Working With TEAN

Before joining WorldStrides in 2017, Eric spent three years with Up with People as the Vice President for Admissions and was with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad for ten years as a Regional Director and then Director of Institutional Relations before that. Eric also lived in Coogee, Australia, for three years as the Operations Manager for the Olympic Youth Camp as part of the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. He has been a member of NAFSA for 15 years and the Forum since 2008. Eric has visited over 40 countries and all 50 states, but these days, he prefers spending free time at home in Colorado catching bugs and watching Moana over and over and over with his wife and two daughters.

A native Texan, born and raised, Aley developed a love for travel at a young age. Graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in International Studies: Spanish Arts and Culture, Aley had the amazing opportunity to study abroad with Veritas in Cusco, Peru, for the Summer of 2016. Aley spent her mornings taking classes and afternoons doing mission work at an after-school program for young children. Her time in Cusco deepened her passion for culture and experiential learning. Aley loves Broadway musicals, whether seeing one live or singing along in her car. She also has a deep love for alpacas and considers them one of the world’s greatest creatures. Aley is excited to share her love of study abroad!

Transformed by his own student experiences abroad in Venezuela, Mexico, and Spain as a high school and undergraduate student, Mark has been dedicated to the education abroad profession for more than 24 years. Prior to joining WorldStrides in 2014, he served as Director of Education Abroad at the University North Carolina Wilmington for eight years and as Assistant Director of the Office of International Programs at Arizona State University for eight years before that. He also worked for the Institute for Study Abroad, both in the U.S. and Australia. Mark earned undergraduate degrees in International Studies and Spanish at Miami University and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Arizona State University. When not focused on education abroad program development, he likes to go off recipe and cook by the inspiration of quirky ingredient baskets. Like many others hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark will always root for the underdog.

Originally from Wisconsin, Alex earned undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Community Health from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He first developed a passion for international travel and education during his undergrad after he went to Germany to visit a German exchange student friend from high school. Afterward, Alex decided to study in Granada, Spain for two semesters with WorldStrides! His love for study abroad and higher education led him to pursue his master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from St. Cloud State with hopes of helping more students travel the world and broaden their horizons. When Alex isn’t working or daydreaming about eating tapas in Spain, he enjoys running marathons, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, playing his ukulele, re-reading Harry Potter books, and staying at home and watching The Office.

Craig has always had a passion for experiencing new cultures. His first study abroad opportunity, a week-long exchange with a school in Quebec City, was the culmination of seven years of elementary education at a French immersion school. That sixth-grade experience was the first of many; he has since traveled to a total of 38 countries. He continued his cultural exploration at Frostburg State University, earning dual degrees in Mass Communication and French. In the spring of his junior year he left for Amiens, France to study French literature at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne, and then returned to FSU where he worked as a study abroad ambassador on campus. After all these experiences, a career in international education was inevitable. Craig’s decade-long career in IE includes serving as a Program Officer/ARO for the J-1 Intern/Trainee visa category, on-campus roles supporting the International Centers and Programs at Johns Hopkins University and serving as the Senior Admissions Officer/DSO at the University of Baltimore. Most recently, he served the Mid-Atlantic region as Manager of University Relations with CIEE. In addition to his passion for International Education, Craig is interested in environmental sustainability, hiking with his dog, Molly, and trying to improve his sourdough bread making.

Sara fell in love with learning about other cultures during her high school French class and then spent a semester in Paris during college. From there, she was hooked on the magic of travel and found her passion: to help others have access to intercultural opportunities. To date, she has spent time in Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America and has led groups of students in France and The Netherlands. To WorldStrides, Sara brings over 10 years of professional experience in study abroad on the higher education side, most recently as a Senior Director of Global Initiatives at Washington & Jefferson College. Her areas of expertise include nurturing partnerships, student advocacy, risk management, health & safety, as well as policy development. Outside of the office, Sara loves cooking, reading, her cats, and prides herself on her packing skills. At home, she can often be found trying out a new recipe or preserving something grown from her husband’s giant garden.

Zac has served the field of international education for nearly 15 years, and believes deeply in the power of study abroad to create a better, more compassionate world – one student at a time. Zac’s own life was transformed by global education experiences in Peru, Mexico, Spain and Australia, and has since been privileged to visit 75 countries on 6 continents. Zac has presented at dozens of national, state and local conferences, and his professional areas of expertise include forecasting and strategic planning, faculty and cross-campus engagement, the alignment between career development and study abroad, marketing and technology, and matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion. A native of Austin, Texas, Zac holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy degree from Trinity College, and a Bachelor’s in Spanish and International Affairs from Emmanuel College in Boston. Zac started his international education career fresh out of college as a University Relations Representative with ISA in 2009. Zac went on to serve in leadership roles at Trinity College, CIS Abroad and the University of Connecticut, and was thrilled to come “back home” to his ISA roots as Director of Campus Partnerships with WorldStrides Higher Education in 2021. Zac believes in nourishing a sense of adventure, and takes pleasure in exploring new places and trying new things – whether it’s around the corner or across the world. He enjoys hiking, cooking, foreign languages, the occasional Netflix binge at home with his husband,  and – of course – planning his next big adventure.

