Team TEAN

Having lived in Merida all her life, Hetsel had always been drawn to languages. She believes that clear communication is an important part of life, understanding each other better improves every social interaction, leading to better unity within a community. With this idea applied to a bigger picture, learning another language is not just a way to speak to a person across the world but also to understand their culture, social context, and circumstances, ultimately leading to learning empathy, humility, and awareness. With this idea in mind, she aims to learn as many languages as possible and become a translator. She looks forward to helping encourage the learning of different cultures and mindsets. It’s on her travel bucket list to visit South Korea to learn more about K-pop and Korean culture, and London to visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street. During her free time, she continues to self-learn more languages and paint.

I was born in the beautiful city of Merida, Mexico and grew up surrounded by amazing food, culture and people. My love for travel started very young as I had the opportunity to participate in a language learning trip to Massachusetts back in my High School years, that experience definitely shaped me and increased my desire to see and explore the world, from family trips in my home country Mexico to volunteering programs with strangers turned to lifetime friends in Iceland. I am sure that the experience you are about to join will be incredibly fulfilling and life-changing for you and I will be happy to help you make it happen!

With more than 20 years of experience in the field, Jennifer oversees the teams of both ISA and TEAN by WorldStrides. She has a passion for program management and meeting students on their terms. She works with her team to bring this passion to our students, guiding them through the entire education abroad process, focusing on customer service and student engagement. Jennifer holds a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh and an M.A. in Teaching Spanish from Southwest Texas State University. In her study abroad days, she spent a semester at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain as well as a summer at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

A Houston native, Shelly had the privilege of first traveling out of the States to visit her family in Mexico at a very young age. Growing up in an immigrant household sparked her curiosity for learning about different cultures and systems. She was the first in her family to go to college and received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Texas State University in 2015. During her undergraduate career, Shelly had the opportunity to study abroad with ISA for a semester in Paris, France where she learned the value and complexity of holding both Mexican and American identities and how these are perceived in different parts of the world and by others. Eager to share her adventures from France, she participated in the ISA Global Ambassador program and served as a Texas State University Study Abroad Peer Advisor before graduation. She later joined the ISA team in 2016 as an Academic Records Coordinator and then served as a Senior Regional Director for NAFSA Region IV and V (IL, MI, MO, and WI). In this role, Shelly has had the opportunity to present at several conferences including NAFSA Region V and Diversity Abroad. Shelly developed a passion for increasing the participation of underserved students and fostering inclusive spaces in education abroad. She now serves as the Director for Alumni Relations for WorldStrides Higher Education, helping returnees unpack their experiences and define their stories and goals. Shelly also serves as the Co-Chair for the WorldStrides Latinx Employee Resource Group, Caminamos Juntos. In her free time, you can find Shelly comparing flight prices for her next adventure, watching live music somewhere in Austin, or out on the lake during the summer.

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.

Angelica was born in Poza Rica, Veracruz, but has lived in Mérida, Yucatán most of her life. She studied Biotechnology Engineering at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. She’s passionate about the health area and would like to continue learning related things to be able to teach others how beautiful science is. During her time as a volunteer in the vaccination campaign against Covid-19, she realized that she really likes helping people, so in the future she would like to develop skills to give the best of herself to others. She wants help students live a once-in-a-lifetime experience that brings them closer to fulfilling their dreams. In her free time she likes to listen to music, read, swim, and cook. She has visited other states in Mexico such as Sonora, Veracruz, Chiapas and Puebla. In the future she would like to visit Italy, Canada, South Korea, Thailand and Japan, and if possible, learn about their cultures and languages.

After receiving his B.A. in Geography from the University of Kentucky, Patrick interned with the Overseas Security Advisory Council in Washington, D.C. He later returned to the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at UK for his M.A., where he focused on national security policy. He studied abroad for a summer in Amman, Jordan, where he fell in love with the Middle East. Patrick has traveled to more than 50 countries and enjoys trying new restaurants, road tripping, and cheering on his beloved Kentucky Wildcats.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Cristian is passionate about sports and making new friends. He studied accounting for a year and graduated from the university as a physical education teacher. This sparked his interest in teaching and his fundamental contribution to peoples’ lives. His favorite hobbies are watching and playing sports, going to the gym and watching anime. Recently, together with his best friends, they created a podcast where they talked about the events of everyday life. In his spare time he drives a taxi and practices his second language, which is English, since many foreigners arrive in his hometown, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

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!

Emily grew up in a family that celebrated international student exchange, leading her to spend her junior year of high school living with a host family in Melilla, Spain. After graduating from DePaul University, Emily spent another year in Spain, this time living in Malaga and teaching English at a local school. Following that experience, Emily began her career in international education as a Program Manager for Spain with ISA. After six years on the Enrollment Management team, she relocated to Melbourne, Australia for a new role with ISA, which by then had joined the WorldStrides family of companies. In her role as Global Mobility Manager, she helped open a new student recruitment market, partnering with Australian and New Zealand universities to send their students on WorldStrides programs worldwide.. Emily now serves as Senior Director, Enrollment Management and oversees management of ISA & TEAN programs. She loves supporting the Enrollment Management team and all ISA and TEAN students through every phase of the program lifecycle.

Growing up in rural Ohio, Mack took an initial interest in travel and culture from his dad who was constantly traveling overseas for work, bringing back stories from all over the world. That curiosity continued to grow through a love of food and cooking shows, and you could usually find him watching an episode of Bizarre Foods when not at school or sports practices. Mack graduated from Otterbein University twice, earning his undergraduate in International Business and Management, followed closely by an MBA. He spent the beginning of his professional career as a Track and Field Coach at his alma mater before recently deciding to take the plunge into international education. Fueled by a phenomenal internship to Tanzania, as well as prior experience with nonprofits in Kenya and Eswatini, he truly wanted to continue making an impact in student’s academic and personal experiences. Based in Columbus, he can usually be found spending time with his wife and two dogs or covered in sand from triple jumping at the local track.

