Meet the Team

Kris became President of CIS Abroad in 2016 after a decade as its Director of University Relations. As such, she is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and developing and maintaining the CIS Abroad brand at home and abroad. She comes to education abroad from the international public health field and holds an MPH from the University of Michigan. Kris is the author of a travel narrative, Monique and the Mango Rains, based on her experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa, and co-author of Shores Beyond Shores, the memoir of a Holocaust survivor. She deeply believes that international experiences transform individuals, who in turn create a more connected and compassionate world. She is the proud mom of two sons who have studied and volunteered abroad in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Thailand. She lives in Northampton, MA, with her husband and their giant black poodle.

Scott is a twice graduate of Jacksonville University earning a BS in aeronautics and an MBA. During his undergraduate college career, Scott studied and volunteered abroad in Australia, Costa Rica, France, the Philippines, and Portugal. Scott received his pilot’s license at the age of seventeen, backpacked Europe at eighteen, and has since visited six continents—with the hopes of visiting Antarctica soon! Scott is a former NAFSA state representative, member of NAFSA’s Trainer Corps, and former co-chair for NAFSA Rainbow SIG. In addition to his duties at CIS Abroad, Scott is the founder and executive director of IEP—a CIS Abroad division offering campus-based education abroad services and consultancy projects. Scott currently resides and works from Ponte Vedra, Florida, where he enjoys weekend beach time with his husband, kids, and chocolate lab – Sam.

Joe Debiec received a BA in anthropology from Vassar College and an MA in international education from the School for International Training. While growing up, Joe was always on the move, but stayed close to home in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate NY. His international adventures began in East Africa during his junior year of college, and since then he has spent the majority of his time abroad. Joe has studied, lived, and worked in Kenya, Japan, Oman, Senegal, Thailand, and Vietnam. These days, many of Joe’s adventures take place close to his home, in Northampton, MA. Among Joe’s favorite activities are eating sushi, drinking micro-roasted coffee, scuba diving, relaxing in hot spring bath houses, exploring places for the first time, bicycling, snowshoeing and snowboarding.

Jess was born into the world of international education to school-teacher parents, in Mussoorie, India. She grew up attending American International Schools between India, Kuwait, Pakistan, Indonesia and The United Arab Emirates. Jess’ first time studying abroad was moving “home” to her passport country to attend college at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she majored in French and Comparative Religion. She became very involved on campus and in the community through Amnesty International, as a Peer Advisor and student worker in the study abroad office, and through The Luckyday Service Learning Scholarship Program.

Immediately following graduation, Jess served as the resident director for a first and second year semester program in the Loire Valley in France (the Abbey Program), the same program on which she studied abroad. Following France, Jess spent six months traveling around the U.S. as a Senior Leadership Consultant for Alpha Delta Pi sorority, where she focused on brand and member development, and marketing and recruitment at the collegiate level. Jess visited 20 university campuses before moving to Newark, DE, to start the Theta Delta chapter of the organization at The University of Delaware. After a year and a half with ADPi, Jess moved back to MS to work in the study abroad office at her alma mater. During her tenure at Southern Miss, Jess again experienced life between cultures as she traveled between France, London, and Hattiesburg to manage The Abbey Program in the spring, the British Studies Program in the summer, and incoming exchange programs to Southern Miss in the fall.

Jess fell in love with CIS Abroad when she first met a few members of the team at a NAFSA conference in Vancouver, and was immediately drawn to the shared purpose of sparking growth and creating a more connected and compassionate world, one student at a time. Jess lives in Northampton, MA, where she enjoys having four “real” seasons (even in winter) with her husband, two kids, and cat.

Kailee joined her favorite high school Spanish teacher on a group trip to Spain and never looked back. She thought she was going to practice her Spanish but instead, she experienced the wonderful complexity of stepping far outside of her comfort zone and completely fell in love with the country (and of course practicing Spanish was an added bonus). A native of Denver, Colorado, she is an alumni of Colorado State University where she studied Business Administration, Marketing and Spanish. Kailee was determined to return to Spain which led her to attend a semester at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid.

Kailee has been an integral part of every stage of the student journey; from advising, to admissions, to enrollment and program delivery, and her favorite, re-entry. Before joining CIS Abroad, she served as the Director of World Internships, where she developed industry immersion programming to provide students with short-term, meaningful work experience. This Micro-Internship model is now part of CIS Abroad’s program offering.

Kailee’s work and personal travels have carried her across five continents, and you can be certain she is already planning her next trip right now. She lives in Northampton, MA with her husband and her squishy cat.

Neal’s love of travel and experiencing new places and people started at an early age growing up in a Coast Guard family and moving all over the US; he’s lived in ten states and visited 49. He came to the international education field via a happy convergence of his professional experiences in digital marketing and user experience work, recently with Open Knowledge, an international advocacy group working to advance the use and usefulness of open government data. He’s traveled internationally extensively for work and fun. Neal holds an MA in English, and was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Oregon’s Applied Information Management graduate program for over 15 years.

Elayna traveled to Montreal, Canada, in high school, and fell in love with traveling. It was a brief love affair, and her passion for travel continued in Costa Rica and Spain. She is responsible for day-to-day coordination of all HR, IT, and general office management. Elayna is an avid, albeit untidy, organic gardener. Her passions in life are the fabulous world of visual arts, all things French, and Scrabble. She spends her small amount of “spare time” with her husband watching in wonder as her young daughter grows, and planning their future fantasy life living in southern France. Elayna lives in South Deerfield with her husband, daughter, and their guard-cat, Phil.

Tyler is coming to the team after spending the last 15 years growing a local tech startup here in the Pioneer Valley. With a background in Computer Science and Finance – he has spent the last 15 years serving in all functions of a rapidly growing business, but has had a very specific focus on the Information Technology Management, Organizational Leadership and Finance (of course!). While Tyler has spent years developing and advancing his skills in all of these areas of business, he is a believer that developing some of the less tangible skill sets is equally important to success in business – cultivating a practical but creative approach to problem solving, maintaining a positive attitude towards your work, and truly caring about the work you are doing and the people you are doing it with. Beyond that, Tyler has always been an advocate for making sure that you’re having fun while you’re working – and has for years shared the mantra “If you’re not having fun – you’re not doing it right.”

