Kristin would give to students going overseas is, "Make the most of every minute of this experience. It will be with you for the rest of your life."

I was born and raised in small town Ohio. Staying close to home, I went to college 45 minutes away at Ohio University in Athens. Go Bobcats! I obtained my Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication and a minor in Psychology. After graduation I had an unshakeable urge to see more of the world. So I packed up my bags, drove what fit in my car across the country, and here I am in Phoenix, Arizona.

I started as an intern with CEA helping the Enrollment department make various types of contact to incoming students. In two short weeks I heard there was an Admissions Counselor position open, so I applied for it immediately. In this role, I have the pleasure of advising students through the study abroad process, and matching them with a program that is the best for their personal and academic goals! Now. as the Admissions Counselor Team Lead, I take on additional responsibilities to help CEA grow including helping train our new staff members.

When I am not working, I love to get outside. I enjoy hiking with friends and my Boston Terrier, Penelope. I try to find new breweries and camping spots to explore too! Traveling is slowly becoming one of my leading passions in life. Next on my list is Iceland!

Did you know? My first plane ride (and vacation) was to Costa Rica in 2016 to visit my two girlfriends who were interning abroad!

As the Director of Enrollment, Gina delivers continuous support and guidance across the entire enrollment team. Knowing that our CEA students and staff come first, Gina brings talent and drive to provide superior assistance and leadership within this organization. Gina has been working in education for over 15 years, with experience in admissions and enrollment, learning and educational development, and industrial and organizational improvements. Gina also took her passion for education a step further by co-authoring and designing a college textbook, which is used at colleges across the United States.

Gina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington and Jefferson College in 2003 and began her admissions and enrollment career in 2006 back in Pittsburgh, PA. Since then, Gina relocated to Phoenix, AZ, earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She remains a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society.

Gina recognizes the value of higher education and encourages all potential students she meets to pursue their educational goals and dreams!

Cynthia Engel oversees and manages CEA’s internship abroad programs. Her primary focus is ensuring that students are able to engage in an academically rigorous and quality pre-professional experience that will inform their professional pathways upon graduation. She works hand-in-hand with CEA’s academic team and CEA Study Center staff to cultivate internship placements and academic programming that support students’ integration in their field-based experiences abroad. She also works closely with CEA’s enrollment, university relations, and marketing teams to build awareness of CEA’s internship programs, obtain university approvals, and align CEA’s internship model with student and university needs.

Cynthia comes to CEA with 18+ years in international education, including eight years directly related to internship program management and development in Europe, Central Asia, and Oceania. After completing a master’s degree in Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) from the University of Minnesota in 2000, Cynthia was fortunate to be a part of a team tasked with building the student development and international programs components of a new branch campus of a major research university. From there, she turned her focus to developing academically rigorous international internships as part of a university consortium in the Western U.S. After 16 years in the field, she chose to take a break from higher education to gain some experience in the dynamic and fast-paced world of start-ups as a strategic communication and program development consultant. Cynthia’s passion for the remarkable learning and growth that can come from well-facilitated international experiences brought her back to international education and to CEA.

Cynthia worked and studied for several years in France and worked for a year in Japan, as well as throughout Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. She has travelled extensively throughout SE Asia, West Africa, Western Europe, and South America, and she speaks French at a non-native level of fluency. Cynthia’s passion for travel and the field of international education is born from a belief that if we continually seek to understand and honor others, we are better able to understand ourselves and then recognize the interconnectedness of each of us in the process. She believes creating opportunities to experience the world in new ways is one of the best pathways to truly internalizing a respect for the diversity of lenses through which we all perceive and interact with each other.

Spending a year abroad in Australia changed forever how this introverted, first generation student saw herself and understood what she could succeed when given an opportunity. After attending college and graduate school in the Southwest, and living in several states, it is the dry climate of Phoenix that reminds her most of Australia. With 15 years of student affairs/residential life experience gained at small, mid-size, and large universities along the way, Elizabeth is dedicated to impacting the student experience "outside the classroom". Helping students and their families navigate challenges, succeed in new environments, and understand their responsibility as global citizens is her motivation.

As CEA's Director of Health, Safety & Student Affairs, Elizabeth is responsible for overseeing student life issues worldwide. In this role, Elizabeth establishes policies and coordinates protocols regarding health, wellness, student emergencies and crisis response. Elizabeth serves as a point of contact for escalated parent concerns and issues; oversees all web and print materials related to health & safety; advises Center and Program Directors on student disciplinary procedures; develops training for staff around the world on student development; and leads cross-functional working groups to review trends and implement best practices that reflect the organization's values and mission.

When not actively working to enhance the quality of student life for CEA students, Elizabeth enjoys hiking with her two dogs, Marketa and Mateo, reading and travel. If you have any questions about the development and coordination of CEA programs and services that promote student well-being, please contact her directly: ekather@ceastudyabroad.com.

As Center Director, Rick oversees all CEA Prague operations and manages the CEA team in Prague. Rick leads the development of CEA Prague programs, which includes setting strategy and standards, managing change, and facilitating communication across the organization.

Originally from the Chicago area, Rick has lived in or near Prague since 1998 with his partner and three daughters. Rick has been with CEA since 2016. He’s taught in study abroad programs in Prague and served as Academic Director at CIEE Prague. He also directed the creation of a new M.A. program at CERGE-EI for European students. Rick holds a Ph.D. from Charles University in Prague, an M.A. in Literature and Theory from the University of Illinois, and an M.A. in the TEFL from the University of Reading in the UK. His teaching and research at the university level focuses on American Literature and Literary Theory. Rick is a visiting professor at the Department of English and American Studies at Masaryk University in Brno. He also teaches a course on the Prague writer Franz Kafka aimed at American study-abroad students. Rick studied Teacher Education as an undergraduate and is deeply interested in teaching, education, and learning.

Rick enjoys spending time with his family and participates in sports as often as possible. He is passionate about literature, especially experimental literary novels.

Brian is an entrepreneur and leader in global education who has built his career helping today's student become globally competitive. In 1997, Brian founded CEA Study Abroad after a life-changing study abroad experience in Dijon, France. Brian felt that his time in France was so empowering and insightful that he wanted to provide the same opportunity to everyone.

"CEA's success is built on our ability to design and implement innovative, high-quality academic programs that meet the needs of today's university student. In the current higher education environment, global competency is no longer a luxury. CEA is meeting that challenge by providing the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the global economy."

Since its beginning as a study abroad provider, Brian has led CEA as the company grew to become one of the largest for-profit international education companies in the U.S with operations throughout the world and more-than 170 employees worldwide. CEA enrolls more than 4,000 U.S. university students annually in over 100 academic programs.

Brian earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Commerce (BSC) degree in both Marketing and Finance from DePaul University (Ill.). He studied French language at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France and the Alliance Française in Paris. In addition, he is also a graduate of the "Birthing of Giants" Executive Education program hosted by the MIT Enterprise Forum and Inc. Magazine.

A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Brian is married with two children. He enjoys hiking, mountain biking, worldwide travel, new business start-ups, and anything related to food and wine.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators

• Forum on Education Abroad

• American Marketing Association (AMA)

• Young President's Organization (YPO)

HONORS/AWARDS

• Excellence in International Business Award, Arizona District Export Council in cooperation with the Phoenix Council on Foreign Relations

• Spirit of Enterprise Center, W.P. Carey School of Business

• Global Impact Symposium Award Finalist, Eller College of Management

• Two years on the Inc. 500 list as one of the nation's fastest growing private companies

• Arizona Corporate Excellence Award as the 13th fastest growing organization in Arizona

• BizAZ Hot Growth Award as the Top 10 fastest growing company in Arizona

• Small Business Association Exporter of the Year

• Featured in the Wall Street Journal, Arizona Republic, BizAZ, Phoenix Business Journal, Arizona Business Gazette, Inside Higher Ed, and the Chronicle of Higher Education

As the Program Director for Alicante, Alvaro Sánchez is responsible for day-to-day management including student services, host institution relations, local vendor relations, academic program development, and student evaluations. Alvaro advises students on issues related to academics, housing, cross-cultural information, health and safety; assists in management of city finances; and hires and trains other staff (and faculty).

Alvaro, a native of Alicante, has experience in both the U.S. and Spain. His experience with U.S. students includes working with a late youth program at a local TV station, travelling through Central America as a U.S. program supervisor, and coaching NCAA 1st division college tennis. He has also written two documentaries and continues to enjoy work in the field of media arts.

Alvaro earned his undergraduate degree in Media Arts from the University of Arkansas – Little Rock. He is fluent in Spanish and English.

Silvia Martínez ensures that all CEA standards are maintained in Madrid. Silvia oversees all educational programs, including short- and long-term program planning, products, and services, and maintains the financial plan for Madrid. She also manages student services, host institution relations, local vendor relations, program improvements, and staff.

Silvia was born in Cádiz, South of Spain, but has always had close contact with the American culture and the English language. She lived in a U.S. Naval Base for two years and has many relatives in the U.S. Silvia has studied and worked in Spain, England, and Canada in the fields of Administration, Tourism, and Study Abroad. She interned at an Irish Building Society in London and worked in a Canadian study abroad company leading groups of Spanish students in Toronto.

Before joining CEA in 2002, Silvia worked at the North American Universities and Institutions Centre at the University of Alcalá de Henares for two years.

She holds a degree in Tourism Management from the Univeristy of Alcalá. Silvia speaks Spanish and English fluently and has studied French and German for several years.

Cassandra Peacock's role as Program Director at CEA encompasses both administrative and operational duties. She helps students understand that their experience is not only about attending school, but about how much potential they have in their particular circumstances. Cassandra ensures students experience smooth arrivals, a ride from the airport, proper housing, and advice on what to eat, where to go, and things to see around London.

Prior to working for CEA, Cassandra was an English teacher and worked for Royal Caribbean International as a 2nd Guest Relations Purser, traveling all around the world. Cassandra graduated with honors in both her bachelor's degree in Tourism Administration, and master's degree in International Business from Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (Mexico).

Cassandra has lived and travelled around the globe, including the U.S., Germany, Finland, Panama, the Caribbean, Russia, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Estonia, the U.K., Tanzania, and Zanzibar. She enjoys reassuring students they've made a wonderful decision by choosing to leave the U.S. and embark on a study abroad adventure. "It's like seeing a small seed grow, becoming independent and secure."

As Center Director for Rome, Anna Felberbaum is responsible for office administration and the day-to-day management including staffing, student services, host institution relations, local vendor relations, and student evaluations. Anna advises students on issues related to academics, cross-cultural information and health and safety.

Anna was born in London, England, but has lived most of her life in Rome with brief periods in the UK and the U.S. for both study and work. Anna has over 11 years of experience in all aspects of study abroad. Before joining CEA, she worked for John Cabot University for four years as the Coordinator of Student Services. Previously, she managed Rome's main English bookshop.

Anna has a BA in English Literature from John Cabot University and is fluent in both written and spoken Italian.

A native of Havana, Cuba, Victor holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and History from Skidmore College, where he graduated Cum Laude and was elected to the prestigious national honor society Phi Beta Kappa. Victor is currently completing his MBA at Escuela de Administracion de Empresas (EAE).

Victor brings more than 15 years of experience in undergraduate education to his position at CEA, first as Director of a College Access and Opportunity Program in Saratoga Springs, New York, and recently as Director of a study abroad center in Madrid, Spain, a position he held for more than a decade. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Association of North American Programs in Spain.

An avid global traveler, Victor has traveled across Asia, North Africa, Western and Eastern Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East. Victor’s other passion is tennis; he holds several titles in both singles and doubles in amateur international tournaments and competitions. Victor’s advice to incoming study abroad students is to embrace each day with a heightened sense of adventure and to focus on the journey, with the certainty that an open mind and the courage to face unpredictable situations will offer life-long skills and transform life in unimaginable ways.

Maggie's role is to oversee all student services and housing including orientation, excursions, and cultural activities. She advises students on issues related to cross-cultural information, health, and safety, and is responsible for responding to student inquiries and concerns. Maggie serves as a resource to students as they transition into Costa Rican culture, and functions as their primary point of contact.

Maggie holds a master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Family Business from Escuela de Administración de Empresas (EAE) in Barcelona, and a bachelor's degree in Photography and Artistic Direction from the Universidad Centeroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales in Managua, Nicaragua. She also studied photography at Veritas University in San José, Costa Rica, and taught several photography courses at Universidad Creativa in San Pedro, Costa Rica.

Prior to joining CEA, Maggie developed skills working in the Communications Department of the Escuela de Administración de Empresas in Barcelona, and as a manager at the Universidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales in Managua, Nicaragua. After studying abroad, she returned to San José to work with foreign students at Veritas University.

Maggie truly believes that studying abroad changes your life in many different ways, so she encourages the students to set their fear of new experiences and cultures to the side, and to come to a new country with an open mind and positive attitude. Maggie invites students to come and explore Costa Rica's beautiful scenery, friendly people, and warm weather.

As Vice President, Spain, Mr. Figueras establishes a country strategy to ensure consistency among all sites, and to lead and support all program development initiatives geared toward enhancing quality. Mr. Figueras also monitors the academic standards of our programs and ensures that CEA policies are in place to serve the CEA community and deliver study abroad programs of quality and rigor.

Mr. Figueras has over 10 years of experience in the field of academia. Before joining CEA, he taught at Boise State University (Idaho), where he created an online language teaching program, developed Spanish course curriculum in the fields of Spanish Linguistics and Spanish for Heritage Learners, coordinated the Spanish Language Program, and served as the Director of the Undergraduate Spanish Program. Mr. Figueras also contributed to the development of a variety of teaching tools for various U.S. publishing companies, including two published workbook manuals for U.S. college students.

Mr. Figueras sees study abroad as a magnificent opportunity for personal growth and development, alongside academic advancement. Exploring new horizons not only opens doors to new ideas and views, but also helps you calibrate your potential and abilities in a new environment. This experience supports the development of a lifelong set of skills highly transferable to the personal and professional arenas.

Mr. Figueras holds an Executive MBA from La Salle (Universitat Ramon Llull, Spain), a master's in Spanish from Middlebury College (Vt.), and a bachelor's in Communications/Journalism from Boise State University (Idaho). He is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Catalan, has extensive knowledge of Portuguese, and working knowledge of French.

Kristin's role is the day-to-day management of CEA's French Riviera and Berlin programs, including student services, host institution relations, local vendor relations, program academics, student evaluations, health and safety, and office administration.

Kristin earned a master's degree in German language and Literature from the University of Nice, Sophia Antipolis, France, and is fluent in English, German, and French. Prior joining CEA, she worked as a Program Planner in London for a U.S. organization specializing in educational tours of Europe for high school students, as well as a Program Director for a study abroad organization in Paris, Cannes, and Krakow, Poland.

A native of Leipzig, Germany, Kristin has lived and worked in France, Germany, England, Poland, and Canada. Kristin loves the great outdoors and would love to run a marathon in Alaska one day.

The best piece of advice Kristin would give to students going overseas is, "Make the most of every minute of this experience. It will be with you for the rest of your life."

As the Senior Director of Regional Programs and Director for the CEA Paris Center, Alexandra is responsible for overall programming and operations for CEA sites in France, maintaining CEA standards across all educational programs. There's a lot to keep her busy on-site, 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 Bachelor of Arts in Art History and French at Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) and completed a DEA after earning a Master of Arts in Art History at the Université de Paris-IV Sorbonne (France). 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.

Before joining CEA, Alexandra started her career as a one-person office Program Coordinator for CAPA International Education in Paris, where she gained experience in hands-on programming. 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, 2013 and 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

• “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

Francis's role is to manage the CEA Dublin Center including facilities, staff, activities, housing, excursions, and pastoral support. Francis is also the Founder and Director of the International School of Business, Dublin, CEA's partner institution in Dublin.

Francis has worked in international education for the past 25 years in both the private and public sectors. He has lectured in both France and Ireland and created two business schools. Francis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Irish and French Language and Literature from University College Cork, a Master of Arts in Irish Studies from the Université de Lille III, France, a Master's in Business Studies in International Marketing from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business (University College Dublin). He speaks Irish and French fluently and has a good working knowledge of Spanish and Italian.

Francis has traveled widely across five continents, including a volunteer placement in Ghana, West Africa, eight years living and working in France, multiple trips to the U.S., Canada, and across Europe. He is passionate about cultures and believes that the real richness of study abroad comes from experiencing cultural differences first-hand.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

* European Association of Institutes of Education (EAIE)

* BUSINET

* ASAPI (American Study Abroad Providers Ireland)

* QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland)

* The Marketing Institute of Ireland

Irish Council for Overseas Students

After a 3-week summer program in the U.S.S.R. with homestays in Leningrad and Moscow, Susan attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and French. She spent her junior year studying at Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier. After a rough start, she didn’t want to leave so moved to France after graduation to teach English at a Parisian middle and high school through the French government’s Teaching Assistant Program In France (TAPIF). She then worked in Paris at an international organization and teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Following a Master’s in French at Université Paris VIII, Susan earned a dual doctoral degree in Comparative Literature and French from Paris VIII and Rutgers University. This led her to return to the U.S. where she taught French and Francophone studies for 15 years. Leading experiential study abroad trips to France and facilitating student development in this way was one of her favorite experiences and it’s now part of her daily work at CEA!

Susan loves to discover cultures from the inside and has had great homestays of at least a week in Argentina, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland, in addition to her other global travels. She dabbles in baking and gardening and is a registered yoga teacher. Susan encourages students to be open to experiences and chance encounters abroad and to “try something new while you’re in a new place.”

Hannah joins CEA as our first Manager of Health and Safety. Hannah completed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Spanish at Butler University, and she spent a semester studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland during her junior year. Her time abroad opened her eyes to the beauty of what there is to be gained by learning from other cultures and the personal growth that can happen when you step outside your comfort zone.

That experience inspired a passion to support other students on their own transformative study abroad journeys. Hannah began working at the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA) as a Program Advisor and eventually moved into the role of Assistant Director, Student Engagement. The past seven years working as an advisor made Hannah realize how important it is that students have access to the tools they need to be successful abroad, whatever that may look like, and she is very excited to apply that approach from a health & safety perspective at CEA!

Of course, like most in the field, Hannah loves travelling, and her favorite destination so far has been New Zealand. She will be excited to travel pretty much anywhere as the world starts to open back up, but she is really hoping to make her way back to Ireland soon. In her personal time, Hannah is an avid reader and tries to spend as much time outside as possible. She enjoys baking and is a big fan of college basketball and musical theater.

If you have any questions related to health, safety and student well-being abroad, please contact her directly at: hsutton@ceastudyabroad.com.

As a Regional Director based in Kansas City, Alexis works closely with study abroad advisors, administrators, and faculty at higher education institutions in KY, KS, MO, AR, IL, IN, OK, and TN. The goals of this collaborative relationship are increasing study abroad participation and achieving the institutions’ broader vision of internationalization. Alexis cooperates with campus partners to develop custom, faculty-led programs and to advise students about CEA's study abroad and internship programs.

Prior to joining CEA, she was with the University of Kansas for nearly fifteen years, where she served as the Assistant Dean for Recruitment and Retention for the KU School of Engineering and Associate Director for the KU Office of Study Abroad. As Associate Director, she led a campus-wide study abroad curriculum integration initiative where she worked closely with deans, faculty, and academic advisors in over 40 academic units. The initiative identified major-specific study abroad opportunities, produced advising materials and resources, and developed targeted strategies promoting study abroad engagement.

One of her primary goals throughout her career has been to educate students about the international opportunities available to them and to encourage their participation in activities that enhance their academic and professional growth. She looks forward to connecting with students throughout the Central States to share CEA’s study and internship opportunities with them.

EDUCATION:

• MA, Teaching and Leadership – English as a Second Language (Univ. of Kansas)
• BA, Psychology (University of Kansas)

Dr. Stina Dufour joins CEA from the Office of Global Affairs at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. For more than ten years at NYU, Stina held increasingly responsible roles focused on academic affairs and the globalization of higher education. In this role, she was the office's lead contact with the University Registrar and worked closely with faculty from every Steinhardt department to co-create curricula at NYU's study sites and with other international partners.

Stina holds an EdD in Higher Education Administration from NYU with a dissertation titled, “Exploring the Meaning of Education Abroad to Americans: Long-Term Personal Development of Heritage-Seekers.” She also earned an MA in International Education from NYU and a BA in Sociology and Scandinavian Studies from North Park University, Chicago.

Stina entered the field of education abroad in 2009 after living for several formative years in Scandinavia, and studying abroad at Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (Jönköping, Sweden). She is active with NAFSA and the Forum on Education Abroad. In addition to presenting regularly at regional and national conferences, she served on the planning committee for the 2021 Forum Conference and is authoring a chapter in the 5th edition of NAFSA’s Guide to Education Abroad for Advisors and Administrators.

As Vice President, Spain, Mr. Figueras establishes a country strategy to ensure consistency among all sites, and to lead and support all program development initiatives geared toward enhancing quality. Mr. Figueras also monitors the academic standards of our programs and ensures that CEA policies are in place to serve the CEA community and deliver study abroad programs of quality and rigor.

Mr. Figueras has over 10 years of experience in the field of academia. Before joining CEA, he taught at Boise State University (Idaho), where he created an online language teaching program, developed Spanish course curriculum in the fields of Spanish Linguistics and Spanish for Heritage Learners, coordinated the Spanish Language Program, and served as the Director of the Undergraduate Spanish Program. Mr. Figueras also contributed to the development of a variety of teaching tools for various U.S. publishing companies, including two published workbook manuals for U.S. college students.

Mr. Figueras sees study abroad as a magnificent opportunity for personal growth and development, alongside academic advancement. Exploring new horizons not only opens doors to new ideas and views, but also helps you calibrate your potential and abilities in a new environment. This experience supports the development of a lifelong set of skills highly transferable to the personal and professional arenas.

Mr. Figueras holds an Executive MBA from La Salle (Universitat Ramon Llull, Spain), a master's in Spanish from Middlebury College (Vt.), and a bachelor's in Communications/Journalism from Boise State University (Idaho). He is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Catalan, has extensive knowledge of Portuguese, and working knowledge of French.

Growing up in Wisconsin, Alyssa was very lucky to have a family that enjoyed road trips around the United States and learning about new cultures. In high school, she traveled to Costa Rica with her Spanish class, and that is all it took to fully cement the idea that international travel was something that would have to become a part of her life.

In college, her love of Lord of the Rings led her to the actual Middle Earth; she studied abroad in New Zealand, despite pursuing a degree in Spanish. After graduation, she worked in hospitality while waiting to be accepted into the Peace Corps. Her time in Senegal, West Africa, led her to the conclusion that she wanted to be in the business of helping others have amazing, transformational experiences abroad.

So, she moved to Monterey, California to pursue her M.A. in International Education Management, giving her a wealth of knowledge about the field of International Education, as well as the opportunity to live and work in Madrid, Spain to complete her degree.

Finished with this degree, she joined CEA as a Site Specialist, working directly with students to help them achieve their dreams of studying abroad. Now, she has moved to the Enrollment Operations team and shifted to a more behind-the-scenes role that focuses on constantly fine-tuning the student experience.

Dr. Dovilé Daveluy

Media & Democracy in the Digital Age

Dr. Daveluy is a permanent faculty member at a leading Parisian business school. She is interested in the role of business in society and the impact of big businesses on democracy as well as the new forms of journalism and digital activism. She routinely teaches courses on Media and Democracy, Citizen Journalism, and Corporate Social Responsibility in the Fashion Industry. She holds an M.A. in Political Science and Economy from the Central European University and a Ph.D. in Media Studies and Journalism from Rutgers University.

Dr. Linnéa Tilly

History of Paris: An Architectural Perspective

Specializing in Parisian Architecture and Urbanism, Dr. Linnéa Tilly is a Research & Teaching Fellow in the History of Architecture and Construction at one of France’s leading Architecture schools. She has participated and contributed to several multidisciplinary French and European research projects. At CEA she routinely teaches courses in History of Architecture as well as 19th Century Art: Impressionism & Post Impressionism. She holds an M.A. in Art History from University Le Mirail II in Toulouse, an M.S. from the Center of Higher Renaissance studies (C.E.S.R), at the University F. Rabelais in Tours and a Ph.D. from Paris IV la Sorbonne University (Centre André Chastel). Linnea’s publications include works on transfer, collections and adaptations of technologies and building models, notably in between France and Sweden.

Pascal Yrissou

International Business

Pascal Yrissou is a business development professional experienced in operational and financial auditing, corporate finance, M&A and International project management. He has handled transactions spanning the globe: acquisitions and joint ventures in Europe, the US, China and Russia; structuring operations for French groups in Europe, the US, Russia, China and South Korea. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility within multinational corporations in the banking, transportation, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. In addition to teaching courses in International Business and Leadership at CEA since 2012, Mr. Yrissou has taught, for the past five years, in the Executive Education program at the prestigious Centrale Paris Engineering School. Mr. Yrissou holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and he is a lifetime member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor society. His publications include works on the Euro zone and on Russia.

Dr. Louis “Lou” Berends comes to CEA from Syracuse University where he most recently held positions as Director of Strategic and International Partnerships, and Director of Academic Programs under the Provost’s Office. Under Lou's leadership, Syracuse Abroad increased study abroad participation and is ranked highly as a national leader in study abroad. Lou has worked extensively in international education at U.S. universities and providers of global education since 2000. He holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago in cultural and educational policy studies with a concentration in comparative and international education.

Additionally, Lou studied at Brunel University (Uxbridge, UK), the University of Oxford (St. Catherine's College), as well as in Rome, Italy, and has visited and conducted research in numerous countries. Furthermore, Lou has presented many papers in various settings including Harvard's Graduate School of Education, the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), the Forum on Education Abroad, and NAFSA (among others). Lou’s most recent publication, co-edited with Dr. Kate Patch, SIO at Grinnell College, is a book on high-impact educational practices entitled, Undergraduate Research Abroad: Approaches, Models and Challenges (2020). Lou currently serves on the 9th Annual Diversity Abroad Conference Planning Committee to be held in October 2021.

Adriana was born and raised in Madrid, and relocated to Alicante to attend the Universidad de Alicante, where she majored in Tourism. She has a professional background in the tourism industry and has also worked in a university helping students to integrate to their new city. As a Student Services Coordinator in Alicante, Adriana advises students on issues related to student life, immersion, and cross-cultural information about the city, health and safety. She is responsible for day-to-day management of student services and for maintaining close contact with student families.

As a Student Life Advisor, Natalia acts as a liaison for student services onsite. She provides support for the planning and coordinating of housing, excursions, trips, and volunteering.

Born in Costa Rica, Natalia studied abroad as a 16-year-old for a full semester in West Palm Beach, Florida. Currently, she is completing a Product Design degree from Veritas University, where she has also studied Photography. In addition, she is certified in Hatha Yoga.

In her free time, Natalia enjoys spending time with her daughter, Luciana; they both enjoy playing at the park, doing yoga together, listening to music, and traveling around Costa Rica. She describes herself as someone who really enjoys learning from new cultures and meeting new people.

Álvaro J. Sanjuán studied English Literature, History and Linguistics at University of Oviedo (Spain) and continued his studies on Applied Languages at Dublin City University (Ireland). After being an Art History professor in UNIPEC in Burgos (Spain) he worked as Web Manager and Community Manager until he began to collaborate for several years as a tour guide with CEA Madrid where, eventually, he became Student Services Coordinator. He loves arts, history, opera and classical music and also running and outdoor sports.

