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 CISabroad 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.

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.

Dr. Engel earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in international higher education, and holds a Master’s degree in student affairs from Bowling Green State University. Prior to joining CIS Abroad, Jennifer served as the Executive Director of International Programs at Loyola University Chicago, responsible for partnership cultivation, program development, general administration and the functional areas of: study abroad; international student and scholar services; English as a second language; the International House; and recruitment and support for the University’s three Global Centers. She previously held administrative and teaching positions at the University of South Carolina and Marygrove College. Jennifer has been involved with NAFSA, The Forum and AIEA, holding leadership positions and presenting nationally and internationally.

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 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, son, and cat.

Studying abroad was the best thing Brian has ever done with his life. He wanted to help more people have a similar experience, which sparked his interest in working for CIS Abroad. Brian earned a BA in political science from Siena College. He studied abroad in Ecuador and Namibia. He has traveled and worked in Argentina, Ecuador, England, Mexico, Peru, and South Korea. Brian enjoys having fun and taking it easy through consistent exercise in the form of hiking, running, cycling, and going to the gym. If he can be outside all day, he’s happy.

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.

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 CISabroad 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 currently the co-chair for NAFSA Rainbow SIG. In addition to his duties at CISabroad, Scott is the founder and executive director of IEP—a CISabroad 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, son, and dog.

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.

Marina was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina.​ She is passionate for traveling, animal and specially dogs lover and defines herself as an aspirational veggie. Over the last ​ten years she has been working on a small business of her own, dedicated to build travel programs for groups that want to experience Buenos Aires in an alternative way. ​She ​studied Social Communications ​a​t the University of Buenos Aires​ and specialized in Digital Strategies and Content. She is very happy to be part of the growing CIS Abroad, offering her expertise​ as a traveler and as a pure “Porteña” ​ to excited students. In her free time she practices yoga, ​paints, cooks healthy food​ and enjoys meeting with friends. She is married and has a dog named Dar​k – but she calls him Pepino (cucumber).

Jackie has a passion for international education and travel having lived, travelled worked and studied overseas. Jackie was born on the Central Coast, NSW (on the coast half-way between Newcastle and Sydney) and now lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Jackie holds a Masters in Communication (Corporate Communication) from Bond University, QLD and a Bachelor of Social Science (Recreation and Tourism) from Newcastle University, NSW.

During the second year of her undergraduate degree Jackie received a student exchange scholarship to participate in a study abroad semester at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Upon her return from the US Jackie was employed by the International Office at University of Newcastle involved in Student Support and later International Admissions. Since this time Jackie’s 16 year career has been predominantly based in international education, including a two year position in Denver, Colorado working for a leading study abroad provider then continuing as their national Australian on-site resident director for another three years. Jackie has since worked in various marketing and management roles focused primarily on project management, large scale event management, sponsorship, new business launches and strategic planning.

The love of travel has always remained and has seen Jackie visit more than 21 countries including favourites Finland, Vietnam, Japan, Nepal and New Zealand. Jackie enjoys hiking, yoga, stand up paddle boarding, beach time, family adventures with her two amazing sons and did we mention travel!

Paloma, originally hailing from Spain, has a background in event production, fashion, as well as a law degree from Seville University and volunteered on the biggest Tattoo Festival in Sydney. She is passionate about animals, sports and vegan food. She lives in Sydney and has over 3 years experience with American study abroad and exchange programming. She is excited to welcome our students and interns to Sydney.

Gemma is a born and raised Newcastle girl. She spends as much time in the water as possible and despite all her travels loves to return to her home in ‘Newy.’ She is in her penultimate year of law at the University of Newcastle (UoN). Throughout her studies she has had the opportunity to travel to The University of Technology, Troyes in France to complete an intensive French language course and spent a semester studying history at McMaster University in Canada. Gemma has also worked as a theatre specialist at Camp Timberlane in Haliburton, Canada. Gemma is excited to help all study abroad students see the best of what UoN, Newcastle and Australia have to offer. Gemma is excited to use her international experience and her position as Vice-President of the University of Newcastle Exchange Student Network to help her in her role as Newcastle’s Site Director.

Jemimah, originally from Kenya, is a graduate of Bond University, Australia and now pursuing her Masters in International Sustainable Tourism Management in Melbourne. She is passionate about travel and meeting new people from different backgrounds and cultures. Jemimah has worked, studied and volunteered in various countries. She is easy going, loves adventure, exploring new places and new activities.

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.