Tyler has spent the last 30+ years living (and growing up) in various towns in the Pioneer Valley, and currently lives in Shutesbury, MA with his 3 rescue dogs (Fig, Reba and Dusty) and his beautiful wife Tania. He enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, camping in the White Mountains, and spending time outdoors. He is a Boston sports enthusiast, has a passion for live music, craft beers, and cooking, and enjoys traveling to new regions and exploring the local cuisine.

Just a small town girl, Ginny grew up in rural Nebraska and has always been a people person. After falling in love with education abroad, Ginny joined IEP in 2006 upon graduating from Augustana University. In her current role for CIS Abroad, she focuses on client communication and supporting consultant projects. Building strong relationships with colleagues and clients and empowering them to achieve their goals totally floats her boat. Outside of work she enjoys family time, reading, and being the official taste tester of her husband’s fine cuisine.

Emily received a BS in business administration with a concentration in marketing and minor in international studies from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s degree in international education from SIT Graduate Institute. Her journey towards a career in international education began when she traveled to China in high school and later studied abroad in Seville, Spain. She later returned to work as a language and culture assistant in Malaga, Spain. These experiences helped her to gain an understanding of and appreciation for different cultures and a desire to help other students have similar experiences. In her free time, Emily loves to explore New England and beyond with her husband and two kiddos and do arts and crafts projects.

Carrie is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University earning a BA in Spanish with a Secondary Education endorsement and a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center earning a BS in Dental Hygiene. During her undergraduate college career, Carrie studied at the University of Alicante in Alicante, Spain, which jump started her love for travel and life abroad. Carrie has spent the last four years living in Madrid, Spain teaching English in a variety of mediums and assisting with relocation services for new expats arriving to Madrid. Carrie has had the opportunity to visit 5 continents and has the goal to travel to all European countries in the next 5 years. She spends her free time with her husband and their dog Lucy and enjoys playing tennis, reading, and baking.

Kris became President of CIS Abroad in 2016 after a decade as its Director of University Relations. As such, she is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and developing and maintaining the CIS Abroad brand at home and abroad. She comes to education abroad from the international public health field and holds an MPH from the University of Michigan. Kris is the author of a travel narrative, Monique and the Mango Rains, based on her experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa, and co-author of Shores Beyond Shores, the memoir of a Holocaust survivor. She deeply believes that international experiences transform individuals, who in turn create a more connected and compassionate world. She is the proud mom of two sons who have studied and volunteered abroad in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Thailand. She lives in Northampton, MA, with her husband and their giant black poodle.

Jeff holds a BA in Biology from the College of Saint Scholastica (MN), an MA in Management from Hawaii Pacific University (HPU), and his international experiences include working and traveling in more than 35 countries both with CIS Abroad and in past US university administrative positions. Jeff founded CIS Abroad in 1999 with the idea that field needed a education abroad provider that was more in tune with the changing diversity of participants studying and interning abroad. Today CIS Abroad is a leader in meeting the needs of students who come from a variety of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, who identify across the spectrums of gender and race, and who purse a myriad of academic opportunities. Outside of the office, Jeff keeps busy hustling around the basketball court, spending time in the woods and water, volunteering with impactful, local organizations, and spending quality time with his wife and two sons.

Nick has been a leader in the purposeful travel industry since 2000 when he co-founded a social enterprise that brought students to Peruvian communities for service learning and life-changing experiences. His positive impact at CIS Abroad is guided by his principle that everyone wins (student – community – company) when purposeful travel is done the right way. He deeply believes the CIS Abroad does purposeful travel the right way! Nick holds a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado and a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is an active father of 3 pretty cool kids, rambunctious dog owner, surfer, traveler, and loves any sport invented, especially if you play outside.

Born in Lima, Peru, Richard also holds a B.A. in History from Vassar College and an MBA from Oxford’s Said Business School. Following his undergraduate studies, Richard enjoyed a brief career as a professional soccer player in Hong Kong, after which he began to pursue his interest in grassroots development work and education abroad.

Richard began his career in international education by founding ProWorld a social enterprise to finance and operate a network of NGO’s throughout Latin America, Asia and Africa. As a member of the executive board of CIS Abroad, Richard’s current focus is on supporting the CIS leadership teams as they continue to strive for excellence in programming, university partnerships and student experience.

Outside of CIS, Richard keeps busy with his four children, playing tennis; as a member of the Skoll Scholar network, as President of the board of Unison Arts, and as a founding board member of Global Educators educational consortium.

Scott is a twice graduate of Jacksonville University earning a BS in aeronautics and an MBA. During his undergraduate college career, Scott studied and volunteered abroad in Australia, Costa Rica, France, the Philippines, and Portugal. Scott received his pilot’s license at the age of seventeen, backpacked Europe at eighteen, and has since visited six continents—with the hopes of visiting Antarctica soon! Scott is a former NAFSA state representative, member of NAFSA’s Trainer Corps, and former co-chair for NAFSA Rainbow SIG. In addition to his duties at CIS Abroad, Scott is the founder and executive director of IEP—a CIS Abroad division offering campus-based education abroad services and consultancy projects. Scott currently resides and works from Ponte Vedra, Florida, where he enjoys weekend beach time with his husband, kids, and chocolate lab – Sam.

Jess was born into the world of international education to school-teacher parents, in Mussoorie, India. She grew up attending American International Schools between India, Kuwait, Pakistan, Indonesia and The United Arab Emirates. Jess’ first time studying abroad was moving “home” to her passport country to attend college at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she majored in French and Comparative Religion. She became very involved on campus and in the community through Amnesty International, as a Peer Advisor and student worker in the study abroad office, and through The Luckyday Service Learning Scholarship Program.