Matt Janus' role at CEA is to oversee CEA's institutional relationships with schools in the Western United States. Matt and his team work closely with university advisors, faculty and staff to support the student exploration, advising and registration processes, as well as to identify ways in which CEA can assist in the success of the campus' agenda for internationalization.

Alex Henderson is CEA’s Senior Academic Coordinator. In addition to supporting the Academic Team in day-to-day operations, Alex is responsible for managing our Moodle LMS, assisting in the creation and implementation of academic policies, and chairing our scholarship committee. Before moving to the Academic Team, Alex previously worked as a CEA Admissions Counselor.

Alex is an alumnus of the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, where he earned a B.A. in History. He is also an alumnus of Northern Arizona University where he earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership.

Before moving to Phoenix to join CEA, Alex also lived in Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom. He enjoys long weekends with his wife and cats in his backyard perfecting his brisket recipe.

Sadi Foltz oversees and manages the integrity and efficiency of the internship placement process for all signature CEA Internships Abroad programs. Her primary focus is to ensure CEA delivers on our promise to students and university partners. She works hand-in-hand with CEA’s domestic and international internship teams to cultivate an engaging education experience for all internship students throughout the pre-departure process.

Sadi hails from Washington, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing Management. She earned her minor in Spanish Language & Literature while studying and volunteering abroad in Seville, Spain. Sadi is a NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) certified career coach and has earned a certificate in education abroad advising. In addition to her career and education abroad experience, Sadi also contributes project management and marketing knowledge to CEA to support the development of CEA Internships Abroad.

She has travelled, volunteered, and studied throughout Europe, Africa, Australia, and South America, and she speaks conversationally in Spanish. Sadi’s passion for immersive travel experiences led her to the field of international education. She believes in creating meaningful opportunities that help us understand and support others, which is increasingly important as the world continues to become more interconnected.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

NACE: National Association of Colleges & Employers

EDUCATION

BS, Business Administration, Marketing Management, Central Washington University

NACE Orientation to Coaching Certificate (2018)

NAFSA Education Abroad Advising Certificate (2019)

Project Management Certificate, University of Washington (2019)

Academic Director Monica Francioso joined the CEA Florence team in 2015, and is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of Florence academics including academic integrity, curriculum development, and faculty training and assessment. She serves as a leader for students and faculty, and her work ensures compliance with the standards established by our School of Record agreement with the University of New Haven. Monica holds regular on-campus office hours and is always happy to talk to students and faculty on academic matters, and to respond to all substantive inquiries and concerns. 

Monica obtained a BA in English and Russian from the Università degli Studi di Padova, an MA in English Studies, and a Ph.D. in Italian Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. Her thesis, which she is currently editing for publication, focuses on narrative theory in post-war Italy. She has published articles and books, both in Italian and English, on Celati, Calvino, Palandri, and migrant writers. 

Monica lived abroad in the United Kingdom and Ireland for 13 years. Prior to joining the CEA Florence team, Monica held several teaching positions in Italian language, literature and culture at various higher-ed institutions, including Royal Holloway University of London, University of Durham, University of Bath and University College Dublin. She earned a CELTA certificate to teach English as a foreign and second language. She also taught English to students of all levels, preparing them for the Cambridge English exams. Monica also holds a DITALS II certificate to teach Italian as a foreign and second language, and she worked as a teacher trainer for the same program. 

Monica firmly believes in the importance of studying abroad as a means to broaden horizons and better oneself. Her experiences have shown her how enriching speaking/learning other languages and knowing other cultures can be. She believes she would be a different person today had she not experienced life abroad.

As Student Life Advisor, Jorge serves as the primary contact for students in Granada. He coordinates the student registration process and monitors students’ academic progress, helping them achieve higher language attainment through courses and internship placements. Jorge also executes students´ arrival and excursions, and addresses student questions or concerns.

Before joining CEA, Jorge worked as an administrator, quality manager, and study abroad program coordinator at the Universidad de Granada for 3.5 years. He was appointed as a French-Spanish sworn translator by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, worked as a freelance sworn translator and interpreter for some translation agencies in Andalucía, and volunteered for the Immigrants Bureau at the Red Cross in Granada. Jorge holds a bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting and Immigration Laws from the University of Granada and a master’s degree in Foreign Trade and Quality Management from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

Jorge’s travels have taken him around the world to the U.S., France, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia, England, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Monaco, Malta, and Austria; he’ll soon travel to Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore. Jorge advises study abroad students to: “Make every effort to get immersed into the Spanish

culture and way of life. Meet locals and talk to them as much as you can. You will learn from them much more than from any book.”

As Academic Director, Mary Alice ensures that CEA Sevilla’s academic operations seamlessly develop and implement programs of academic excellence; reviews and maintains academic policies and practices; oversees the coordination and resolution of student academic issues; and supports faculty to ensure academic quality.

Originally from the U.S., Mary Alice brings over 25 years of international work and volunteer experience to her position at CEA. She’s lived in various cultures all over the world and uses her acquired knowledge to both inform her thinking and enable others to understand culture.

Mary Alice earned a Master's of Science in Education, Culture and Society from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Pennsylvania State University.

Upon arriving in Spain in 1998, she worked as a cultural advisor for newly arrived U.S. military personnel and U.S. university students and spent more than 10 years with TCU coordinating their Sevilla program. These experiences allow Mary Alice to help students arriving in Sevilla quickly transform from excited traveler to awed and informed long-term visitor.

Mary Alice's love of foreign cultures and her knowledge of English, Spanish, Japanese, and Thai have taken her all over the world, including Peru, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Spain, and the U.S. Her work as a Peace Corp volunteer, a language teacher, and a public speaker on cultural values, combined with her travel and language experiences, have provided Mary Alice with a knowledge of extreme cultural differences and supplied her with a series of personal anecdotes that help her empower students to analyze and investigate cultural values and differences.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Teaching English of Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

As CEA Prague Academic Director, Lenka provides leadership, oversight, and quality control for all academic matters and serves as the primary contact for students and staff regarding academics. At the CEA Prague Study Center, Lenka is responsible for faculty management, curriculum development, student academic advising, and for safeguarding the high academic quality of the program and adherence to academic policies. She is also responsible for maintaining strong ties with our partner institution, Anglo-American University, to ensure that program content and delivery meet the needs of U.S. universities and students.

Lenka spent a significant portion of her life studying in the U.S. and has worked in study abroad for over fifteen years. She holds a doctorate in Political Science from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet in Munich, a master’s degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and German Studies from Lewis & Clark College. Her academic interests include democratization, Central European politics, and EU studies.

Ana's role is to ensure the academic quality of all CEA Barcelona programs. She reviews the curriculum and coordinates the development of new courses, reviews and maintains consistency of academic policies and practices, oversees the resolution of all important student academic issues, and provides support to faculty to guarantee academic excellence.

Prior to joining CEA, Ana worked with another study abroad organization as a resident coordinator and faculty member. She's also held several university positions: Assistant Director of the Advanced Spanish Language Program at Georgetown University (Washington D.C.), Teaching Associate at Georgetown University and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (Spain), and Teaching Assistant and Director of the Spanish House at Middlebury College (Vt.). Ana earned her Ph.D. in Spanish Applied Linguistics at Georgetown University, which also conferred to her a Master of Science in Linguistics. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Philology from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain).

Ana first travelled to Dublin, Ireland in high school and subsequently studied in London for four months. She also spent her senior year of college studying in Pisa, Italy and completed her graduate studies in Washington, D.C. She loves traveling and believes that understanding the world from different perspectives is the one of the most enriching lessons that students can learn while living abroad.

Christopher oversees academic programs offered through CEA 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, 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 Director for CEA Dublin Center, Mr. Darragh O Briain manages faculty relationships and appointments, schedules courses, manages student and faculty grievances, assists in recommending curriculum updates, provides academic advising, and oversees the day-to-day academic activities of the CEA Dublin Center.

Mr. O Briain has vast lecturing experience in Market Research, Event Management, Marketing Communications, Sales Management and Entrepreneurship with the American College Dublin, Griffith College and the European Business School. In 2005, he was elevated to the position of Academic Director of the European Business School, where he was responsible for overseeing faculty and academia for visiting U.S. and European semester students. Mr. O Briain is the Academic Dean of The International School of Business, where is responsible for faculty, students, curriculum development, assessments and course validation. Mr. O Briain has also sat on the Academic Executive Board of Dublin Business School and been involved with an expert panel for degree course validation on behalf of HETAC (Irish State Higher Education Accreditation Committee).

Mr. O Briain holds an MA from Trinity College, where he focused his thesis studies on advertising, communication and media. He also has an Advanced Diploma in Marketing techniques and a BS in Marketing, jointly awarded by Dublin Institute of Technology and Trinity College.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

* HETAC (Irish Government Accreditation Agency) Expert Panel for Programme Validation

* Sat on Dublin Business School's Executive Committee

HONORS/AWARDS

* Diploma in Advanced Marketing Techniques - Dublin Institute of Technology

* Certificate in Applied Merchandising and Display - Dublin Institute of Technology

* London Chamber of Commerce Certificate in Advanced Business German

* 2007 Acknowledged for "Outstanding Contribution to Youth Work" by Dublin City Vocational Education Committee

* 2008 Honoured by the President for 10 years of quality adult service to Gaisce/The President's Award (The Presidents Citizenship scheme for young people)

Alexandra serves as academic leader for faculty and students and provides oversight for academic integrity, program and course design, faculty hire, training and assessment, relations with local universities and select US partner colleges. She responds to all inquiries relevant to academic matters and offers support for educational development and student mentorship. A faculty member since the opening of the Rome campus in 2008, she also teaches History of Art and Archaeology.

Alexandra was raised in Italy and Germany, before moving to the UK where she studied History of Art. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Warwick, BA and MA degrees with Double Distinction from the Courtauld Institute of Art, as well as a Diploma from the Study Centre for the History of the Fine and Decorative Arts. Her main research interest is the Renaissance and the reception of Classical Antiquity. Her doctoral thesis on ‘Dionysus in the Arts of the Modern Era’ is currently under review for publication.

Prior to joining CEA, Alexandra has taught for various study abroad programs in Florence, Siena and Rome. Aside of her academic activity she works as author, consultant and speaker for documentaries on art and history, collaborates with the Colonna and Doria Pamphilj galleries and curates the Art Collection of the Rome Cavalieri Hotel (Waldorf-Astoria). As a licensed guide she conducts specialized visits for embassies, governmental institutions, collectors and museum curators and has acted as study leader for U.S. organizations such as the World Monuments Fund and the National Trust USA. In the past she has written for Blue Guides and has published her own guide book to Rome, has worked for the Thyssen Museum in Madrid and Sotheby’s Auctioneers and has organized large scale events for international investor groups. She is tri-lingual in German, Italian, and English, fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of French.

Alexandra’s international background make her a firm believer of global education. Curiosity and a passion for ‘piecing together the puzzle’ of the cultures she encounters help her enrich her own. To her students and her children (who are Mexican/Italian) she hopes to transmit the tools to ‘think outside the box’, broaden their horizons and become aware of the globalized world they live in.

Michelle Tolan Tomasi is a DEI strategist known for identifying blind-spots to improve system design and more intentionally fulfill the promise of education to all students. She is an organizational architect who believes we must bridge linguistic and cultural constructs to sustain genuine inclusion in global programming.

Known for creating several award-winning financial aid and scholarship programs, Michelle also served as chair of the Forum on Education Abroad’s Inclusive Excellence working group and has led DEI discussions and working groups within NAFSA, Diversity Abroad, and several U.S. higher education institutions. Her groundbreaking work with first-generation college students in study abroad is featured in Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad, and she was the inaugural winner of STA/GoAbroad’s “Start the Adventure Award for Advocacy.”

Michelle knows personally the power of global education on students and, indeed, their entire communities. She was first in her family to graduate high school, going on to study abroad and earn a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature. First-gen, child of a single parent, educational advocate, tribal member, working mother, military spouse—Michelle has many identities that inform her passion to pull up and support students facing barriers to high-impact education.

As the Director of International Programs for France and Director for the CEA Paris Center, Alexandra is responsible for overall programming and operations for CEA sites in France, maintaining CEA standards across all educational programs. There's a lot to keep her busy on-site, 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 Bachelor of Arts in Art History and French at Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) and completed a DEA after earning a Master of Arts in Art History at the Université de Paris-IV Sorbonne (France). 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.

Before joining CEA, Alexandra started her career as a one-person office Program Coordinator for CAPA International Education in Paris, where she gained experience in hands-on programming. 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, 2013 and 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

• “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

Dr. Stephen J. Cadwell

Popular Culture in Ireland

Dr. Cadwell holds BA degrees in Philosophy, French and History from University College Dublin as well as a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the same institution. He has also completed post-doctoral research at the University of Limerick. Dr. Cadwell has over 13 years of teaching experience, 3 of which are specific to North American students in the study abroad context. He has taught Popular Culture in Ireland at the CEA Study Center for a number of year. Highlights from Dr. Cadwell’s Pop Culture course are lectures on Cultural Nationalism in painting, where students learn definitions and concepts involved in Cultural Nationalism. Students examine paintings from Norway, France, and the United States and also paintings from the Irish National Gallery collection. These are used to prompt students to engage with what they are seeing, not in terms of art criticism but in terms of narratives of national identity. Dr. Cadwell is known for engaging students in lively class discussions and his innovative walking tours of Dublin.

Damien Kelly

International Marketing

Damien holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Irish from Maynooth University. He also holds a Master’s in Business Management from Dublin City University. Prior to his role at CEA Dublin, Damien worked as a Relationship Manager in Commercial Finance for Allied Irish Banks. He also spent a year in Perth, Australia as a Team Leader for Sales & Marketing Consultancy, Appco. In 2016, he became Assistant Director at CEA Study Abroad and the International School of Business Dublin. In 2018, Damien founded ’50 things to do’, an e-commerce business specialising in products promoting activities in Dublin. Damien’s teaching philosophy views education as a transformational process. He provides students with detailed course information as foundational, and encourages them to immerse themselves in discussion to advance a higher level of critical thinking and analysis. Damien’s classes are focused on an interactive classroom, which allows students to integrate with their peers, with the lecturer, and to move from a mindset of apathy to one of inquiry.

Gráinne McKeever

Social Psychology

Gráinne has taught Social Psychology with CEA Dublin since 2019. She is currently completing a Ph.D. in Sociology at University College Dublin as an Irish Research Council Scholar, where her Master’s thesis was awarded the Mary Kelly Medal in 2015. Prior to her entry into the field of sociology, Grainne taught Art and Design at post primary level for ten years, and published several textbooks on the subject. She has taught sociology and social psychology to Irish and American students since 2017 and currently lectures at the National University of Ireland Maynooth. With a background in theatre and stand-up comedy, as well as a TedX talk as part of the Fulbright Commission events in 2016, Grainne's lectures often incorporate humorous perspectives on film and television clips, as well as an array of interesting guest lectures, from film directors and performers to fellow academics.

Dr. Grace O'Keeffe

History of Ireland

Grace O'Keeffe holds a BA (Hons), MPhil and a Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin all in Irish History. Dr. O’Keeffe taught undergraduate History classes at Trinity for several years, focusing on Irish and British medieval history. For the last decade, during the summer months and outside of the academic year, she has conducted history walking tours in Dublin, to both local and international audiences. Dr. O’Keeffe’s teaching philosophy is to help students understand Irish history not as simply one event following another, but as a complicated and constantly evolving interaction of local and international influences. Students come away from her classes with an understanding of how we evaluate history and provide students with the tools to critically evaluate what they read - a skill students they can carry into their other subjects.

Dr. Ivan Robertson

Communication & Global Competence

Ivan Robertson has a BFA from New York University, an MFA from Trinity College Dublin and a Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin as well. Ivan is a native New Yorker that has made Dublin his home for the last 20 years. It is this ‘fish out of water’ experience that gives him the backdrop to lecture in Communications and Global Competence where he examines the social, cultural and political ramifications of being a “global citizen”. Having gone through that culture shock himself, he asks students to look at their own cultural identities and how their cultural influences effect their relationships with others, especially in the their new cultural context of Dublin. Ivan, a published writer, is a born story teller and a natural narrator who runs highly interactive, discussion-based classes. Ivan’s Ph.D. focused on the creative processes of certain New York districts and he draws on those creative findings to run highly entertaining and stimulating classes and study visits. Ivan has a wealth of experience in teaching and lecturing to Irish, International and US students across Dublin’s top institutions.

Dr. Caroline West

Psychology of Marketing

Dr. Caroline West holds a Ph.D. from Dublin City University. Her research is interdisciplinary, focusing on Sexuality Studies and Cultural Studies. Caroline also holds an MA in Sexuality Studies, a Higher Diploma in Psychoanalysis, and a BA in Social Science, both from DCU (Dublin City University). Caroline has presented her research nationally and internationally to a mix of academics and students on the university circuit and also to a wider mainstream TV, radio and newspaper audiences, as she is a regular media contributer and commentator in Irish media. Caroline has been teaching at third level since 2015, and has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate students across Ireland. She runs one day intensive training workshops for therapists and psychology students. Caroline utilizes the work of Carl Rodgers and uses blended learning in order to facilitate different learning styles of students. Her lectures encourage critical thinking and promote research literacy, applying marketing theories to marketing on a variety of platforms such as traditional marketing, social media marketing, and the use of celebrity influencers. Her industry, media and academic connections mean that she has access to an amazing wealth of leading guest speakers and insightful study visits.

As CEA Prague Academic Director, Lenka provides leadership, oversight, and quality control for all academic matters and serves as the primary contact for students and staff regarding academics. At the CEA Prague Study Center, Lenka is responsible for faculty management, curriculum development, student academic advising, and for safeguarding the high academic quality of the program and adherence to academic policies. She is also responsible for maintaining strong ties with our partner institution, Anglo-American University, to ensure that program content and delivery meet the needs of U.S. universities and students.

Lenka spent a significant portion of her life studying in the U.S. and has worked in study abroad for over fifteen years. She holds a doctorate in Political Science from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet in Munich, a master’s degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and German Studies from Lewis & Clark College. Her academic interests include democratization, Central European politics, and EU studies.

As Assistant Director, Damien manages various American and European student programs, organizes cultural visits such as trips to Galway, Belfast, and Glendalough, is responsible for the management and promotion of the social media platforms and is responsible for day-to-day duties such as scheduling, student well-being and academic activities.

Damien took on the role of Digital Marketing Manager for The Irish Teaching and Learning Festival in 2010 before leaving Ireland to travel for two years. Damien travelled across South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He worked as Sales Team Leader for Appco Australia in Perth for a year and came back to Ireland in 2013 to work in Finance as a Relationship Manager. He spent 3 years working in Ireland’s premier bank, Allied Irish Bank, where he managed relationships with some of Ireland’s most successful corporations and SMEs. Damien took on the role of Head of Communications & Development at CEA Dublin Center in January 2016. Having enjoyed several summers teaching Gaelic in Connemara, Damien now lectures in International Marketing, Marketing Communications and Digital Media for ISB and CEA programs.

Damien holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Irish from Maynooth University and a Masters in Business Management from Dublin City University. Damien’s passion in life is discovering and exploring new cultures and experiences abroad and as a member of the CEA Dublin Centre team he yearns to promote the same passion amongst the students each semester.

Jose has a BA in Communication from Arturo Michelena University in his home country Venezuela and is a TEFL certified instructor from the Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Before relocating to Buenos Aires, Jose spent eight years working as an English professor for private institutes and universities, gaining experience in teaching and supporting students from all ages and with different language needs. He also has a professional background as a cultural events producer, handling logistics and social media presence and in management assistance for a health-related organization.

Having travelled through the USA and visited different Latin American countries, Jose is passionate about working in an international environment and using his communication, teaching oriented and social skills to bring cultures together and provide a great academic experience and support for CEA students in Buenos Aires.

As Operations Manager, Margit serves as a leader on data management initiatives for the Program Development department, managing the integrity of program data for internal and external stakeholders, as well as serving as the Department’s primary liaison on large-scale organizational data initiatives. This collaborative position regularly engages international staff to ensure the accuracy of program data, and requires Margit to work with staff across the organization to identify and implement process improvements in the areas of program data collection. In addition, Margit plays a valuable role in the development of new programs, from research to launch, and provides strategic support to other Program Development team members with data-related tasks such as research, database entry, marketing tasks, and training. Margit interacts heavily with CEA international staff and consistently works to enhance connectivity with our international colleagues. 

Margit is originally from Slovenia and holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Margit started traveling abroad at an early age and has since checked more than 20 different countries off her long ‘must visit’ list. During her undergraduate education, she participated in two study abroad exchanges—at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, and at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona—which gave her the opportunity to immerse herself in the American education system and culture. Prior to joining CEA, she worked for the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington D.C. as a Consular Advisor. Margit speaks 3 languages: English, Slovenian, and Italian.

Originally from North Carolina, and now a long-time resident of New York City, Rebecca has been a member of CEA’s University Relations team since 2009. She works closely with study abroad offices and university faculty at institutions of higher education in the Northeast (NAFSA Regions X and XI). Her primary goal is to establish long-term partnerships that support and increase participation in study and internship abroad programs, therefore contributing to her college and university partners’ broader strategic goals for internationalization. Just as important, as one of her former university partner contacts remarked, these partnerships allow institutions to “exit” better students – “better” being defined as young adults with a broader worldview and, hopefully, compassion and empathy for people beyond the U.S. border.

In addition, Rebecca serves as NAFSA’s France Country Coordinator through NAFSA’s Education Abroad Regulatory Practice Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee (CAL). She has been on the CAL Visa Subcommittee since 2010. The French visa process can be challenging, and Rebecca enjoys being of service to advisors in the field who need support and guidance.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts in French, History and International Studies from the University of Chapel Hill at North Carolina (UNC) and a Master of Arts in TESOL for adult learners from New York University (NYU). Before joining CEA, Rebecca developed a study abroad program for Dublin Business School, where she established partner institution and third party provider relationships that doubled the program's annual revenue. She was also solely responsible for admissions and overall program management and administration.

A trip abroad to England at the age of 14 sparked Rebecca’s life-long love of international travel and culture; keen to learn French from an early age, she participated in a French immersion program in Chicoutimi, Quebec and spent a year in Paris as an au pair after graduating from UNC, both deeply enriching experiences. She has maintained her proficiency in French ever since.

Rebecca is a passionate international educator and thoroughly enjoys the opportunities for relationship building that come with her role. When not planning her next trip abroad, she is perfectly content being at home, watching Hitchcock films and planning meals. She is an avid cook, whose palette and cooking have been heavily influenced by her travels.

Tim Boubek is the Vice President of Strategic University Partnerships. CEA established its University Relations department to serve as a vital resource to enhance university outreach efforts throughout the U.S. Tim leads the team of CEA Regional Consultants to foster collaborative relationships with university partners, and provides U.S. institutions with a keen knowledge of CEA operations, from student recruitment, admissions, and planning through their time abroad and return to their U.S. campus.

Tim brings many years of study abroad experience to the position, having served previously in several operational capacities at CEA. A current member of NAFSA, he graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement - Criminal Justice and a minor in Business Administration. He earned a certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of Phoenix.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• AIEA: Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators

EDUCATION

• BS, Law Enforcement – Criminal Justice, Western Illinois University

• Minor, Business Administration, Western Illinois University

• Certificate in Human Resources Management, University of Phoenix

As an Internship Coach, Christine’s main focus is to prepare prospective internship students for their experience abroad. Through interview coaching, résumé and cover letter reviewing, and goal-setting, she works closely with the International Placement Coordinators to align students internship placements with their goals and interests, while appropriately setting expectations for their life abroad. Christine comes to the Internships Abroad team with over four years of experience within CEA-first as an Admissions Counselor and then, more recently, as a Site Specialist, helping students to prepare logistically and culturally for their upcoming study abroad experiences. She completed her undergraduate degree in International studies with a concentration in Africa and minor in Sociology from the College of Charleston, in Charleston, SC. Her study abroad experience took to spend a semester in Meknes, Morocco, but not before living in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for two years. She has travelled, volunteered and studied throughout Europe, Africa, and Central America and looks forward to expanding her horizons even further.

Christine grew up in a multi-lingual household, and is fluent in the Moroccan dialect of Arabic (Darija). After studying abroad, Christine dove head-first into international education by volunteering and interning at her study abroad office, which then brought her to CEA post-graduation. She believes in fostering students passion for travel and career development and is deeply invested in helping students to become more global citizens.

With CEA since 2009, Assistant Director Letizia Ialini oversees the Student Services team in Florence and supports students with particular difficulties during their time abroad. As well, Letizia liaises with local housing providers to ensure quality accommodation and services to students and visiting professors. Lastly, she collaborates to design and implement Custom and Faculty-Led programs. Her wide-ranging experience in administration makes Letizia a strong asset to the Florence team.

Letizia studied Economics at the University of Florence. As a student, she moved to Bournemouth, England where she worked as a trainee in the financial department of an industrial company. This first experience abroad sparked her interest in traveling and learning, inspiring her to study for a year in Melbourne, Australia. There she perfected her English, travelled often and made friends from all around the world.  Prior to joining CEA, Letizia managed the technical office of Prato Trade, a branch of the Industrial Union of Prato, where she organized expositions for national and international trade fairs. She also worked for a Florentine cooking school.  

In her spare time, Letizia enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling. She loves to help students connect with Italian culture, and believes that overcoming the challenge of culture shock results in growth and flexibility that can help students in their professional and personal lives.

As Academic Advisor for the CEA Rome Center, Chiara Ortolani serves as the primary contact for students and faculty regarding everyday academic issues. In addition, Chiara works with the Italy Assistant Academic Dean in all aspects of course registration, the coordination of class schedules, classroom use, and academic facilities management.

Chiara is responsible for keeping the Italy Assistant Academic Dean informed on a regular basis of the progress of the academic program and any issues that need her attention. A native of Rome, Chiara has many years experience working for American multinational companies such as Microsoft, Hertz, and Merck Sharp & Dohme. She earned her MA in Marketing and Product Management from Il Sole 24 Ore Business School in Rome, and holds a BA in Business Studies from Staffordshire University (UK). In addition to her native Italian, she also speaks English, Spanish and French.

As Program Director, Laura's role is to provide leadership to the Student Support team at CEA Barcelona. She is responsible for management of staffing, financial logistics, student services, students accommodation, and Health & Safety issues.

Prior to joining CEA, Laura coordinated European Language Exchange Programs in both Barcelona and London, working to offer accommodation and cultural activities to language students. Laura holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from the University of Middlesex in London and has over 15 years of experience in the study abroad field, with extensive expertise in the planning, execution, and delivery of student services.

Originally from Barcelona, Laura has extensively travelled around Spain, Europe and the U.S. She speaks Catalan, Spanish, and English. Laura firmly believes that traveling and study abroad are the best ways to expand and invigorate one's mind. She loves the fact that her job contributes to students' personal growth and to a better global cultural understanding.

As Program Director, Antoinette provides leadership to the Student Support team at CEA Barcelona. She oversees program operations, manages staffing, financial logistics, student services, student accommodation, and health & safety.

Prior to joining CEA, Antoinette spent over 15 years working in higher education as a professor and chairperson of the Department of Modern Languages at St. Joseph´s College, New York, where she also spent 2 years as Director of the Office of Global Studies. During her years on the faculty, she led short-term study abroad programs in Buenos Aires, Nicaragua and Cuba embedded in courses on Latin American literature & culture and service-learning.