Leah Takata was born in Toronto, Canada and graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in Arts Management with a major in Art History. She worked for seven years at the University of Toronto as Cultural Affairs Coordinator organizing arts and cultural events for the students, faculty, staff and surrounding community. During her time at the university she produced and organized four international theatre exchanges with Ypsilonka Theatre and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU) in Prague. This unique project brought together theatre students from Canada, Czech Republic and professional actors from First Nations theatre group “De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group” (Manitoulin Island). Leah is excited to once again work with university students and impart the beauty and spirit of, “The city of a hundred spires.” Leah has lived in Prague since 2007 and spends her free time with her two children, partner, as well as her growing photography and graphic design business.

Diana Balarezo is a trilingual (Spanish, English and French) Ecuadorian that has worked in the tourism industry for many years. An active volunteer of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Development and Hospitality and a Master’s degree in Social and Environmental studies. Diana was the Ecuador national coordinator of a volunteers’ non-profit organization with more than eighty member countries, as well as the US market leader of the biggest tourism company in Ecuador. She lived in the US as a student and after, as a restaurant manager at a Ski Resort in Idaho, where she learned to snowboard and still misses it. She has traveled extensively around Ecuador, backpacked in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Guatemala and Mexico. She has camped in some National Reserves in the US and Canada and has visited Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, among others. Diane’s hobbies include sports such as trail running and mountain biking, as well as watching movies and reading a nice book.

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.

Drasko was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and graduated from the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Law, where he also obtained a master’s degree in constitutional law. He worked as an associate in a law firm in Belgrade and was hired by the Official Journal to analyze the jurisprudence of the Serbian highest courts. However, he decided to continue his studies abroad and came to France in 2013, where he obtained a second master’s degree in comparative law at Sorbonne University. Drasko was a participant of numerous seminars, conferences and summer schools in Serbia, France and worldwide. He is a national rowing umpire in Serbia and in France and he raced several half marathons. He completed a skydiving course and has an international diver certificate. Drasko is a self-proclaimed expert in finding the best low-cost train and airplane tickets.

Christelle Le Gars has been an administrative assistant at IAU since 2018, focused on aiding students with work-study, excursions and administrative requirements. Christelle Le Gars joined IAU after working in England for more than ten years in secondary schools specialized in international teaching and learning. She has a License in English studies (Lille 3 University) and an M.A. in Communication (Celsa, Paris Sorbonne). She is fluent in English and French.

Upon completing her bachelor’s degree in Law at the University of Athens, Evgenia set off to the majestic south of France for her master’s studies, an experience that left a strong impression on her, planting the seed to work with international students. After practicing law for nearly 10 years, she decided to take a career turn and become a certified counselor, which led to her enrollment for a master’s program in Psychology at Hellenic American University. This is where Evgenia found a highly multinational environment and had the chance to take in the wealth of experience and perspective that comes with interacting with people from different cultures. The time had come for that seed to sprout! When not lost in my Psychology books, she loves to ride her bike uphill and attend traditional dance classes.

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.

Alessandro Bruno was born in Maryland, United States, and was raised in Rome, Italy. He has traveled extensively through Europe, Central America, North America, and China. He definitely considers himself a citizen of the world. During his travels, he acquired a passion for the environment and preservation, cultures, and languages. This passion led him to obtain a B.A. in Geography with a minor in Chinese Studies from Humboldt State University. In 2010, Alessandro spent a semester studying abroad at the University of Shanghai in China and has since become an even stronger proponent of study abroad programs, no matter where. Alessandro has also successfully completed the National Park Service Law Enforcement Training Program and a Wilderness First Responder course, and returned to Italy to join the CIS Abroad Site Director team in 2015. Aside from traveling, Alessandro’s other favorite activities are wake-boarding, kayaking, diving, eating sushi, learning new languages, cooking, and getting lost on purpose.

Originally from Florence, Italy, Chiara graduated from the London College of Communication in Photography with a special focus on alternative processes and darkroom printing. Following graduation she exhibited her work and curated exhibitions in Italy and abroad, slowly approaching the education field by designing art workshops and educational programs. More and more interested in languages and cultures she obtained a CELTA teaching certificate and taught English in Italy and Italian in Australia. She spent the past year working and volunteering in Melbourne, teaching, facilitating, curating, travelling, making art and making friends. Since a young age she has been an avid traveller and explored Europe thoroughly. Throughout the years Chiara also visited the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. She believes International education is the key to gain a global mindset, to step out of your comfort zone and discover more about yourself and the world we live in. Outside of work Chiara wonders around museums and galleries, hikes in the woods, reads, fights for the environment and plays hide and seek with her precious maltese Charlie.