Immediately following graduation, Jess served as the resident director for a first and second year semester program in the Loire Valley in France (the Abbey Program), the same program on which she studied abroad. Following France, Jess spent six months traveling around the U.S. as a Senior Leadership Consultant for Alpha Delta Pi sorority, where she focused on brand and member development, and marketing and recruitment at the collegiate level. Jess visited 20 university campuses before moving to Newark, DE, to start the Theta Delta chapter of the organization at The University of Delaware. After a year and a half with ADPi, Jess moved back to MS to work in the study abroad office at her alma mater. During her tenure at Southern Miss, Jess again experienced life between cultures as she traveled between France, London, and Hattiesburg to manage The Abbey Program in the spring, the British Studies Program in the summer, and incoming exchange programs to Southern Miss in the fall.

Jess fell in love with CIS Abroad when she first met a few members of the team at a NAFSA conference in Vancouver, and was immediately drawn to the shared purpose of sparking growth and creating a more connected and compassionate world, one student at a time. Jess lives in Northampton, MA, where she enjoys having four “real” seasons (even in winter) with her husband, two kids, and cat.

Emily received a BS in business administration with a concentration in marketing and minor in international studies from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s degree in international education from SIT Graduate Institute. Her journey towards a career in international education began when she traveled to China in high school and later studied abroad in Seville, Spain. She later returned to work as a language and culture assistant in Malaga, Spain. These experiences helped her to gain an understanding of and appreciation for different cultures and a desire to help other students have similar experiences. In her free time, Emily loves to explore New England and beyond with her husband and two kiddos and do arts and crafts projects.

Kent’s winding path to a career in international education began as an undergraduate at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a BS in International Business and Accounting. After education abroad experiences in Thailand, Spain, and India, and a year as an undergraduate peer advisor, he was thoroughly convinced that studying abroad is one of the best steps a person can take, both for themselves and for the world. After college and with this credo in mind, Kent created a website that serves as an orientation resource for education abroad participants. Before joining CIS Abroad, he was living and studying in the Netherlands, where he earned his MA in International Relations from Leiden University. Kent has traveled widely in Europe and Southeast Asia, but can usually be found in Western Massachusetts, playing soccer, cooking and baking, hiking with friends, or making large piles of sawdust.

Beth graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in international studies and a minor in Spanish (GO CATS!). The summer after her junior year, she studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain. She knew she wanted to spend more time abroad. After graduation, she returned to Spain to teach English in Madrid for one year. In addition to an amazing time in Madrid, Beth traveled throughout much of Europe. Some destinations included Greece, Hungary, Iceland, and Scotland. A random search for a warm place in Europe in March turned into an adventure in Malta, which has become one of her favorite places. Beth enjoys hanging out with friends, playing volleyball, hiking, and exploring new places!

Ian received a BA in environmental science from Allegheny College and an MA in international education from Loyola University Chicago. Ian is originally from Akron, Ohio, but has lived in five different states since graduating from Allegheny, and is now located in New Hampshire. He enjoys hiking, photography, craft beer, and is learning Spanish. Ian also spends time as a parent to two desk plants, Phillis the philodendron and Marty the cactus. Ian found his love for international education while studying abroad in Lancaster, England. He has now traveled to 15+ countries, with a highlight travel experience of living and working in a youth hostel in New Zealand.

Kyle’s love of travel and international education was sparked by a History tour of Europe that he took for credits before graduating with a B.A. in History from Southern Adventist University. He also holds a MA from Arizona State University. That interest in the nexus between travel and education inspires his work in international education, which started with ten years of work at IIE before joining CIS Abroad. When working, Kyle loves seeing students from underserved demographics get excited about the possibility of overseas study. When away from the office, he’s a big sports fan and a lover of lots of nerdy books and tv series.

During her undergraduate degree, Mary Alice spent semesters in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and Bangalore, India. The experiences impacted her academics, values, personal development, and much more. After graduating from The University of Nevada, Reno, she moved to Tacloban City in the Philippines for a content marketing internship with GoAbroad. This experience helped her discover that she wanted to impact students more directly. She moved to Beaumont, Texas, and was lucky to serve Lamar University’s brilliant student population, inspiring students to study abroad for nearly two years. After establishing a relationship with CIS Abroad, she was drawn to a community of professionals who shared the same mission and passion. She knew the work they could do together to inspire more students to study abroad would be unstoppable!

Mary Alice lives in Beaumont, Texas, and enjoys using her outside voice, wakeboarding, watching women’s soccer, and getting outside every chance she gets.

After spending a year abroad in Sydney, Australia, Brianna was hooked on traveling the world and has pursued a personal and professional mission to connect people with life-changing experiences around the world. She joined the world of Education Abroad in 2019 after spending 4 years as a professional travel blogger at archivesofadventure.com. When not fully submerged in the world of travel, Brianna enjoys reading, hiking, baking, photography, and trying not to kill her houseplants. She has a degree from Grand Valley State University in Hospitality & Tourism Management, a Career Diploma from Penn Foster College in Travel & Tourism, and will complete an MBA from Viterbo University next spring.

Jeniece graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in International Business. Growing up, she was always interested in travel. After her first overseas trip to Spain during her senior year of high school, she was determined to study abroad during her college years. Jeniece studied abroad in four European countries and gained a passion for learning about other cultures. This led her to pursue public service, teaching English in South Korea during the pandemic and continuing her career in the field of international education. In her free time, Jeniece enjoys watching movies and spending time with family and friends.

Ann’s first international experience was after college when she decided to backpack around Europe and Southeast Asia with her then-boyfriend, now-husband for four months. The experience of international travel opened her eyes to the endless possibility of learning about different cultures, people, and places. When she returned from her travels, she started working for her alma matter, Michigan State University, where she taught health and nutrition classes to communities in Metro Detroit. While she loved her job, her love for travel and future career would soon collide when she was offered a position to work at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi in their International Center. She worked as an office manager and had the opportunity to manage and plan faculty-led study abroad programming and ever since, she found her vocation in education abroad. Since then, she worked at University of North Florida as the faculty-led study abroad coordinator for almost four years and completed her masters in Higher Education Administration. Ann loves walking her dog on the beach, hiking and spending time with her husband and friends in new places!

