Mission

To provide scholarships and ongoing support to students with financial need who are underrepresented among the U.S. study-abroad population.

FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.

Vision

In todayโ€™s inter-connected world, we believe education abroad is an integral component of higher education. We envision a future in which all U.S. students are given equal access to education abroad experiences, regardless of socio-economic status.

We foresee a future in which our scholars work to increase global understanding, give back to their communities, and mentor future generations of Fund for Education Abroad scholars.

JEDI Statement

FEA was born of the imperative to increase access to education abroad. Our call to action is Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and has been since day one. We provide access to students who represent the rich diversity of our nation yet who are underrepresented in study abroad. In our day-to-day work we are grounded in these principles.

FEA is committed to the ongoing development and implementation of inclusive best practices in scholarship awarding, student support, nonprofit governance, and organizational development and management.

Our History


Through the generous support of Academic Travel Abroad (ATA), the Fund for Education Abroad was established in 2010 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to address the need for an independent scholarship provider to enable more American college students to study abroad. Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population. Since 2010, FEA has awarded over $2.1 million in scholarships to 614 undergraduates, helping students from all over the United States follow their dreams of studying abroad.

FEA remains the only national non-profit study abroad scholarship provider funded exclusively with philanthropic support, and the only independent organization dedicated to providing scholarships to students who are least likely to study abroad.

Staff


  • Image of Angela Schaffer

    Angela Schaffer

    Executive Director

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    Angela (Angie) Schaffer is an international educator, grants professional, and entrepreneur. Angie grew up in Baltimore City and was a first-generation college graduate. At Goucher College, where Angie earned a B.A. in International Relations, she served as Director of Sponsored Research and Corporate & Foundation Relations and Assistant Director of International Studies. Between her positions with Goucher, Angie served as Senior Director of Program Development at Cultural Vistas. Angie also served as ARO and Program Officer with TPG Cultural Exchange, a J-1 Teacher Visitor sponsor. She started her career in education abroad at the University of Maryland, and holds a Master of Arts degree in International Education Policy.

    Throughout her studies and career, Angela has focused on underrepresented students and issues that affect people in or from primarily urban areas. She has convinced many friends and colleagues to support efforts to establish scholarships and funding for young people to study abroad. She has written several articles about the value of experiential learning and exchange, and has led education abroad programs and workshops in Japan, India, and South Africa. In Summer 2019, Angie co-led a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad for Baltimore-area educators to Rwanda and Mauritius.

    Angie is a graduate of the Moms as Entrepreneurs Academy and is co-founder of a childcare collective, Red Wagon Baltimore. As the founder of A2Z Ventures, a cross-cultural training and international education consulting LLC, Angie supported nonprofits by providing a variety of services, including grant writing & revising, strategic planning, development strategy consulting, intercultural & educational training, and program and project management. She served as Vice President of Communications and Outreach for BMore Abroad. Angie currently lives in Baltimore City with her family.

  • Joelle Leinbach

    Program Manager

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    Joelle Leinbach first studied abroad in Germany with the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange Program, an experience which later led her to complete a Critical Language Scholarship in Russian. Her study abroad experience, combined with her community-building work in the LGBTQ+ community, sparked her interest in the role of scholarships and scholarship programs in study abroad for underrepresented students.

    She began her career in international education as an intern with the Fund for Education Abroad, and continued to be a regular volunteer reviewer with FEA until joining in the more formal capacity of Program Manager. Prior to returning to FEA, Joelle lived in Romania, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan working with applicants for the FLEX, YES, and NSLI-Y programs through American Councils for International Education. She also worked with CET Academic Programs as a Student Services Coordinator and began presenting at conferences with a focus on personalized advising to advance equity and access in study abroad.

    Joelle holds a BA in Costume Design and Production and currently lives in Seattle where she enjoys creating her own tea blends and filling her apartment with too many plants.

  • Kaylee Henderson

    Program Coordinator

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    Kaylee Hendersonโ€™s journey with FEA began as a first-generation student at Kalamazoo College when she was awarded an FEA scholarship to study abroad in Beijing, China. Some highlights of her time abroad include climbing the Great Wall, visiting Shanghai Disneyland on Christmas Day, and documenting all of her experiences in her blog. Now, Kaylee serves as the Program Coordinator at FEA.

    Her career in international education started at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, where she connected MSW students to social work opportunities abroad and provided support to visiting social work students and scholars. Kaylee’s priority as a global educator is making education abroad more equitable, sustainable, and accessible.

    In her free time, Kaylee enjoys reading, cooking, and seeking out all of the best vegan eats in Michigan, where she currently resides.

  • Lola Babich

    Social Media & Marketing Intern

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    Lola Babich is a current junior attending Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania through the POSSE Foundation. She is a double major in Spanish/Portuguese Studies and Latin American/Latinx/Caribbean Studies with a minor in Film and Media studies, so she finds herself drawn to work with audiovisual or creative media in connection to storytelling for many diverse communities. Lola was born and raised in Los Angeles to a multicultural family, and carries the values of cultural representation and authenticity in her daily endeavors. 

    Lola highlights her time spent studying abroad in South America during the Fall 2023 semester in both Ecuador and Argentina, where she had various opportunities such as hiking through the Amazon Jungle, hugging a baby sloth, partaking in spiritual rituals with indigenous shamans, and working with a local television station to learn the internal functions of television production in Spanish. 