Stacy has always been extremely interested in traveling abroad and learning about different cultures at a young age. Her first trip was in high school to Costa Rica, where she discovered her love of coffee. Graduating from St John Fisher University in Rochester, NY with a BA in Political Science and History, Stacy was interested in learning about the history of the world, while getting to see it all. Stacy studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria, learning German and eating schnitzel! During that semester she was also able to see sites across Europe; from Big Ben in London to Lake Bled in Slovenia. After graduating, she spent many years working in the international education field with international students at both the high school and higher education levels and advising for study abroad at Utica University. When she’s not thinking about her next trip, she likes to try new restaurants, cook, work out and ski in the winter!

Tatiana is a Philly native, now residing in Charlotte. She is no stranger to travel! Her first time on a plane, during a high school educational tour to Paris and London, sparked her desire to learn more about the world and the many cultures within it. As a first-generation college student at Arcadia University, she was presented with opportunities to learn in Guatemala and South Africa. Tatiana’s Bachelor’s in sociology and Master’s in social work, alongside 10 years of experience in advocacy, community organizing, and program development has allowed her to support youth and families in improving their social mobility. Her passion and dedication to making a positive impact and helping individuals thrive, grew from her personal experiences and challenges. Therefore, she understands the exposure that traveling brings and is committed to creating access for all students to travel abroad. Outside of the office, Tatiana enjoys cooking, teaching, giving back to the community, and listening to the newest self-help podcast.

Michael has been in the field of international education for over 10 years. Before joining Worldstrides, he worked for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) for almost seven years as a Programs Abroad Coordinator and then as Assistant Director. Prior to his time at UTK, he worked for the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) where his career in international education began. One of Michael’s fondest memories of studying abroad was witnessing the Spanish National Soccer Team win the World Cup while he was studying in Spain. Michael has undergraduate degrees in Business and Spanish and he recently completed his MBA at UTK in 2019. When Michael is not behind his desk working, you can find him traveling domestically or internationally, hanging out with family and friends, exploring the great outdoors, or playing sports.

Kaylyn’s first international education experience was at the age of 18 with her honors high school Spanish class. They traveled to Costa Rica for a language immersion tour and after the opportunity to communicate with native Spanish speakers, she realized the importance of application outside of the classroom. Kaylyn then made it her mission to seek out as many experiential learning opportunities as she could manage. While attending Ohio University as a first-generation student, Kaylyn studied Spanish for a semester in Sevilla, Spain with ISA, traveled to Peru as a climate action volunteer, spent time as a volunteer English teacher in Thailand and Laos, Au Paired in Italy, and was a diplomacy, conflict resolution, and international relations virtual intern in South Africa. As a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Kaylyn is passionate about affordable, accessible, and inclusive study abroad opportunities. Her love for international education led her to work as a peer advisor in Ohio University’s Office of Global Opportunities and as a Global Ambassador for ISA. In 2021, Kaylyn graduated with majors in War and Peace, Latin American Studies, and European Studies, a minor in Spanish, and certificates in Ecotourism and Diversity Studies. After she completed her undergraduate degree, she returned to Spain for an academic year to work as an Assistant English Teacher in Madrid. Now, Kaylyn is back in her home state working as the first WorldStrides Embedded Regional Director at Ohio University. She is beyond thrilled to return to her alma mater to help students find programs that will impact them academically, professionally, and personally – just as international education did for her.

Alicia grew up in Maine, and little did she know her high school Project Graduation raffle win of a flight voucher would begin her love of international travel. Her first time on a plane during winter break of undergrad took her to Birmingham, England to visit a friend she met while working at a camp the summer before college, and an overnight trip to London started her obsession with what is now her favorite city! Alicia returned to London during her semester abroad while studying at Wheaton College (MA) and she was a Peer Advisor during her senior year; she thought everyone should study abroad, and distinctly recalls saying “I don’t know what one does, but one day I want to work with study abroad programs.” After obtaining her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University, she entered the international education field as a study abroad advisor. Alicia has been a part of the Region XI Leadership and Consular Affairs Liaison (for Boston Spanish and Italian Consulates) Teams, and the NAFSA Academy. Outside of work, Alicia is usually plotting her next travel adventure in the U.S. or internationally…and her bucket list of destinations keeps expanding! The ultimate destination? Australia! You will also find her outdoors as often as possible (except in the winter), reading and at her local CrossFit gym.