Julia is an artist and adventurer who calls Vermont home. She enjoys making pottery, riding bicycles and traveling the world. She studied abroad in Mexico her sophomore year of college and had an incredible experience. She graduated with a BA in Gender Studies and for the past decade has had the pleasure of leading students on study abroad trips and service-learning experiences in Guatemala, Peru, India, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the U.K., Ireland, and Italy. She works to expand the minds and hearts of herself and others, and believes that international education is an amazing vehicle for encouraging that growth. Julia also works as an On-Site Program Coordinator for CIS Abroad, and loves being part of a team that’s dedicated to expanding student horizons and perspectives.

Ginger Sheridan holds a MS in counseling from Southwest Missouri State, an MA in the history and criticism of art from Florida State, and an MFA in photography from Ohio University. Ginger grew up between Jacksonville Beach, Florida and Florence, Italy. Because she traveled internationally as a child, she had to adapt to very different cultural norms. As a result, she felt empowered to choose who she wanted to become as an adult. This was such a positive, life-changing experience, she began teaching international education programs in the Czech Republic, England, France, Italy, and Scotland in hopes of helping others do the same. Most recently, she designed, directed, and taught on the New Millennium Grand Tour, a program modeled on the original British Grand Tour but re-imagined for the 21st century. Though Ginger retired from full-time teaching in 2021, she continues to work with the CIS internship program. Ginger lives in Neptune Beach, Fl with her partner Ron. She recently earned her Master Gardener certificate from the state of Florida.

Scott is a twice graduate of Jacksonville University earning a BS in aeronautics and an MBA. During his undergraduate college career, Scott studied and volunteered abroad in Australia, Costa Rica, France, the Philippines, and Portugal. Scott received his pilot’s license at the age of seventeen, backpacked Europe at eighteen, and has since visited six continents—with the hopes of visiting Antarctica soon! Scott is a former NAFSA state representative, member of NAFSA’s Trainer Corps, and former co-chair for NAFSA Rainbow SIG. In addition to his duties at CIS Abroad, Scott is the founder and executive director of IEP—a CIS Abroad division offering campus-based education abroad services and consultancy projects. Scott currently resides and works from Ponte Vedra, Florida, where he enjoys weekend beach time with his husband, kids, and chocolate lab – Sam.

Just a small town girl, Ginny grew up in rural Nebraska and has always been a people person. After falling in love with education abroad, Ginny joined IEP in 2006 upon graduating from Augustana University. In her current role for CIS Abroad, she focuses on client communication and supporting consultant projects. Building strong relationships with colleagues and clients and empowering them to achieve their goals totally floats her boat. Outside of work she enjoys family time, reading, and being the official taste tester of her husband’s fine cuisine.

Christina’s roots are artistically based; she earned a BFA in Dance and continues to teach and practice yoga daily. Passionate for movement around the globe as much as in a studio, international education for Christina is the key to a more connected and compassionate world. She started travelling internationally at fifteen during a high school exchange program, and has since been to almost fifty countries and six continents (soon, Antarctica, soon.). Before joining CIS, Christina earned her Master’s in Comparative Education and International Development at The University of Edinburgh, and still misses the haggis every day. Apart from constantly planning her next adventure to a new country, Christina loves to spend her downtime in the mountains, lush forests, and swimming in freshwater rivers and lakes (thank you, upstate NY).

I have two kiddos and am married to my husband Patrick. I grew up in St. Louis, MO but currently live in Ponte Vedra, Florida where we moved in 2019. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in 2005 in Elementary Education. I previously held this role in 2019 and am glad to be back out helping students abroad. Outside of work I enjoy time in the sun with my family and reading books by the pool.

Carrie is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University earning a BA in Spanish with a Secondary Education endorsement and a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center earning a BS in Dental Hygiene. During her undergraduate college career, Carrie studied at the University of Alicante in Alicante, Spain, which jump started her love for travel and life abroad. Carrie has spent the last four years living in Madrid, Spain teaching English in a variety of mediums and assisting with relocation services for new expats arriving to Madrid. Carrie has had the opportunity to visit 5 continents and has the goal to travel to all European countries in the next 5 years. She spends her free time with her husband and their dog Lucy and enjoys playing tennis, reading, and baking.

Syd received a BA in Geography and in Anthropology from Miami University. Wanting to get out there in the world when he entered college, Syd went off on a January term program to Costa Rica studying Spanish. A year later, he studied abroad for a full semester in Pune, India, only a few hours from the Bollywood capital of Mumbai. The travel bug has taken them to 7 other countries as well, with many places planned for the future. After working as an Education Abroad Ambassador for his university, they realized that the world of study abroad was where he wanted to be! In addition to traveling, he loves a variety of hobbies, including indoor gardening, video games, and fiction writing.

As a child, Aimée had two goals in mind – to travel and learn as many languages as possible. These two goals went hand and hand and eventually lead her to International Education. She received a BA in French, Italian, and Spanish; an MA in Italian Linguistics; an MA in International Education Management and Language Program Administration; and she is now working on her doctoral degree in Human Resource Development and International Education. The studying never ends for her! Aimée currently has four languages under her belt and is working on two more! She has spent most of her life outside of the US and now calls the world her home. When Aimée is not traveling, learning languages, and studying, she appreciates a nice bowl of warm Cocoa Pebbles and a good movie! To keep her sugar highs low, she runs, plays soccer and tennis, hikes, and rollerblades.

I have a BA in Communications and English from Florida State University and recently got my master’s in International Studies at NC State University. Since I was a child, I’ve always had a passion for traveling and getting to know different cultures. Studying abroad as an undergrad in Valencia, Spain ignited that passion and put me on the path to a career in international education. After college, I moved to Costa Rica (my mother’s home country – pura vida!) to become an ESL teacher and connect with my roots. I absolutely loved teaching and went on to teach in Spain and Australia, and visited more than 20 countries along the way. When I returned to the states, I knew for sure that international education was the field for me so I focused my master’s program on all things study abroad. I’ve been on such an incredible journey around the world and I want to help students do the same in their own way. I live in Raleigh, North Carolina with my partner and our 27 house plants.