Antoinette earned a Ph.D. in Hispanic and Lusophone Languages & Literatures from New York University, where she taught Spanish on the New York City campus and in the NYU Buenos Aires summer program. As a Spanish and French major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she spent her junior year abroad at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid and her final undergraduate semester in Paris.

Antoinette has always had a love for languages and the worlds they open to us. In addition to her native English, she is fluent in Spanish and a lifelong learner of Portuguese, French and, more recently, Catalan.

Dr. Hertel believes in global learning´s potential to be transformative. The process of critical reflection that CEA cultivates in students in their programs abroad is key to developing a global self-awareness and an understanding of multiple perspectives that can equip them to successfully face global challenges that arise in our culturally diverse society.

As Center Director for Rome, Anna Felberbaum is responsible for office administration and the day-to-day management including staffing, student services, host institution relations, local vendor relations, and student evaluations. Anna advises students on issues related to academics, cross-cultural information and health and safety.

Anna was born in London, England, but has lived most of her life in Rome with brief periods in the UK and the U.S. for both study and work. Anna has over 11 years of experience in all aspects of study abroad. Before joining CEA, she worked for John Cabot University for four years as the Coordinator of Student Services. Previously, she managed Rome's main English bookshop.

Anna has a BA in English Literature from John Cabot University and is fluent in both written and spoken Italian.

Clive Woollard

Family Business and Entrepreneurship

Clive is a British professor and entrepreneur who has been living in Italy for over 20 years. He holds an MBA from Aston University (Birmingham, UK). He has been teaching for 12 years at graduate and postgraduate level in the UK system and 9 years with North American students. He teaches a variety of business topics, such as entrepreneurship, sustainability, food Business, family business, governance, ethics, mergers, acquisitions, and divestments. Clive is an entrepreneur, business owner and business consultant, who can convey the academic rationale and the practicalities of business in European and Global contexts.

Dr. Zachary Androus

Sport & Culture

Zachary has a Ph.D. in Anthropology with an Interdisciplinary Concentration in Race, Gender, and Social Justice from American University, Washington, DC. His expertise ranges from research methodology to indigeneity, sovereignty, and nationalism, sport, gender, and endangered language revitalization. He has been teaching for 17 years, including fourteen in study abroad. Zachary is a very active scholar and, among other things, he has directed an ethnographic field school and has organized international research conferences. He was an invited guest professor at Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland) and has several publications on sport, nationalism, and sovereignty. Zachary is also a master goldsmith.

Dr. Katharina Giraldi-Haller

The Great Masters: Leonardo, Michelangelo & Raphael

Katharina is Austrian by birth and a Florentine at heart. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Vienna and specialized in Italian Art History and International Modern Art. Her interests include Italian art from the medieval to modern periods, in forensic methods, and diagnostics. She is currently working on the psychological stakes of art competitions and artists’ rivalry. She has been teaching for 20 years, many of which with north American and British Universities and Institutions. This year she received a Grant at Washington University to participate at the CAA 2020 (in February) in Chicago with the paper ‘Mapping Cosimo I. de Medici & Propaganda, the Laurentian Library and the Garden in Villa Castello’.

Dr. Angela Oberer

Secrets, Signs & Symbols in Italian Art: Exercises in Iconography;The Great Masters: Leonardo, Michelangelo & Raphael

Angela is a German art historian and chose Florence as her second home. She obtained her Ph.D. from Technische Universität in Berlin and her main interests include Italian Renaissance and women artists, even though she is currently working on Italian Rococo. She has 20 years teaching experience with North American students. She won the Kress Foundation Scholarship, New York, to carry out research at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. She is about to publish her latest book entitled, The Life and Work of Rosalba Carriera (1673-1757), Queen of Pastel, which is forthcoming (July 2020).

Dr. Lorenzo Picchi

The Policies of Organized Crime: Mafia and anti-Mafia in Italy

Lorenzo began his teaching career in 2003 after completing his BA and MA in political science at the University of Florence, Italy. He earned his Ph.D. at Freie University, Berlin, Germany. His academic experience includes journal articles and conference presentations. His field of research is mainly in the area of Italian mafias. He is an honorary member of the Antimafia organization Fondazione Caponnetto and the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Florence News. Lorenzo has been teaching the online course “Mafia: Evolution of a Criminal Enterprise” for University of New Haven (UNH) since the fall of 2010 after being trained on online teaching methodologies at UNH.

Colin’s role is to assist with managing the CEA Dublin center. His responsibilities include overseeing various custom programs for CEA and the International School of Business, as well as managing CEA’s international internship program. Colin also provides support in the areas of student welfare, accommodation, events and excursions, and immigration.

Colin began working in international education in 2009, when he came to Dublin as a postgraduate student and coordinated custom programs on a part-time basis. Having also worked for FIE, IES Abroad and Groupe IGS, Colin has extensive experience in study abroad for both North American and European students. As well as working for CEA Dublin, he also looks after a few Dublin-based programs for Groupe IGS, a consortium of private business schools in France. Colin lectures at both institutions, teaching courses in marketing and communications. Prior to relocating to Dublin, he was based in Chicago, Illinois and worked in sales and marketing.

Colin has a master’s in Marketing from Dublin Business School and a bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Business Administration from The University of Iowa.

Based out of Wisconsin, Jon Jorgenson works with our university advisors, faculty and staff to support student exploration, advising, and registration processes, in addition to identifying ways CEA can help its university partners be more successful in internationalizing its curriculum.

Caroline Walsh is responsible for the alignment and growth of CEA’s current product portfolio and expansion into new markets. She works closely with leadership within University Relations to identify university needs and trends and collaborates with Academic Affairs and CEA staff worldwide to design and deliver new programs and academic partnerships that are best suited to meet the needs of our U.S. university partners.

Prior to joining CEA, Caroline worked in the Public Information Office for the Santa Clara Water District, at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco, and at the Office of International Student Scholars at UW-Madison. She has a Master of Arts in Latin American studies from UW-Madison (Wisc.), a certificate of global leadership from the Thunderbird School of Management (Ariz.) and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Santa Clara University (Calif.).

While living for a year in Madrid, Spain, Caroline used her school breaks and weekends to travel throughout Spain and many other countries within Europe. She also lived in Bolivia and Brazil, and traveled throughout Peru, Chile, and the Amazon. Caroline thinks it's OK for students to be uncomfortable when traveling abroad: "It is in these moments we learn about ourselves and the new culture we are visiting. When you leave your comfort zone, you grow. You'll feel awkward and out of place many times, but that's OK. Don't shy away from difficult moments or stay where you are comfortable, you may be surprised at how strong you are."

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators

PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS

• "Planning Quality Short-Term Study Abroad Programs," Co-Presented at NAFSA: Association of International Educators Region II and III, Bi-Regional Conference 2005, Colorado Springs

• "Crisis Management in Study Abroad," Co-Presented at Arizona International Educators Conference 2002, Tucson

HONORS/AWARDS

• Recipient of a University Fellowship as well as the Intensive Foreign Language HEA Title VI Fellowship from University of Wisconsin – Madison

• Recipient of an Intensive Foreign Language HEA Title VI Fellowship (Portuguese)

Caterina is a native of Rome. Passionate about Italian culture and the arts, she pursued her studies in classics. After university studies in law school, she completed her education by getting her license as a coach and as a counselor.

Caterina's curious mind brought her to England, where she worked as a tourist assistant. In this role, she organized and administered language courses and cultural activities all over Europe. Fond of anthropology and different cultures, she travels extensively, thus far visiting Europe, the U.S., and Africa.

Caterina has significant experience in office management and communication and media relations. She loves teamwork and contributes with enthusiasm and creativity, motivating colleagues to achieve their goals.

In her free time, Cate works as a literary consultant and freelance proof-reader, and enjoys music and swimming. She is sensitive to social cultural issues and she is an active member of voluntary groups.

As CEA Seville’s Senior Housing Coordinator, Esther is responsible for managing all aspects of Center housing, including selecting and maintaining a network of relationships with local constituents to offer four different concepts of student housing.  She advises students on issues related to housing, the adaptation process, and making the most out of their study abroad experience. She also joins students and staff at social events, immersion activities, and daytrips.

Born and raised in Seville, Esther holds a bachelor's degree in English Language and a postgraduate certificate in education from the Universidad de Sevilla. As an undergraduate student, Esther had the opportunity to study abroad in France. After graduation, Esther moved to the Canary Islands where she worked in the tourism sector and learned German. She also had the opportunity to spend a year in Ireland, a life-changing experience that increased Esther's interest in other cultures.

Prior to joining CEA, Esther worked in the education field with international students. Esther loves traveling and being in touch with other cultures. She has travelled to several European countries, including Portugal, Italy, France, England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Esther feels that studying abroad influences students' career path, world-view, and self-confidence, all while helping them better understand their own cultural values and biases.

As Senior Program Manager, Radka is responsible for the Prague Custom and Faculty-Led Programs agenda and Housing agenda.

In cooperation with the CEA Custom Programs and University Relations Teams, Radka works on developing program proposals. She is responsible for the planning, implementing, and coordinating of Prague Custom Programs. During the pre-arrival planning phase, Radka serves as a main onsite contact for universities and is responsible for aligning of the cultural activities and the student experience with the university's academic part of the program.

Radka is also responsible for Prague Housing agenda. This includes development of the Prague housing portfolio for Semester and Summer programs as well as Custom Programs and coordinating all housing details and issues with housing providers during the planning process, but also once students are onsite. Radka also serves as a main Housing contact and support for students during the whole program.

Radka likes to spend her free time with her family by travelling, hiking, cycling or at her cabin. When time allows, Radka also loves cultural events, going to cinemas, theaters, and art exhibitions.

As a Spanish Language Coordinator & Senior Academic Advisor, Sonia manages the Spanish language courses to ensure high academic standards and course quality, as well as students’ registration in Spanish courses at CEA and our partner universities. She also manages the tutoring program, and organizes and supervises cultural activities designed to enhance language acquisition. In addition, Sonia teaches several Spanish language courses.

Sonia was born and raised in Alcoy, Alicante, and graduated from the University of Alicante with a degree in Hispanic Philology. She speaks Spanish, Catalan, English, and some French. After graduation, Sonia accepted a job teaching Spanish at a small high school in Massachusetts, an unforgettable experience for her. After two years in the U.S., Sonia returned to Spain in 2002 to begin an M.A. in Teaching Spanish as Second Language at the University of Barcelona, which is how she ended up in Barcelona. She has taught Spanish for various study abroad programs in Barcelona, as well as at ESADE Business School. In her free time, Sonia enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, and traveling.

Sonia became involved in study abroad because her two years abroad showed her what an incredible experience it is to live in a different country. The time she spent in the U.S. helped her to understand the world—and herself—a bit better, and this is why she encourages her students to make the most of the wonderful opportunity they have to live and study abroad.

Tim Ramsay works closely with institutional staff and faculty, alongside CEA’s University Relations team and international Program Directors, to develop and facilitate high-quality custom programs that meet and support both institutional and student needs.

Tim holds a Master of Management degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before joining the CEA family, Tim worked in the field as a Director of Study Abroad and Student Activities for 10+ years specializing in program development and assessment. Tim has facilitated several faculty/staff training and workshops on risk management and overall student development across the state of Michigan.

Tim has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Latin America. He is also passionate about the importance of service and has led many mission trips to the Caribbean and Latin America.

As Program Director, Laura's role is to provide leadership to the Student Support team at CEA Barcelona. She is responsible for management of staffing, financial logistics, student services, students accommodation, and Health & Safety issues.

Prior to joining CEA, Laura coordinated European Language Exchange Programs in both Barcelona and London, working to offer accommodation and cultural activities to language students. Laura holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from the University of Middlesex in London and has over 15 years of experience in the study abroad field, with extensive expertise in the planning, execution, and delivery of student services.

Originally from Barcelona, Laura has extensively travelled around Spain, Europe and the U.S. She speaks Catalan, Spanish, and English. Laura firmly believes that traveling and study abroad are the best ways to expand and invigorate one's mind. She loves the fact that her job contributes to students' personal growth and to a better global cultural understanding.

Joanna Skrzelinska

Positive Psychology

Joanna is a psychologist, life coach, researcher and lecturer in Positive Psychology at the CEA Study Abroad in Rome. She has worked at various educational institutions in Italy, Portugal, Poland, the UK and Ireland. Her main academic interests include positive and cross-cultural psychology, mindfulness, compassion and promotion of mental health and well-being. Joanna has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Psychology both from the University of Warsaw. She has completed postgraduate studies in Life Coaching as well as in Counseling and Coaching Skills. Along with teaching, counseling and holding workshops on personal growth, she is completing her Ph.D. in Psychology of Well-Being at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, on the role of gratitude in life.

Ieva Jakobsone Bellomi

International Business

Latvian by birth and a certified lawyer, Ieva obtained an M.B.A. from Boston University and a Finance and Accounting Diploma from the London School of Economics. Before moving to Rome, Ieva worked for over 10 years in economic and commercial public diplomacy in the Baltic States, Russia, United Kingdom and China. Ieva was in fact one of the earliest public policy experts promoting the China’s One Belt One Road initiatives in the Eastern and Central European countries. In addition, Ieva holds over 5 years of corporate experience working for the British FTSE 250 companies in London in the field of international business analysis, corporate strategy and change management. Currently she serves as a non-executive director at CYPE Investment Consulting Co (Beijing) residing in Europe and consulting Chinese companies on the European markets. At CEA, Ieva teaches International Business and supervises students enrolled in the Internship program.

Mario Cacciafeste

Italian Language & Culture

Mario Cacciafeste is a native of Rome. After studying Classics in high school, he graduated in Humanities at La Sapienza University and earned his Diploma as teacher of Italian as a Second Language at Dilit International House of Rome. In the past he has taught Italian language and culture at UPTER, Università Popolare per la Terza Età and has collaborated with various embassies and institutions such as the Parsec Association and the Centre for Migration Studies (CSER). Prior to joining CEA in 2008, Mario taught for various study abroad programs including Cornell University, Rhode Island School of Design, the University of California and DePaul University.

Ippolita Conestabile

Italian Language & Culture

Born in Rome, Ippolita graduated in Contemporary Italian Literature from La Sapienza University of Rome with a thesis on Vitaliano Brancati, and obtained a Ditals II Certification to teach Italian as a foreign language from the University of Siena. Additionally, she is completing an MA Degree at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome specializing in the transmission of the Italian language. In the past Ippolita has been actively engaged in service learning, focusing on the integration of Nomad children in Italian secondary schools and training fellow teachers. Ippolita has taught for over 15 years at the Pontificia Università Urbaniana, the American Academy, the Spanish Academy, the FAO U.N. Agency, the Pontifical Swiss Guards, as well as various study abroad programs affiliated with Cornell University, Dartmouth College, the University of Washington and John Cabot University.

Dr. Marcello Di Paola

Business Ethics; Environmental Ethics; Smart Cities

Marcello is currently a Research and Teaching Fellow in the Department of Political Science at LUISS University Rome, and recently held a post as Researcher in the Department of Philosophy at Vienna University. Marcello designed CEA’s Ethics and Sustainability Program, teaching courses like Business Ethics, Environmental Ethics and Smart Cities, Sustainable Economies and Business Innovation. Half Sicilian and half Dutch by birth, Marcello holds an M.A. Degree from University College Utrecht (2001), a Master of Science from the London School of Economics (2003), and a Ph.D. from LUISS University (2010).His most recent books include: Canned Heat: Ethics and Politics of Global Climate Change, with G. Pellegrino (Routledge, 2014); Gardens of Consequence: A Philosophy of Urban Environmentalism (Springer, 2017); The Global Environment: Ethical and Political Issues (Routledge, 2018).

Eldamaria Francia

Italian Language & Culture

Elda, as her students affectionately call her, was born in Rome and graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature from Roma Tre University. Specializing in Russian, in 2001 she was awarded a six-month scholarship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and moved to Moscow. Since then Elda has earned a Diploma as teacher of Italian as a Second Language from Dilit International House of Rome and has worked as interpreter and teacher both in Russia and Italy. Since 2008 she has been teaching for study abroad programs affiliated with the University of New Mexico and CEA.

Marshall Langer

Operations Management; Cross-Cultural Management

A native of Miami, Florida, Marshall received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has additionally taken extensive graduate coursework in counselling psychology at New York University. Marshall comes to CEA to teach Cross-Cultural Management and Basic Operations Management from a 12-year career in diverse business and finance sectors in the U.S. and Europe. He has worked on Wall Street on investment banking and risk arbitrage for firms like Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette as well as in trading for BNP Paribas. He further worked in the areas of corporate management, marketing strategy, management consulting, and real estate. Before joining CEA, Marshall has taught at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Fordham University, University of Connecticut, American University of Rome, University of Malta and Loyola University Chicago.

David Pollon

International Finance

David joined CEA Rome in Fall 2017 to teach International Finance. Additionally, he has taught on finance, economics and the entertainment industry in various institutions in Rome, including the American University of Rome and the Rome Business School. He also teaches graduate seminars for the M.B.A. program of the Institut Superieur de Gestion in Paris, France. Prior to entering the academic world, David served as Finance Director for The Walt Disney Company. After working at the company's headquarters in Los Angeles, he became Finance Director in the UK and then Italy, where he was in charge of all cinema, video, and DVD financial operations. He is currently completing his Ph.D. with the International School of Management in Paris.

Dr. James Schwarten

Critical Perspectives on Italy; Social History of the Italian Mafia

James received his Ph.D. in Italian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has lived in Italy intermittently since 1989. His academic interests include Italian organized crime, sociology, anthropology, translation, and literature. James has taught at the Umbra Institute in Perugiaand the Rome Center of Loyola University Chicago. He currently teaches literature and sociology courses at John Cabot University, including Contemporary Italian Society.. A member of the CEA faculty since 2008, his courses are among the most popular. James is well known for his English translations of classics in contemporary Italian literature, such as Dacia Maraini’s Extravagance and Three Other Plays and On Mafia: Small Personal Thoughts. He has organized a major art exhibit in Rome on Nordic painters in the mountain village of Civita D'Antino (Abruzzo) at the turn of the 20th century, and he is a certified sommelier.

Shawn Coover is the Vice President of Global Operations and Human Resources. In this role, he oversees the development and implementations of policies, processes, and best practices to ensure CEA continues to be a great place to work. This includes consultation on strategic business initiatives, employee relations, staffing plans and recruitment, compensation and benefits, communications, training and development, and legal compliance. Most importantly, Shawn and his team work diligently to make sure that everything we do is true to the organization’s Core Values, Mission, and Vision.

Shawn earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and MBA from Northern Arizona University. He joined CEA in 2018 and brought with him 19 years of international leadership experience, including 8 years in Human Resources. His professional background also includes leadership experience in operations, project management, development, customer service, and purchasing with Honeywell, AT&T, and Belden Wire and Cable. 

An avid traveler, Shawn has traveled to over 30 countries.

Ana's role is to ensure the academic quality of all CEA Barcelona programs. She reviews the curriculum and coordinates the development of new courses, reviews and maintains consistency of academic policies and practices, oversees the resolution of all important student academic issues, and provides support to faculty to guarantee academic excellence.

Prior to joining CEA, Ana worked with another study abroad organization as a resident coordinator and faculty member. She's also held several university positions: Assistant Director of the Advanced Spanish Language Program at Georgetown University (Washington D.C.), Teaching Associate at Georgetown University and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (Spain), and Teaching Assistant and Director of the Spanish House at Middlebury College (Vt.). Ana earned her Ph.D. in Spanish Applied Linguistics at Georgetown University, which also conferred to her a Master of Science in Linguistics. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Philology from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain).

Ana first travelled to Dublin, Ireland in high school and subsequently studied in London for four months. She also spent her senior year of college studying in Pisa, Italy and completed her graduate studies in Washington, D.C. She loves traveling and believes that understanding the world from different perspectives is the one of the most enriching lessons that students can learn while living abroad.

Alexandra serves as academic leader for faculty and students and provides oversight for academic integrity, program and course design, faculty hire, training and assessment, relations with local universities and select US partner colleges. She responds to all inquiries relevant to academic matters and offers support for educational development and student mentorship. A faculty member since the opening of the Rome campus in 2008, she also teaches History of Art and Archaeology.

Alexandra was raised in Italy and Germany, before moving to the UK where she studied History of Art. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Warwick, BA and MA degrees with Double Distinction from the Courtauld Institute of Art, as well as a Diploma from the Study Centre for the History of the Fine and Decorative Arts. Her main research interest is the Renaissance and the reception of Classical Antiquity. Her doctoral thesis on ‘Dionysus in the Arts of the Modern Era’ is currently under review for publication.

Prior to joining CEA, Alexandra has taught for various study abroad programs in Florence, Siena and Rome. Aside of her academic activity she works as author, consultant and speaker for documentaries on art and history, collaborates with the Colonna and Doria Pamphilj galleries and curates the Art Collection of the Rome Cavalieri Hotel (Waldorf-Astoria). As a licensed guide she conducts specialized visits for embassies, governmental institutions, collectors and museum curators and has acted as study leader for U.S. organizations such as the World Monuments Fund and the National Trust USA. In the past she has written for Blue Guides and has published her own guide book to Rome, has worked for the Thyssen Museum in Madrid and Sotheby’s Auctioneers and has organized large scale events for international investor groups. She is tri-lingual in German, Italian, and English, fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of French.

Alexandra’s international background make her a firm believer of global education. Curiosity and a passion for ‘piecing together the puzzle’ of the cultures she encounters help her enrich her own. To her students and her children (who are Mexican/Italian) she hopes to transmit the tools to ‘think outside the box’, broaden their horizons and become aware of the globalized world they live in.

As Student Life Advisor, Cristina will provide support in the planning and coordination of housing, activities, and trips, including the coordination of volunteering and internship placements. She will also act as a liaison regarding other aspects of student services onsite. Cristina will use her experience and her love for meeting people from different cultures & travelling to provide students the most supportive, enriching & successful time in Granada.

She studied abroad at Wilhelms-Wesfälische University in Münster, Germany. After graduation, Cristina worked in Germany for two years as a Spanish language assistant at Gymnasium am Krebsberg and Gymnasium am Steinwald, then taught Spanish in Poland for a year. She has also worked as a translator of scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals.

Cristina is from Valencia, and she holds a Degree in Translation & Interpreting from the University of Granada. She describes herself as a language enthusiast. In her free time, she loves reading, traveling, and learning languages.

As Senior Program Manager, Martin develops and maintains a network of host sites where CEA students can complete internships. He counsels students before the program begins to best match interns and placements. He also provides mentoring and guidance to internship students onsite. In cooperation with CEA global staff, he contributes to the development of the CEA Internship Program.

Martin holds a master’s degree in International Human Resource Management from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. During his studies, Martin completed two internships in Russia and Taiwan, where he facilitated cross-cultural intelligence workshops. He taught himself Spanish while backpacking in South America. Martin has held various HR positions in the corporate sector. His work assignments were in the UK, Germany, and the Czech Republic. He has been involved in various NGOs and worked as a camp counselor at summer camps in the UK and Czech Republic.

Martin is passionate about social sciences and philosophy, community development, and life-long education. He is a curious learner, reader, and swimmer.

As Internship & Student Services Coordinator, Daniele Bini helps CEA Florence students acclimate to their new home abroad. Daniele manages the Internship program in Florence, finding local host institutions and interviewing incoming students—while working to find matches that will benefit both hosts and interns. Together, with the internship seminar instructor, Daniele follows Interns’ experiences until the end of the program. He also organizes excursions that help introduce students to Italian locations beyond Florence.

Daniele holds a degree in Languages from the University of Florence, where he studied English, Japanese, and Portuguese. To complete his studies, Daniele fulfilled a 150-hour internship with CEA. But before joining the Florence team as a staff member in 2014, Daniele worked at a hotel in Chianti and assisted CEA with student arrivals and language exchanges.

Daniele loves to travel but did not study abroad as a student, and travels often in his free time. These personal travel adventures have made him an expert on the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands. One of his goals is to spend an extended period of time in the U.S., and one day live in San Francisco

Andrea graduated from the Department of Literature and Philosophy at the Università di Pisa with a degree in the History of the Church. He subsequently earned a master's degree in Human Resources. Soon after graduation, Andrea worked as a social worker, focusing his attention on adolescents and the needy. He then moved on to the field of Human Resources in managerial development and hiring for a multinational company.

His many cultural interests (cinema, theater, art, music, and travel) and his varied work experiences have enabled Andrea to develop unique dexterity in communication, a strong sense of responsibility, and strong organizational skills. These qualities allow Andrea to cultivate and maintain strong social, working, and personal rapports.

In 2009, Andrea conceded himself a important "life experience": he left his native Italy to spend 18 months in Australia, where he traveled, worked in the hospitality sector, and took an intensive course in English. His experience abroad strengthened his mastery of the English language and offered him the opportunity to work in a multicultural and dynamic environment. Upon his return to Italy, Andrea found a place for himself in Rome.

Andrea was born in Viareggio, Tuscany, a beach city famous for its vibrant and cheerful Carnival celebrations. Sun, water, colors, and cheer: Andrea's personality traits reflect these qualities in his positive attitude, his welcoming respectfulness towards those of different culture, ethnicities, faiths, and identities. Everyone is different, and diversity is a treasure!

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 the Spanish culture. She also coordinates the communication processes, resources, and health and safety services that CEA Seville provides for students.

Prior to joining CEA, Aranoa organized international congresses and conventions for the Convention Center in Seville, as well as creating traveling initiatives and leading groups both national and internally for different companies in the tourism industry. Aranoa obtained a degree in Tourism at EUSA and completed her education with a post graduate course in Entrepreneur Initiatives from the Confederación de Empresarios Andaluces.

Aranoa was born in Pamplona, although has lived most of her life in Seville, a city she adores. She became fluent in English in England and lived in Boston for a year. She has travelled extensively around the U.S., Canada, and Argentina and enjoys discovering Europe, especially Italy, England, and the beautiful south of Portugal. Her favorite city in the world is San Francisco and she cannot wait to explore Brazil or Mexico.

Aranoa 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.

She dares students to take the chance, dismantle all of their previous conceptions, and really immerse in the culture.

As a Senior Academic Advisor, Blanca works across different fields at CEA, including academic administration, teaching Spanish, and coordinating cultural activities. The combination of these three things allows Blanca to explore and develop her main passions: culture, arts, and languages.

Blanca was born in Salamanca, Spain, where she graduated from the University of Salamanca in English Philology and Art History. After finishing her degrees, she decided to pursue her education in Barcelona, where she earned a master’s degree in Art and New Media Curatorship at ESDI (Barcelona), qualification issued by Ramon Llull University.

Before Blanca joined CEA, she worked freelance in the cultural world for institutions such as Arts Santa Monica (Barcelona) and in the studio of the international artist Antoni Muntadas. She also taught Spanish to foreigners and designed cultural activities to connect them to the Spanish culture.

Her main interests lie in all the expressions of the artistic and cultural world, reading, cinema, and travelling around the world, when she has the chance. She also likes to design and curate art exhibitions, a hobby she combines with her present job.

Anne-Cécile's role at CEA is to accompany students through their time abroad, helping them adjust and adapt to their new Parisian lives and host culture. She organizes orientations, excursions, and social activities throughout the program, and is an excellent resource for things to do in France.

As a professor of French as a Foreign Language, Anne-Cécile also teaches at the CEA Paris Center.

Anne-Cécile holds a Master of Arts in French as a Foreign Language from the Université de Paris X–Nanterre. Prior to joining CEA, Anne-Cécile coordinated the cultural programming for Northwestern University (Ill.) students at l'Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris.