Alonso joined WorldStrides in 2004 and has been dedicated to the Office of Academic Records. Texas-born, and having lived in Mexico for several years, made for a perfect recipe that sparked an interest from an early age in cultural interactions and languages. Alonso is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘Em!) where he earned a Bachelor’s in Hispanic Studies with a concentration in Spanish, and another in Latin American Studies with a focus in Business and Economics. While at UT, he studied and interned at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)-Mexico City for two summers where he made life-long connections with students from all over the world and that experience further fueled his passion for travel and international education. In his free time, you can find Alonso enjoying the diverse food scene in Austin, pushing himself at the gym, or enjoying the outdoors with his miniature goldendoodle, Lola.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Iriz was born and raised in Mexico City. Her love for culture, history, and language started ever since she was little, while listening to her grandmother’s stories about her travels abroad, the way she explored archeological places and all the wonders she discovered all around the world. While growing up, her parents took her and her brother in endless road trips to several places around México, getting to know every little town on the road, archeological places, museums, people, customs and more. She loves learning languages and looks forward to traveling abroad, meeting new places and cultures, and share that passion with everyone else. On her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music and writing.

Born in Tabasco, Alessandra moved to Savannah, Georgia at the age of five, from there her love for sports and languages was born, time later she moved to Merida, Yucatan only with her mother. Her mother always encouraged her to continue practicing English. She finished high school with French as a third language and with the idea of studying administration was her new academic goal. She enjoys practicing baseball, reading, and drawing. She currently practices photography as a hobby and would like to open a page where the publications are based on the different archaeological areas of Merida.

Born in San Jose, California. As a kid she moved to a lot of cities in California. Raised by Mexican parents, proud to be Mexican – American and also speaks both languages . She started as a program advisor for ISA/TEAN for almost 4 years and currently an Enrollment Associate for TEAN to continue to learn more and grow professionally with this wonderful team. Her 2 beautiful daughters are her motivation in life and she also loves to cook, travel and spend time with family and friends.

Born and raised in Central Ohio, Michelle received an Individualized B.A. in Environmental Sociology from Otterbein University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina. Despite being an avid solo traveler, she didn’t collect most of her passport stamps until her late 20s. Now a self-proclaimed expert in optimizing 48-72 hours at a destination, she is always planning the next adventure. As an international educator who “tripped and fell” into the field, she is passionate about designing experiences that align with students’ long-term personal and professional goals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors (in moderation), supporting local businesses, and conspiring to take over the world with her cat.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

As a part of WorldStrides’ Academic Affairs team since 2015, Elizabeth works to identify and dismantle the academic barriers that keep students from pursuing their education abroad goals. Originally from California, she graduated with a double major in English and French from UCLA. After spending two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar, she moved to Texas to pursue her PhD at the University of Texas at Austin. Years spent teaching French language, literature, and culture to college students and leading study abroad programs in France inspired her to pursue a career in international education. When she is not working, Elizabeth enjoys writing fiction, traveling, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Born in Tamaulipas near the border, Victor has been in contact with different cultures since he was a kid. He moved to Veracruz in his late childhood and then to Merida when he was a teenager. He is very familiar with living and moving to different places. He has had the opportunity to travel around the country while visiting his family. His dad was a chess champion who taught him how to play, think analytically, and stay three steps ahead of the game. Victor chose to pursue a bachelor’s in education. During that time, he realized he wanted to be a high school teacher to help educate hundreds of students and serve in counseling them. For him, the idea of education has been the key to help and improve the lives of students everywhere. He is passionate about learning from other cultures, especially their history, language, and food. He is particularly interested in the Japanese language and culture. During his free time, he enjoys reading books, comics, and manga. He is a big enthusiast about cinema, comedy, and music.

Susan was born and raised in Texas and graduated from Texas Christian University. Her first study abroad experience was in Costa Rica, where she enjoyed living with a family and exploring the beautiful country. That first program abroad changed the course of her life and sparked a passion for international education. Susan joined the team in 1997 and been fortunate to travel extensively in and around Europe, Latin America and the Pacific for business and personal travel. In her free time, she most enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family. Susan is based in Austin.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Born and raised in Progreso, Yucatan. He is very familiar with the notion of international travels since he lives in a port where tourism is one of the main economic activities. When he was in high school, he took the Tourism path and was an outstanding English student because he discovered that’s one of the things he liked the most. Apart from school Abraham always shown interest in knowing other cultures, languages and to discover all the interesting things that are out there. That’s why a couple years later he got his degree in Modern Languages and started working as an English teacher for kids, an experience he really appreciated. He was also an independent tourist guide at Xcambo Archaeological site where he had contact with a lot of people from all around the world, getting to know a little of their different cultures, accents, ways of living and other things he found interesting. He spends his free time watching movies since he is a cinephile, listening to music and making printings with optical illusions.

Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Anikka always dreamed of breaking out of her small bubble to experience the many excitements of the world. Anikka’s love of travel was sparked in early childhood, as she had the opportunity to visit the Philippines yearly to see her grandparents. Upon graduating high school, she moved to California and attended Berkeley City College, where she received her associate’s degrees in Sociology and Economics. This study of sociology further influenced her curiosity about the world as she became fascinated by human behaviors and socio-cultural problems. Anikka then transferred to the University of California, Irvine, to complete her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics. In her final semester of college, she participated in TEAN’s study abroad program in Seoul, South Korea. This experience was very rewarding and left a strong impression on her personal and professional growth. In her free time, Anikka enjoys drawing, playing video games, and golfing.

Jena was born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In her sophomore year of college, she studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea at Korea University. There, a passion for traveling and experiencing new cultures was ignited. When she graduated from college, she worked in the music and events industry in Nashville, Tennesse before merging her love of travel into her position at TEAN. Most recently she’s traveled to Mexico City and has done solo trips to Seattle, Atlanta, and Dallas. Outside of work, Jena loves going to concerts, reading, volunteering with dogs, and doing yoga.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

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.

With over 25 years in K12 and Higher Ed spaces, Yolanda Golden leads WorldStrides’ strategic planning and implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Throughout her career, she has enriched communities by serving, training, and developing programs to support diverse populations. At WorldStrides, Yolanda spearheaded, collaborated, or supported various aspects of WorldStrides’ current DEI infrastructure and programming to include the development of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and the DEI Council. Yolanda holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago.

Taylor grew up in a small Pennsylvania town (think: no highway nearby) in an area known as the PA Wilds. Travel has always been an important part of her life, starting when she was younger when she would take family vacations to places including Wyoming, Florida and the Bahamas. She graduated from Edinboro University in 2016 with a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.A. in Communication Studies in 2019, effectively making her a master of communication. Wanting to travel more, during her graduate school career, Taylor expanded her travel experience with an internship in Dublin, Ireland and has since traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland and Salvador, Brazil. She has a passion and love for travel and vows to help others feel the same joy and excitement of exploring a new place. Taylor also loves coffee shops, photography, and Penn State Football.