I received my BS in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University. After my exchange program to Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea I decided to pursue a career in international education. I worked for VCU School of Business as the Academic Coordinator for the International Consulting Program, and had the opportunity to do company visits in Tokyo, Japan as the Staff Advisor for the graduate students. I also served a dual role as the Student Services Specialist for the Office of Student Engagement. Shortly after, I found myself itching to return to Korea, so I earned my international TESOL certification and spent a year teaching English to kindergarten and elementary students in Bucheon, South Korea. Frankly, any opportunity to encourage students to explore another country gets me super excited – namely to East Asia. I’m especially passionate about seeing minority students have and pursue the opportunities, resources, and confidence to study abroad. While I’ve only been to Japan and South Korea, I’m eager to travel to my other laundry lists of countries – maybe Europe is next…?

In my downtime, I’m usually drawing, playing video games, and hanging with my family/close friends – if not resting, we’re more than likely engaged in an intense battle of Uno, trying new food, or a chaotic battle in Mario Kart. Also, I love all things art – whether it’s digital illustration, destroying a blank sheet of paper with doodles, struggling with watercolor or having art time with my friends, illustration is my favorite way of self-expression. Oh, and Spongebob seasons 1-5 are top tier comedy.

I received a BA in Hospitality Management and Service Innovation from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an MA in International Education from the School for International Training. In college I studied abroad in Croatia, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates and have worked in both Italy and Ireland. I adore a good cheese board, becoming one with my, often overgrown, vegetable and flower garden, enjoying the outdoors on land or on/in water, and cooking a variety of cuisines.

Joe Debiec received a BA in anthropology from Vassar College and an MA in international education from the School for International Training. While growing up, Joe was always on the move, but stayed close to home in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate NY. His international adventures began in East Africa during his junior year of college, and since then he has spent the majority of his time abroad. Joe has studied, lived, and worked in Kenya, Japan, Oman, Senegal, Thailand, and Vietnam. These days, many of Joe’s adventures take place close to his home, in Northampton, MA. Among Joe’s favorite activities are eating sushi, drinking micro-roasted coffee, scuba diving, relaxing in hot spring bath houses, exploring places for the first time, bicycling, snowshoeing and snowboarding.

Alex studied abroad in the French Alpes when earning her BA at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.  Following graduation she taught English abroad in China, France, and South Korea.  After returning to the states she earned her MA in International Education at SIT Graduate Institute.  Alex enjoys exploring culture through food, art, and conversation and has been known to plan travel around best recommendations for street food and immersive museum experiences. In her spare time, Alex participates in community activism through art, repairs vintage typewriters, and gently annoys her cats.

I’m a first-generation Asian-American with mixed ethnicity from China, Cambodia and Vietnam. I feel incredibly lucky to have the higher education my parents were unable to have, of which my favorite part is when I studied abroad as an undergrad. To date, I’ve worked ten years in the field of international higher education, five of those years living and working in Qatar. Besides travel, I love to dance (ballet, tap, jazz, salsa and tango) and am currently fixing up my recently purchased condo in my home city of Chicago!

Aubree comes from the cornfields of Iowa. After a life-changing semester abroad in San Sebastian, Spain, she realized that she wanted to dedicate her life and career to helping others have a transformative study abroad experience. She received her Masters in International Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has taught English in Spain, Colombia and Mexico, and has traveled to over 17 countries. Aubree brings over a decade of experience working in study abroad roles. In her free time she likes to study languages, listen to Led Zeppelin, befriend animals and the elderly, and find any reason to laugh.

I am an Actress, a Health Coach, a Yoga & Ayurveda teacher, and a Bachelor of Communication Sciences. Additionally, I have extensive experience in the field of international education. I played a key role in launching the study and internship programs in Buenos Aires, where I served as a Site Director for nearly 10 years. During my tenure, I supervised the LATAM region as a Site Director’s Manager, and had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica.

Lisa was born in Costa Rica and has lived in the United States on several occasions. She is an alumni of Veritas University, where she majored in photography, and is currently pursuing her bachelors degree in Tourism and Hotel Management. She is passionate about travel, and has had 10 years of experience leading study abroad groups all throughout Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. In her free time Lisa enjoys going to art exhibits, watching movies, dancing and learning new languages. She speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese, and is currently learning French.

Romina is a native Roman with degrees in International Communications (2005) and International Relations (2007) at the University for Foreigners of Perugia. Shortly after graduating, she moved back to Rome and began her study abroad career working for IES. In Rome, she began pursing her M.A. in International Affairs at the SIOI. After completing an internship at the Italian Development Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, her career took a turn as Romina was offered a position to work as a Communication and Public Information Officer within the civilian component of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Herat for the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Between 2008-09, Romina completed two missions in Afghanistan. In 2009, she began working for the Italian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which then led her to cover the same position at the Italian Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen. In Spring 2011, the Italian government ordered embassy staff to return home due to the uncertain situation of the Arab Spring. Ever since, Romina has enjoyed her return to the eternal city, and to her career in study abroad through CIS Abroad.

Jeanna was born overlooking Loch Ness and grew up in the Highlands of Scotland. She studied in Edinburgh, and after majoring in science went on to work in local and central government. She believes in lifelong learning and remains a student of life! Jeanna has eight years of experience with CIS Abroad (seven as Site Director) and strongly believes in equity and accessible education for all.