After receiving her M.A., Anne-Cécile moved to Amsterdam for six months; however, her experience lasted four years. Even though she stayed in Europe, Anne-Cécile encountered many cultural differences which she overcame with patience and an open mind. Her fondness of travel and discovering new cultures took her to Romania, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Canada, and the U.S. Her next dream destination is Iceland, with its magical landscapes, self-empowered people, and delightful traditions.

Anne-Cécile also taught French as a foreign language in France, UK, Hungary, and the Netherlands. In addition to her teaching and administrative positions, Anne-Cécile has been a contributing author for several French Language textbooks, developed and published by Clé International. Her dedication to humanitarian work has also led her to positions teaching literacy as a volunteer for non-profit organizations throughout her career.

PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS

* Pixel 2 – Guide pédagogique with Stéphanie Callet / Clé International

* Pixel 2 – Cahier d'exercice with Stéphanie Callet / Clé international

* Pixel 4 – cahier d'exercices / Clé International

* écho Junior 1, 2, 3 – Guide Pédagogique – with Jacky Girardet / Clé International

In her role as Student Services Coordinator, Sharon Wohl supports custom program students and faculty leaders as they prepare for their program abroad.  She also partners closely with staff at U.S. institutions to provide customized pre-departure support to meet each program’s needs.

Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta, where she participated in education abroad as both a student and as an intern.  She studied abroad in South Africa, where she also volunteered as a tutor in a local township. Upon her return, she began working at her college’s International Education office as a Study Abroad Ambassador and an International Student Peer Mentor.  In her senior year, Sharon was the first in her major to complete her internship requirement abroad, helping to facilitate an after school program in Ireland. Since graduating, Sharon has remained focused on supporting students, helping others, and diving into the field of international education. Prior to CEA, Sharon worked for an elementary school fundraising company, where she played a critical role in daily coordination and communication with both schools and parents.  

Sharon’s advice for students is to maximize their time abroad through immersing themselves in all available experiences and learning opportunities while remaining present in every moment.

Rob Giardina

Cross-Cultural Management

Rob was born in the Greater Philadelphia area, USA, and got his BS from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, majoring in Food Marketing and English. He directed a non-profit organization in the US food distribution sector, and then he moved to Barcelona, where he completed his International Masters in Conflict Resolution from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Rob has more than 20 years of experience teaching courses in Intercultural Relations, Conflict Resolution, Cross-cultural Management, Business English, and Communication at several universities as well as for private clients such as Sara Lee, Bayer, Motorola, and Wrigley. Moreover, he is an Intercultural Consultant for BGRS, Dwellworks and BBi Communication, and has experience in offering online training sessions and presentations for expatriate intercultural programs. He is a founding board member of SIETAR Spain (a European-wide professional association on intercultural studies) and was President of SIETAR Europa in 2009-10. Rob is extremely passionate about innovation in education and is currently engaged in a new program to teach virtual intercultural communication courses with enrolled students located in different countries.

Ariadna Olivé

Spanish Art

Ariadna was born in Barcelona and lived in London for six years. She graduated from the University of Barcelona with a BA degree in Art History, specializing in Twentieth Century Avant-garde Art. Afterwards, she left for London and got her master’s degree in Museum Management at the University of Greenwich, focusing her research on the examination of advantages and drawbacks of staging blockbuster exhibitions. In 2004, Ariadna came back to Barcelona where she started working as a researcher and project manager assistant organizing history exhibitions before becoming a professor. She has been working at CEA as a faculty member for more than 13 years, and has extensive experience teaching Art History courses on visual arts, architecture and urban design. Ariadna has recently finished a postgraduate course in Contemporary Art at the online university UOC, which she is currently extending to a master's degree. She has specialized in public art, encompassing a vast array of visual interventions in public space from authorized artistic interventions to graffiti, and has designed a variety of cultural activities on this subject. She has a passion for Asian cultures and has traveled to many countries in Asia exploring their art, traditions and culture.

Dr. Marga Carnicé

Social Media: Digital Identity & the Virtual Community

Marga was born in Catalonia and received her Ph.D. in Social Communication from Universitat Pompeu Fabra. She has extensive experience teaching at the university level at different local institutions, including Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat de Barcelona, TecnoCampus Mataró-Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia-ESCAC, and ESERP Business School. Her area of expertise is Audiovisual and Film Studies, in which she has carried out several research projects, published academic articles and given numerous conference presentations.

Dr. Marina Díaz

Contemporary Spain: History, Politics & Society

Born in Madrid, Marina moved to the United States to get her Ph.D. in History from Tufts University, Massachusetts. She has more than 25 years of teaching experience in college and study abroad settings in Spain, England and the United States and has taught virtual courses at Open University of Catalonia. Marina has been working at CEA Barcelona as a faculty member for more than 10 years and has developed and taught several courses in her areas of expertise such asSpanish history and politics, Jewish history and nationalist movements.

Myriam Hikimura

International Finance

Born in Mexico, Myriam graduated in Industrial Engineering from Tec de Monterrey, Mexico and got her MBA from EGADE de Monterrey, México. She moved to Barcelona, where she completed a Master’s in Research with a focus in Marketing from the Univeritat Autónoma de Barcelona and became aware of her passion for teaching. Since then she has been teaching International Marketing, International Finance and International Business courses at the university level for more than 15 years and has more than 10 years of experience teaching online courses at Open University of Catalonia. Myriam loves traveling abroad, getting to know new cultures around the world but mostly spending as much time as she can with her family.

Alex Martínez

Supply Chain Management

Alex was born in Catalonia and graduated in Agricultural & Food Engineering from University of Lleida before getting his MBA from ESADE Business School. Alex has been teaching business and management courses at the university level for the last 10 years and has more than 20 years of experience working in Industrial companies, in the areas of Supply Chain, Sales/Marketing and Business development. He is currently working as the European Industrial Sales Manager for SWM International, which he combines with his job in the education field.

Academic Director Monica Francioso joined the CEA Florence team in 2015, and is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of Florence academics including academic integrity, curriculum development, and faculty training and assessment. She serves as a leader for students and faculty, and her work ensures compliance with the standards established by our School of Record agreement with the University of New Haven. Monica holds regular on-campus office hours and is always happy to talk to students and faculty on academic matters, and to respond to all substantive inquiries and concerns. 

Monica obtained a BA in English and Russian from the Università degli Studi di Padova, an MA in English Studies, and a Ph.D. in Italian Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. Her thesis, which she is currently editing for publication, focuses on narrative theory in post-war Italy. She has published articles and books, both in Italian and English, on Celati, Calvino, Palandri, and migrant writers. 

Monica lived abroad in the United Kingdom and Ireland for 13 years. Prior to joining the CEA Florence team, Monica held several teaching positions in Italian language, literature and culture at various higher-ed institutions, including Royal Holloway University of London, University of Durham, University of Bath and University College Dublin. She earned a CELTA certificate to teach English as a foreign and second language. She also taught English to students of all levels, preparing them for the Cambridge English exams. Monica also holds a DITALS II certificate to teach Italian as a foreign and second language, and she worked as a teacher trainer for the same program. 

Monica firmly believes in the importance of studying abroad as a means to broaden horizons and better oneself. Her experiences have shown her how enriching speaking/learning other languages and knowing other cultures can be. She believes she would be a different person today had she not experienced life abroad.

Christopher oversees academic programs offered through CEA 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, 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 Director, Mary Alice ensures that CEA Sevilla’s academic operations seamlessly develop and implement programs of academic excellence; reviews and maintains academic policies and practices; oversees the coordination and resolution of student academic issues; and supports faculty to ensure academic quality.

Originally from the U.S., Mary Alice brings over 25 years of international work and volunteer experience to her position at CEA. She’s lived in various cultures all over the world and uses her acquired knowledge to both inform her thinking and enable others to understand culture.

Mary Alice earned a Master's of Science in Education, Culture and Society from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Pennsylvania State University.

Upon arriving in Spain in 1998, she worked as a cultural advisor for newly arrived U.S. military personnel and U.S. university students and spent more than 10 years with TCU coordinating their Sevilla program. These experiences allow Mary Alice to help students arriving in Sevilla quickly transform from excited traveler to awed and informed long-term visitor.

Mary Alice's love of foreign cultures and her knowledge of English, Spanish, Japanese, and Thai have taken her all over the world, including Peru, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Spain, and the U.S. Her work as a Peace Corp volunteer, a language teacher, and a public speaker on cultural values, combined with her travel and language experiences, have provided Mary Alice with a knowledge of extreme cultural differences and supplied her with a series of personal anecdotes that help her empower students to analyze and investigate cultural values and differences.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Teaching English of Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

As Academic Director for CEA Dublin Center, Mr. Darragh O Briain manages faculty relationships and appointments, schedules courses, manages student and faculty grievances, assists in recommending curriculum updates, provides academic advising, and oversees the day-to-day academic activities of the CEA Dublin Center.

Mr. O Briain has vast lecturing experience in Market Research, Event Management, Marketing Communications, Sales Management and Entrepreneurship with the American College Dublin, Griffith College and the European Business School. In 2005, he was elevated to the position of Academic Director of the European Business School, where he was responsible for overseeing faculty and academia for visiting U.S. and European semester students. Mr. O Briain is the Academic Dean of The International School of Business, where is responsible for faculty, students, curriculum development, assessments and course validation. Mr. O Briain has also sat on the Academic Executive Board of Dublin Business School and been involved with an expert panel for degree course validation on behalf of HETAC (Irish State Higher Education Accreditation Committee).

Mr. O Briain holds an MA from Trinity College, where he focused his thesis studies on advertising, communication and media. He also has an Advanced Diploma in Marketing techniques and a BS in Marketing, jointly awarded by Dublin Institute of Technology and Trinity College.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

* HETAC (Irish Government Accreditation Agency) Expert Panel for Programme Validation

* Sat on Dublin Business School's Executive Committee

HONORS/AWARDS

* Diploma in Advanced Marketing Techniques - Dublin Institute of Technology

* Certificate in Applied Merchandising and Display - Dublin Institute of Technology

* London Chamber of Commerce Certificate in Advanced Business German

* 2007 Acknowledged for "Outstanding Contribution to Youth Work" by Dublin City Vocational Education Committee

* 2008 Honoured by the President for 10 years of quality adult service to Gaisce/The President's Award (The Presidents Citizenship scheme for young people)

As Student Services Advisor, Cecilia is the first point of contact for all students when entering the center. She supports them in their everyday requests, helping them make the most of their time abroad by assisting them on everyday questions and travel plans and even giving them tips on the Roman culture. She considers this job very important and values the interaction with students as a great opportunity for cultural and personal enrichment.

Cecilia worked at CEA Rome as a University intern while getting her Master’s degree in Linguistics and American literature. Before that, she travelled extensively throughout Brazil, where she taught English and Italian to local students. She is passionate about foreign cultures and arts, and in her free time, she enjoys writing and talking about music and movies.

Kelly's role is to work closely with university advisors, faculty and staff to support the student exploration, advising and registration processes as well as to identify ways in which CEA can assist in the success of the campus' agenda for internationalization.

As the Global Operations Manager, Camille will focus on optimizing Global Operations business processes, tools/systems and interfacing with Program Development early in the process to ensure that we have seamless program/discipline launches. Camille will also continue to support the Enrollment function by improving the tools that touch the student lifecycle for both Enrollment and Global Operations (including the MetamorphoSIS Project, Moodle, StarRez, GetFeedback, DocuSign, Salesforce etc).

Camille started with CEA in 2013 as an Admissions Counselor before being promoted to Operations Specialist and then Operations Manager. In her Enrollment roles, she has helped CEA develop many Salesforce tools, automated emails, an online scholarship application, and file uploaders in the MyCEA portal, created DocuSign enhancements, supported Calendly implementation, and provided support and guidance with so many other great improvements.

Outside of work Camille enjoys planning travel, finding new crafts and projects, being a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, drinking too much coffee, enjoying wine occasionally, and as time permits, sitting in her backyard reading.

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 Paris academic programs.

Elisa supports the Academic Dean, faculty, and students at the CEA 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, 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!"

Kevin Whalen

Entrepreneurship: The Art of Creative Business; International Internship: The Multicultural Workplace

A native of New York City, Kevin has been residing in and in love with Seville for over 15 years. Having completed a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Management from ESIC Sevilla and holding positions in Consulting and Sales at several Spanish and International firms in Seville, Kevin is a seasoned professional well-prepared to support CEA students in and out of the classroom. He first joined CEA as faculty for courses in Entrepreneurship and the Internship Seminar, and has since transitioned to take over Seville's International Internship coordination. In this role, Kevin serves students with unique, hands-on, international experience, overseeing the placement process and cultivating host companies in diverse fields, as well as a strong commitment to our student's professional development. He also continues to teach CEA’s Internship Seminar and the Entrepreneurship courses.

Ana Barcenas

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Disease, Wellness & Healthcare

Sevillian from birth, Ana learned to nurture an affinity with the English language from a young age as her family hosted American exchange students. But it was when she lived and worked for 5 years in the UK, that she truly fell in love with the language. After completing her MS in Pharmaceutical Science, she went on to complete a Master's Degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Seville. After that she first held positions as a pharmacist dealing with patients in Spain and the National Health Service in the UK. She then combined her role as a Business and Marketing Consultant and Trainer for Healthcare Staff for pharmacies within the Pharmaceutical Industry. These experiences allow her to be a skilled professor for CEA students. Ana spends her spare time pursuing her passions of learning, technology, English and supporting others. She collaborates with a number of local groups such as an Entrepreneurship association providing knowledge as a coach for Startup Weekends Edition’and a local NGO, Pharmacists Without Borders.

Elena Gavira

Beginning Spanish I & Intermediate Spanish I

Born and raised in Seville, Elena has been teaching languages for over twenty years for organizations such as CEA and the University of Seville. She is passionate for languages and speaks Spanish, English, French and German, and has also studied Italian and Latin formally. Elena has a Master’s in English Language and Literature from the University of Seville, with a second degree in German Language. She enjoys being involved in seminars and conferences about language teaching and the use of new technologies in class and has taken several training courses and seminars on online teaching. Presently, she is involved in a MOOC on Spanish Online Methodology. Elena has worked in both the education and tourism sectors, both of which have always kept her in contact with other cultures and languages and given her the opportunity of travelling widely. She has an extremely proactive approach to teaching, keeping her students engaged by incorporating in-class and out-of-class activities, culture differences projects, and music.

As Program Advisor, Maria Victoria (Vicky) is responsible for maintaining close contact with the students and is usually the first person students see as they enter our Study Center. Vicky accompanies students during their immersion activities and excursions and is a great resource of information about our city’s heritage and traditions.

Born and raised in Seville, Vicky has also lived in Gran Canaria, Canary Island, and Madrid. Her passion for languages and other cultures led her to seek a degree in Tourism. She is very accustomed to working with all types of individuals thanks, in part, to her experience in the hospitality industry.

Vicky has traveled all around Europe, and her favorite European city is London. During her free time, Vicky enjoys listening to and playing music—she started to study classical music when she was 8.

A native of New York City, Kevin has been residing in and in love with Seville for over 15 years. Having completed a Master's Degree in Marketing and Management and held positions in Consulting and Sales at several Spanish and International firms in Seville, Kevin is a seasoned professional well-prepared to support CEA students in the internship program there.   

He first joined CEA as faculty for our courses in Entrepreneurship and the Internship Seminar and has since transitioned to take over Seville's International Internship Coordination as of January 2020. In this role, Kevin will serve students with unique, hands-on, international experience, overseeing the placement process and developing host companies in diverse fields, as well as committing to our student's professional development.

He will also continue to teach CEA’s Internship Seminar and the Entrepreneurship courses. 

In his spare time Kevin serves as the President and Head Coach of a local Roller Blade Hockey Club, The Sevilla Dragons. 

Based in Atlanta, GA, Carissa's role is to work closely with university advisors, faculty and staff to support the student exploration, advising and registration processes as well as to identify ways in which CEA can assist in the success of the campus' agenda for internationalization. Before joining CEA in January 2012, Carissa worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stout as the Study Abroad and National Student Exchange Coordinator. She was named 'Advisor of the Year,' an award voted on by students.

Carissa obtained her Master's Degree in International Education from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT and her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Carissa is also a graduate of the NAFSA Academy (Class 10).

Carissa credits her love for travel and curiosity of other countries and cultures to her parents who encouraged her to participate in a German exchange program in high school. Some of Carissa's travels have taken her to Mexico, Canada, Germany, Scotland, Taiwan, Japan, England/Wales, Turkey, India, Spain, Italy, and the Czech Republic. She one day hopes to visit Russia, South Africa and Fiji (to name a few). When traveling abroad, Carissa reminds students to go with an open mind and positive attitude; the experience is what you make of it!

Carissa served as the Chair for the Lessons from Abroad Conference in Georgia from 2013-2018, and is active in the Georgia Association of International Educators (GAIE). Carissa has also presented at GAIE, TAIE, and NAFSA Regional conferences.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators

EDUCATION

• MA, International Education – SIT Graduate Institute (VT)
• BA, Business Administration – University of Wisconsin – River Falls (WI)
• NAFSA Academy Graduate (Class 10)

Sandra is the primary contact for students in all issues related to student services. She keeps the Director informed and responds to student concerns in a timely manner. Sandra provides support to housing and academic coordinators and is responsible for assisting in planning and implementation. She also provides students with weekly email bulletins and supports students in their transition into the local environment.

Sandra was born in Brussels to Spanish parents. Thanks to her origins, she has always experienced the Spanish culture. After finishing her studies in 2001, she moved to the Catalan capital where she started her career in the tourism industry, working mainly for incoming travel agencies. She was also involved in projects for a European business women's association, financed by the European Commission.

Sandra earned a degree in Tourism at the Superior University School ISALT in Brussels and did a four-month internship in Barcelona during her last academic year. Sandra speaks Spanish, French, English, and Catalan.

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

Isabelle comes to CEA 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!”

As part of the Student Support Team, Mónica's role is to oversee and coordinate all logistics related to Student Services. She focuses on health and safety issues, acts as procedures and Health Services liaison, contributes to the organization and operation of student arrival and orientation, and to the execution and continuous improvement of the Academic-Integrated Cultural Activities (AICAP) program. By creating initiatives to facilitate global competence and personal growth, Mónica works to ensure CEA students receive the quality assistance and guidance they need to make the most of their experience abroad.

Born in Barcelona, Mónica has spent time in England, France, and Morocco. While still in school, Mónica spent some months as a hotel trainee in Paris and rural England. It was here she discovered her love of travel and meeting people from different places. After finishing her studies, she worked in London's hotel industry. As a result of her interest in other cultures, she lived for a while in Fès (Morocco) doing volunteer work and learning about the Moroccan culture, language, and way of life. When she came back to Barcelona, Mónica worked as a group organizer and tour leader for incoming travel agencies.

Mónica earned a Tourism Degree at the University of Girona. She speaks Spanish, Catalan, English, and French.

As Senior Program Manager, Petra provides important support for both CEA Prague team and students. She handles the HR, Finance, and Center-facility agendas. She also directly impacts the student experience through managing student arrivals, organization of student activities and excursions and generally helping students with their life abroad.

She holds a B.A. degree in English Language and Literature and an M.A. degree in Culture Management, both from Masaryk University in Brno. During her studies, she participated in an exchange study program in Spain and an internship program in Germany. She also had the chance to take part in a summer course in New York City, and she later returned to the U.S. for a Work and Travel experience.

Petra likes traveling, yoga, hiking, and everything connected with culture and the arts. She speaks fluent English, some German, and basic Spanish.

Bea is responsible for creating the best experience for CEA students while in Barcelona. As part of the Student Support Team, she focuses on student accommodation, ensuring the commitment and enthusiasm of our host families as well as the quality and suitability of our apartments and residencias. Bea provides students with the assistance and guidance they need to become familiar with their new surroundings and adapt to life within a new community. Creating initiatives to facilitate global competence and personal growth, Bea also participates in the onsite Academic-Integrated Cultural Activities (AICAP) program.

Bea earned a degree in tourism through the University of Barcelona. She has worked in a holiday apartment company and participated in internships in the hotel industry in Barcelona and in the Costa Brava in Girona, and as the coordinator for summer programs for international students in Barcelona. She has also organized academic year programs and summer camps abroad for Catalan students, mainly in the U.S., England, and Ireland.

After her positive experience abroad in a boarding school in Ireland, Bea recommends students be open to a different culture and gain the most of the each unique moment.

Jose has a BA in Communication from Arturo Michelena University in his home country Venezuela and is a TEFL certified instructor from the Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Before relocating to Buenos Aires, Jose spent eight years working as an English professor for private institutes and universities, gaining experience in teaching and supporting students from all ages and with different language needs. He also has a professional background as a cultural events producer, handling logistics and social media presence and in management assistance for a health-related organization.

Having travelled through the USA and visited different Latin American countries, Jose is passionate about working in an international environment and using his communication, teaching oriented and social skills to bring cultures together and provide a great academic experience and support for CEA students in Buenos Aires.

Jose has a BA in Communication from Arturo Michelena University in his home country Venezuela and is a TEFL certified instructor from the Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Before relocating to Buenos Aires, Jose spent eight years working as an English professor for private institutes and universities, gaining experience in teaching and supporting students from all ages and with different language needs. He also has a professional background as a cultural events producer, handling logistics and social media presence and in management assistance for a health-related organization.

Having travelled through the USA and visited different Latin American countries, Jose is passionate about working in an international environment and using his communication, teaching oriented and social skills to bring cultures together and provide a great academic experience and support for CEA students in Buenos Aires.

As CEA Barcelona’s Experiential Learning Coordinator, Maria's role is to ensure the good process of daily operations related to experiential learning programs, including volunteering, international service learning, and career mentoring. Maria teaches Cross Cultural Management and Career Development courses at the CEA Barcelona Center. Along with her work at CEA, Maria delivers intercultural training workshops to individuals and groups, helping them develop and enhance their intercultural competence so they can work and live effectively across cultures.

Prior to joining CEA, Maria worked as an intercultural trainer and diversity management consultant for a wide range of organizations in the social, private, and public sectors. Originally from Catalonia, she has lived and worked in Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. She holds an MA in Intercultural Communication and Relations from Lesley University (Massachusetts), an MA in International

Development, and a bachelor’s in Communication/Journalism, both from Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona (Spain). She speaks Catalan, Spanish, English, French, and basic Kiswahili.

She is currently a member of the Board of SIETAR Spain (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research), the Spanish branch of an international organization that seeks common understanding and cooperation among people from different cultural backgrounds. Maria is passionate about cultural diversity and strongly believes that studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity to broaden perspectives and develop the skills needed in a complex, changing, and interdependent global world.

Maggie's role is to oversee all student services and housing including orientation, excursions, and cultural activities. She advises students on issues related to cross-cultural information, health, and safety, and is responsible for responding to student inquiries and concerns. Maggie serves as a resource to students as they transition into Costa Rican culture, and functions as their primary point of contact.

Maggie holds a master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Family Business from Escuela de Administración de Empresas (EAE) in Barcelona, and a bachelor's degree in Photography and Artistic Direction from the Universidad Centeroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales in Managua, Nicaragua. She also studied photography at Veritas University in San José, Costa Rica, and taught several photography courses at Universidad Creativa in San Pedro, Costa Rica.

Prior to joining CEA, Maggie developed skills working in the Communications Department of the Escuela de Administración de Empresas in Barcelona, and as a manager at the Universidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales in Managua, Nicaragua. After studying abroad, she returned to San José to work with foreign students at Veritas University.

Maggie truly believes that studying abroad changes your life in many different ways, so she encourages the students to set their fear of new experiences and cultures to the side, and to come to a new country with an open mind and positive attitude. Maggie invites students to come and explore Costa Rica's beautiful scenery, friendly people, and warm weather.

Xisca has been a member of CEA Barcelona’s team since 2012 and has always been engaged in its experiential learning programs. She was involved in the implementation of the Internship Program in Barcelona and has fond memories of how exciting it was to host the first 17 interns back in the summer of 2017. Her role within the internship program is to develop and maintain a network of host sites, assist intern candidates throughout their placement processes, and provide onsite support. She is delighted to be able to contribute to the professional development of interns.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business and Globalization, and is passionate about company growth and profitability. Before joining CEA, Xisca lived abroad in both the UK and Germany, and worked in Marketing and Communication for 7 years in Barcelona, both in the public and private sectors.

Xisca enjoys socializing, traveling around Asia, and early morning swims. She also practices TM Meditation.

Colin’s role is to assist with managing the CEA Dublin center. His responsibilities include overseeing various custom programs for CEA and the International School of Business, as well as managing CEA’s international internship program. Colin also provides support in the areas of student welfare, accommodation, events and excursions, and immigration.

Colin began working in international education in 2009, when he came to Dublin as a postgraduate student and coordinated custom programs on a part-time basis. Having also worked for FIE, IES Abroad and Groupe IGS, Colin has extensive experience in study abroad for both North American and European students. As well as working for CEA Dublin, he also looks after a few Dublin-based programs for Groupe IGS, a consortium of private business schools in France. Colin lectures at both institutions, teaching courses in marketing and communications. Prior to relocating to Dublin, he was based in Chicago, Illinois and worked in sales and marketing.

Colin has a master’s in Marketing from Dublin Business School and a bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Business Administration from The University of Iowa.

Based out of Los Angeles, Laura works closely with university faculty and staff to support student growth through study and internship abroad opportunities. She identifies ways CEA can assist its university partners achieve their internationalization goals.

Laura obtained her Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business & Marketing from DePaul University and her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations & Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has 11 years of professional international education experience. Her most recent position was at DePaul University working within the Global Engagement Office.

Laura studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico and Madrid, Spain during her undergraduate studies, discovering how study abroad can exponentially enrich your career and your life. Shortly after graduating, Laura worked in Buenos Aires, Argentina, an experience that launched her career in international education. Laura has a deep passion for international education and works tirelessly to enable as many students as possible to study and work abroad.

Before joining CEA as a Senior Academic Advisor in 2018, Marc held different positions in the K-12 Publishing and Localization industries, ranging from Translator, Content Creator, and Editor to Alliance Manager. Having been employed by emerging start-ups and a large publishing group, he gained experience in b2b communication in international professional settings. This, together with his intercultural skills, allow Marc to contribute to the maintenance of CEA’s network of host sites and support students throughout their internship abroad experience.

Marc has a degree in English from the University of Barcelona and is a certified Secondary Education teacher in Spain. He completed part of Middle School and High School in Rye, New York. While pursuing his degree in Barcelona, Marc was granted a one-year scholarship to study abroad in Kansas.

Marc is passionate about literature, music, cinema, and theatre. He’s an avid and eclectic reader and enjoys playing bass guitar.

As a Regional Director based in Indianapolis, Kira works closely with study abroad advisors, administrators, and faculty at higher education institutions to support student growth through study and internship opportunities. Kira also coordinates with CEA’s campus partners to develop custom, faculty-led programs.

Kira comes to CEA after 5 years at the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), where she served in several university relations roles, most recently as the Field Director for the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Prior to entering the field of international education, she worked in Greek Life at her sorority’s national headquarters. Kira obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Journalism, and Leadership Studies from Bradley University and her experience studying abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain furthered her love of travel and language learning. Kira has traveled to 20 countries, and she hopes to visit New Zealand or Southeast Asia next.

Kira is passionate about equity and making sure study abroad is accessible to all students. Her advice to students considering study abroad is to not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, be endlessly curious, ask questions, and remember that cultural differences are what make our world a better place.