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.

After growing up in the small town of Vail, CO, Jordan sought a change of pace in lifestyle and moved to London to attend university and study World History. While based in London, he was able to visit a large portion of western and central Europe, as well as Morocco. Every trip, even if just a brief weekend getaway, furthered his interest in history, travel, and in learning a bit about cultures he lacked previous exposure to. Missing the mountains in London, he transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he eventually obtained a BA in Philosophy. His last semester of university was spent with ISA in Sevilla, Spain, practicing his Spanish and soaking up a lot of sun. He also spent the ensuing summer in Berlin. In his free time, Jordan likes to ski, go camping, and play the bass guitar.

Kate studied abroad with The Education Abroad Network at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia where her passion for international education and travel was ignited. Her study abroad experience impacted her so much that upon her return stateside, she became a TEAN Student Ambassador at The University of Iowa while completing her degree in Communication Studies. After graduation, she returned to Melbourne for a year where she worked for a university on the Marketing and Student Recruitment team. Kate has since lived in New Zealand for a year, and is currently TEAN’s New Zealand and Fiji Programs Manager and team lead.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

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.

Allison was born and raised in Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan before moving to her new home of Chicago. While in college, she traveled to France to complete a summer internship assisting the summer program at HEC Paris, one of Europe’s top business schools. From that experience onward, she set her sights on a career in international education, and began working for TEAN after graduation. Allison is so happy to be able to provide TEAN students with the tools they need to kick-start their own adventures abroad. She has had the opportunity to travel to South Korea several times with TEAN students, and it has become one of her favorite cities in the world (with some of the best food she has ever had!). In her free time she loves walking along the lakefront, going to concerts, and planning out her next travel itinerary.

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.

While growing up in South Florida, Alana had the opportunity to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina the summer between her Sophomore and Junior years of high school. This trip abroad led her down the path of wandering all over the world while pursuing a BA in Spanish at DePaul University in downtown Chicago. During college she traveled to Peru, Chile, Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Greece, and Japan. She then lived in the Basque region of Spain upon graduation to work as a certified English teacher. She then moved to Napa Valley to follow a passion for wine making which she had discovered while working at a winery in Tuscany. She moved to Austin in 2021 to be closer to family while she taught English to Spanish speaking professionals. In her free time, she is always making travel plans whether it be domestically to a national park, or abroad to continue to wander about world. Alana loves the quote “Not all those who wander are lost.”

My name is Yahira, I was born in Merida Yucatán. I got a degree in teaching and that gave me the opportunity to move to Thailand for a year and a half. That experience changed my life because it taught me there is so much more out there and it encouraged me to be brave. I love to spend time with my friends and family and watching series. One of my biggest dreams is to travel around the world telling people how much Jesus loves them.

Jeehye is a native of Seoul, although she spent some of her childhood living in Florida. She completed her undergraduate degree in Business Administration and her Master’s in Management Information Systems at Dongguk University in Seoul. She also received her MBA in Florida. Jeehye has worked for U.S. universities as an admissions advisor, financial aid advisor and marketing manager for the Asia region and enjoys using these skills in her current job.

Laura was born in Montpellier, France. Having moved a lot as a kid with her family she was quickly influenced by the many cultures and developed a love to learn more about each place. Quickly developing a way to not only interact with their cultures but also learning their languages. Laura graduated with a degree in Tourism and started working in places that will let her interact with others from around the world. Laura enjoys reading books that were based on other countries folklore and myths, drawing and cooking desserts at home.

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.

Hannah joined WorldStrides in June of 2023 as Strategic Programs Manager and enjoys supporting our partner universities in building programs that work for their students’ needs. Hannah is based in Portland, Oregon, where she previously worked at Portland State University’s Education Abroad Office and also completed a Master’s of Arts in Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education. Hannah’s interest in international education started when she first visited Mexico on a service trip, and grew as she travelled to India in college, and later lived in the Maldives islands for five years teaching Linguistics! Experiencing the highs and lows of international living was transformational and she loves being part of an organization that provides these transformational experiences to students. She is also passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion in study abroad, as well as cultural humility and identity development through study abroad. Hannah studied Linguistics and Religious Studies in university and loves learning languages – dabbling in Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, Bahasa Indonesia, Hebrew, Arabic and Dhivehi. When not on Duolingo, you can find her with her two kids at a park, hiking with her partner of 16 years, or enjoying the incredible food and beverage scene of Portland.

Born and raised in Mérida, Yucatán , Israel double majored in Accounting and History. In 2020 he moved to the UK where he fell in love with traveling. During his time abroad, he had the opportunity to explore plenty of British small villages and cities where he experienced the local culture and traditions. In 2022, he joined WorldStrides with the goal of helping students have the best educational experience abroad. When he’s not busy trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee, Israel enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading The Lord of the Rings…again, watching movies, and keeping up with the latest tech news.

Kate first traveled abroad as a participant of TEAN, studying in Australia at the University of Queensland. Her time overseas allowed her to examine English literature from a fresh, new angle and have a proper introduction to Australian literature. Before joining TEAN, Kate also served as a National Admissions Advisor for a fashion & interior design college as well as a technical writer for a sport technology company. Kate holds a BA in English/Communications from Saint Xavier University and earned her M.A. in English at DePaul University, both in Chicago. Since her time at UQ, she has continued her travels throughout Europe and the U.S., but she will always have a soft spot for Australia.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Andrea was born in Mexico City but raised in Vienna, Austria. At the age of 18 she moved back to Mexico City where she studied Graphic Design. After several years of working as a graphic designer for advertising agencies in Mexico City, she moved to the state of Yucatan to start a new life. Her destiny decided to place her with a local DMC. This is how her journey in Tourism started and continued up until today. In 2012 she joined Explorica, WorldStrides and moved to the ISA Higher ed Division in 2017. She has traveled all around Europe with family and friends. And has also visited other places in the U.S., Africa, Australia & Costa Rica, but so far Namibia and Tavanipupu in the Solomon Islands have been her number one favorite adventure destinations outside her home Country, Mexico. She believes that traveling is a life changing experience, that is why she thinks that studying abroad should be on everyone’s bucket list. In her free time, she enjoys, mediation (she is a Kundalini Yoga teacher) and also being in nature while exploring cenotes around the Yucatan.