Brianna is a Missouri native who holds an undergraduate degree in Global Studies and a minor in Spanish from Missouri State University. During her time at MSU, Brianna had the opportunity to study abroad twice: first a semester in Madrid, Spain, then a short-term program that traveled around Ireland for two weeks. After returning from her semester abroad, Brianna began working as a Global Ambassador in Missouri State’s Education Abroad office, where she discovered her passion for international education and desire to launch a career in this field. After graduating from college, Brianna worked in Admissions at Missouri State before joining the ISA & TEAN team as a Regional Director in February 2023. When she’s not working or traveling, you can find Brianna reading the latest mystery novel, on her favorite local hiking trail, or spoiling her cat, Mildred!

Tylo is a Nevada local who takes pride in calling the breathtaking Sierra Nevada mountains his home. Currently based in the “biggest little city” of Reno, NV, he is eager to share his passion for travel and international education with his campus partners in the Northwest United States. Tylo received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in International Affairs and Political Science, and is currently working on completing a master’s Degree in Political Science from the same university. As an undergraduate student, Tylo was determined to explore the world but faced financial constraints and juggled going to both school and working full-time, making him hesitant to pursue his dreams. However, with the unwavering support and encouragement of the study abroad staff at his university, Tylo embarked on a life-changing faculty-led program in Istanbul, Turkey. This experience ignited a newfound passion for travel and experiential learning, and he subsequently enrolled in a summer study abroad program in Cork, Ireland, leading him to switch his major to pursue his interests in conflict resolution public diplomacy. With over five years of experience working in international and higher education, Tylo has advanced his skills in the areas of partnership development, student outreach, and program management and advising. He has also cultivated a deep appreciation for sustainable travel, cultural immersion, and accessibility in international education while traveling to over 25 countries across four continents. He has used his skills and personal travel experiences to establish authentic connections with students in order to encourage them to pursue international education opportunities. Tylo continues to advocate, promote, and implement initiatives to make studying abroad more inclusive and accessible to all students. Tylo is excited to join the WorldStrides team, bringing his unwavering commitment to supporting the organization’s mission of creating transformative educational experiences. His aim is to assist our campus partners in promoting affordable and high-impact opportunities for their students. With his impressive global personal and professional experiences and his passion for experiential education, Tylo is eager to help create life-changing experiences for students at his partner campuses. Tylo Ward

Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Sarah always wanted to get involved in international education. She earned a B.A. in German Language, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Kentucky. During her time at UK, she studied abroad outside of Munich, Germany, to improve her language skills and learn about the culture firsthand. Studying abroad not only improved her German but also gave her an appreciation for international cultures and people. She still talks with her host family, even years later. Helping students discover the same things for themselves is something that Sarah is excited to be involved with as part of the WorldStrides team. In her spare time, Sarah likes to write, cook, play video games, and spend time with friends.

Dominique grew up in a small town in New Jersey but was always eager to explore new cultures, foods, and destinations. Her first international travel experience was to Austria and the Czech Republic at the age of 13 with the choir she spent 10 years singing with. After spending 3 weeks traveling to various cities throughout the two countries, Dominique wanted to keep learning about new cultures and people, and the best way to do that was to travel. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona, and while there, she spent a semester at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia as an exchange student. She spent nearly 2 years working for UA’s Study Abroad Office after returning from Sydney which gave her the courage to pursue her Masters Degree in International Education at NYU after graduating. After earning her Masters Degree, Dominique spent time at the University of Texas at Arlington as the Study Abroad Advisor where she helped students find the best program that would benefit their academic, professional, and personal goals. She is now the Regional Director (TX, NM & LA) for ISA and TEAN and is excited to continue working with higher education institutions. Dominique is passionate about providing an inclusive experience for students and wants to continue dedicating her time to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to ensure students from all backgrounds have equal opportunities for cultural and global awareness and growth.

While growing up, Snow spent every summer traveling around the United States, camping and visiting as many national parks as possible, which sparked her love of travel. A Florida native, Snow attended the University of South Florida (USF), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology and studied abroad twice—a full semester in Melbourne, Australia and a summer in Florence, Italy. She actually began working in international education right after her first study abroad trip, in the USF Education Abroad Office, and continued to work there for five years after graduation while also completing a master’s in business administration. Snow is a passionate advocate of study abroad for all students and loves helping them explore their possibilities. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her two guinea pigs, Muffin and Koala, and plan her future travel adventures.