A native of New York City, Kevin has been residing in and in love with Seville for over 15 years. Having completed a Master's Degree in Marketing and Management and held positions in Consulting and Sales at several Spanish and International firms in Seville, Kevin is a seasoned professional well-prepared to support CEA students in the internship program there.   

He first joined CEA as faculty for our courses in Entrepreneurship and the Internship Seminar and has since transitioned to take over Seville's International Internship Coordination as of January 2020. In this role, Kevin will serve students with unique, hands-on, international experience, overseeing the placement process and developing host companies in diverse fields, as well as committing to our student's professional development.

He will also continue to teach CEA’s Internship Seminar and the Entrepreneurship courses. 

In his spare time Kevin serves as the President and Head Coach of a local Roller Blade Hockey Club, The Sevilla Dragons. 

My mom always taught me that the world wasn’t a place to be scared of. She always taught us that there was always good out there, and that you can always discover amazing things. Being in a military family, a lot of the times in my childhood it was just her and my brothers moving every couple of months. By the time I was ten I had lived in just as many places and had visited exponentially more. Traveling has always been a part of my life. My mom was always dragging us to historic sites, museums, and various places that I knew my feet would hurt from walking around by the end. For my second grade birthday, all I wanted was my own suitcase. Travelling to learn has always been a keystone in my education.

After moving 600 miles from home, I attended college at Coastal Carolina University. There, I received a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies concentrating in Intercultural and International education. I also completed a minor in Global Studies. My love for study abroad blossomed after being able to spend a summer studying abroad in Tuscany Italy. Once I returned, I was able to work as an intern in our Global Engagement department being a student advisor. Being able to combine my love with traveling with my love for education was the best decision I have ever made.

When I am not at CEA (or travelling!) I love spending time involving music, art, and theater in my life. I have played and sung in various community orchestras and choirs. I also love visiting art museums or creating a new project I freshly pinned to my Pinterest board.

Growing up I spent a lot of time traveling, one of my earliest memories is getting into the car to drive nine hours to Oklahoma to see my grandparents. The long car rides turned into long plane rides as I got older and my love for traveling grew. I’ve traveled to at least 12 different countries and 20 states. My goal is to visit every region of the world and all 50 states.

Growing up in a small town in southeast Texas, I surprised everyone when I decided to attend college in a different state at a school nine hours away. After graduating high school, I packed my things and moved to Oklahoma to pursue my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Oklahoma. There, I had two majors: International Studies and German. Also, I completed a minor in European Studies. During my time at OU, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Heidelberg, Germany, for a semester to develop my German skills. Long story short, I fell in love with it and worked towards making a career out of it. When I returned to OU, I spent two semesters as an intern at their Education Abroad Office. After completing my degree, I returned to Texas and taught in middle school and high school as a guest teacher. After a year, I decided to pursue a graduate degree at Texas A&M University in Master of International Affairs. While I pursuing my degree, I worked at the Education Abroad Office on campus. Living and studying in Germany was the best decision I’ve ever made and fueled my desire to pursue a career in the international realm whether it was in national security or international education.

When I am not working, I love to read, garden, bake, and do a lot of crafts. During quarantine, I spent a lot of time getting into new hobbies. Now, I know how to make soap, candles, and embroider. I love to try new coffee shops or restaurants and wander around bookstores for hours. Moreover, I enjoy spending time with my two nieces and the rest of my family. Most of all, I love lounging around watching Hitchcock movies with my 21-year-old cat, Princess.

Jacqueline, the newest addition to our CEA Paris team, is a true global citizen, who has lived, worked, and studied in Washington DC, Montpellier, and London before moving to Paris. Jacqueline is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and completed a B.A. in History, Political Science, and French at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities prior to earning a Master’s Degree in Human Rights at the London School of Economics & Political Science. Jacqueline will be replacing Colin Maunoury as Internship Coordinator in Paris. She will brings tremendous energy, knowledge, and experience in various fields to the team and to her new role helping our students develop their life goals in their Parisian internship placements.

She is passionate about literature and cinema. She loves to read a book at home in Montmartre when it is rainy and cold out, in the company of her cat, Olga Picasso.

I was born and raised in Arizona, where travel was a big part of my family’s life! My grandparents retired quite early to travel the world on cruise ships, and they would bring home souvenirs for me from every country they visited, which helped to ignite wanderlust in me at a young age. Besides going to Puerto Peñasco “Rocky Point,” Mexico a few times a year (which does not technically count as international travel when you live in Arizona!), my first trip abroad was to Italy with my high school marching band in 2008.

I attended university at Colorado State University (CSU), where I obtained my Bachelor’s in Political Science and Bachelors in Communication Studies. During my time at CSU, I traveled to Ireland in 2013 with the university’s marching band and marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, and traveled around Ireland. I then studied abroad later that year in Prague, Czech Republic, for a semester at the university Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze (VŠE). I have traveled to many countries, mainly in Europe, and have a long list of countries I plan to travel to in the near future!

I believe the most important decision I made while in university was studying abroad and encourage everyone I meet who is in University to make the same decision! In most cases, you will hear people say one of two things 1) I’m so glad I studied abroad while in University, or 2) I wish I had studied abroad.

When I am not traveling or working, I enjoy spending time with my adorable cockapoos and my family!

As Internship & Student Services Coordinator, Daniele Bini helps CEA Florence students acclimate to their new home abroad. Daniele manages the Internship program in Florence, finding local host institutions and interviewing incoming students—while working to find matches that will benefit both hosts and interns. Together, with the internship seminar instructor, Daniele follows Interns’ experiences until the end of the program. He also organizes excursions that help introduce students to Italian locations beyond Florence.

Daniele holds a degree in Languages from the University of Florence, where he studied English, Japanese, and Portuguese. To complete his studies, Daniele fulfilled a 150-hour internship with CEA. But before joining the Florence team as a staff member in 2014, Daniele worked at a hotel in Chianti and assisted CEA with student arrivals and language exchanges.

Daniele loves to travel but did not study abroad as a student, and travels often in his free time. These personal travel adventures have made him an expert on the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands. One of his goals is to spend an extended period of time in the U.S., and one day live in San Francisco

As Academic Advisor for the CEA Rome Center, Chiara Ortolani serves as the primary contact for students and faculty regarding everyday academic issues. In addition, Chiara works with the Italy Assistant Academic Dean in all aspects of course registration, the coordination of class schedules, classroom use, and academic facilities management.

Chiara is responsible for keeping the Italy Assistant Academic Dean informed on a regular basis of the progress of the academic program and any issues that need her attention. A native of Rome, Chiara has many years experience working for American multinational companies such as Microsoft, Hertz, and Merck Sharp & Dohme. She earned her MA in Marketing and Product Management from Il Sole 24 Ore Business School in Rome, and holds a BA in Business Studies from Staffordshire University (UK). In addition to her native Italian, she also speaks English, Spanish and French.

As Internship Program Manager, Martin maintains a network of host sites where CEA students can complete internships. He counsels students before the program begins to best match interns and placements. He also provides support and guidance to internship students on-site.

He holds a master’s degree in International Human Resource Management from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. During his studies, Martin completed two internships in Russia and Taiwan, where he was facilitating cross-cultural intelligence workshops. He taught himself Spanish while backpacking in South America. Martin has held various HR positions in the corporate sector. His work assignments were in the UK, Germany, and the Czech Republic. He has been involved in various NGOs and worked as a camp counselor at summer camps in the UK and Czech Republic.

Martin is passionate about psychology and philosophy, community development, education and facilitation, languages, and foreign cultures. He is a curious learner, explorer, swimmer, hiker, and meditator. Martin is not an artistic soul but likes to sometimes play ukulele.

Before joining CEA as a Senior Academic Advisor in 2018, Marc held different positions in the K-12 Publishing and Localization industries, ranging from Translator, Content Creator, and Editor to Alliance Manager. Having been employed by emerging start-ups and a large publishing group, he gained experience in b2b communication in international professional settings. This, together with his intercultural skills, allow Marc to contribute to the maintenance of CEA’s network of host sites and support students throughout their internship abroad experience.

Marc has a degree in English from the University of Barcelona and is a certified Secondary Education teacher in Spain. He completed part of Middle School and High School in Rye, New York. While pursuing his degree in Barcelona, Marc was granted a one-year scholarship to study abroad in Kansas.

Marc is passionate about literature, music, cinema, and theatre. He’s an avid and eclectic reader and enjoys playing bass guitar.

Xisca has been a member of CEA Barcelona’s team since 2012 and has always been engaged in its experiential learning programs. She was involved in the implementation of the Internship Program in Barcelona and has fond memories of how exciting it was to host the first 17 interns back in the summer of 2017. Her role within the internship program is to develop and maintain a network of host sites, assist intern candidates throughout their placement processes, and provide onsite support. She is delighted to be able to contribute to the professional development of interns.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business and Globalization, and is passionate about company growth and profitability. Before joining CEA, Xisca lived abroad in both the UK and Germany, and worked in Marketing and Communication for 7 years in Barcelona, both in the public and private sectors.

Xisca enjoys socializing, traveling around Asia, and early morning swims. She also practices TM Meditation.

Christopher oversees academic programs offered through CEA 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, 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.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Growing up, my first taste of the world was through cruises with my family! My brother has played travel hockey for 13+ years so I also had plenty of long car rides across the country in my childhood. I knew I wanted to go to France in the fourth grade, started studying French in High School, and went to Paris for a semester with CEA in Fall 2019!

I stayed close to home, attending Northern Illinois University (NIU), where I obtained my Bachelor’s in World Languages & Cultures with an Emphasis in French and Francophone Studies. During my time at NIU, I also spent a month in Aix-en-Provence living with a host family.

When I am not traveling or working, I enjoy listening to podcasts and trying new restaurants!

Being a Phoenix native, Layla attended Arizona State University and graduated with a B.S. in Tourism Development and Management. While at ASU, Layla had the unique experience of working at the Arizona Capitol Museum in many areas including curation, marketing, and even operating tours for students (ask her about how Arizona became a state and she can go on for hours!).

After college, she had the incredible opportunity to work with musicians and students; planning their concerts and events all over the world. This career took her to some of the most phenomenal destinations around the globe.

For Layla, travel is a sincerely life-altering experience that grants us the opportunity to see how big the world is and how little we’ve seen of it. Learning the logistics for planning a trip was useful, but seeing the incredible impact travel had on the students and musicians moved her. Assisting others in having this experience seemed right! Getting the chance to help students study and live abroad is something that she didn’t intend when studying tourism, but it has very quickly become something that brings her tremendous joy and fulfillment.

When she’s not working or traveling, she loves to explore Arizona and all it has to offer. This includes attending local Phoenix events, hiking amazing trails, and going on walks with her two dogs - Emmy and Moose.

I traveled to Spain for the first time with my Spanish Club after graduating high school. Before I left, my grandma hugged me goodbye and whispered, “Enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” That moment ignited the spark and desire to make travel a constant in my life. Fast forward two years later, and I was back in Spain’s sparkling Catalan city of Barcelona for a summer-long marketing internship with a cycling startup and international business course with CEA. Luckily this was just the start for me pursuing my passion for travel, words and people.

I traded in Cava and Paella to finish my bachelor’s degree in Cross-Cultural Communication and Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Clearly Cava was still on my mind when I returned home, because after going abroad I started working as a wine concierge and marketing assistant for another startup in the states. Prior to graduating college during a pandemic, I was lucky enough to cross a collection of countries and cities off my travel bucket-list – Spain, The Netherlands, France, The Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, and even Morocco to name a few.

I truly believe that travel is the best way to gain perspective and that “when you arrive in a place, you become part of that place.” After college I continued learning and sharing stories about new places in the world along with the new person it shaped me into while I worked for a travel technology company as a travel editor for digital and print publications. One day, I’d love to put my passion for travel, words and people to use and write a book about my travels in my 20s.

Milwaukee is a great city on a great lake in the Midwest I call home and now I’m living the desert dream. I picked my new place to call home in May 2021 when I moved to Phoenix, Arizona with my chihuahua named Mario. When I’m not working, traveling or writing about traveling, you can find me hiking, biking, baking or hanging out with friends. I also love reading a good memoir book and listening to live music outdoors!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
For as long as I can remember, studying abroad has been a dream of mine. I have always been very independent and eager to learn, so leaving home in pursuit of a more worldly education was a no-brainer.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
As an art history minor, my study abroad city chose me. Paris, France is a global center for art and fashion, and I wanted to experience that both in the classroom and in person.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to quiet nights by the Seine with a baguette and a book! While I am excited to travel and study, my favorite part about going to new places is taking a step back and admiring the things that are easily missed by hurried tourists or distracted locals.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I was only 3 years old the first time I travelled out of the country! It took me another 12 years to go abroad again, but since then, I haven't looked back. Before studying in Paris I will have visited 5 countries around the world -- I hope to hit double digits by the time I come home!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I've always loved to travel and learn about new cultures. Studying abroad gives me the opportunity to do both of those things while also taking classes and gaining a more global education.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Spain, because being from Puerto Rico, I knew I would still get to experience a totally new culture but I wouldn't have a huge language barrier. Barcelona seemed like the most interesting city because of its art, architecture, beaches, and overall lifestyle.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm looking forward to learning more about the culture in Spain and seeing all that Barcelona has to offer. Along with that, I'm excited about meeting new people and other study abroad students.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Other than photography, I love painting. I actually got more into photography when I decided I wanted to start painting my own pictures.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
To improve my language skills and to see another part of the world.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I am in the process of learning French, and I love the city of Paris.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Getting better at speaking French!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love to read, travel, eat, and meet new people.

Ana is from Granada, and she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation & Interpreting and a Master's Degree in Events Management from the University of Granada. She studied abroad in Rouen, France, and later she worked for a year as Spanish language assistant in Perpignan.

Ana has also worked as an international patient welfare officer at different hospitals in Granada, and she has a lot of experience organizing national and international events, such as conferences and music festivals.

Passionate about culture and possessing excellent communication skills, Ana will do her best to provide students with the most supportive, enriching, and successful time in Granada.

As Student Life Advisor, Ana will assist with the planning and execution of CPs in all aspects related to student services onsite.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I have spent my life living between two countries. I loved being able to travel within and across each country, Mexico and the U.S., because I was able to visit new places, experience different cultures, and develop a special bond with each country. I chose to study abroad because I wanted to continue exploring and learning from everyone I meet wherever I go. I will have the amazing opportunity of immersing myself in another beautiful country with new sounds, smells, and sights to fall in love with.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Aix-en-Provence because it’s a city full of history and rich in culture. It is full of museums, festivals, and theaters. I am very excited about my days after school at the City du Livre.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I look forward to getting lost in new places and through this process, discovering new things and meeting new people. I look forward to immersing myself in French culture and language and making new friends. I also look forward to writing about my experiences!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have danced folklorico, traditional Mexican folk dancing, for ten years. I am also currently part of my university’s salsa group. I love writing, creating new playlists on Spotify (I can make you a playlist for any genre or mood!), and as can probably be noted, I love dancing.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
An international internship typically challenges you with new material as well as a new environment. Despite it being a remote position, as I'll be interning during the pandemic, I'll still be afforded the opportunity to explore my career interests through a unique lens by learning from professionals operating globally.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
While I was open to placement anywhere that matched my career interests, I definitely had an interest in interning with Latin American companies. As a first generation Mexican American, I appreciate any opportunity to make connections with those cultures and make it necessary to deepen/expand my awareness of them. It would also be beneficial for me to become familiar with the workplace dynamics there. Having a genuine interest in the interpersonal culture of the country I'd be interning in is an important criteria for me to diversify the takeaways from my experience.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
The experience will be my first internship in a position entirely new to me... I'm excited to learn from the professionals! I'm in the explorative phase of my career development and am really looking forward to gaining insight that will build my confidence with the decisions I'll make moving forward after graduation.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
When I'm not blogging or doing the life and work things, I'm reading, drinking tea, and lazily moving a laser pointer around for my cats. Fun Fact: I love karaoke but sweat at the idea of public speaking, go figure!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study and to (virtually) intern abroad because I knew I would receive an incredible opportunity that would be unmatchable to anything else close to my home university and traditional work experiences. Studying abroad was something I always dreamed of being able to do, and interning abroad fell into place afterward. CEA's Granada program seemed to have chosen me after some searching for the perfect location to buckle down on improving my Spanish skills, and it only felt right to stay in Spain (Seville) for my virtual internship.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Granada because it's a small city in the beautiful region of Andalucía, Spain, a region that's often not as recognized as other areas of the country. Granada is absolutely charming and surprisingly affordable, and it offers great opportunities for authentic Spanish immersion, making it the perfect city for me to study abroad in. I chose Seville, Spain, for my virtual internship because I wanted to continue my abroad experience in Spain, especially in the southern region, which I found to be the area of Spain where I felt especially comfortable, confident, and eager to step out of my comfort zone.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to making lifelong connections, immersing myself in the Spanish language and culture, and partaking in things I've never done before. As a first-generation college student, study abroad seemed a distant, unachievable dream as I was making my way through the first two years of my university education. However, once study abroad became an option for me during the spring of my third year of college, I couldn't wait to go to Spain by myself and truly test the person I had become in a country I had never been to before.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I'm a vegan, basketball-playing, field hockey-mastering, hiking-aficionado who loves to read, cook, and learn about anything and everything. The semester before I went abroad, I started to learn French, and I'll let you imagine how that helped me once I arrived in Spain... I'm also the first student from Champlain College, my home institution, to study abroad in Granada!

2. How has your study abroad experience shaped you? 

Overall I would say that my study abroad experience has made me more confident in myself and my abilities. Before going abroad I tended to be more shy and hesitant in participating in different activities around campus. But since being back I have spoken on several study abroad panels to try and encourage others to go abroad, before going abroad I would have never thought about doing any public speaking voluntarily. I also have been able to make more international friends because I am more confident in my communication skills with international students because of all the practice I got while studying abroad.

Studying abroad also opened my eyes to the opportunities that are available abroad and how much there is to see in the world. Without going abroad I would not be looking into Master programs over seas and would not be as interested in International Business and Marketing as I am today.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I love to travel and want the experience of living in a different country!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose to study in Paris because I have been studying the French language for the past few years and have fallen in love with the culture. I have previously visited Paris twice and love the history and vividness of the city!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
While abroad, I am most looking forward to improving my French, experiencing a completely different culture, and meeting new people!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Fun Fact: The Chainsmokers crashed my prom senior year of high school!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted to be able to fully immerse myself in the Spanish language and culture.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I had always wanted to study in Spain, but I felt I should take the opportunity to explore a city I knew nothing absolutely about. While Madrid and Barcelona are equally beautiful and vibrant cities, I was most captivated by Alicante's seaside and Mediterranean architecture.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Being in a smaller city, I know that I will be given a greater chance to really dive into speaking the Spanish language in Alicante. I am also looking forward to the chance to expand my cultural awareness and to get more familiar with the history and life of the country.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love nature and traveling... hiking, biking, camping, etc. I love exploring the outdoors and finding hidden gems everywhere I go!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
It has always been a dream of mine to travel the world, but I never had any chances. But finally, I realized that if I wanted to make my travel dreams come true, I would have to stop waiting and start acting. Studying abroad is the perfect way to gain incredible travel experience while also prioritizing education.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Paris because I have come to love the French language. Also, I want to learn as much as I can about this city and its incredible architecture, culture, and history.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
During my study abroad, I am most looking forward to seeing the historic sites around France. I want to see the catacombs, Notre Dame, Normandy, the palace of Versailles, and so much more!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
In my spare time I practice digital and film photography. I have a passion for media and I write for my school newspaper. Last year, I won my school’s Journalism Department’s Best Photographer Award!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I love experiencing other cultures. Also, I'm studying International Relations, so going to a different country allows exposure that will apply what I'm learning.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Aix-en-Provence is the city I chose to study in because of its culture, charm, and history. For an artist, the ability to see where Cezanne lived and worked is an amazing opportunity. Additionally, Aix itself is so charming with its cobblestone streets and old architecture. It's also exciting to be so close to the Mediterreanean Sea, as I have never been to the south of France.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm most looking forward to daily life in France as well as the weekends. I'm hoping to adapt to french life through things like the markets and language. On the weekends, I'm excited to be able to visit the surrounding areas of France as well as the countries that border it.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Some passions of mine are painting and poetry. I love to recreate landscapes and subjects on a canvas with just a paintbrush and some paint. Similarly, I love being able to use a pencil and paper to write my thoughts in an artistic way.

I was born and raised on the Gulf Coast in Alabama, but I also have northern roots with most of my family being from Michigan. My love for international education began with my first study abroad program in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. There I studied the Spanish language and culture for six weeks during the summer of 2018. My experience was so transformative, I applied to work as an intern within the University of South Alabama's Office of International Education and Study Abroad the following semester.  

After an amazing and successful year as an International Education Ambassador, I decided to take the big leap once again and make my way over to Moscow, Russia to study language and culture for an intensive nine-week summer program. Though there were many more challenges my second time around, my passion to share these experiences with other people only grew. Since studying abroad in Spain, I've continued traveling domestically and internationally for academic and professional opportunities, but mostly because it's fun! Now that I'm a part of the CEA enrollment team, I'm looking forward to working with students to help them discover all the joys and rewards of getting an education abroad.  

When I'm not working or studying, I love discovering new science fiction series, hiking, traveling with my closest friends, making new Spotify playlists, sampling menus of new restaurants, and learning foreign languages

1. What was your favorite course abroad?

My favorite course abroad was the History of Architecture because each week was a new experience and understanding of the city. My instructor was extremely helpful and always energetic which added to the learning experience. Each class really felt like a field trip and was always a way of getting us to go to a new part of the city we might never had come across. Having the opportunity to walk through history learning about the importance and impact French architecture had on the world was special. The best part of the course was all the bits and pieces books, or tours don’t tell you about, small secrets hidden within the architecture. The out of classroom interaction definitely helped with my overall approach on taking field notes and analyzing my surroundings too. If I ever have the opportunity to take a course like that again I would in a heartbeat.

2. Why would you like to be an Alumni Ambassador?
I’ve wanted to become an alumni ambassador because of the tremendous impact my experience gave me, and I’ve wanted my own friends to have that same experience. Since my time abroad I can say that I've grown as a person and experienced so many unique situations which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Additionally, the relationships and friendships that I made while abroad have lasted to this day and I'm so grateful we can meet up and check in on each other to see how we're doing. After my semester abroad in France, I thought about how I could give back to my school and influence the students there to reach out and take initiative on learning new cultures. I started out by volunteering at my schools abroad fair, talking with students about my own experience and sharing my stories in Europe which could fill an entire book. I love talking with students about the opportunities and programs CEA offers because it truly is a life changing experience.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to intern abroad because I want to challenge myself to collaborate and learn from different cultures. One day I want to work within the business world on an international level. I knew taking on an international internship this summer would be a fantastic opportunity to prepare myself to work in business at the international level.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose to intern in Dublin because I have always been fascinated by Dublin’s history. In addition, it has been my dream to visit Dublin. Although my internship this summer is virtual, my goal is to travel there to see the people I have met in the CEA program and worked for after completing my internship.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to improving the workforce’s essential skills, leaving the internship experience with a broader perspective of working internationally and creating long-lasting relationships. I want to apply what I have learned from this unique experience when I go back to school, wherever I’m employed, and beyond.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have always had an enormous love for watching and playing sports. In particular, my favorite sports to watch are football, baseball, basketball, and golf. I am a very passionate St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. I also love to play any sport that’s out there.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY/INTERN ABROAD?
I chose to study abroad because I love to learn about anything. One of my favorite things learn about is other people and cultures, so studying abroad was the obvious choice for me. 

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR STUDY/INTERN CITY?
The short answer is because everyone from my school goes to Spain. The long answer is because I think Latin America is underrepresented in education, and I really wanted to become more informed about the culture and the history of the area. I know that Argentina and South America as a whole has a rich history, and I wanted to learn more about it and its people. 

I'm looking forward to travel around South America. The classes are going to give me a good understanding of the history and politics, but traveling like that will give me an entirely different perspective. 

When I'm not writing, I run my school's local roller derby team and I play Dungeons and Dragons with my friends on weekends. 

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I've always wanted to study abroad. Beginning from the time I was little, seeing college students embark on a crazy journey to a foreign country seemed like an adventure you can only watch in a movie or read in a really good book. Now, it's really happening! Studying abroad is like writing, acting, and producing an action-thriller movie of my very own!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
You would typically think that anybody who is studying abroad in France would be studying in the country's capital. Well, I've never been somebody who follows the normal methods of living. I chose to study in Antibes, France, at the Skema Business School because of the amazing culture in the south of France. Here, I am able to venture out of my comfort zone and witness the amazing opportunities that France has to offer!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am mostly looking forward to the adventure aspect of studying abroad. More specifically, I look forward to making lifelong friends as well as exploring Europe, and most importantly, I'll have stories to bring back home with me when I return to the States!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I absolutely LOVE to thrift. Finding old things in a store like artwork, clothing, and even books is so interesting. It's like diving into history without paying museum entry fees!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I knew I wanted to study abroad during my time in college. I'm so excited to see another part of the world and really expand my worldview. Living far from home is equally scary and exhilarating!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Prague checked all the boxes for me: major European city (hello travel-filled weekends), the program had offered the classes I still need, and it's stunning all year round.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Meeting new people and making unforgettable memories as I explore new places.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I write for my school's fine arts magazine, I have a dog with one eye and I'm related to Jimmy Fallon.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I've lived in the same suburb of Texas my entire life and have always had a desire to immerse myself in a completely different culture from mine. Studying abroad was an opportunity to do that while also getting my education, and the benefits of going abroad in your early twenties are unmatched.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I wanted a place where I could find it all - beach, city, mountains, etc. The French Riviera is the most beautiful places I've ever seen, and the culture of the South of France is so dreamy. Antibes has the small-town, laid-back energy that I love, while also being centrally located near all the other European locations I hope to visit in my time abroad.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
During my abroad experience, I'm most looking forward to getting out of my comfort zone in many different ways. Through a new language, a new city, a new school and new systems, I'm certain there will be countless uncomfortable moments, and that excites me. I can't wait to look back on my growth throughout this semester. Nothing grows in comfort zones!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love all things aesthetically pleasing. Coffee shops, charcuterie boards, neutral colors, stationery, etc. The little things are the most important to me and spark unnecessary amounts of joy.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I've known I wanted to study abroad since the first time I visited Europe when I was 15. Each of my older brothers spent a summer in college traveling Europe, and had nothing but great things to say. The only regret they expressed was not committing to a full semester. I also really want to become fluent in Spanish.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Spain because of my Spanish minor. I then narrowed my choices to Alicante after deciding I wanted a smaller, costal city that speaks little English. I live on the coast of Florida and I felt the beach would help me feel less homesick.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to everything about the spring semester, but especially getting out of my bubble and experiencing new cultures. I have yet to experience anything more exciting than visiting a new country for the first time.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
My major is Retailing, in hopes of being a buyer in the future, but after finishing my career in fashion I hope to teach English as a Second Language to spanish-speaking children! Also, I'm writing this in the airport on the way to San Diego!! #travels

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I am constantly in search of my next adventure and studying abroad offers the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and expand my worldview. I have had very few opportunities for international travel and am now hungry to soak in an entire semester worth.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
My family roots tie back to Ireland, so I fell in love with the idea of going back and getting a chance to truly live there, not just visit. In addition, the opportunity to take classes as an international student at the National University of Ireland - Galway (NUI Galway) was an incredibly attractive factor, as it offered the opportunity to fully immerse myself as a student.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone, meeting people from a wide variety of backgrounds and picking up on small cultural habits that only make themselves evident when you live there.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Any time of the year you can find me searching high and low for the best ice cream shops and bakeries in town. If I cannot find the dessert I'm craving, I try to make it. 17% chance of it going horribly wrong but a 100% chance of funky playlists playing in the background. I love to stay active by playing soccer, going for hikes, swimming or kayaking (I have to offset the desserts somehow). Overall, you can find me just hoping to make the most out of every day!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted to study/intern abroad to improve my Spanish language skills, cultural competency, and acquire meaningful work experience.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I am obsessed with every aspect of southern Spain. The Moorish architecture, food, flamenco, and people.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm looking forward to learning Spanish fluently and becoming a real Andalusian!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love going dancing with friends, playing volleyball and solo traveling. My biggest accomplishment travel-wise is definitely finding my way off of Ibiza after getting my documents stolen.