Born and raised in Merida, Yucatan, Yisel is passionate about science and has a degree in Biotechnology engineering from the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. When she started college, she began to give tutoring classes to elementary and middle school students, she loves working with them! She also has a passion for different cultures and places, which is why she is very interested in languages, such as Japanese and Korean. She had the chance to participate with students from the U.S. during programs and events at her home university, and that marked her heart – making her want to continue meeting people from all around the world. Yisel also enjoys traveling, which has led her to visit various states of Mexico, always carrying a camera with her to capture each landscape. During her free time, she’s always making art and crafts while listening to music, mostly k-pop!

Dan’s interest in people, places, and cultures started at age 13 when his grandfather took him to Austria for a week-long stay. Since that time, Dan has traveled to more than 25 countries, and has more than 16 years experience in education abroad. Dan has a Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Management from the School for International Training. He studied for a semester at the Universidad de Sevilla as an undergraduate student and as a graduate student served as a group leader for the Experiment in International Living – Spain. Dan is passionate about the power of education abroad and the global competencies it provides students.

Hi! My name is Andrea and I was born and raised in Merida, Yucatan. I love to travel and get to experience new cultures, since I was a little girl I asked my parents to always play all the movies and music in English. When I was 18 I moved to Raleigh North Carolina to be an au pair I lived there for 3 years and it was one of the best and greatest learning experiences. I traveled probably all the East Coast and I found it so interesting to see how many different cultures are in between states, one of my favorite place was Nashville, Tennessee! During my free time I enjoy to workout, hangout with people that I care about and if you ask anyone that knows me they can say I love to be there for people when they need me. Because I loved to be a exchange student I can talk on and on about why other students or people should go out of their comfort zone and do it! One of my dream destinations to travel to would be Hawaii and any part of Europe.

Veronika is originally from the north of the Czech Republic. As a European located in the heart of Europe, she always had easy access to international travel and has visited most of Europe. Last year she graduated from The University in Sunderland in the UK with a degree in Business and Human Resource Management. Thanks to studying abroad, she undertook a year-long Business and Hospitality Internship in Austin, TX. It was a life-changing milestone that completely influenced her life direction and helped her to permanently relocate across the world to Austin, TX. Outside of Europe, she has traveled to Egypt, the Asian side of Turkey, the USA, and Mexico and would love to explore more places in the United States and nearby countries. Veronika joined WorldStrides in April 2022 as an Executive Administrative Assistant and worked her way up to her current role of Program Manager for International Internships.

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!

Jess grew up in a small beach town on the coast of South Carolina. While attending the College of Charleston where she played soccer and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, she decided to study abroad through TEAN at Bond University, in Queensland Australia. With Jess’ undeniable love for the ocean, adventure, travel, and community, this transformative study abroad experience as well as her other international travels guided her to want to help others have their own life-changing travel experiences. Along with helping others get stoked about their travels, Jess enjoys surfing, skateboarding, painting, and an occasional yoga class.

David grew up in Minnesota, looking at maps and reading about faraway places when not busy shoveling snow. After exploring much of the watery part of the world as a Navy officer he decided to write his dissertation about literary works that address what it means to learn from international or cross-cultural experience. This led him from California to Spain, where he found his calling as an international educator, and finally back to Minnesota, where he is raising two daughters who embody many of the ideals of global citizenship that he has written about. David’s zigzag journey has taken him to more than 50 countries and more university campuses than he cares to count. Though he hasn’t been a part of TEAN’s legendary office culture, he does boast many personal connections to the Windy City. His hobbies encompass Americana roots music and political philosophy.

Robin oversees international risk and crisis management, collaborating with staff globally on monitoring world events to mitigate risks, implementing emergency protocols and procedures, and managing student emergencies. She also works closely with executive management on policy development and compliance and presents at local and national conferences on student health and safety issues. A Philadelphia native, Robin attended college in her home state, receiving her B.A. from West Chester University and her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Now living in Austin, Texas, she is an avid traveler—always ready for her next international experience and hopeful she will one day embrace packing light.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Born and raised near Chicago, Danielle has always loved learning about different cultures. In 2021, Danielle studied abroad in Florence, Italy where her passion for travel and language grew even more. She received her B.A. in TESOL from Liberty University, and through that, she has been able to pursue not only her love for travel but also her love for education. With her degree, she has been able to live and work in two different countries, Spain and Kosovo. Danielle has only been to 11 countries but plans on seeing a lot more. Having studied and lived overseas, she is excited to help others continue their education while being able to explore and grow as a person. During her free time, she loves to read, walk her dog, ice skate, and play volleyball.

Dori was born in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas and she moved to Mérida seven years ago because she always wanted to live by the beach. She has a degree in tourism management and is very passionate about international culture and knowledge sharing from different countries. She always wanted to travel abroad and has been to 10 countries around the world so far. She used to work at an airline and felt a huge satisfaction helping customers. She is also passionate about living sustainably and does her best to help reduce environmental pollution.

Born and raised in Merida, Mexico, Cristy has been interested in the English language since she was in kindergarten. She’s had the opportunity to live, work and study abroad twice: first, in Denver, Colorado, and later in Houston, Texas, the city her soul fell in love with; she has also explored multiple cities within Mexico and a few other countries. The different experiences, cultures, and traditions she’s been part of have helped her build her character and grow her love for people. During her free time, she enjoys dancing, singing, cooking, and having a good conversation over a cup of coffee or tea with her friends. Cristy is excited to help you discover the adventure that fits you the best, so you can get the most out of your experience!

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.

Ben was born in Carmen, Campeche, then moved and fell in love with Mérida, Yucatan. He majored in Marketing & International Business at the Autonomous University of Yucatan, all while working and sustaining himself in a new city. Ben is a hard worker, a daydreamer, and an art enthusiast. He’s very passionate about his hyper fixations which include but aren’t limited to Taylor Swift, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and all things Anime, especially cosplay & roleplay, which are hobbies that got him friends all over the world. They are the main reason he’s so excited about traveling to meet them and their cultures.