“Learning and education has been a strong influence in my family over generations. Education goes beyond the school. Studying abroad is a life changing experience. It allows you to see the world from a new different perspective and to be better prepared for your future in the increasingly globalised world we live in. My job to help you make the most of the many opportunities studying and living in Scotland affords you, and to ensure you have a successful, fun and memorable experience. I have strong Scottish heritage. My Celtic roots give my family our language, music, fun, compassion and culture which continues to this day. Like many Scots, I enjoy the unspoilt nature and landscape here, from great sailing, (and yes surfing) in the West, off-road motorcycle, hiking and skiing in the Highlands to the diverse cultural and multi cultural activities flourishing in many aspects of daily life here.”

David was born in the UK and moved to the US when he was 16 and completed high school and University in Colorado. As an avid traveler, his first thought on graduation was to travel to Asia. He volunteered and lived with a family in Kathmandu for 2 months before traveling to Thailand. He quickly fell in love with the country and for the last 12 years has worked as a teacher, as a development officer in NGOs, and has worked with volunteers and study abroad programs for the last seven years. He has an MA in Asia Pacific Studies and is fluent in Thai. He loves his work because it allows him to share his love of Thailand and its people with participants and at the same time support the great things that people all over Thailand are doing every day.

Anna holds a B.A. in English and German from Ca’Foscari University of Venice. The Italian village where she was born was never enough for her, and from a young age she decided she wanted to see the world and meet a lot of people from different cultures. Fascinated by foreign languages and traveling, she first studied abroad in London when she was in high school and then at Humboldt Universität in Berlin a few years after. New York City holds a special place in her heart, ever since he was an intern at the Italian Cultural Institute there. After volunteering and working for the not-for-profit association AFS Intercultural Program, helping hundreds of high school students enroll and prepare for their experience abroad, she moved to London and focused on working with university students. She has been part of the CIS Abroad on-site team in London for almost five years now and has extensive knowledge about all our London programs. She loves musicals, fashion, playing tennis, hiking, drinking green tea and matcha, and is an intrepid backpacker.

Aryn is a recent graduate from Bay Path University where she majored in Liberal Studies. During her time at Bay Path she was part of the Communications Club and a writer for the on-campus student Newsletter. After studying abroad in London (with CIS) during the Spring 2019, she became an Alumni Ambassador and then the IOM assistant. She also became the IOM/Marcom intern during one of her undergraduate semesters. In the Fall of 2021, she will be starting a graduate program at the University of Westminster in London, England. At Westminster, she will be studying Public Relations. She loves traveling and seeing the world. Some cities that she has already been to include: Milan, Rome, Athens, Vienna, Paris, Zurich, Tokyo, Edinburgh, and more!

Karina was born in Ireland where she lived until she was 16, when her family relocated to New York. She finished high school in New York and continued on to college where she completed her undergraduate degree. She subsequently returned to Ireland to pursue a master’s degree.

Having experienced education in different countries herself, a career in study abroad really appealed to her. Prior to joining CIS Abroad, she spent several years working for the Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University. In her previous role, Karina was in charge of student orientations, cultural programming, general onsite logistics and student support services.

She is excited to once again have the opportunity to introduce participants to Ireland and its culture, history, and beauty. Having been a visiting student herself, she knows she can relate to many of the experiences and difficulties students have as they settle in to life abroad, and she is looking forward to helping our participants have a wonderful time in Ireland!

Raised in a family that encouraged participation in every activity from baseball to marching band to martial arts (too many for healthy stress levels, in hindsight), I was enrolled in every school trip my parents could afford. That early exposure to overseas travel grew into a passion for new and different environments. After high school I followed a path of studies that took me from Los Angeles, where I was raised, through Switzerland to learn French, and finally landed me in Australia, where I now reside with a degree in business and political science. My journey has taught me that besides creating lifetime friendships and unforgettable memories, travel to new cultures brings out our deepest empathy as we see the world from others’ point of view. When more people can have that experience, it’s a step towards making the world a better place.

My parents travelled a lot before they had kids so our house was full of colorful treasures they’d collected and stories of crazy and wonderful adventures. When I graduated school I was 100% set on two things – travel and becoming an Anthropologist. While I didn’t become an anthropologist (not in the official sense anyway!) I have been lucky enough to experience the culture and customs of a few amazing countries including Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, USA, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, Cuba, UK and Morocco. I love that every country you visit opens your eyes to new ways of being; so important for cultivating a more empathetic and connected world.

My bachelor degree was in Journalism as I love to talk to people from different walks of life and to tell their stories. I worked as an editor and freelance journalist for several years before I fell into the field of International Education, working in the Study Abroad office at Bond University on the Gold Coast from 2014 to 2019. I then took a role with the Department of Education’s International Student Program which looks after Study Abroad students studying in Australian High Schools. This role was much more involved in welfare, and as a result I became passionate about youth work and am also undertaking studies in this area.

Now I have three beautiful children that keep me busy so I don’t travel so much but it’s OK because I vicariously live through our Study Abroad students! Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to study abroad while at university but the beauty nowadays is you can EASILY volunteer, intern or study abroad, the choice is yours. What a wonderful world we live in where such opportunity abounds!

Evgenia is a certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, located in Athens, Greece, where she holds counseling sessions with children and adults in her private office. She is trained in cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic-psychodynamic models of therapy. She has a deep understanding for mental health difficulties relating to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, PTSD and neurodevelopmental disorders, offering her professional advice to people in need. Evgenia also serves as CIS Abroad’s Site Director for Athens, Greece managing all issues pertaining to study abroad programs in her region. She therefore knows firsthand all the challenges that adjusting to and living in a foreign country can pose to study abroad students and can help them have a smoother experience.

Elizabeth is grew up in Oswego, NY where she fell in love with the great lakes, nature and the college town atmosphere. After graduating from high school she headed south to attend college at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she discovered that nothing fascinated her more than exploring cultural diversity. After catching the travel bug she hopped around and managed to live and work in seven different cities located in four different states and spanning 3 countries. She finally settled down in Italy wither her Roman husband and has dedicated her life to helping others embrace both the beauty and the difficulties that inevitably come along with intercultural engagement experiences. Elizabeth has a BA in Communications, an MA in International Education and is currently pursuing an EdD in Global Education. She loves showing students the sites in Rome, but she gets particularly excited when she has a chance to help people overcome challenges associated with living and studying abroad.