1. What was your favorite course abroad and why? 

My favorite study abroad course was Communication and Global Competency. The course makes students analyze their culture while learning another. In this class, I interacted with french students in their English class at University of Paris-Diderot. It was a unique experience. I got to learn a lot about French culture and society that I would never have known just studying at CEA.

2. How has your study abroad experience shaped you? 

My study abroad experience changed the way I see the world. I have been considering going into diplomacy, working with the state department in foreign affairs. Studying in another country with a lot of foreign professors gives me alternate view of the United States I would not have seen on my own. The United States always seems to be the center of everything but, many countries around the world a distancing themselves. I want to help rebuild the US’ relationship with the world. But, I have been thinking about the concept of global competency. I have been in international based classes for a few years now and have never learned of this concept. Maybe I will try and introduce this to the American university system more widely.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I studied abroad in Costa Rica and it was such a fantastic way to immerse myself in the Spanish language and a culture completely different from my own. Spending an entire semester in Madrid, Spain, studying and discovering new things sounded like a dream!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I have studied Spanish for a long time, but I rarely ever get the opportunity to use what I've learned. I've never been to Europe and Spanish culture has always been an interest of mine.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm most excited to connect with new people and discover a new way of living. The ""college experience"" will be so much different than the last year that I spent at home!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
My favorite down-time activities are reading, running, playing guitar, and recording music! I've had more time to develop these hobbies over the past few years.

As Dean of Global Education, Christian provides leadership for the Center for Global Education at Providence College (PC) by working with the administration, faculty, staff, students in all aspects of PC’s global education programs.  Since joining PC in 2020, Christian has launched virtual global learning initiatives such as COIL courses and remote international internships.  Prior to PC, Christian held positions at SUNY New Paltz and the University of Lynchburg.  On a professional level, Christian is actively engaged in NAFSA, Forum on Education Abroad, and Diversity Abroad.

Christian earned his doctorate in international education from the University of Minnesota with a dissertation on the internationalization of teacher education, and received his M.A. in African Studies at the University of London.  As an undergraduate at McDaniel College, Christian studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland to focus on his majors in French and international studies.  In addition, Christian has taught English in France and Japan.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to experience a new culture. I am also excited to meet new people and learn new things. Because I go to school in Alabama, I am ready to be in a new city with lots of stuff to do!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Barcelona not only because of the amazing weather and beaches, but because I want to expand my Spanish language skills.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to meeting new people and traveling to different countries around Europe. The culture and architecture in Barcelona are also supposed to be beautiful, so I am excited to take it all in. The food is also something I look forward to trying because I am a huge foodie!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Hanging out with friends, writing, shopping, going to the gym, eating.

1. How has your study abroad experience shaped you? 

My study abroad experience has taught me so much about myself and my career aspirations. Through my study abroad experience I have greatly improved my French. Not only have I improved my French speaking skills, but I have also learned the French cultural expectations and mannerism in various settings. Aside from French, I have mastered the art of navigating around cities and becoming familiar with various public transportation systems. I have become extremely independent and self-sufficient, especially when traveling on my own. My time management skills have also sky-rocketed considering I have found a healthy balance between my weekend travels and weekly academic work. In terms of my career, I have learned that the fashion industry is definitely somewhere I see myself thriving, as I am extremely fascinated by it and want to continue to learn more about it. I have also decided that I am very interested in a job which enables me to travel a lot, possibly even starting my career abroad. I interned with a French company over this past Summer and have now applied to other French companies because of how much I loved working with them in addition to how in love I am with the city of Paris. On another note, I have learned how important it is to balance and separate your personal life and work life. The various experiences and opportunities I have had abroad have helped me to grow as not only a person, but as a student, and professional.

2. What were ways you found to experience the local culture?

1. How has your study abroad experience shaped you?

Through this experience, I now realize how much I valued learning Spanish in a larger Spanish-speaking setting abroad. Embracing this opportunity allowed me to learn and view growth in my character, as well as assist members of the community with my native language. I want to continue expanding my education and aiding others, and having exposure to a larger social atmosphere through this program increased my cultural awareness and public speaking opportunities, and allowed me to continue having an active role in other’s lives.

2. Why would you like to be an Alumni Ambassador?

I am a person who wants to continually improve and develop. The Alumni Ambassador Program will give me the opportunity to share the benefits of studying abroad through CEA to other students and give them the excitement to learn, as well as increase my knowledge and skillsets. It will also allow me to educate students on topics I wish someone had told me prior to studying abroad. It will offer much diversity and a plethora of opportunities for me to help others. One of the most compelling reasons to be an Alumni Ambassador is simple: I want to seek a challenging environment. More specifically, I desire to immerse myself in more leadership and educational opportunities than those available from my own city.
The Alumni Ambassador Program will uncover a range of different possibilities for me to engage in discourse with students and other CEA alumni. I believe in a strong student community and bringing people together. Having prior knowledge and experience to lead a group, as well as the proper training in college can help me accomplish greater initiatives within this program.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Studying abroad has been my dream ever since my first taste of international travel.  This opportunity perfectly blends my love for other nations and my drive to experience life in a new and exciting way.  Pursuing my studies while surrounded by the culture, architecture, and people of Spain will be my greatest adventure yet!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Seville, Spain as my study abroad destination because it's unlike anywhere I have ever been.  Seville is a vibrant, colorful place full of passionate people.  I am eager to learn about the city's deep history while simultaneously experiencing the modern aspects of the culture.  I am also pretty excited about that tropical climate!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Being a MOJO Blogger is going to be such an amazing part of my study abroad experience.  I look forward to sharing my experiences through my writing and photography.  On the weekends I'm excited to travel to different European cities through CEA excursions and personal travels.  I also hope to improve my newly-acquired Spanish language skills by speaking with locals.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I took four years of German language classes in high school, so going to a Spanish-speaking country was a great leap of faith for me!  I am an archery instructor, amateur photographer, and avid adventure-seeker.  I spend my weekends hanging out in coffee shops with friends or hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to intern abroad to immerse myself in a different culture and to develop strong skills and experiences that will be valuable for success in the future. In the wake of a pandemic, it is not possible for me to study abroad, but interning abroad is a great substitute. I believe that immersing myself in a different culture will help me learn about myself and others.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Paris primarily because it is a city I recently visited. I visited Paris last December and was mesmerized by it. I am eager to learn more about Parisian culture and lifestyle.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to the challenge. I know that I will face a lot of obstacles throughout my experience, but that is what I live for. Being out of my comfort zone is a component of growth.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I performed twice during the holiday season at the White House with my high school choir.

1. How has study abroad shaped you?
My study abroad experience made me a more well-rounded, independent, and understanding individual. It sharpened some of my existing skills, like my French, adaptability, and teamwork, as well as gave me brand new skills, such as independence and confidence. Studying abroad also guided my future educational and professional career paths. I enjoyed learning French and studying abroad so much that I decided to minor in French and pursue a graduate degree in international affairs. Now, in my role as an international trade specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce, I not only get to occasionally use my French language skills but, more importantly, all the other skills that CEA's program allowed me to gain. In working with interagency colleagues, local staff abroad, or foreign government officials, I am able to be understanding, open-minded, and respectful. In working on my own sets of projects and giving presentations to coworkers across the government, I am confident, free to create, and grateful. I truly do not think I would have the outlook I have on life right now without my study abroad experience, and I have CEA to thank for that. I am now excited and ready to take the next step and serve as an Alumni Ambassador to be that beacon of light for others.

2. What did you enjoy most about studying abroad?
I most enjoyed how immersive my study abroad experience was. After only a week in my host country, I felt like a local rather than a visiting American student. From staying in an international student residence hall to taking public transportation to speaking French in every establishment I went into, it truly felt like I was a local and like I belonged there. This helped me feel more comfortable and at ease being in a new country, and gave me the confidence to use my French more, make local friends, and travel alone across the country. In turn, being able to immerse myself in the culture gave me newfound skills of adaptability, understanding, open-mindedness, and independence that I ended up carrying with me throughout the rest of college, through graduate school, and that I carry currently in my professional career. I believe CEA's program was pivotal in allowing me to immerse myself as much as I did, due to most French teachers at the university speaking only in French, as well as CEA's advisors, who provided us with cultural lessons, often from locals themselves, and excursions to other parts of the country.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to make new friends, go on adventures and create new experiences.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Aix-en-Provence because no one else from my school was going and I wanted to meet a new group of people.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
All the different experiences and places I will see.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I was the social chair for Kappa Delta Sorority. I love the outdoors, hiking, traveling and meeting new people.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY/INTERN ABROAD?
I chose to study abroad because it has always been a goal in my life. I thrive off of new cultures and experiences. If I decided not to study abroad, I think it would be something I would regret for the rest of my life. There is just something so important about seeking discomfort and living outside of your comfort zone.

I chose to study abroad in Florence, Italy, because of their awesome printmaking program at the art school SRISA. I also have never been to Italy before and thought it would be stupid of me not to study art in one of the most art-historically important countries in the world. There is just so much to do, see, and... eat in Italy, that I just couldn't pass it up! 

I am looking forward to learning Italian! I cannot wait until I am able to speak my mind to the locals and get my ideas across coherently. I am also looking forward to having the city inspire my artworks and to just be completely immersed in the culture. 

I have actually spent a year abroad in Europe already! I spent my junior year of high school in Germany, so I am conversationally fluent in German. I will actually be heading over to Germany for another semester abroad once my semester in Italy is finished. I have been interested in art for as long as I can remember. It is my passion and I couldn't see myself doing anything else. As far as other hobbies besides art goes: I love to read and consume other forms of stories (movies/TV or podcasts) and I also play the violin. 

Emelee Volden is the Director of the Office of International Education at the University of Denver (DU) where she provides strategy and advocacy for study abroad and global learning.

Prior to DU, Emelee was the Senior International Officer at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse where she was responsible for all campus internationalization efforts, education abroad, international student and scholar services and ESL. She has also worked at Northwest College (WY) where she led international student recruitment, admissions and retention efforts and the University of Minnesota where she advised on and assisted with the development of education abroad programs.

Emelee is a first-generation college student, earning a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Sioux Falls. Her international education experience began as an undergraduate student studying abroad in Florence, Italy. After graduation, she then taught in Wajima, Ishikawa, Japan on the JET Program, returning to the U.S., eager to begin her professional career in international education. She earned an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I have always loved adventures. I enjoy learning more about different cultures, and I'm so excited to grow as a person while studying abroad.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Alicante because it's a local town, so it will be a more personal experience. I want to experience everyday life in Spain and connect with the locals in the area. Alicante is also one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, and I'm planning on learning more Spanish.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm most looking forward to how much I'm going to learn and grow this semester. Every adventure and every person I meet abroad will show me a new side of this world. I can't wait to meet new friends along the way to experience these new adventures with them.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I speak Lithuanian fluently, love playing the guitar and piano, and hiking and swimming in beautiful places.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I was struck by the opportunity to intern abroad with CEA because I knew it would require my full immersion in the culture and happenings of a foreign, Spanish-speaking city (for me, Sevilla!). I am eager to explore the Spanish language outside the classroom and cannot imagine a better way to study abroad than to gain real-world experience in the language through an internship. The prospect of interning abroad was also intriguing to me because of COVID-19. Along with the rest of college students and recent graduates, my internship plans for summer 2020 were diminished due to the pandemic—I still yearn for an in-person experience where I can organically connect with others. The chance to travel abroad for an internship this summer with other students/interns is not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but also a complete departure from the Zoom environment that has consumed this past year. I truly believe I now have the perspective to better appreciate this opportunity after experiencing life in quarantine during the pandemic.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Seville based on word-of-mouth. Every single person I spoke to about this city had nothing to say but sing its high praises. I learned that I would get a rich, authentic experience of a Spanish-speaking city and have endless opportunities, sites to see, and places to explore right outside my doorstep. I can't wait to call Sevilla my city for two months!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to stepping (or flying) outside my comfort zone and becoming more confident in my Spanish-speaking abilities in the process. I can only imagine how awe-struck I will be from the beauty, richness and diversity of this city! Furthermore, I look forward to the opportunity to bolster skills that are applicable in a global context and transferable to any industry through my internship experience.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Fun facts... I feel like I always have a couple in my back pocket, ready for any orientation, first day of school, or bio like this! I am a dancer, avid reader, and also love to hike, run, and design. I am also a writer for my school's (Wake Forest University) chapter of Her Campus, where I write bimonthly articles on female empowerment, current news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics for the nationwide online magazine dedicated to championing women in journalism at the collegiate level. I guess in the future I'll get to add to the list that I interned abroad in Sevilla for two months!

As the Social Media Manager, Emily creates the strategy and content for all of CEA’s social channels and runs CEA’s Mobile Journalist (MOJO) program that curates digital content from students abroad.

Emily honed her digital marketing skills and knack for content creation at Markitors, a small digital agency in Scottsdale, where she was a one-woman band managing small businesses’ social media accounts, SEO content, email marketing, CEO branding, and overall strategies. She conducted research, created editorial calendars, wrote social and long-form content, created social objects, edited video, and coordinated with media and influencers to distribute the content. As the first hire at her previous agency, she also helped recruit and onboard new hires as the organization grew.

Before joining CEA, Emily served as Content Marketing Manager for All Told, the integrated marketing team at Allison+Partners in Scottsdale, where she was responsible for a number of content marketing efforts, including researching, planning, strategic support, and writing, as well as influencer and social media marketing. 

While studying at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, Emily held internships ranging from reporting at a small newspaper in North Dakota and writing for Arizona Highways Magazine to creating SEO and social media content for U-Haul at their headquarters.

Emily is fluent in French and studied abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris for a semester. Her enthusiasm for international education stemmed from that experience, and since joining the CEA team, her bucket list has expanded and her passion for marketing and engaging with students on digital platforms has grown exponentially.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I've always known studying abroad NEEDED to be a part of my college experience because traveling and experiencing other cultures has been important to me since I was little. I come from the small, close-knit hometown of Davidson, North Carolina, and my bustling college town of Athens, Georgia, but I knew there was more out there for me to discover. So, here I am! Let the adventure begin :)

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Seville has EVERYTHING! It's not too metropolitan and not too small, so I can experience an authentic Spanish atmosphere while also getting to know the community around me. The quaint neighborhoods and city squares enticed me the moment I hit that Google search button, and the culture in Spain has always fascinated me when it comes to food and music, specifically.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Whew, that's a hard one. Interning at an awesome start-up coming as their Global Editor, traveling to other European cities on the weekends, my "Photography in Seville" class, getting to know my flatmates, becoming more fluent in Spanish... I guess I'd have to say EVERYTHING!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
One fun fact about me is that my dream job is actually to host my own talk show one day. Lofty, I know... but I have always been mesmerized by the way these brilliant, larger-than-life personalities can captivate audiences night after night with their wit and humor, a combination I would love to master. As for hobbies, I have always loved to sing and play the guitar! I perform at an open mic sometimes at this little coffee shop in my hometown and will never stop fantasizing about what it feels like to sing on stage in front of thousands of people (if it's not already obvious, Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls were my absolute idols growing up). One of my proudest accomplishments happened when I was just 14. I came up with an idea for my own television segment when I was a freshman in high school and pitched it to local broadcast stations in Charlotte, NC... and it worked! For the past five years, I've been appearing monthly with the segment I created (and now co-produce) called "From a Kid's Perspective," where I aim to bridge the gap between parents and their kids with topics ranging from social media safety to gun control.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to have the chance to learn from another culture, not simply about another culture.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Seville for the history and culture — I love Spanish and am excited to live somewhere I get to practice it!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to the experience of learning in a new place, and to meet new people and experience things that push me outside my comfort zone.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I am on the debate team at my school, and love debating! I'm also plant-based and am super passionate about environmental advocacy.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY/INTERN ABROAD?
At my home university, I am enrolled in a program called the World Scholars program where I was able to choose to study abroad my very first semester (Fall 2019) and at some point my junior year. I have previously studied abroad in Rome, Italy, and absolutely loved it. I knew I had to return, but make my experience even more customized to my interests. This is why I chose to intern this time abroad. Given the pandemic, the chances of traveling within the United States, let alone Europe, seemed slim to none. As soon as my university restarted programs, I took the opportunity immediately. Travel will forever be an aspect of my life that I have learned the most from, and it contains memories I will treasure forever.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR STUDY/INTERN CITY?
During my first study abroad program, I took a trip to Prague with some friends and immediately knew I wanted to come back. Something about the beauty, environment, and size drew me to Prague. Since then, I haven't looked back and am eternally grateful to be able to study and intern in a very accessible city with beautiful views at every corner.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO DURING YOUR ABROAD EXPERIENCE?
I am looking forward to meeting new people, building professional connections, and exploring the city both in a group and independently. So far, the CEA program located in Prague has allowed me to have these experiences already. Unlike any other travel experience I have had before, Prague has continued to surprise me in the number of activities I can partake in and opportunities to achieve the goals I have for myself abroad.

FUN FACT (HOBBIES, INTERESTS, ACCOMPLISHMENT, ETC.)?
My hobbies and interests other than travel include performing arts like theater, dancing, and singing, as well as entrepreneurship. My biggest accomplishment is creating a podcast during the pandemic, where I discuss political issues domestically as well as globally that are important to me. It's called "It Matters" and the Instagram page is @itmatters_pod if you are looking to listen or contact me!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted to expand my knowledge and worldview by fully immersing myself in what I’m learning about.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I have always heard about the French Riviera being a coveted and awe inspiring place to travel to. I did not want to follow other students going to a place I had already heard so much about, like Paris, London, etc. Antibes and Sophia Antipolis are two of the most beautiful places, and they are not on most people's radar. I feel as though going to the French Riviera will be even more enriching and fulfilling than I expect it to be, and I can't wait to find out how.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to learning the French language more than I do now, and along with that, I am looking forward to learning about all of the rich, beautiful history that embodies France.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Something not everyone knows about me is that I am an artist. My favorite mediums to work with are charcoal and graphite, watercolor and pens. I also dabble in wood burning, as well as other fun crafts such as sewing and jewelry making.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to travel the world and gain first-hand experiences with other cultures while learning during the whole time. When I found out I had another study abroad chance, I didn’t think about it twice.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Italy as my study abroad destination because I’m passionate about the Italian language, culture, and food! Italy is also a really nice place to stay in Europe since I can quickly visit other countries.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I’m very excited to get to know the other students, visit as many places as I can, learn a lot and blend in with the Italians, besides taking lots of beautiful pictures!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
A fun fact about me: I was born and raised in Brazil and also lived in Saudi Arabia before going to the US to study. I love to travel, dance, take photographs, and hang out with friends and family.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I knew before coming to college that I wanted to study abroad, but I had no idea where. I was so excited to travel the world that it became impossible to pick only one city. But once I decided to minor in Spanish, it became a lot easier to find a place that was right for me. The ability to go to school in a foreign country was an amazing opportunity I couldn't pass up.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Madrid because of its exciting culture, central location, and the ability for me to improve my Spanish while I'm there. Even though I want to travel a lot while I'm abroad, Madrid is the perfect home base for me. Also, Universidad Nebrija is very centrally located within the city, and I am so excited to wander through Madrid on my way to and from class.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Besides traveling and practicing Spanish, I'm looking forward to spending time with my friends in a completely new environment. In addition to becoming friends with the other students and locals, being able to experience Madrid--and all of Europe--with friends from home will make my time in Spain even more exciting!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love to explore and try new things, whether it's surfing, hiking, camping, beach volleyball, etc., so being in a new place like Madrid will have so many more opportunities for me! In my down time, I love to read in coffee shops or find cute boutiques, so you can expect many of my blogs to be written from a new place I just found deep in the city.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study/intern abroad because I want to explore the beautiful country of Italy, as well as meet new people from different parts of the world.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I love art and architecture from the Renaissance time period and thought shooting film in this area would be a fun time and will allow me to expand on my knowledge of filming historic destinations.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to meeting new friends, learning about the beautiful Italian culture and filming during travel and exploration while abroad.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have recently picked up rock climbing again and plan on doing at least one climbing trip while in Italy.

1. Why would you like to be an Alumni Ambassador?

I would like to be an Alumni Ambassador so that I can continue to share about my life changing study abroad experience and so that I can lead other people toward a similar experience through studying abroad with CEA. Since coming home from Spain, I have loved sharing about my experiences abroad. I want to continue to share in an impactful and beneficial way. I have so many pictures and videos from my time abroad that I love showing off. My photography and videography skills grew immensely while I was studying abroad. I believe that these pictures and videos may be helpful in my position as an Alumni Ambassador. Since I had such an incredibly life changing experience, I want to give back and help lead others toward this experience. I have a passion for improving the lives of others and I would love the chance to help them discover the adventures of a study abroad experience with CEA. I want to help connect my life abroad with my life home and continue to grow with the support of CEA. I also would love the opportunity to return to Granada as
an onsite Alumni Ambassador.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in another country and expand my cultural and professional understandings outside of the United States.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Prague because of how beautiful and centralized it is in Europe. As a photographer, I couldn't resist the perfect photographic opportunities here.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to the people I will meet in Prague and the photographic opportunities I will come across. I am also looking forward to traveling to other countries!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love photography and traveling! At my home university, I photograph for a fashion magazine and in my spare time, I enjoy hiking and playing the guitar.

1. How has your study abroad career shaped you? 

My study abroad experience taught me that I'm far more capable than I think I am. Before living in Spain, I didn't have the faith and confidence in myself that I should have. Now, I find comfort in knowing that if I can live in a foreign country for four months and LOVE it, then I can do anything else I'm faced with. Spain made me realize that I can handle life's challenges and that everything has a way of working itself out!

2. What is one thing you wish you would have known before studying abroad?

As weird as it is, I wish I knew to reorganize my laptop before studying abroad! I have so many amazing pictures, blog entries, diaries, and videos from my travels and the idea of losing any of that TERRIFIES me. These are some of the best memories I've ever had, so I they get a special "Study Abroad" folder, and I definitely recommend that everyone else does the same!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I have always been passionate about seeing the world and attempting to understand it.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a country that doesn't speak my native language. I was very close with my French teacher in high school (who loved the French culture) so studying in the French Riviera struck a cord in me.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am excited to meet other international students and also have the opportunity to explore an entirely new country.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I was picked to danced on stage with my favorite band, Thirty Seconds to Mars!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I’ve always enjoyed traveling and knew studying abroad would not only broaden my experience but let me explore other cultures while furthering my education internationally.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I love the rich sport culture in Barcelona, and I love being able to experience and learn about all the ones present in Spain.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I’m most excited to expand my horizons, meet new people, and dive into new cultures.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I’m a big sports fan (my favorite sports team is the Dallas Cowboys), and I love the beach and fashion.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Travel has always been a huge part of my life, so to me it made a lot of sense to continue my education in a foreign country.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
My whole family is French and I have been there a couple of times, so I’m already pretty familiar with the city. I see this as an opportunity to connect deeper to my heritage and get a chance to feel even more at home in Paris.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Definitely the food! But aside from that, I’m excited to improve my French and to visit other parts of France I’ve never seen!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I absolutely love movies (including French cinema, of course) and I am a big fan of cooking and painting!

1. Why would you like to be an Alumni Ambassador?

The reason I want to become an alumni ambassador so much is because I understand just how valuable the study abroad experience is. It is the adventure of a lifetime and I think everyone who can should take the chance. Two of my good friends from my university back home were contemplating studying abroad this semester but weren't sure if it was right for them. I was very encouraging towards them and tried my hardest to get them to take the leap, and I know as a fact they are now having an excellent semester in both Prague and Athens. Sharing my experiences, informing others, and encouraging them to study abroad is something I would be very passionate about in the future. In fact, I have already had a couple of people from campus message me and ask about study abroad. No matter what, I will push others from my university to go for the study abroad experience, and I would love to do so as an official CEA ambassador.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I love people, and the best way to meet people is to travel. I chose to study abroad to meet people, to be fully immersed in another culture, and to gain a greater understanding of the world.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Well, I love coffee. I have been a barista, roaster, and manager in the specialty coffee industry for several years. Costa Rica is the only country in the world where every bit of coffee grown is Arabica, which is the only coffee that the industry uses. I chose San Jose to learn more about growing, harvesting, and processing coffees; and to build relationships with several farmers who produce some of the finest coffees the world has to offer. I imagine myself one day being able to lead coffee origin trips to Costa Rica, and I believe that the study abroad program will provide a wonderful foundation for me in that.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Man, I absolutely cannot wait to meet other people in San Jose and to practice my Spanish. They say that you have to murder a language before you can master it, so I am excited to learn more Spanish by meeting locals - even when I do totally botch the language!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Film photography is a passion of mine - 35mm or 120mm. I also am a vintage motorcycle enthusiast - I have resurrected a 1971 Honda CB350 from 30 years of sitting in a backyard to running me thousands of miles up roads and mountain trails.

Jacqueline, the newest addition to our CEA Paris team, is a true global citizen, who has lived, worked, and studied in Washington DC, Montpellier, and London before moving to Paris. Jacqueline is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and completed a B.A. in History, Political Science, and French at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities prior to earning a Master’s Degree in Human Rights at the London School of Economics & Political Science. Jacqueline will be replacing Colin Maunoury as Internship Coordinator in Paris. She will brings tremendous energy, knowledge, and experience in various fields to the team and to her new role helping our students develop their life goals in their Parisian internship placements.

She is passionate about literature and cinema. She loves to read a book at home in Montmartre when it is rainy and cold out, in the company of her cat, Olga Picasso.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I have always admired those who live their lives spontaneously, in constant search of new places, people, and experiences. However, being a person of habit, it’s never been easy for me to venture too far outside of my comfort zone. Not only traveling to, but actually living in Italy is a HUGE step for me and I’m stoked for the personal growth, memories, and travels that these 15 weeks have in store.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Growing up hearing my dad’s stories of his time abroad in Florence, I knew I had to follow in his footsteps. With Florence being central to Italy, and Italy being in close proximity to many other European countries, he was not only able to immerse himself in the Italian culture, but travel outside of Italy to experience many other cultures as well. I’m looking forward to being able to establish a home away from home in the capital of the Tuscany region, just a short train/plane ride away from countless other beautiful cities.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I’m most excited for the amount of push pins I’ll be able to add to my travel map when returning to the states. I’ve grown up traveling within the U.S. with my family, mainly for the purpose of either camping or visiting out of state family members and friends. It wasn’t until the summer after graduating high school that I made my way to Europe with my grandparents, and needless to say, it stole my heart. I can’t wait to fuel my travel bug while I’m abroad, where so many new places and experiences are within my reach.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I’m from Southern California and have never surfed a day in my life, but I work at a surf shop? I honestly think I have an addiction to sunsets and Oreos. If I don’t make it through P.A. school, I’ll probably end up living in a van and traveling the country with my dog and my camera. Chris Burkard is my biggest inspiration as a photographer, he’s a cool human, give him a follow.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Four months studying on a different continent? Did I mention that the fee is cheaper than the fee to be in Tucson for a semester? Also, the food in France. Yum!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I’ve been to Nice once in my life, and now’s my chance to become a local. I’ll find the quality options that are necessities in daily function. I’m from Los Angeles and Nice is practically the LA of France.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to becoming localized in Nice. I want to better understand European cultures and daily habits so that I can model myself culturally better in America. French people experience life just like Americans, except everything they use and revolve on is entirely different. I’m sure I’ll be able to tell more once I can call myself a local.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Big entrepreneur guy. I enjoy new experiences and new habits. My favorite vacation will always be on a cruise ship.