Born and raised in the island of Puerto Rico, Paula’s first experience abroad was when she went on a gastronomic trip in Europe during her junior year in college. Upon her return home, her passion for travel and adventure led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management in the University of Ana G. Mendez in Puerto Rico. With hopes of exploring her options of study abroad she discovered ISA, which presented her with the opportunity to venture off to South Korea as a marketing intern. Having had this life changing adventure, she realized that her eagerness to learn about different cultures had grown bigger and that she wanted to help others achieve their dreams of studying abroad.

Gessica’s journey into the world of experiential learning began when she ventured to Washington D.C. with her 8th-grade class, an eye-opening experience that sparked her passion for exploration and discovery. Originally from Toronto, Gessica relocated to California with her family during her childhood, where she found herself immersed in a world of new opportunities. Despite the distance, Gessica frequently travels to Toronto and Italy to visit her family. These trips not only nurtured her love for Italian culture but also instilled in her a deep appreciation for the rich history and heritage of the Mediterranean region. At UCLA, Gessica pursued her bachelor’s degree in Classical Civilization and a minor in Italian. It was during her time at UCLA that she had the life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy. This transformative experience allowed her to fully immerse herself in the ancient ruins, vibrant culture, and linguistic nuances of Italy, shaping her academic and personal growth in profound ways. Fueled by her passion for cultural exchange and educational enrichment, Gessica embarked on a new chapter in her academic journey at San Francisco State University, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Classical Archeology and Literature. With a steadfast commitment to providing students with transformative learning experiences, Gessica aspires to share the magic of studying abroad and empower future generations of global citizens.

Hi! My name is Stuart but feel free to call me “Stu”, it’s been my nickname ever since I was a kid. I was born in North Miami beach, but I was raised in the city of Pembroke Pines, Florida. When I was a kid, my parents would always take me on trips to Disney World, which first sparked a small flame for hospitality, hotels, and travel of course. Over time, we slowly started to travel to other states, to experience some of our Nation’s beautiful history, people, and landscapes. I have seen the White House and visited Times square. I will always remember attending Derek Jeter’s last game at Fenway Park in Boston, but most of all taking in the view of Grand Canyon was unlike anything I’d seen before. Even so, something was missing. I recently graduated from Florida International University in December ’21 with my bachelor’s in hospitality management and a focus on travel and tourism. In my time at FIU, I wanted to learn about international cultures and people so that I could continue learning about myself as an individual. I achieved this goal when I studied abroad remotely as an intern in Vietnam, and it was the best decision I ever made. It will be my pleasure to assist you along your journey in making this dream a reality.

A born and raised Kansan, Kenzi grew up watching the Travel Channel and dreaming of a chance to explore the world. While attending Missouri State University for her undergraduate degree in Marketing and Masters of Business Administration, she was able to spend two separate semesters abroad – one in France and one in China. These travels revealed a passion for international education and for encouraging students to seek adventure and expand their worldview. One of her favorite ways to experience a different culture is through food, so she is always excited to try new restaurants, watch cooking documentaries, and recreate her favorite recipes at home. When she’s not dreaming about what’s for dinner, Kenzi enjoys reading and spending time in the great Colorado outdoors with her husband and dog.

Hi! My name is Andrés, and I was born and raised in Merida, a small city in southeast Mexico, filled with places to see, people to meet, beautiful traditions and amazing history. I recently graduated from Law School here in Mexico, and one of my professional goals is being able to combine my legal background and my passion for travel. I’m also a big soccer fan and a history buff, which is one of the reasons I enjoy traveling and learning through traveling. Being born in Mexico, one of Latin America’s top destinations for tourism, I feel really lucky to have so many different places to see so close to me, and I’ve made it a personal challenge to see all of our 32 states before my 32’s. As for my international bucket list, my top destinations would be Norway, Scotland, Austria and Portugal, and I hope to be able to cross out those countries soon. I’m sure this experience abroad will be a lifechanging experience for you and I’m really excited to assist you through the awesome journey you’re about to start!

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.

Angelica was born in Mexico City where she stayed for a brief seven years. She would then live in several other states before settling down in Monterrey, Nuevo León, where she has lived for 23 years. Having early exposure to the benefits of traveling, she has been passionate about multicultural learning from a young age. During her scholar years, she had the chance to travel around various cities in Europe and devoted herself to the practice of foreign languages, such as Italian, Portuguese, and German. She specialized in Hispanic Language and Literature at ITESM, where she attended from 2009 to 2013. She has since worked on different projects related to education and cultural broadening, such as tutoring Korean and American students interested in learning Spanish and Mexican culture or teaching both English and Spanish courses at various institutions. Currently, she is working with the WorldStrides team as a Customer Service Associate in hopes of continuing her professional growth in a learning and cultural oriented environment.

Nicolina grew up in Orlando, FL and received her degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2020. During her time at FGCU she knew that seeing the world was something she had a passion for so, in 2019, she studied abroad with TEAN in Sydney where she attended The University of Technology in Sydney (UTS) for a semester. Before joining WorldStrides, Nicolina spent 9 months in Spain as a Language Assistant where she spent time in the classroom with primary school students while also having plenty of time to travel all over Europe. Nicolina is passionate about experiential learning and strong community. In her free time, she loves travelling and meeting new people, going for long walks/runs and listening to good music.

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

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.

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.

Having grown up in a tiny town in Texas, Sierra has always found magic in visiting new places. Her family encouraged her with tales of their far off home countries and frequent road trips across the states. She obtained her BA in English Literature with a minor in International and Global Studies from the University of Houston. There, she had the opportunities to study abroad in South Korea and to teach English in Japan. Those life changing experiences reshaped her passion for travel into an inspiration to help others take their own global adventures. When she isn’t exploring the world, she’s writing fantastical stories, studying too many languages, and searching for the best coffee beans. Her new home in Austin is already full of secondhand books and underwatered plants.

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.

Passionate in poetic photography and interdisciplinary studies, as well as literature and linguistics, Itzel was born in Merida, Yucatan. She had the opportunity to travel across multiple Mexico cities, USA, South America and Europe due to her father’s job, an aviator pilot. This grew Itzel’s perspective on how language delimits the borders of our world and what we know and how we know it determines our understanding of it, as Wittgenstein once said. Experienced different cultures made her realize the encounter between two worlds, between two languages opens new paths of understanding. Exploring this encounter in literature and visual arts has made her found other ways to understand herself.