Will is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, where he studied Political Science and Environmental Policy. He also holds a M.Sc. in International Public Management and Policy from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Originally from the beautiful city of Vicenza, in northeastern Italy, Will is an avid traveler and has lived or worked in 6 different countries throughout his life. His fondest study abroad experience was exploring a puffin colony on a remote Scottish island while a student at the University of St Andrews. Bilingual in English and Italian since childhood, Will also speaks some Spanish and is currently learning French. While he loves Italian food the most, he enjoys other cuisines too, and will often be found experimenting with new ingredients. Outside of the office Will also likes hiking, skiing, gardening and exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Originally from New Jersey, Jeff attended Rider University where he studied Business Administration. After graduation, he started working for a small college in northern New Jersey where he started the Office of International Programs, study abroad programs, language programs, and established international exchange programs. He was sent to tour Asia to establish international educational exchanges and continued expanding exchanges over the course of the next decade. He then moved to Tokyo, where he continues to develop programs and support systems for students studying in Japan.

Helena was born and bred in Wellington, New Zealand but a curious spirit and a former career took her to Australia and throughout Europe. Since returning to New Zealand, she started “a pay it forward” social enterprise called the Steampunk Food Van that provides meals for people living on the street or in poverty. She is a passionate social entrepreneur who is forever exploring and learning new things about people, community and environmental sustainability. In her spare time, you’ll find Helena frollicking about the vast area of New Zealand that is protected national park, or enjoying a specialty coffee at one of the many cafes that are popping up: New Zealand is fast becoming a nation of coffee drinkers, whilst many Kiwis will still ask if you’d like to join them for a “cuppa tea” when you visit their home.

Milagro was born in Cusco, Peru where she completed her primary and secondary studies, as well as her bachelor’s degree in accounting. After graduating, she began working for a variety of public and private institutions, including serving as the director of the Charity Pharmacies of Cusco. Mila has also worked for many different municipalities as a supplies and logistics specialist and held the post of Administrative Director for the Municipality of Urubamba. In 2003 she joined the ProPeru, which hosted study and internship opportunities for international participants in and around Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Mila later assumed the post of Administrative Director of ProPeru in 2009 where she was very highly regarded. Most recently, Mila has been working on her master’s degree in administration with a focus on tourism at La Universidad San Antonio Abad del Cusco.

For almost thirty years Patricia has been working in the field of international education. She loves her country and enjoys sharing the generosity and variety of Lima cultures to her students. She has lived abroad: three years in Chile, Washington D.C. almost four, Florence for eight months and Rome two years, Guayaquil, Ecuador six years as well as in Holland for six years. Patricia is a mother of three children, now grown, and each of them have been students abroad so she knows what it is like.

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.”

On completion and graduating with a National Diploma in Travel and Tourism, Sonya decided to travel the world. Participating in a cultural exchange program led her to Vail, Colorado, where a 4-month working visa allowed her to experience what being away from home was all about. Upon returning home, Sonya worked for many years in both the airline industry and tourism in Cape Town, and has now ventured into self-employment by being appointed as an Accredited Assessor for the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Excited to be able to tap into her own experience in working abroad, Sonya enjoys offering support and guidance to those embarking on new journeys, forming new relationships, and showing off her beautiful home country – as well as spending time with her husband and two fur babies.

I believe that education – and particularly international education and cultural exchange – empowers people and advances society. Through my experiences as an educator, I have planned and executed many kinds of degree/non-degree programs across a wide range of fields, including HR, program design, international student recruitment, international cooperation, international student admissions, business incubating management, and government funding. I like to meet people and communicate with them in global settings. I am also very happy when I am working with other people in a new and challenging environment.

Sara Hazzard moved to Madrid from her hometown of Philadelphia, PA. She received her M.A. in International Education/Bilingualism from the Universidad Camilo José Cela and worked in the field as an English language teacher. Passionate about exploring and cross cultural exchange, the move to Spain was a natural fit. Sara’s first encounter with international travel was during her undergraduate studies when she decided to study abroad in Granada, Spain. Falling in love with the Spanish language, she continued on to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to extend her awareness of different accents and linguistics. Finally settling in Madrid, Sara applies her own experiences as motivation to support students while studying and living abroad. As Site Director in Madrid, her goal is to welcome students to Spain’s vibrant capital, engage them with the locals through different activities, and deepen their understanding, along with their appreciation, of Spanish culture. In her free time, Sara tours different villages and cities in Spain. She also enjoys cooking, running, and a good book written in Spanish.

Elena was born in Girona, but has lived in a variety of cities in Spain. She earned a B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona and an M.A. in Communication, Tourism, and New Technologies (e-Tourism) from the University of Barcelona. Her previous work experience was at UPF in the Communications Department and research focused on Place Branding Online. Elena is also the co-founder of the International Exchange Erasmus Student Network at UPF, which helps welcome university students to Barcelona. She worked and studied in various countries throughout Europe, including Italy, England, Ireland, Holland, and Turkey. Elena has been working since 2010 helping and mentoring international students. Currently, she is perusing a Coach Training Certification. Elena loves languages, dancing, traveling, culture, and, above all – people.