1. Why would you like to be an Alumni Ambassador?

Although my time abroad was cut short, the two and a half months I spent abroad were some of the best moments of my entire life. I was skeptical at first to go through a different program than the study centers offered through my university, but CEA was so well organized and interactive, I don't know if my abroad experience would have been the same through any other program. Because only one other student from my school was in the same program as me, being an ambassador would allow me to better promote CEA to students at the University of Oklahoma and send more students on the experience of a lifetime.

2. Why should a student go abroad?
One thing that stood out to me and ultimately solidified my decision to go with CEA was the multiple excursions planned throughout the semester. I loved the way CEA gave us the opportunity to see different aspects of the city we studied in as well as nearby cities that was included in our tuition and fees. Some of the excursions I loved was the day trip to the Italian Riviera as well as the hike to see the blooming mimosa trees. Another fun thing my onsite staff did was a wine and cheese tasting. They taught us what wine paired well with what cheeses, and how to properly uncork a bottle. If it wasn't for CEA, I don't think I would've interacted with the culture around me as much as I did.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad in order to fulfill my desire of exploring creative and expressive courses while in college. In addition, it has been a goal of mine to explore the world. I am so grateful this trip will provide me with the opportunity to do both.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose the city of Florence for several reasons. For one, I felt Florence would be a perfect location to study art and to find the most expressive version of myself. Additionally, I feel Florence will offer me the "travel hub" I was looking for. I chose this location because I feel it will be a good location for traveling between countries during my stay.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
During my abroad experience, I am most looking forward to learning the ins-and-outs of a new culture. I have always appreciated cultural foods, practices, etc. and this trip to Florence will allow for this on a regular basis. Additionally, I am looking forward to fresh foods and a more relaxed lifestyle (or so I have heard).

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I am a Nutritional Science major and have a burning passion for health, nutrition, and an active lifestyle. I love to be active, smile, and cook good food. Ironically, I am an ice cream addict, but how could you not be?!

1. How has your study abroad experience shaped you?

Through the tasks and projects, I was assigned during my program, I have grown more confident in my own skin and developed this new sensation of self-growth which has affected me in an academic, personal, and professional manner. Prior to this internship experience, I rarely posted on social media, and never embraced the confidence to post content about myself, but after this program, I feel so much more confident all around!

2. Why did you choose to become an Alumni Ambassador?
Given the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was one of a handful of students to complete a global virtual internship program, and would like to share this unique experience with students seeking some global work experience from the comfort of their own home!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I am studying abroad because of the benefits it will have for me personally, academically, and occupationally.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Studying abroad in Alicante, Spain, in the Intensive Spanish Language Program will provide me with opportunities to meet new people from diverse backgrounds, learn about the Spanish culture, and ultimately learn the language which is my biggest goal while being abroad.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I look forward to meeting new people from all over the world, experiencing new cultures and lifestyles, and ultimately learning the Spanish language.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I enjoy exploring and adventuring in my free time. Traveling is one of my biggest passions, along with learning languages. Besides Spanish, I hope to learn French, Italian, German, and more.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to not just finish my degree with foreign language courses in my hometown and university, but to experience the language and culture firsthand in another country to optimize my time in school and get the most out of being a World Languages and Literature Major!.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I LOVE the cultural history, art, and dance of Argentina! It will be a honor to attend the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires! !

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I want to speak Spanish fluently with native speakers in my everyday life. I want to drink "mate" with them and possibly even take tango lessons there!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I am actually a ballet dancer and also participated in an international yoga competition!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY/INTERN ABROAD?
At the University of Delaware, I am in a program called the World Scholars Program which is a four-year comprehensive global engagement program where you study abroad twice once during your first semester of college and then again anytime during your junior year. I knew this time studying abroad I wanted to get more out of it then I was able to the first time. I saw CEA had the opportunity to intern while also studying abroad, and knew that by doing this I could get a whole new unique experience many people do not get to have while also expanding and developing professional skills, cultural understandings and competencies, and being able to just grow more as a person.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR STUDY/INTERN CITY?
Choosing Prague was a no-brainer for me. When I was studying abroad in my first semester of college in Rome, I took a weekend trip to Prague with some of my friends. I took one step into the streets of Prague and Old Town Square and immediately knew I needed to come back. I contacted my program coordinator right away, and she said Prague was one of the most popular locations for upper division students at my university, so I immediately knew I was able to come back. Additionally, my university approved a vast amount of interesting courses that I could count toward my majors and minors back home, but just the beauty and location of Prague and the Czech Republic made me want to come study abroad here. Finally, one of the many reasons I chose to come back to Prague – I was just not really familiar at all with Eastern Europe and the lure of the deep history found here, so coming here to learn about an unfamiliar culture and history was also another reason I chose to come.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO DURING YOUR ABROAD EXPERIENCE?
I am looking forward to being able to fully immerse myself in the culture more this time. I really want to try more foods, dive deeper into the Czech Culture, and really live like a local. I want to try as many foods while I am abroad, too, since I am a foodie and love to try new foods. Finally, I want to take part in experiences like cooking classes, food tours, outdoor hikes and being in nature, and the CEA planned excursions among other things.

FUN FACT (HOBBIES, INTERESTS, ACCOMPLISHMENT, ETC.)?
I really love to travel and explore new places (cliche, but still perfect for study abroad). I also really like listening to music, cooking, trying new foods, and also just hanging out with my friends. I also love to be outside and be in nature by doing things such as kayaking, biking, hiking, etc.

1. If you learned another language while you were abroad, what tips and tricks can you offer future study abroad students?

The most important thing about learning another language is to swallow your pride and to just practice, practice, and practice. Everyone says that submersion is the best way to learn a language, and it truly is. I 100% underestimated how difficult it is to learn another language, so living in Spain was a good reality check for me to realize how little Spanish I truly knew. To learn another language, you need to accept failure immediately, and I mean this in the best way possible. Accept that you are going to mess up, say the wrong words, and even forget words, but do not get embarrassed or discouraged. Making mistakes is part of learning, and you need to know that you are not going to be a perfect, fluent speaker right off the bat. Try, try, and try again. Do not be scared to practice another language because locals do appreciate you trying and learning. Many times, the locals were just as bad at English as I was at Spanish, so it was fun to try to communicate in one another’s language. Practice makes perfect, so do not be shy!

2. What was your favorite course while abroad? 

I surprised myself with how much I loved my archaeology class. This class was about the ancient societies that developed and thrived around the Mediterranean. I already love history, but as I mentioned, I initially did not know much about Europe. This class helped me with learning the geography of Europe and its history as well. As I traveled, this class helped me with the history of the cities that I visited. I honestly do not think that I would have enjoyed Athens or Rome as much as I did had I not taken this class and learned about the history behind these ancient towns and their people. My archaeology class was only about 20 students and was split with about half of the students being locals and the other half being study abroad students from many different countries. I enjoyed getting to know my classmates just as much as I did learning.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I have always had hopes of becoming a world traveler and seeing cultures different from my own. Having been learning Spanish since my freshman year of high school, I would really like to obtain a minor in Spanish language and I found the Madrid program to be especially immersive, one that will allow me to dive into the environment and learn everything there is to learn first-hand. One of my ultimate life goals is to become trilingual - I already have native fluency in Polish, which was my first language growing up. I have chosen Spanish as my third because it is such a prevalent language in the United States and I truly believe it is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. Learning new languages is an unmatchable art that challenges and sharpens the mind, and I knew that I would want to study abroad to do just this.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Spanish language and culture have especially fascinated me and have made a large impact on many aspects of my life and recreation. I've chosen to pursue a program in Madrid, Spain, because I have a deep appreciation for the people and the culture, and I hope to become fluent in what I think is the most beautiful language in the world. I know that through this program, I will have various opportunities to travel within Spain and visit culturally rich cities including Toledo, Granada, Sevilla, and Segovia. I am also very happy that housing through this program is with host families, because living with native Spaniards will give me an even greater chance of becoming fully immersed in the language and family-based Spanish culture.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am very passionate about art and art history - I visit the Art Institute of Chicago often and I am already very excited to continue this hobby in Madrid if given the opportunity. When I visited Madrid two years ago, I was able to visit El Museo Nacional del Prado and got to see works by many of my favorite Spanish artists - Picasso, Velázquez, and El Greco. Not to mention, my favorite music to listen to is Spanish rock, including artists such as Juanes, Zoé , and León Larregui and I am excited to maybe attend some live concerts in Spain. Everything about Spain fascinates me, and I am absolutely thrilled to immerse myself in all of its art, dance, and food this fall.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love health and wellness - I am passionate about finding fun ways to cook healthy foods and creative outdoor workouts or activities.

As Program Director for Budapest, Károly’s mission is to provide CEA students the opportunity to see the real faces of Hungary and make their stay a life-changing experience. Károly is responsible for onsite operations and services.

Károly has over a decade of experience in international education. He was Erasmus program officer and coordinator at Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Hungary), and later he served as the Head of the Campus Hungary Scholarship Board office at the Balassi Institute. This program helped over 10,000 Hungarian university students to gain international experience abroad. For a year at CIEE Budapest, Károly was responsible for the coordination of the Hungarian-American Enterprise Scholarship Funds program and also had responsibilities at the CIEE Budapest Study Center. He currently holds a position at Budapest Metropolitan University, the biggest private university in Hungary, managing exchange programs and other EU projects.

Károly holds two M.A. degrees from Pázmány Péter Catholic University from History and Communication and Media Studies. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, reading, and gardening. He loves to travel. His furthest North: 69.6492° N – Tromsø, Norway. Furthest South: 45.0312° S – Queenstown, New Zealand. He’s hoping to push the limits and go beyond them.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I want to learn how to speak French fluently and immersion seemed like the best way to do that. Additionally, I have always lived in the U.S., so I felt that living abroad would be a good opportunity to understand another culture and see American culture through a new lens.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I am interested in Paul Cézanne, who lived and worked in Aix. His workshop is even preserved as a museum! Visual art continues to be a big part of the culture in Aix, so living there will allow me to understand French perspectives on art and be part of a community artists as I create work myself. Plus, the environment is great inspiration for landscape paintings!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm a sucker for sweets of any kind, so I'm thrilled to be able to try new treats in Aix. I look forward to finding a few favorite pâtisseries and learning how to make some pastries myself.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love to take photographs and paint in oils. Museums are some of my favorite places on earth, and I am interested in becoming a exhibition designer. Also, I am always fascinated to learn how technology is changing modern life and listen to a lot of podcasts on the subject.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I have wanted to study abroad someday since I was young. I've always had a deep curiosity for seeing the world and exploring it. Ever since my first trip to Europe in 2012, I knew I wanted to spend a part of my life there someday.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I had known for a while that I wanted to study abroad in Spain. My sister studied abroad in Spain two summer ago (in Pamplona), and I visited her there. I got to spend a day in Seville and fell in love.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I look most forward to getting out of my comfort zone. I am very much a reserved and set-in-my-routine kind of person. I look forward to experiencing something entirely new and getting out of my shell.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have played violin since I was 5. I don't get to play much anymore, but in high school, I had the opportunity to visit Europe three times to to tour and perform with my violin group. This deepened my appreciation and interest in Europe and cultivated my interest in living abroad.

1. Why would you like to be an Alumni Ambassador?

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
There are several different reasons for traveling abroad. The main one was simple for me. I can’t understand other people and other cultures if I don’t experience them first hand. It’s giving me the ability to further learn about myself while also gaining an understanding about different parts of the world. Studying abroad will also test my capacity to adjust to different environments and regions.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Barcelona for several different reasons. For starters, the history of Spain. The second reason would be for the art and architecture there. The weather is definitely appealing, and in addition to that, it’s a lot cheaper to live there, plus the night life is enticing.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Going into college, I had so many expectations for myself. Going abroad, I don’t want to say there is something I’m most looking forward to. I think the experience in itself will be amazing, and I want to take it day by day. Obviously the food and the shopping sound good, but I really want to find the hidden spots that only locals know about.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Fun facts about me: before I take off on an airplane, I listen to the same song and I’ve been doing that since I was 12. I love solving riddles on my phone when I’m bored. When I am super stressed, I bake, and I will bake literally anything. I love film, photography, and anything that has to do with the outdoors. Accomplishments? Wow, well, I work for a magazine where I am the lead for Content Creation, and I also am lead of Content Creation for another company. But my favorite accomplishment is my ability to eat a row of Ritz crackers without any water.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I love European culture. I think it is really important to travel and see other people's worldview and culture to shape our own. Studying abroad will give me that opportunity in a really impactful way.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I visited France in 2017 and felt an instant connection with the culture. The French Riviera had all the classes I needed to take, as well as all I wanted in a town. The French life, all on the Mediterranean coast: amazing!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to exploring my host city while soaking up the lifestyle. But I am also looking forward to jetting off to amazing European destinations almost every weekend. I can't wait to make new friends and experience this amazing place with them.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have been a musician all my life, so I love singing in my free time. I am also passionate about photography and videography; I do some form of that almost every day. I like to read, sit at coffee shops with friends, and travel.

1. What were your favorite classes while abroad?
While abroad I was able to take 2 classes and a seminar, all of which I loved. However, I think that my favorite course was the class I took in Seville, Spain. This class was the culture of food and wine in Spain, which just by the title alone is very intriguing. Not only was this class completely in Spanish so I was able to learn the language but I was also able to learn the history of the country of Spain and how the food came to be. In this class we were able to learn in the classroom, go on excursions outside of the classroom, and attend tasting sessions in and outside the classroom. There is something special about this class and learning while also experiencing what you are learning about that not only helps you understand the material more but also connect with what you are learning about. This and many other reasons I could go on and on about is the reason that the culture of food and wine was my favorite class taken in Spain.

2. What did you enjoy most about studying abroad?
The one thing that I enjoyed about the CEA study abroad experience that I enjoyed the most was how the entire program felt like a family. I never thought I would get as close to all the staff and the other students in the program as I did, and I loved it and cannot wait to reconnect with everyone in the future. The classes at the CEA center and the many excursions and extra activities that CEA provided with the program I believe are what not only allowed us to bond as a group but also to bond with the country and the culture we were living within.

Kelli Smith, Ph.D. has over 25 years of experience in higher education, mostly within the area of career services. She was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Student Success after serving as the Director of University Career Services for 3 years at Binghamton University (SUNY) in upstate New York. There she provides overall vision and leadership for the Center for Civic Engagement, Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development, Student Employment, Public Speaking Lab, First Year Experience, Emerging Leaders, the Student Affairs Assessment and Strategic Initiatives office, Transfers, the peer academic support Discovery program, and general student success initiatives. Kelli is also an adjunct faculty member for leadership within Binghamton University's School of Management and teaches leadership courses to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Prior institutions where Kelli worked include University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Nebraska Wesleyan, Georgetown University, Doane College, and Indiana University.

She has served on the Directorate for an ACPA commission on career development and on the NACE First Destination Survey Task Force, the NACE Leadership Advancement Program, and the 2016-17 NACE awards committee where she proposed the “Career Champion” award. She co-chaired the 2017 Global Career Services Summit in Leicester, England and co-chaired the most recent NACE Standards Task Force.

While serving as the Director of University Career Services at Binghamton, the comprehensive center she led grew from 14 to 21 staff lines, and within that timeframe, the center received 6 regional awards and the international “Exemplary Career Center” award given by the National Career Development Association for 2017.

Kelli’s relevant publications include the Jossey-Bass/Wiley sourcebook Strategic Directions for Career Services Within the University Setting (2014), the chapter, “Preparing Students for After-college Life: The Context,” in Stepping Up to Stepping Out: Helping Students Prepare for Life after College (2012), and the Jossey-Bass/Wiley sourcebook co-sponsored by NACE, Leadership Development for Career Readiness in University Setting (February, 2018).

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I want to learn more about different cultures and gain a wider perspective on both the world and myself. The world is much larger than the United States, and I think that oftentimes people tend to forget that. I've heard from others that they have grown tremendously due to their study abroad challenges and experiences; therefore, as a lively and compassionate individual, I am eager to explore this vast and exciting world of ours.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I am from Irish heritage, if you couldn't already tell by my picture, so Ireland was definitely on my mind. I knew that I wanted to study abroad somewhere before I graduate next fall, but I just didn't know where. I went back and forth between other locations in England and Ireland for awhile, but I eventually discovered and fell in love with the bright and colorful location of Galway, Ireland. Galway looks absolutely beautiful and it falls right on the Atlantic Ocean, but it also has a lot of green scenery "like the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara Mountains" and is a medieval micro-city. I really couldn't have chosen a better location for myself, and I can't wait to absorb in the music-filled streets, Irish friendliness and this wild adventure as a whole.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am mostly looking forward to the memories and friendships that I will forever have to hold onto, as well as the connections that I will hopefully make for my careers in writing and journalism. I am also excited to encourage myself to try new things and experiences, since this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience (not to sound too cliché or anything). I am currently not the greatest cook, to tell the truth, so this cherished time abroad will force me to make actual meals for myself, and not just simply microwave frozen food. The university I am going to also has a great reputation, from what I have seen, and I am excited to immerse myself into more literature. I have stalked the location of Galway on Instagram a lot, and I believe this could possibly be the next thing to take my breath away since I met Taylor Swift (or at least close to it).

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
As mentioned above, I absolutely love Taylor Swift, and she even invited me inside her Rhode Island mansion, which is now my usual icebreaker upon meeting people, and this is my favorite experience in this lifetime. Apart from my status as a diehard Swiftie, I am a writer, and I mostly use this talent of mine to expand and enhance my “poetic prose” and journalistic pieces and styles. I also love running, talking with both strangers and friends (for hours on end) about life stories and philosophical thoughts, the smell and sound of rain (which happens a lot in Ireland, or so I've heard), and wildly dancing even when everyone is watching, which I encourage everyone to do more. Make the moves up as you go, and the rest will fall into place. I am so excited for this journey to begin already, and I hope that you have or will become encouraged to apply to study abroad somewhere yourself as well. The world is out there, just waiting for you!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I have always had a passion for travel and adventure. Study abroad is a great opportunity to combine schooling and cultural experiences together. I believe everyone should at least try to do it because you will never get such an amazing opportunity like this again.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I believe Prague chose me. When applying, my major was only open to three countries. The other two I didn't choose due to them being hot. Prague's weather, history, landscaping, and availability to other countries was perfect, and I could not say no.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
It would be easier to ask what I'm not looking forward to. Besides the obvious things like food and architecture, I cannot wait to experience a new culture. I have only been out of country once and it was for a mission trip, so I was unable to really see what the whole country had to offer. With an experience like this, I will be able to make my own schedule (besides my schooling) and do the things that interest me the most. I also can't wait to meet other people -- whether they be locals, or my roommates.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Hobbies include photography, cooking, hiking, and recently drawing. My interests include travel, dogs, and people. I love learning and expanding my knowledge of places and languages. I also really love National Parks. My accomplishments consist of winning state in mohair, winning first place showing sheep in San Angelo, and last semester I was student major at Chick-Fil-A.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
For me, there was never any question about whether or not I would study abroad in college, and early on in my freshman year I declared a Global Studies minor to incorporate a global perspective into my education. I have been passionate about travel and have longed to see the world for as long as I can remember, and I believe that there is no better way to strengthen your understanding and appreciation for other cultures than by immersing yourself in them.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
It honestly feels as though Paris chose me just as much as I chose Paris. Although I have been to Paris once before, I was only there for one day! I was able to visit the city on the last day of a two-week-long trip to Europe with my high school four years ago, and of all days to go, I was there on Bastille Day! I have been infatuated with Paris ever since then, and I admire everything from the art, cuisine, history, and just the atmosphere in general. A bonus of studying abroad in Paris is that it’s centrally located in Europe, so traveling to other countries will be easier as well.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I’m most looking forward to making new connections and meeting new people, whether they be other international students or Parisians. I also hope to get to know the country better and am excited to explore Paris and surrounding areas across France!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
A fun fact is that I know (nearly) every word to the musical Les Misérables, which takes place in France during the nineteenth century. I love all genres of music and in my free time I enjoy finding new artists to listen to and even writing my own songs!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I love to travel and experience new things. I want to gain a global perspective from outside cultures, and studying abroad gives me this opportunity. I can't wait to get out of my comfort zone by living in a different country for four months.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Florence because of everything the beautiful city has to offer: art, food, music, churches, history, etc. I am happy that I chose Italy, because I can now visit places like Rome, Venice, Pompeii, Amalfi Cost, etc. by just taking a train or a short flight. I am looking to see how people outside of America live; hopefully they aren't glued to their phones and love to adventure!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most excited about traveling! The world is so big and has so much to offer, so being able to explore just a small part of it is a dream come true. I hope to travel with my career and see how different people can be when we all live on the same planet.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I became a journalism major after I tried stand-up comedy. I have always wanted to help people and I have always been very open and loud when I want to speak my mind. I was not the best at performing, but I did learn that I am very good at writing. The journalism major allows me to be a watchdog journalist, exposing the big and bad companies to tell the truth or write for a TV show, or both! I would also want to provide a platform for people to be heard that don't always get coverage by big news channels or papers.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
While searching for the perfect college for me, I envisioned a traditional college campus less than a four hour drive from home. While I love attending the University of Delaware, I’m excited to tackle the challenge of living in a city halfway across the world! Additionally, I am excited to learn about how people my age live in other places including London, but also experience new cultures on weekend trips throughout Europe.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
If I’m being completely honest, my love for London started with my love for One Direction. But, as I’ve grown older I love the proximity and convenience that London provides to visit other cities / destinations, the fashion and the wide array of food. Furthermore, while this may be an unpopular opinion, I love a rainy day.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I’m most looking forward to making new friends from all over the world. I feel as though living and learning alongside people who live differently than I do will teach me a lot about different cultures. I hope the friends I meet are up for weekend travel adventures, because I can’t wait to explore new destinations.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
My happy place is most definitely the beach. I’ve taken surfing lessons before, even though I am absolutely terrible at it. I’ve also pushed myself to try parasailing and indoor skydiving as well. While I would describe myself far from a thrill-seeker, I am excited to see what new things I’ll get to try while studying abroad while documenting it all here!

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and have always made it my home, despite travels far and wide for professional and personal reasons. I earned a BA in French Language and Culture from the Pennsylvania State University and after moving back home to Pittsburgh, earned a BA and MA in Spanish Language and Culture and have taken many German Language and Literature courses at the University of Pittsburgh. I completed 4 semesters of Swedish “just for fun” and continue to informally audit courses in the German Department at the University of Pittsburgh as my schedule permits.

My career in international education began with the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1980s in the Office of International Services, where I served as an Admissions Officer whose primary role was to evaluate educational credentials for internationals applying for admission to the University. We were charged as well with the review of financial documents for issuance of immigration documents, allowing successful applicants to apply for the appropriate US visa. After several years in this role I became a J-1 Scholar Advisor in International Services and assisted academic departments with all aspects of bringing researchers, physicians, and seasoned academics and their families to the University.

Post 9/11, immigration regulations and the role of professionals like me changed dramatically. My perception of my professional identity shifted and I began to feel that advising took a back seat to policing and enforcing tougher newer, tougher regulations. When the opportunity to move from the “import” to the “export” side of things opened in the Study Abroad Office (now Global Experiences Office), I applied for the position and have been very happy to be back in an advising capacity since 2003. The change from assisting seasoned professionals and academics to advising undergraduate students in Arts and Sciences was initially challenging and has been consistently rewarding. I believe in the work that we do and know that we make a difference in the lives of the young adults we serve, and that they can make a difference in the world. Being a part of this group will only serve to reinforce this, and I look forward to serving.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to diversify my education and to help enhance my second language. I love learning about and surrounding myself in other cultures and this was the perfect opportunity.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Granada because there is not as much tourism there than in other Spanish cities like Barcelona or Madrid. This will help push me to use the local language rather than English.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am super excited to make connections and friendships with the people I meet abroad. I’m very excited to immerse myself in a new culture and travel around Europe to see all that it has to offer.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love playing volleyball, watching my siblings play high school sports, and traveling.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted the opportunity to travel and experience new cultures while also earning class credits.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I've been wanting to study in France since 8th grade, but Aix-en-Provence, specifically, seems like a beautiful town to reside in for my time abroad. Everything about it is a perfect fit for me!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Traveling around and trying new things from different cultures! And taking photos, of course!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I've been interested in photography since I was eight years old. When I was 15, I accepted a national gold medal (for one of my pieces) at Carnegie Hall!

1. How has study abroad shaped you?
My study abroad experience has impacted my prospect of life the most. Prior to the program, I felt that life was very concrete, that I am making a one-way path for myself and sometimes I felt “stuck”. However, studying abroad with CEA has shown me that life-changing experiences are not too far away. I’ve come to find myself no longer feeling powerless with my life’s path, and though I can’t control things like the COVID-19 restrictions, I’ve learned to navigate and choose my life path, regardless of the circumstances.