Paola was born in Mérida, Yucatán and has been living there ever since. Last year, she graduated from Biotechnology Engineering and has been working in the research field. During the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, she had the opportunity to be a volunteer. She realized that she wanted to do something to help people in a more direct way, that also allows her to explore something new. This job was a great opportunity to put that into practice and contribute to the promotion of knowledge and learning, one of her personal goals! In her free time she likes to watch TV, read, and spend time with family. She would love to visit are Ireland, Switzerland, and New Zealand. She hopes to help students have meaningful experiences and is looking forward to getting to know her colleagues!

Helen has been working in the field of International Education for more than 20 years. During her undergraduate degree at Griffith University, she started working in their international office on a part time basis. This became full time after she graduated with a Bachelors in Communications in 1998. Helen worked with study abroad; exchange; full degree and ELICOS students during this time.  Following her role at Griffith she lived in London, England for several years. After returning back to Australia she then worked in the International and Study Abroad teams at Bond University and was responsible for marketing and developing the study abroad and full degree programs in North America and Europe.  This role saw Helen travel extensively throughout these regions for many years. Helen has been the TEAN Queensland Resident Director since 2010 and is also the Program Manager for Full Degree applicants in Australia and New Zealand.

Born in Sydney, Dharma studied Environmental Sciences at the University of Wollongong where he lived with many study abroad students and formed life-long friendships. This led to a career in international education and travel, where he has worked for over 20 years at Australian universities, study abroad companies, and leading educational tours around Australia and Asia Pacific. A dual Australian/American citizen, he has lived in and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and is a keen surf and landscape photographer. Dharma has a passion for adventure and new experiences, and enjoys working for TEAN to help others have life-changing intercultural experiences that encourage personal and professional growth.

Originally from Boston, Cate now calls Sydney home after a semester abroad at the University of Sydney and falling in love with Australia in 2018. Cate graduated from the University of Miami, FL with degrees in microbiology and public health, but has found her passion in working with students to make the most of their time in Australia. In her free-time you can find Cate hiking in national parks, lost in a book, or chasing around her border collie. As a former exchange student in Australia, she is excited to show students everything Sydney and Wollongong have to offer!

Rachel Bradley is a proud Cairns local of 23 years. I moved to Cairns from Melbourne in 2002, travelling the open and free lands of beautiful Australia along the way with my young family. I re-established my makeup artistry and children’s entertainment business here in 2002 and from 2012- 2024 expanded my business to Owner operator of Cairns Costume Hire and Makeup. I was a nominee for Sole Trader businesswoman of the year at the 2016 Cairns Business Womans awards. I have worked as a Sales and marketing account manager for publications here in Cairns and the Herald Sun in Melbourne. I have two daughters who have studied degrees at James Cook University and I have enjoyed hosting international students in my home over the years. Due to the nature of my freelance work in hospitality and events, I have a great knowledge of our wonderful attractions here in Cairns and love sharing my experiences of our unique lifestyle and environment with our valued visitors and guests from around the world.

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Andrea attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, where she graduated with a degree in business focusing on marketing and sports management. After working in the NFL and collegiate athletic departments doing marketing, event planning and community outreach, Andrea headed back to university working as a marketing coordinator for  UCF’s on-campus housing department. Always up for an adventure, Andrea lived in North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania before falling in love with an Australian and moving to Newcastle, where she has now resided for over five years. As an American abroad in Australia, she’s excited to share Newcastle’s beauty and unique experiences with TEAN students and serve as a bridge between the U.S. and Australia.

Originally from Walla Walla, Washington, Joanna began traveling as soon as she graduated high school – working abroad in Italy, Egypt, and South Korea, and studying abroad in Scotland. She then spent over a decade in New York City working within cultural exchange, international education, and global mobility; followed by a career as an immigration attorney. Having now settled in Melbourne, Australia, Joanna believes life is an adventure – and we should treat it like one. She thoroughly enjoys being able to help students do just that everyday.

Originally from the United States of America, Carol grew up in both the hill country of Texas and the big city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, she spent three years traveling the United States and volunteering in veterans’ homes and hospitals across the nation. Falling in love with travel, Carol was ready to see the world beyond her country and took the leap of studying abroad during her tertiary studies. While studying abroad with TEAN, Carol fell in love with the Gold Coast of Australia and found herself calling it home. After graduating from The West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communication, she moved to Australia full time. Carol is keen to be on the path of helping other students fall in love with this city and country through interactive and culturally immersive experiences. She has experienced first-hand all the challenges and triumphs that come with studying abroad and is enthusiastic about guiding other students on their own journeys.

Originally from Chicago, Melissa is passionate about teaching, traveling and learning about the world. She attended James Madison University where she earned her Masters in Teaching and first studied abroad in Florence. After graduating, she spent a few years in Prague, Czech Republic teaching English and learning about life abroad. Her passion for travel then took her to live and teach in Taiwan, where she was able to really get out of her comfort zone and immerse herself in the culture. Her travels continued to Australia, where she lived in Melbourne and the Sunshine coast, but now calls Fremantle, near Perth, home. She continues her work as a teacher at the local schools, enjoys living near the beach and playing soccer. It’s through living and teaching abroad that she has found her passion helping others do the same.

Ange’s love of people and traveling has taken her to parts of Southeast Asia, North, Central and South America, the U.K., Europe, some South Pacific islands, and around much of the huge, gorgeous continent of Australia. A native Melbournian, she feels lucky to call this vibrant, eclectic city her home and get to show her off to her study abroad friends. When she’s not showing people around Melbourne, she is busy dancing, hosting events, being silly on stage or taking adults through deep, emotional processes to re-find their power. She believes that life is full of magic if we just breathe it in, and she chooses to do just that!

Originally from Canada, Cole is a graduate of the Bachelor of Communications program at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus. Cole, just like many others across North America, decided to take his education international and start one of the greatest adventures of his life. Cole has been involved in communities around the globe through work within the Not-For-Profit sector, and in his personal time he enjoys travel throughout South East Asia, meeting people from different walks of life, learning about local cultures, and reading any work by Hunter S. Thompson, finding his work to be mind- strengthening through its creativity and realism. Taking on new challenges is something Cole greatly enjoys and is one of the reasons why he thrives being on the TEAN team.