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.

Chutinan Klinmalai is  the Bangkok Site director for CISabroad and  has been working with the program for more than 2 years covering all field visits and leisure activities. Chutinan graduated his bachelor’s degree in Political Science (International Relations) and currently doing master graduate program in Disaster Management at Asian Institute of Technology. Apart from CIS work, he is a professional career diplomat with Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, Thailand. He always participates in social activities and volunteer works especially environmental or local community service programs. Comedy is his favorite movies genres. Exploring nature  is one of his favourite activities

I was born and grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, one of the biggest and most popular cities in Vietnam. I earned my BA in Sociology from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City and spent more than a year in Holland for the certificate of International Communication. Since that study abroad experience, I have been always working in the field of Education, especially assisting Vietnamese students with planning and preparing for studying abroad. I have had opportunities to travel and explore different parts of the world such as Europe (Holland, Belgium, France, Germany), Australia, and Asia (China, Korea, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore). I’m keen on sharing my Vietnam with visitors. I enjoy spending time with my son, my friends and relatives, writing my own fiction stories, and watching television series.

Dr Loretta Chen is an award-winning director, professor, TEDx speaker and best-selling author. Her latest, Inspiring Women of Hawaii was launched last Fall with all proceeds going towards the Women of Waianae Scholarship fund.

Hailing from Singapore, Loretta was the Executive Creative Director for brands like Samsung, Louis Vuitton, Adidas and BNP Paribas featuring Serena Williams. She was also active in the theater scene. Some of her credits include Victor Victoria starring jazz diva Laura Fygi and The F Word which won an an Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award.

Other career highlights include community endorsement as a Nominated Member of Parliament, hosting the World Cities Summit, serving as International Consultant to the Government of Bhutan and being voted one of Asia’s Most Inspiring Women.

Now living her dream in Hawaii, she teaches at University of Hawaii – Leeward Community College where she was awarded Outstanding Lecturer of the Year (2020). She was selected to be part of the Patsy T Mink Center for Business Leadership Alliance in 2020.

When not mentoring or advocating for women, youth and LGBTQIA, she is a devoted cat mom to ten fur babies. Her short film, Secrets to Happiness has picked up several awards and is currently touring the international film festival circuit.

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 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, son, and cat.

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 CISabroad, 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 the Triangle of North Carolina, playing soccer, cooking with his partner, hiking with friends, or making large piles of sawdust.

After two amazing years with IEP (CISabroad’s on-campus division) as the Campus Coordinator of The University of South Alabama, Jess is staying within the family and transitioning to CISabroad! 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.

Dr. Engel earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in international higher education, and holds a Master’s degree in student affairs from Bowling Green State University. Prior to joining CIS Abroad, Jennifer served as the Executive Director of International Programs at Loyola University Chicago, responsible for partnership cultivation, program development, general administration and the functional areas of: study abroad; international student and scholar services; English as a second language; the International House; and recruitment and support for the University’s three Global Centers. She previously held administrative and teaching positions at the University of South Carolina and Marygrove College. Jennifer has been involved with NAFSA, The Forum and AIEA, holding leadership positions and presenting nationally and internationally.

Studying abroad was the best thing Brian has ever done with his life. He wanted to help more people have a similar experience, which sparked his interest in working for CIS Abroad. Brian earned a BA in political science from Siena College. He studied abroad in Ecuador and Namibia. He has traveled and worked in Argentina, Ecuador, England, Mexico, Peru, and South Korea. Brian enjoys having fun and taking it easy through consistent exercise in the form of hiking, running, cycling, and going to the gym. If he can be outside all day, he’s happy.

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 currently the co-chair for NAFSA Rainbow SIG. In addition to his duties at CISabroad, Scott is the founder and executive director of IEP—a CISabroad 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, son, and dog.

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.

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 (CISabroad’s on-campus division) as the Campus Coordinator of The University of South Alabama, Jess is staying within the family and transitioning to CISabroad! 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.

After two amazing years with IEP (CISabroad’s on-campus division) as the Campus Coordinator of The University of South Alabama, Jess is staying within the family and transitioning to CISabroad! 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.

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.

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.

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 currently the co-chair for NAFSA Rainbow SIG. In addition to his duties at CISabroad, Scott is the founder and executive director of IEP—a CISabroad 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, son, and dog.

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.

An alum of Wesleyan University and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, among other things Aurora directs the Office of International Education at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In addition to her delicious baked goods, Aurora brings an array of international experience and skills to clients and colleagues. Her previous roles within Institutional Relations and Student Services allow her to understand the unique needs that both universities and students have within international education. In her free time, Aurora loves to garden, spin yarn (insert Sleeping Beauty joke here), and entertain at her family-run B&B on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

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.