2. What did you enjoy most about studying abroad?
It would be a lie if I didn’t say I enjoyed the authentic French cuisine the most… But food tastes better when you’re with your friends! I am incredibly thankful for the connections I was able to make due to the nature of the CEA program. I was able to meet many students from my home university that share the same passion as I do (which have blossomed life-long friendships), as well as international students that I’ve stayed in contact with. Outside of school, the immersion into the culture gave me the opportunity to connect with others locally. I’ll never forget the kindness of our downstairs neighbor Bruno, the owner of Mille et Une Quilles, who I could depend on for directions, protecting our mail, and great wine recommendations!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Originally, I chose to study abroad because of my love for traveling and experiencing new places. I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone to meet new people and be engulfed in a strong European culture while exploring a new city and surrounding countries.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Barcelona is such an international city with a melting pot of various European cultures. I decided to go to Barcelona because it had everything I wanted in a study abroad city: local Spanish culture, strong business classes, beautiful beaches, rich European history, expansive inter-country travel system, and a CEA study center!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most excited to explore Barcelona and live like a local college student. I am also looking forward to being able to easily travel to other Spanish cities and taking short train rides or easy flights to various surrounding European countries!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I am passionate about travelling and spending time with my friends, family and of course my goldendoodle. I also love trying new foods and playing tennis when I can find time in between studying!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to enhance my experience with foreign cultures, people, and places. As an international business major, it was important for me to make sure I had long-term experience abroad during my undergraduate career.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Madrid, Spain, because it would not only fulfill my experience requirement, but also allow me to travel and live in a place I have always wanted to visit! Immersing myself in a Spanish-speaking culture would also help me improve my language skills and allow me to put myself in situations where I am forced to practice... of course, not to mention Spain is beautiful!!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to getting to create meaningful connections with the locals, as well as students within my program. I love interacting with different cultures and getting to know others on a personal level, so I am excited by the possibilities for friendships and lasting connections that living in a new country will bring.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I grew up in Alaska since I was 11 years old and lived only a mile away from the nearest glacier, where I would bike nearly every day in the summer. I worked for the State Department for two summers during my undergraduate career and hope to pursue employment as a Foreign Service Officer in the future. I love reading & writing, photography, anything outdoors, and, of course, travel!!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I am very curious about other cultures and want to explore all the world has to offer.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Rome, Italy, because of the historical architecture and art that make up the Eternal City. I also like that it is located near the coast, because I love to go the sea. It is also centrally located – making it a great "home base" for traveling!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to living like local and working in the city. I think it will be very inspiring to see such beautiful and historic structures when walking through the city. I am excited to challenge myself and practice my Italian!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
This will be my first time in Europe! I am especially drawn to Europe because of its influence in art. I am interested in and have studied art history, so I am excited to see what I have learned about in real life. I also am somewhat of an artist my myself. I am currently studying to be an interior designer and I have always loved to paint and draw! I hope to get great inspiration for my work while in Italy!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Like so many students, not studying abroad often stokes discussions of regret. That seems to be a common thread, and I’m determined not to make the same mistake. Grateful for the opportunity to study in Antibes this fall, I look forward to embracing the French culture, meeting new people from around the world and visiting other European cities. I’ve even dreamt about returning home to the U.S. speaking French fluently! For whatever it’s worth, I’ve got the travel itch again, and I can’t wait to immerse myself as a local!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Having traveled throughout Europe since childhood, I wanted to choose a study abroad destination that wasn’t as popular as most. Also, I was mindful not to choose a big, busy city to avoid that touristy feeling. And although Antibes was a place I had never been, the French Riviera seemed rather intriguing. Prior to signing on with the CEA program, I extensively researched the small towns along the Cote d'Azur and fell in love. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the entire region and relished the thought of easily traveling to Monaco and Italy. Also, I liked the idea of attending an international university described as the "Silicon Valley of Europe.” That really caught my eye being a technology major. I’m really looking forward to arriving in Antibes this September to live among the locals and to experience the food, the culture, and the coastline. I’m confident my Antibes experience will present as more than I could have imagined!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I cannot wait to learn French in France while immersing myself in the culture!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I was only 4 months old when I went on a plane for the first time! My hobbies include traveling, cooking, and playing tennis.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY ABROAD?
I chose to study abroad to challenge myself to gain independence in a new beautiful environment. Change happens naturally, but I wanted to grow in different ways and Barcelona will give me the feeling and life lessons that I’m looking to endure. I wanted to be inspired by something greater than my understanding. Also, doing my part in society by learning about new cultures and seeing the rest of the world is something everyone should do. Knowledge is power, and the world has so much to give.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
There was no specific reason why I chose Barcelona. The second I saw it as an option I knew it was where my next journey was going to be!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Definitely being emerged into a new culture and everything that comes with it regarding food, night life, the people, and the views.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I play lacrosse for Lynn University. I am a creator within my videos but also music as well. I love to write music and sing. I created my own clothing line called Heaven on Earth. I enjoy the beach, traveling, and being with my family and friends.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I have always loved traveling and learning about new cultures. I think that studying abroad gives students a chance to fully immerse themselves into a new culture and experience something unique. It definitely takes courage to move somewhere unfamiliar but is very rewarding.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose to study in Paris for many reasons, and my main reason is that I have been studying the French language and culture for 7 years. I'm very excited to dive into French fashion and food. I've also always wanted to live in a city, and Paris seems like a beautiful one.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to getting uncomfortable and learning from it. I want to come out of this experience knowing how to communicate with strangers and with different cultures. I think that there is a lot of value in putting oneself in a completely new environment then figuring things along the way.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I grew up in California and Singapore, and I'm fortunate to have had the chance to travel to many countries at a young age. I love to hike, surf, travel, and go out with friends. One of my favorite things is being an older sister to my seven younger siblings.

Mario Gaboury, J.D., Ph.D. was named interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in June 2019. He serves as Chief Academic Officer overseeing the academic programs delivered through the University’s five schools and colleges, and those offered at remote locations, including Prato, Italy, and Albuquerque, NM. He also oversees Accreditation and Assessment, Information Technology, Institutional Research, Grants and Sponsored Projects, and the Library. He is Chief Strategy Officer for the university and is responsible for the continued refinement and implementation of the University’s strategic plan.

Previously, he served as Dean of the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. Dr. Gaboury joined the full-time faculty of criminal justice in 1996 and is a tenured Professor of Criminal Justice. He held the University's Oskar Schindler Humanities Foundation Endowed Professorship From 2007-2009. He has more than 35 years of professional and academic experience, including formerly as deputy director of the Office for Victims of Crime for the U.S. Department of Justice.

1. What was your favorite course while abroad? 

My favorite course I took abroad was my Art and Architecture in Sevilla course. I think it was a combination of the content and my professor but I looked forward to that class each day. I was able to learn about the culture of art in Sevilla. I love being able to walk down the streets and know what type of archway is on a building or the history behind it. I learned a lot about Spain’s art scene but the history and culture as well since it is reflected in the architecture and artwork. Additionally, I enjoyed the class because of my teacher Dan. Dan is the type of professor who makes it enjoyable to come to class. Often times when he was describing something on a powerpoint he would just take us to see the building. This type of experiential learning is something you can only get abroad. I really enjoyed this type of class as I got to learn about the history of Sevilla and see it at the same time. Not only that but Dan’s style of teaching helped me retain the information better and he made everything fun, even the boring stuff.

2. How has your study abroad experience shaped you?

1. How did you find ways to experience the local culture? 

I experienced the local Czech Culture through the food, history, and people. The Czech cuisine is hearty, and some of my favorite dishes consisted of meat and potatoes such as their signature cultural dish Goulash. Others dishes I enjoyed including Svickova, a dish served with meat and bread dumplings in a creamy sauce and cranberry topping. For dessert, nothing beat Vetrnik. Since words cannot do it justice, I recommend try it for themselves. Museums featured prominently in my itinerary while abroad. The Czech painter Alphonse Mucha was popular, and for good reason. His larger than life depictions of Slavic tradition, called the Slav Epics, were a unique window into the past. The Charles Bridge is a national landmark for the Czech people representing when their capital city of Prague was the cultural center of Europe. Being able to walk across this bridge gave me a deeper appreciation for the Czech cultural identify. Interacting with the local Czech people was an eye-opening experience because their social norms are quite different than what I am used to in the States. They are much more reserved in nature. However, that does not prevent them from showing kindness and generosity.

2. What was your favorite course while abroad? 

My favorite course abroad was Prague Art and Architecture because it encouraged me to experience a side of the Czech culture I would not have other wise. I visited a local exhibit displaying the Czech artist František Kupka. Kupka started out as a Realistic style painter but progressively transitioned into primarily abstract paintings. The art exhibit show cased the chronology of his works. His most famous abstract painting the Amorpha, Fugue in Two Colors surprised me with how much human movement can be expressed through abstract figures. 

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I knew it would be a great opportunity to see the world while also getting an education. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I just couldn't pass it up. There are so many things to look forward to that I would never be able to experience staying in the states.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I went to Rome two summers ago and absolutely fell in love with the city. There's still so much to see and explore. Rome has so much history and I knew the entire trip I had to come back, and so studying abroad here was the perfect solution!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
 I can't wait to explore a new city and to live in Europe for a few months. I'm also looking forward to all of the people I'm going to meet that I would never have had the chance of meeting in the States. Experiencing a new culture is also very exciting,  I can't wait to just embrace Italy.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
One of my favorite things to do is kickboxing! It's amazing exercise and so much fun. I really enjoy working out and being with my friends. I also love to read and try to do it as much as I can.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Even though it’ll be a virtual position, I will have a chance to learn my career interest with different cultural perspectives while challenging my skills and gaining real-life experience. 

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
When I was opened to a replacement, I wanted to be an intern with a French company since I have been learning French to have practiced it. However, when I received the offer, I had to decide my priority: gaining experience in my field or practicing my French. The company that I will intern for in Sydney proved to be the best fit for my internship position.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
This internship experience will be my first internship, and everything about Sydney and its work culture is new to me. I am excited to learn about the culture and the country. I am looking forward to gaining real-life experience to build self-confidence regarding my career after graduation. 

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
When I don’t study or do my school assignments, I like to watch documentaries or sci-fi movies. I have a passion for baking. I spend some time on social media posting the photos that I take or videos I record. I am a good swimmer and I swim regularly. Fun fact about me: when I was a child, I was thinking I was a mermaid in my previous life.

Meredith Blumthal has been in the field of international education for 12 years. As the Director for International Programs in Engineering (IPENG) at the University of Illinois, she leads the study abroad initiatives and programming for the college. Ms. Blumthal’s team includes three study abroad advisors, a receptionist, and peer advisors. Together the IPENG office provides study abroad advising, expertise, international exchanges, and cultural experiences in over 60 programs throughout 20 countries, with the goal of providing transformative learning experiences that empower students to develop global competency skills. Through partnerships with universities abroad, alumni, faculty, staff, and student groups, Ms. Blumthal leads the IPENG team to provide study abroad advising, informational events, and class presentations. She works with the 12 engineering departments to develop and grow studying abroad programming with overseas partners to grow connections with universities, and facilitates the study abroad fair. Meredith is responsible for developing faculty-led programing and engagement within the College of Engineering.

Her areas of expertise include ideation, program development, partner collaboration, faculty training and development, comprehensive program management, marketing and promotion, co-curricular development, study abroad advising, and student development.

Ms. Blumthal received her bachelor’s degree in Horticultures and her master’s degree in Horticulture and Agriculture Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a student, Ms. Blumthal studied abroad at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and was a Foreign Language Areas Fellow (FLAS) in Ecuador, where she studied Quechua and conducted field research during her graduate program.

1. How did your study abroad experience shape you?

I was so terrified to study abroad. I found it to be so daunting, and I was so scared of the unknown. When I got to the airport I remember thinking that I'd never get use to it. I also thought I'd never be able to speak French to a native French speaker. I came to find that I was much more adaptive than I gave myself credit. Studying abroad gave me a confidence in myself that was lacking before. I am forever grateful to my experience and those who helped me along the way.

2. What made CEA memorable for you?
My favorite aspect of CEA study abroad was the excursions with my group. I think having a set group and leadership helped us grow more acclimated, and made Grenoble feel more like home. The best trip was when we all went to Paris together. Thanks to these experiences, I was able to form friendships with people who I would have otherwise never met!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
 After going to France for study abroad in 2020, I gained access to an entirely new world. Going back to the United States opened its own form of culture shock, and I realized how badly I wanted to live and work in France. My major, Language and World Trade, focuses on languages and business, and I thought the best way to learn this would be studying these subjects in the country where the language was spoken. I also decided that the best way to understand the French work environment would be to intern there.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
 Who doesn’t dream of going to Paris? At first, I was slightly opposed due to fears of living in such a big city where I was not particularly fluent in the native language (not yet, anyway 😉) After a few semesters in business, I took an interest in the fashion industry. I knew I was not going to get much experience or connection in my town, and I could not imagine a place better suited to learning about the fashion industry than Paris!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
 I am most looking forward to my internship. I have this incredible opportunity to work with a French fashion designer in her boutique. I really want to make the most of this opportunity for not only improving my French, but also my work experience.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
 Lately, I have really been into reading, but I always think that sounds like a boring answer. I would say I am most interested in the film/fashion industry in whatever capacity or form that entails. I try to get a copy of Vogue whenever I see it, and nothing cures a sad day for me like an Audrey Hepburn movie!

2. What was your favorite course while abroad? 

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study and intern abroad to learn new tourism aspects that are different from United States. I choose Barcelona because it is full of diverse backgrounds and it is a top tourist-attracting city.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
Barcelona is unlike any other city. It is full of life and creates the perfect atmosphere for a person studying hospitality management.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to the internship I will be working at Hotel Indigo Plaza Catalunya. I have more than a year of experience working in a hotel and will bring a lot of knowledge of IHG hotels to Barcelona.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
As a hospitality student, it excites me to experience new food & beverage restaurants and compare and contrast them.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Studying abroad would allow me to be fully immersed in another's culture, and this opportunity would enable me to discover myself and grow.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Seville, Spain, because of its rich history and unique culture. I have always wanted to taste famous Spanish cuisines, such as tapas and paella. Not only is Spain famous for its tasty foods, but it is home to the Flamenco, a tradition that is unique to Spain. There are many more wonders of Spain that I am excited to explore.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to improving my Spanish speaking skills by practicing with the locals. As well as improving my Spanish, I am excited to travel to many different European countries and make plenty of international friends.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I am a Biological science major with a passion for medicine and helping others. Not only do I have a passion for medicine, but I love fitness, such as playing soccer, cycling, and running.

1. How did your study abroad experience shape you?

When students who studied abroad say that "it completely changed their life," they were not kidding! After just a few months of living in another city away from friends, family, and my normal daily schedule, I was forced to get out of my comfort zone and enjoy the daily life I was adjusting to. Many skills and character traits that I developed abroad I was able to apply to school and work opportunities when I came back home. My communication skills, service management, and growing understanding of cultural diversity, has helped me with interviews with potential employers and even benefits me in my casual conversations. Having the opportunity to study abroad taught me how to be more appreciative and initiative in my daily work and personal life.

2. What was your experience with the local culture?
Although I expected to be shy and intimidated by the local community around me due to the language barrier and difference in culture, I immediately felt welcomed and excited to be abroad. I went from feeling lonely the first few days to feeling completely comfortable and outgoing around the community. I would have never guessed I would be as lucky as I was to find a large group of local friends so easily who were never shy to show me around at their favorite local spots. Then, I realized that all of my fellow abroad students were just as comfortable and welcomed as I was. I will never forget the friendships I made with everyone from the local convenient store owners to local friends and their families.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
My personal goal in this study abroad experience is to put all of energy into my passions as a future journalist. As a college student, it is sometimes hard to manage and balance the many obligations I have while pursuing my long-term goals. This semester, I am enrolled in 19 credit hours, interning with Alpha Media Broadcasting Company, mentoring students as a resident mentor for South Tower all while running my own Limited Liability Company on campus. While these commitments have allowed me to grow tremendously throughout my undergraduate journey, I hope that through this study abroad experience I am able to hone in on my academic abilities and maximize my true potential in the media field. My supervisor in my role as a resident mentor told me in a meeting this semester, “To do your best, you have to be your best,” which is a quote that was a deciding factor in devoting all of my energy into my capacity to learn and grow academically.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I am a broadcast journalism student participating in the Communication, Media Studies and Tourism Studies Program through the CEA Study Abroad Program in Seville, Spain, in the Fall of 2019. This part of Spain is known for its culture, monuments and artistic heritage; however, these factors are only some surface-level perks of being in this beautiful city. My intent in studying abroad is not only to build upon my journalism foundations I have been pursuing at USC, but to fully indulge in the culture and language so that I am able to learn Spanish and understand the culture of Spain. In doing so, I will be able to understand the history behind the media controversies that exist in the society today. I also plan to conduct my own independent study that focuses on “The Effects of Social Media on College Students and Their Attitudes Toward Beauty” and can integrate my findings in my role as a MOJO videographer.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I look forward to diving into my research project. I plan to use the findings of my research abroad to offer a diverse voice and perspective to the media industry, significantly impacting my study abroad experience for the better in allowing me to challenge my academic capabilities. My introduction to media through entry-level journalism classes have informed my understanding on media literacy, but my vehement desire to build on these media foundations rely upon opportunities such as this one, that connect eager students, like myself, to outlets that allow them to apply, practice and perfect these concepts through real-world experiences.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love to travel, eat and sleep. I have a beauty business at my home university doing eyebrows and eyelashes. I love editing videos (no surprise here)

1. Tell us what the local culture was like in your host city.
My experience with the local culture in Barcelona was immersive. I chose to live with a host family and I truly believe that is what made my experience. Learning and taking classes was wonderful but getting to spend time with my host family and listen to all the knowledge and experiences they shared with me is something I will never forget. Another part of experiencing Catalan and Spanish culture is through food. Living with a host family enabled me to try all sorts of Spanish and Catalan cuisine. While this was circumstantial, I also made the effort to explore a new part of the city any chance I got. After class, my friends and I would walk around and try to find a place we had never been before. I would also try to navigate a new way home each week. Doing this allowed me to see so much of the city I would not have seen otherwise.

2. How has study abroad shaped you?
My study abroad experience confirmed that I want to travel and work in diplomacy as a career. I was unsure going in the previous semester if I wanted to continue studying psychology. Spending time in another country and learning about other people solidified my desire to work in the international relations field. I realized I wanted to finish my degree in psychology and then hone my studies to help others through diplomacy. Spending time in Spain contributed to me confirming this is what I want to do for a career.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I view study abroad as a time to immerse myself in the Spanish culture. It is a time to learn, a time grow, and a time to make everlasting memories. Although I have always loved traveling and exploring new places my whole life, study abroad is an opportunity that I know cannot be replicated. Certainly, I could not miss out.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I fell in love with the Spanish culture in high school. I aspired to continue my studies in college and eventually make it abroad. It was my goal to one day reach las calles after years of reading, listening, watching, and learning about the culture.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Since I have never traveled to Spain, I am looking forward to making each day unique. While this will come with discomfort, lack of direction, and many other challenges (I am sure of), new experiences also include new friends, perspectives, and endless stories to tell after departure! Additionally, I am looking forward to visiting other cities and even countries!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have been a vegetarian/vegan for 7 years, so I am always on the lookout for a good vegan restaurant! I also am addicted to hot yoga; after 5 years of being a yogi I received my certification to become an instructor! Lastly, I LOVE coffee, chocolate and dogs.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Experience new cultures!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I have previously been abroad and wanted to go back.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Meeting people from all walks of life that I wouldn't be able to meet otherwise.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I climbed Colorado's tallest mountain last summer!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted to ditch my comfort zone and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I'm a French major, so I felt it was only right to study abroad in Paris, the capital of France (and the capital of the world, IMO)!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm most excited to make new friends and, of course, eat everything in sight.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love writing, pretending to be French, and hiking! I've also recently gotten into knitting -- it pairs really well with Netflix.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted to expand my international experience and immerse myself in an unfamiliar environment.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose San José because it is surrounded by some of the most biodiverse lands and coasts on the planet! I've also been eager to practice my Spanish, and working in San José will allow me to do so almost every day.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to exploring the natural areas of Costa Rica both on land and underwater. I'm eager to scuba dive, hike, take photos and videos of wildlife, try new foods, and explore the city. I'm also excited to gain more confidence in my Spanish speaking abilities.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love anything that involves adventure: skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving, backpacking, etc. I even enjoy skateboarding and surfing, even though my only attempts at them did not go too well.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
To gain professional work experience abroad & to really learn the culture.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I've been taking Spanish for 2 years and both of my grandparents were born in Spain. I feel connected to it in some way.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Improving my language skills and living in an entirely new culture.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I published a book at 16, I love creative writing & poetry, photography is one of my passions, and I love being outdoors.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
As an aspiring travel writer, studying abroad was a no-brainer. I wanted to get as much travel experience as possible in school, so I could make it a profession.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
After months of consideration, I picked Prague because it offered the best Journalism courses. I did more research on the culture and the area, and soon fell in love.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm big on exploration, so getting to roam the city and experience it as a local will be quite exciting.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I worked on a few Hallmark movies over the summer. One with Melissa Joan Hart, and another with Jessica Ruderman. Both great experiences, and truly eye opening for those unfamiliar with the film industry.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I love to explore new places and try new things. My older brother studied abroad during his time in college and claimed it was one of the best experiences of his life: he met new people, saw new places, and tried things out of the ordinary. I wanted to have a once in a lifetime opportunity as he did, so decided to go abroad!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose to study in Prague because I have never been to Prague before. I have traveled to other European countries with my family, but have never been to Prague or the Czech Republic. I also chose Prague for its historic sites such as the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, which I hope to explore while there.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to meeting new people and exploring different cultures. I hope to meet other CEA students as well as locals. I’m excited to meet people from different countries and create a network of friendships across Europe!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and love to ski. Although I wanted to go out of state for college, I love the close proximity Denver has to the mountains. Going to school far from home has made me appreciate Colorado and the opportunities I had growing up so close to mountains.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I wanted the opportunity to grow my professional experience while also diving into a new culture and country.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
The Irish people. I wanted to meet amazing people who are nice and share the same love of humanity as I do.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I'm most looking forward to building relationships that will stay with me for the rest of my life and traveling to places I've never been to before. I want to connect with locals and make friends who are also studying abroad.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I am an international shuffleboard champion. When I was 14 years old, I competed in Germany on an International Youth Shuffleboard team and our team placed 3rd out of 15 other Nations and teams.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I’ve been very fortunate to grow up in the town that I did, filled with people like me. And although it’s nice being surrounded by people of a similar demographic, I’ve grown to feel almost trapped in something. Piedmont is a prominently Caucasian town filled with extremely wealthy families, of which we are not. I’ve always felt close to my peers but they’re on a total different financial level than me. And this wealth creates a sort of distorted reality which all my peers live in. As I’ve gone out more in the world and experienced different communities and cultures. I’ve realized that I crave this difference. A culture that is welcoming, vibrant, exciting, loud, energetic…the list goes on. At first I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to go abroad. But when I found myself scrolling on the Barcelona trip I couldn’t shake this drawing energy of its culture and life.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
The spirit of the city seems so exhilarating and that’s the type of energy I crave. In Barcelona, it seems as though there’s always something going on that celebrates its history, culture, and people. That pride and belonging is something I yearn for. I’m more than ready to get out of my small home town of Piedmont to broaden my horizons and experience a culture so vivacious as Barcelona.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to discovering a part of myself that I haven’t yet and developing my independence and self-sufficiency. I’m so excited to be fully immersed in a new culture and have to problem solve and trust myself in a completely new environment.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have always been into photography and I did yearbook all four years of high school and was the editor-in-chief. Other fun facts are that I really love dogs and cooking.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I want to learn Spanish, travel the world, explore something new and have the best semester of my life!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Barcelona because I want to be fluent in Spanish, and I have always been intrigued by Spain!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
Living in the amazing country of Spain!!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I love sports, photography, traveling, and making new friends!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad because I wanted an experience outside of New York City. If anyone is given the opportunity to travel, I always think they should take it! Being able to live and learn in Paris is a dream.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
New York

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to fully immersing myself in Parisian culture. From food to fashion, I am excited for all of it!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have a huge interest in fashion and beauty. I love trying out different makeup looks and exploring all types of fashion trends.

1. What was your favorite course while abroad? 

2. How has your study abroad experience shaped you?

As the University Relations Events Manager, Sierra is responsible for planning and executing both internal and external events. These events include conferences such as NAFSA and FORUM as well as, Familiarization Trips, Advisory Board meetings, study abroad fairs and more. She also works closely with University Regional Directors to enhance our university relationships.

Sierra studied abroad for the first time between high school and college at a small school in Mexico. She found that she loved the Spanish language, so pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, majoring in Spanish and French. During her time there she had the chance to study abroad at both Universidad San José in Costa Rica and Université François Rabelais in France.

After graduation, Sierra had the opportunity to live and work on a boat in Greece, and in Queenstown, New Zealand before she returned stateside where she worked in higher education for 5 years. During her time in higher education she worked in Student Development where she built a study abroad program for the university, and ran faculty-led trips to Greece.

Sierra’s vision of enhancing opportunities for students to study abroad is based in the knowledge that when we learn and understand each other the world becomes smaller and the prejudices we hold against each other dissipate. As a proponent of this vision, she has lived in 6 countries, been to 24, and dabbles in additional languages such as Greek, Arabic and Italian.

As the University Relations Events Manager, Sierra is responsible for planning and executing both internal and external events. These events include conferences such as NAFSA and FORUM as well as, Familiarization Trips, Advisory Board meetings, study abroad fairs and more. She also works closely with University Regional Directors to enhance our university relationships. 

Sierra studied abroad for the first time between high school and college at an intensive Spanish language school in Mexico. She found that she loved the Spanish language, so pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, double majoring in Spanish and French. During her time there she had the chance to study abroad at both Universidad San José in Costa Rica and Université François Rabelais in France.

After graduation, Sierra had the opportunity to live and work on a boat in Greece, and in Queenstown, New Zealand before she returned stateside where she worked in higher education for 5 years. During her time in higher education she worked in Student Development where she built a study abroad program for the university, and ran faculty-led trips to Greece.

Sierra’s vision of enhancing opportunities for students to study abroad is based in the knowledge that when we learn and understand each other the world becomes smaller and the prejudices we hold against each other dissipate. As a proponent of this vision, she has lived in 6 countries, been to 24, and dabbles in additional languages such as Greek, Arabic and Italian.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to improve my level of French and immerse myself in a culture that I love and feel connected to.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I lived in Paris when I was around 5 years old, but I don’t remember much of my time there. I’m excited to go back and make new memories!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am looking forward to meeting and befriending as many French people as possible - and hopefully speaking French with them too!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I have lived abroad for seven years in France and Italy. I adore musical theatre and television. My major is Linguistics & French at UCLA.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I chose to study abroad to be able to get a better understanding of a different culture.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Costa Rica because of its history and the beauty in the native language.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I’m most excited for the food! I love Hispanic food and I can’t wait to have homemade tortillas. #yum

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
Fun fact: I enjoy anything that takes place outdoors, and I love going on adventures.

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
I constantly crave new experiences and love meeting new people from different backgrounds! Even though I love my home institution, this will be a great opportunity to branch out, educate myself, and expand my worldview. I think one of the best ways to educate yourself and make the most out of your college experience is to study abroad.

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I find Prague fascinating. It has undergone years of economic, cultural, and historical transformation that has resulted in a highly diverse and unique city. Prague is also known for its Jewish history, which will allow me to learn more about my own roots and religion.

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I can't wait to meet new people from a variety of different backgrounds and learn more about their lives! I love hiking, so I'm looking forward to checking out some local hikes as well. I'm also excited to visit some of the incredible museums in Prague!

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I'm obsessed with mangoes. I once hiked the longest gorge in Europe. I have two dogs and two cats back home, and I miss them more and more every day!

Why did you choose to study/intern abroad?
Studying abroad is something I have wanted to do since middle school, since I have always had the travel bug. After doing a two-week exchange in high school, I promised myself I would go back to Europe for a full semester in college and really immerse myself in the culture. I am excited to explore a new city and get out of my comfort zone, and learn about a new place and about myself in the process!

Why did you choose your study/intern city?
I chose Seville because I love and appreciate the Spanish culture and more relaxed way of life, and also to further develop my language skills. My high school exchange was in a city in southern Spain called Almeria, and after just two weeks, I knew I needed to come back to Spain. Seville seemed like the perfect size, and I love how they have such an authentic culture. I definitely can't complain about the climate, either!

What are you most looking forward to during your abroad experience?
I am excited to explore Europe and experience so many different cultures firsthand! I am also excited to meet new people and push myself out of my comfort zone — there's nothing more exciting than knowing you have a 4-month-long adventure ahead of you! I'm going with as few expectations as possible, but am excited to see how it will all unfold.

Fun Fact (hobbies, interests, accomplishment, etc.)?
I really enjoy arts of all kinds — visual arts, performing arts, and music especially. I myself am a visual artist, mostly working with painting, drawing, and printmaking. I also absolutely love live music, and try to go to as many concerts and music festivals as my bank account will allow!