Mark Owens, hailing from Rockville, MD, brings a wealth of diverse international experience to his role as Internship Coordinator for Global Markets. An alumnus of the College of Charleston’s Arts Management program, Mark has honed his skills in negotiation, relationship building, and strategic planning through his background as an agent in the music industry. Before joining our team, Mark spent four years in China, where he wore multiple hats: world cultures teacher at an international high school, business English professor at Shanghai Finance and Economics, and founder of his own teacher placement agency. These roles allowed him to develop a deep understanding of cross-cultural communication and education while also showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit. Mark is passionate about helping students secure internships that pave the way for their future careers. When not helping guide future interns, he enjoys playing music and traveling globally, especially by motorbike.

Julie Sharpe has been entertaining crowds around Australia for over 30 years. In 1999, Julie came across ‘Draculaʼs Comedy Cabaretʼ (Newman Entertainments) and embarked on a 20 year career as head cast member and Artistic Director. She travelled internationally with Newman Entertainments to set up a franchise of Draculaʼs in South East Asia. This spawned a great love of travel and adventure. Working with the people, cultures and wildlife of other countries was something Julie became very passionate about. Julie grew up in a very small country town in central NSW. She always saw herself living in Sydney as an adult after school life, but a fateful trip to Melbourne saw Julie fall in love with the city, and within a few days she knew she wouldn’t be going back! Julie is very excited to be a part of the team and is looking forward to meeting all the students who chose to study abroad in Melbourne. I’m sure you’re all going to find it irresistible!

Kimmy, a dual-degree holder in Psychology and Business from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, brings a global perspective as an expatriate for most of her life. Her college athlete background and mentoring roles at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston instilled a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those living abroad. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Teaching in Townsville, Kimmy is committed to making a meaningful impact on students’ lives. Fuelled by a lifelong passion for guiding individuals in finding their place in the world, she blends diverse experiences into her teaching approach.

Medusa is a native of Shanghai with over 13 years of experience in international education. Having obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Language from Fudan University and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Hong Kong, her academic background in international cultural exchange has provided a foundation for a career spent working with top-level universities and organizations from around the world. Prior to joining TEAN, Medusa complimented her work with international students by teaching university coursework in English and Chinese Culture and Folklore.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Born in Sydney, Dharma studied Environmental Sciences at the University of Wollongong where he lived with many study abroad students and formed life-long friendships. This led to a career in international education and travel, where he has worked for over 20 years at Australian universities, study abroad companies, and leading educational tours around Australia and Asia Pacific. A dual Australian/American citizen, he has lived in and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and is a keen surf and landscape photographer. Dharma has a passion for adventure and new experiences, and enjoys working for TEAN to help others have life-changing intercultural experiences that encourage personal and professional growth.

Emberson Dival is originally from the Philippines and has been living in Fiji for the past 16 years. He has a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Fiji National University and has been working with international students for the past several years in Fiji. He enjoys travelling to other countries to learn about different cultures and meeting new people from all walks of life. He is really excited to host students in Fiji and share the beauty of Fijian culture and island life!

Leina was born in Japan but spent her early years living in other countries like Singapore, France, Romania, and Thailand. She came back to Japan at the age of 10 and then studied in New Zealand during high school to learn English. After getting a Bachelor’s degree in Japan, Leina worked at a local company for two years before joining TEAN. During her free time, she loves singing, playing the guitar, and watching anime. Leina is enthusiastic about sharing her study abroad experiences and supporting TEAN students during their time in Japan.

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Riki returned to Japan when he was 18 years old to attend university in Japan. After graduating with a degree in Tourism, he worked with a travel agency for three years. His experience in the travel industry has driven Riki to be very passionate about intercultural excursions. Riki is excited to share his passion for travel and Japanese culture with TEAN students. In his free time, Riki enjoys outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, camping, and hiking.

Pronouns: He/Him

Helen has been working in the field of International Education for more than 20 years. During her undergraduate degree at Griffith University, she started working in their international office on a part time basis. This became full time after she graduated with a Bachelors in Communications in 1998. Helen worked with study abroad; exchange; full degree and ELICOS students during this time.  Following her role at Griffith she lived in London, England for several years. After returning back to Australia she then worked in the International and Study Abroad teams at Bond University and was responsible for marketing and developing the study abroad and full degree programs in North America and Europe.  This role saw Helen travel extensively throughout these regions for many years. Helen has been the TEAN Queensland Resident Director since 2010 and is also the Program Manager for Full Degree applicants in Australia and New Zealand.

Born in Sydney, Dharma studied Environmental Sciences at the University of Wollongong where he lived with many study abroad students and formed life-long friendships. This led to a career in international education and travel, where he has worked for over 20 years at Australian universities, study abroad companies, and leading educational tours around Australia and Asia Pacific. A dual Australian/American citizen, he has lived in and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and is a keen surf and landscape photographer. Dharma has a passion for adventure and new experiences, and enjoys working for TEAN to help others have life-changing intercultural experiences that encourage personal and professional growth.

Dianne is based in Palmerston North where she has lived for many years! Graduating from Massey University with a master’s degree in business studies Dianne went onto work for the university in several roles including admissions, international recruitment and marketing, short course development and education and now part-time as a research administrator.  Having travelled extensively through 65+countries around the Pacific, SE Asia, UK, Scandinavia, Russia, and South America and all New Zealand, Dianne has empathy for your challenges and can relate to the experience of living in another country and culture.  For many years she volunteered supporting refugees and migrants in their first years in NZ.  Still enjoying travelling with her family and free-time maintaining her little patch of self-sustainability in the city growing most of her families’ vegetables and raising hens for eggs.  When not gardening, you’ll find Dianne following sports and vex robotics interests of her whanau. Dianne is excited for you all as you start on your Kiwi experience!    

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Born in Greymouth on New Zealand’s wild west coast and educated across the mountains in the city of Christchurch, Nick always wanted to travel and see the world. The first overseas trip was a one-way ticket to UK/Europe. Followed by another one-way ticket home 6 months later. After then studying tourism and working for Air New Zealand it was back off again overseas to live and work for the next 20 years. With stints in Australia, Middle East, UK and Europe, Nick firmly believes the education of experience abroad is vital for personal development and building an individual’s resilience.