Nicole was born and raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Seattle, Washington, and studied Political Science, Law Societies and Justice, and Human Rights at the University of Washington. Nicole has always had the travel bug so after graduating she moved to Spain to work as an English Assistant and fell in love with the country of tapas, flamenco, and constant sunshine! She lived in Granada, Spain for 9 years and is lucky to now call Barcelona home. She has always worked in education and loves seeing the profound benefits of students immersing themselves in another language and culture. As site director in Barcelona Nicole is looking forward to welcoming students to the most desired and exciting city in Spain and giving them the most local experience to help deepen student understanding of the Spanish culture and language. In her free time, Nicole is studying for a Global MBA at IE University and uses the skills from this degree in her daily life and job. She also loves to spend time at the beach, wandering around neighborhoods, and grabbing a few tapas and cañas with friends.

Studying abroad in Madrid as a college student sparked my interest in international education. After finishing my studies in International Relations and Spanish stateside, I decided to make a move back to Spain to start a career as an ESL instructor. Since then, I have worked as a teacher, director, and international program coordinator throughout Europe. Travel and education are my biggest passions in life. I believe exploring the world is one of the greatest ways to learn and bring people together. Outside of work, I am always planning my next adventure and looking to find the next best restaurant or bar to get a taste of local culture. I have travelled to over 50 countries and have no plans of slowing down anytime soon!

When I was 16, I lived in Brazil for a year and that experience completely changed my life. I fell in love with the world of abroad experiences and discovered my ikigai: getting in touch with different cultures and passing this passion on to other young people. I graduated in International Studies at the University of Trento. I also worked one year in the UK as an au-pair and one year in Spain as an educator and site manager for pre-med American students. My desire to work in the world of international education is my life mission. I want to give to the world what the world has given to me, I want more people to respect cultural diversity and I would like young people to develop their empathy during their period abroad.

Multicultural enthusiast, friendly teacher and filmmaker. Psychology lover, completely Involved with adventures, laughing hard, deep talks and art with amazing composition. Mari was born and raised in Costa Rica in a family that encouraged her to be a positive leader and a people person by learning about art, cultures and languages. She attended to Veritas University to get her professional degree as a film producer. Her deep passion for the education abroad started in 2010 when she got a scholarship that let her work for the Center of International Programs in Veritas planning and collecting photos and videos of the wonderful cultural experiences and adventures the international students were having in Costa Rica, to share them with the universities and advisors in USA. The awesome travel testimonials, helped having even more students interested in coming to the tropical campus in San José. After graduation, Mari has spent all of her time having abroad experiences of her own, teaching college students about growth through  multicultural experiences, and actively collaborating to different study abroad agencies to plan and lead adventures for all the students who decide to have the experience of their lifetimes in Costa Rica. In 2022 Mari officially became a part of CIS staff in Costa Rica and she is absolutely thrilled to help every of our students have a magnificent time there.

I graduated from Florida State University with dual degrees in International Affairs and Chinese Language and Culture. After graduation, I received a Fulbright teaching grant to South Korea where I lived in Sejong City for about 2 years before moving to Seoul. I have taught students of all ages from elementary to college and worked with international students coming to the US and US students coming to Seoul! Currently, I am receiving my degree in International Area Studies at Seoul National University with a focus on China and South Korea. In addition to South Korea, have studied abroad in Dalian and Tianjin in China and Taipei in Taiwan!

With a background in social science and a master’s degree in international development from the U.K., I have more than 10 years’ experience in international program implementation and support in Bangkok and other countries. I love organizing events and meeting new people. I’m also passionate about traveling and believe that going to exotic places, learning about foreign cultures and new things in life make you grow as a person. My top three travel experiences are backpacking throughout Shangri-La, seeing the Aurora Borealis in Iceland, and driving through Jordan. If I’m not working or traveling, I enjoy spending my time at home and taking care of my cactus and roses.

Hailing from Toronto, I spent the first part of my life in Canada. Armed with a BA in Philosophy, I eventually joined the JET Programme as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) to explore my Japanese-Canadian heritage. I anticipated a brief 2-3 year stint, aiming to pursue an MBA thereafter, but shifted course and transitioned from rural Japan to Tokyo. My trajectory encompassed two roles in private education companies. I’m thrilled to be partnering with CIS Abroad. Family inspires me, and I’m a sports enthusiast who cherishes karaoke and onsen — major factors that tied me to Japan, along with meeting my wife and starting a business.

Emily received a BS in business administration with a concentration in marketing and minor in international studies from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s degree in international education from SIT Graduate Institute. Her journey towards a career in international education began when she traveled to China in high school and later studied abroad in Seville, Spain. She later returned to work as a language and culture assistant in Malaga, Spain. These experiences helped her to gain an understanding of and appreciation for different cultures and a desire to help other students have similar experiences. In her free time, Emily loves to explore New England and beyond with her husband and two kiddos and do arts and crafts projects.

Kailee joined her favorite high school Spanish teacher on a group trip to Spain and never looked back. She thought she was going to practice her Spanish but instead, she experienced the wonderful complexity of stepping far outside of her comfort zone and completely fell in love with the country (and of course practicing Spanish was an added bonus). A native of Denver, Colorado, she is an alumni of Colorado State University where she studied Business Administration, Marketing and Spanish. Kailee was determined to return to Spain which led her to attend a semester at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid.

Kailee has been an integral part of every stage of the student journey; from advising, to admissions, to enrollment and program delivery, and her favorite, re-entry. Before joining CIS Abroad, she served as the Director of World Internships, where she developed industry immersion programming to provide students with short-term, meaningful work experience. This Micro-Internship model is now part of CIS Abroad’s program offering.

Kailee’s work and personal travels have carried her across five continents, and you can be certain she is already planning her next trip right now. She lives in Northampton, MA with her husband and her squishy cat.