With a tertiary background in business, accounting and commercial law, Cynthia has been working in the successful delivery of global internship programs for the last five years – managing study abroad, internship and e-service learning portfolios in the Pacific, Asia and North America. At WorldStrides her greatest contribution was leading the Pacific team to establish a loud and powerful market presence in the education sector. This was achieved through proactively identifying and fostering a vast network of meaningful partnerships with local authorities and institutions, community champions, startup communities and non-profit organizations. All things related to bringing about a unique and memorable internship experience is our mission here at WorldStrides.

Ketaki grew up moving cities every two years in India and loved it! As a young adult she travelled across Asia representing Team India Women’s Rugby 7s for five years till 2012, and then helped set up a BBQ cafe in Djibouti and visited nearby Ethiopia and Kenya. She worked for Sri Lanka Rugby for a year before moving to New Zealand in 2013 to play rugby, fell in love and called it home! With a Bachelor of Sport & BA Sociology, and over 7yrs experience working with diverse communities and running programs for rugby unions, international students, and refugee youth; Ketaki is passionate about growth through travel and immersive experiences. She is excited to be a part of TEAN students’ journey as they are touched by Aotearoa’s breath-taking beauty, its rich culture and diversity.

Originally from the US, Fred worked for Rutgers College Office of Student Support as both a Resident Advisor and a Hall Advisor after finishing his BSc in Primatology and Hungarian. He currently works for the Ministry of Education and looks after study abroad students in Wellington, New Zealand. Since moving to New Zealand, Fred has worked at Massey University, Victoria University in Wellington, and the University of Otago in various roles and enjoys working with students, especially those that have also chosen New Zealand as their new, though short term, home.

Kia ora! I’m proud to say I was born and raised in Auckland and I’ve been part of the WorldStrides team since 2018. While studying at Auckland University of Technology, I had my own study abroad adventure at Cardiff University, Wales and this ignited my passion for international education. After graduating, I was fortunate to start my role as an Exchange Coordinator at AUT, before working in a similar role at Massey University, followed by embarking on another passion: working with indigenous university students. I then moved to London to have stories to tell my future grandchildren and to cure my travel bug. I’ve since returned home and I’m enjoying sharing NZ (Aotearoa) with all TEAN students. Studying abroad is one of the bravest things you can do as a student, so I look forward to being your go-to person and welcoming you all to beautiful Aotearoa soon.

Dee is the Resident Director in Dunedin, New Zealand. She is originally from Dunedin and studied a BA in Social Work and a Dip Grad in Education at the University of Otago. Her love of travel and working with international students started while working as a Camp Counselor in Ohio during the summer of 2000. After that she worked in South Korea teaching English for 2 years and then spent 7 years working at a school in the UK having responsibility for international students. Dee’s experience of living and working abroad has giving her a passion for international education. She has been very lucky to have travelled to many countries around the world but now loves showing off Dunedin and the beautiful Otago region to TEAN students.

Born and raised in Singapore, Ram Prakash has spent the past 10 years working in social services and development. Prakash graduated from Northumbria University majoring in Counselling and Guidance and has led over 1,000 students through leadership and development programs. He is passionate in building a better community for future generations and is an active volunteer in the community. Ram is very excited to share his home country, Singapore, with students

Born and raised in Seoul, Euisoo knew he wanted to study abroad during college after he experienced traveling to Europe for the first time in high school. Euisoo graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh, majoring in Hospitality Management and participating in the National Student Exchange program in Hilo, Hawaii. After graduation, he went to Tokyo on a Working Holiday visa to discover different Asian cultures and fell in love with the country. He has now visited more than 30 countries and is still eager to explore more of the world! Before working in international education, he worked in hospitality in South Korea and Canada for five years.

Born and raised in the vibrant city of Manila, Philippines, Jin is passionate about exploring new places and immersing in different cultures. A development professional by trade, she moved to Korea in 2018 as a Global Korea Scholar, despite having no prior knowledge of the Korean language. She pursued her Master’s degree in Development Policy at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, where she had the opportunity to collaborate with people from all over the world. Having navigated the journey of being an international student herself, Jin believes she can share firsthand insights, tips, and pieces of advice that can greatly help TEAN students adapt to life in Korea.

Growing up in Bucheon, a mid-sized city in South Korea, Kyungshin – ‘Shin’ in short – dreamed of one day exploring the wider world. She pursued her college education in Seoul, where she majored in Economics and Public Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. During her undergraduate years, she took a year off to live in Ireland, where she fell in love with the experience of immersing herself in new cultures and meeting people from the other side of the world. Over the years, she has resided in several countries including Germany, Australia, and Malaysia, and has travelled to many other countries. After working for a non-profit organization in Seoul for the visually impaired, she has joined TEAN. In her free time, Shin enjoys reading books and discovering new music.

Born and raised in Seoul, Chowon has always loved meeting new people who have different cultures and experiences. She decided to start a journey in Seattle, Washington, then moved to Portland, Oregon where she earned a BA in International/Global Studies from Portland State University. So far, the journey has made her experience diverse views of global perspectives. Chowon is very excited to share her experiences and knowledge of Korea with TEAN students.

While studying Childcare and Family Counseling at Dong-eui University in Busan, Yeseul longed for new adventures outside of South Korea. This longing led her to travel to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. During her last year of university, Yeseul helped Thai exchange students discover more about Korean culture. Yeseul’s superpower is making everyone in any given situation feel comfortable with her friendliness and smile. Passionate about cultural exchange, she is excited to share her country and culture with TEAN students!

Born and raised in Seoul. Chan majored in Nursing and participated in an internship program in Hamburg, Germany during her University. While interning, she realized that she liked to communicate in English with people from different cultures. After graduation, she went to Dublin, Ireland to improve her English proficiency and also worked at an Irish nursing home. During her time in Dublin, she gained plenty of opportunities to learn about diverse cultures and enjoyed it. With her previous experiences, she understands various cultures and loves to learn more about them. She is ready to meet the TEAN students and share with them her love of Korea.

Natcha was born and raised in Chiang Mai, Thailand, what she considers to be the friendliest city in the world. As a cultural exchange student at Walt Disney World during summer break in college, Natcha realized how much she loves making magic and seeing people happy. After this life-changing experience, she moved back to Thailand, finished her degree, and started her career as a sports liaison officer, where she worked with sports teams from around the world. She continued her work with travelers from across the globe as a Program Leader with the Experiment in International Living in Thailand. Natcha especially enjoys meeting new people and learning about different cultural backgrounds.