Neal’s love of travel and experiencing new places and people started at an early age growing up in a Coast Guard family and moving all over the US; he’s lived in ten states and visited 49. He came to the international education field via a happy convergence of his professional experiences in digital marketing and user experience work, recently with Open Knowledge, an international advocacy group working to advance the use and usefulness of open government data. He’s traveled internationally extensively for work and fun. Neal holds an MA in English, and was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Oregon’s Applied Information Management graduate program for over 15 years.

After two amazing years with IEP (CIS Abroad’s on-campus division) as the Campus Coordinator of The University of South Alabama, Jess made the move to CIS Abroad. Born and raised in Mobile, she graduated from South with a degree in Foreign Languages and International Studies. During her time there, she studied abroad in Spain where her passion for international education began. She enjoys spending time with her partner and their pets, cooking, and running to a good K-Pop playlist.

Received a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Business Administration from Ohio University. It was there where I discovered CIS Abroad and got the opportunity to study abroad twice; in Paris, France and Stirling Scotland as well as become an Alumni Ambassador. It was during my time in the Scottish Highlands where I discovered my passion for travel. On top of studying in Paris and Stirling, I’ve been blessed to have traveled to Australia, Canada, Ireland, England and Italy as well! I have a passion for hiking and visiting all of the National Parks in the United States. Also enjoy spending time with my cat, Mumford.

I am an Actress, a Health Coach, a Yoga & Ayurveda teacher, and a Bachelor of Communication Sciences. Additionally, I have extensive experience in the field of international education. I played a key role in launching the study and internship programs in Buenos Aires, where I served as a Site Director for nearly 10 years. During my tenure, I supervised the LATAM region as a Site Director’s Manager, and had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica.

Keith received a BA in Spanish and International Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison. His life-changing semester in Seville, Spain encouraged him to pursue a career in international education, from which he has only minimally strayed. Keith initially started working with CIS Abroad in 2010 as a University Relations Representative in the Midwest, after a couple years in a similar role with partner organization IEP. Once it became apparent that he could have a greater impact with his marketing and technology savvy than he could as a road warrior, he made the move to Fort Collins, Colorado and a transition into marketing. A couple career breaks (including stints as hiking guide in Guatemala and a study abroad representative in Australia) and a pandemic later, Keith found his way back to CIS Abroad. In his Product Manager role, Keith enjoys employing technologies in support of his passion for international education. In the warmer months you can find him enjoying all things quintessentially Colorado and in winter soaking up the vibrant culture of Oaxaca, Mexico.

I am the daughter of an Argentinean immigrant so all of my dad’s family still lives in Argentina. I grew up in South Dakota but attended high school and undergrad in the northern Chicago suburbs. I graduated in 2023 from Lake Forest College with a degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. I balanced life as a women’s soccer student-athlete, dance team captain, president of the Neuroscience club and working as a medical assistant and babysitter. I studied abroad in Sorrento, Italy and traveled all throughout Europe during my time there. I also frequent Argentina to visit family but my dream destinations are Tokyo, Spain, Seychelles and sooo many more! I feel inspired to work in international education because I want to share the impact that international travels have had on my life and help provide resources for others to travel and gain a world perspective. Outside of work, I love going to concerts, dancing, reading and meeting new people. I am an empathetic and social butterfly that has a lot of compassion for others. At the same time, I value my “me-time” and am extremely determined to be the best version of myself.

I am entering my third and final year as an undergraduate student at the University of York in the U.K. I will be receiving my BSc in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics— I love mathematics (particularly statistics) and econometrics! My love for travel came from growing up in a very international home, and as a British national I have the unique opportunity to study and live in England. My amazing experiences I had in my first year of university are what inspired me to work here last year as a Summer Marketing Assistant. I can’t say much has changed: being able to help other students experience the joy of exploring a new place and expanding their perspective of the world is so exciting! Outside of work, I’m a research assistant for UoY’s Psychology and Economics departments (feel free to ask me about what we’re working on!) and the Committee Chair of the Scott Award, an arts programme at the University.

Elayna traveled to Montreal, Canada, in high school, and fell in love with traveling. It was a brief love affair, and her passion for travel continued in Costa Rica and Spain. She is responsible for day-to-day coordination of all HR, IT, and general office management. Elayna is an avid, albeit untidy, organic gardener. Her passions in life are the fabulous world of visual arts, all things French, and Scrabble. She spends her small amount of “spare time” with her husband watching in wonder as her young daughter grows, and planning their future fantasy life living in southern France. Elayna lives in South Deerfield with her husband, daughter, and their guard-cat, Phil.

Tyler is coming to the team after spending the last 15 years growing a local tech startup here in the Pioneer Valley. With a background in Computer Science and Finance – he has spent the last 15 years serving in all functions of a rapidly growing business, but has had a very specific focus on the Information Technology Management, Organizational Leadership and Finance (of course!). While Tyler has spent years developing and advancing his skills in all of these areas of business, he is a believer that developing some of the less tangible skill sets is equally important to success in business – cultivating a practical but creative approach to problem solving, maintaining a positive attitude towards your work, and truly caring about the work you are doing and the people you are doing it with. Beyond that, Tyler has always been an advocate for making sure that you’re having fun while you’re working – and has for years shared the mantra “If you’re not having fun – you’re not doing it right.”

Tyler has spent the last 30+ years living (and growing up) in various towns in the Pioneer Valley, and currently lives in Shutesbury, MA with his 3 rescue dogs (Fig, Reba and Dusty) and his beautiful wife Tania. He enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, camping in the White Mountains, and spending time outdoors. He is a Boston sports enthusiast, has a passion for live music, craft beers, and cooking, and enjoys traveling to new regions and exploring the local cuisine.

Little bit about me is that I went to the University of Houston Main Campus from 2014 to 2019. During that time I also worked as a server at Outback Steakhouse. What inspired and motivated me to work in International Education was the opportunity to help make a positive difference while working. We spend a third of our day working so why not dedicate that time to something positive and impactful. A big part of what makes me myself outside of work is my young daughter. She inspires me to do my best in whatever I do and also makes me appreciate life that much more.