    In her free time, Lola enjoys cooking, listening to music (most often 2000-2010 alternative rock), songwriting, or spending time lying in the sun. She hopes to continue working in the social media field as a profession in the future, and is excited to be a part of the FEA Team!

Trustees


  • Anne Haberkern

    Division Director for Transfer and Curricular Innovation Portland Community College

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    Anne Haberkern is the Division Director for Transfer and Curricular Innovation at Portland Community College, where she oversees education abroad, community-based learning, transfer and articulation partnerships, and curriculum development and support. She has worked at PCC since 2012 and in U.S. higher education since 1995.  Prior to coming to PCC, she served as the executive director at AHA International,  regional director at the University of California Education Abroad Program, and associate director of study abroad at North Carolina State University.  She has regularly presented at international education conferences and has served in various working groups and committees in NAFSA and the Forum on Education Abroad.   She earned her undergraduate degree from UC San Diego (French, Anthropology) and graduate degrees from Harvard (MA) and UC Santa Barbara (EdD).

  • Brad Stepan

    Director of North American Operations, DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia

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    Brad Stepan is the Director of North American Operations for DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia. Founded in 1959, DIS is a Danish non-profit study abroad foundation with locations in Copenhagen and Stockholm. Brad has worked in International Education for over 20 years, and he has held various roles at DIS since 1996. Brad is the 2011 recipient of NAFSAโ€™s Lily von Klemperer Award. He sits on the DIS Executive Team and manages strategic oversight of DIS Enrollment, Institutional Relations, Outreach, and Administration at the North American Office based in Minneapolis. Prior to his time at DIS, Brad worked with international students on U.S. work exchange programs and in Human Resources. As a first-generation college student, Brad studied abroad in both Denmark and Mexico, and he worked abroad in London and Sydney. Brad received his B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Minnesota and his M.Ed. in Student Affairs & Higher Education Administration from the University of Wisconsin.

  • Danelle Radney

    Regional Operations Director DaVita

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    With 15 years of experience in people management, operations, corporate diversity and leadership development, Danelle Radney is passionate about helping people know themselves, be themselves and reach their full potential. As a ROD, Danelle is responsible for the team development, operations and new business growth in the Northern Virginia area.

    Before DaVita, Danelle was the Senior Director of College Programs at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) where she led the operations for undergraduate programming nationally.

    Prior to MLT, Danelle worked as a leadership development consultant. She was previously the Manager of Corporate Partnerships and Engagement at the Initative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a nonprofit research and strategy organization for inner city economic development. Danelle has also worked in Corporate Diversity at Target Corporation where she held various programming and partnership roles. Prior to Target, Danelle owned and managed an exterior painting franchise. She has her MBA from Harvard Business School and Bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota. Danelle is an INROADS alumna, MLT MBA Prep Alumna and former HBS Leadership Fellow. She sits on the Board of the Orlando Athletic Training Academy.

    Outside of work, Danelle enjoys traveling (she has been to over 25 countries and counting), weekend brunch with friends and spending time with her husband Gordon and her three children in their Orlando home.

  • Derek Luna

    Civil Analyst Kimley-Horn

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    Derek Luna is a water-resource civil engineer currently working with Kimley-Horn Engineering. Based in Chicago, Derek works on Hydraulic and Hydrologic Engineering projects around the country, primarily focusing his work on public infrastructure and solar energy plants in remote areas. Originally from El Paso, Texas and an alumni of Texas Tech University, Derek has travelled all over the country for professional and educational opportunities, and has worked to advocate for the rights of underrepresented minority students, financially challenged students, and international students, all-the-while advocating the impact and growth that studies abroad can have on personal development. During his fourth year of undergraduate studies, Derek took the opportunity to apply to study in Bhutan the summer of 2019. Despite the fact that heโ€™d attended three different undergraduate schools in his undergraduate journey (University of New Mexico, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Texas Tech University), Derek sought to continue pursuing the growth that comes with exposing yourself to new surroundings and opportunities, and became a 2018-2019 FEA Scholar. During his time abroad, Derek worked to understand the complicated issues that remote communities like Bhutan have to deal with in order to remain self-sufficient and stable, despite the negative impact outside investment and the changing climate was having on the region. He travelled throughout the western region of the country, met with federal and regional engineers, and directly tested and summarized the changing quality and quantity of water resources present in the western region of the nation. Through that work, he saw the profound impact that connecting with others in different cultures could have, and became an even stronger advocate for the rights of community stakeholders. That experience is what led Derek to further pursue work in water resource engineering and management in Chicago following graduation, as it is a truly great city with plenty of room for improvement and growth as it pertains to their public infrastructure.  

    Through his work with the Fund for Education Abroad, Derek is hoping to help advocate further for students who have to overcome the same financial barriers he did in order to have transformative experiences abroad. His life is an example of the substantial impact that travel and connection with others can make on a person, and is proud to be able to work to bring that same growth to others, just like the Fund for Education Abroad seeks to do.

  • Dr. Amar Rewari, Chair

    Chief of Radiation Oncology Luminis Health

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    Amar Rewariย is a board-certified radiation oncologist and is the Chair of the FEA Board of Trustees. Dr. Rewari is trained to treat all forms of cancer using the latest radiation therapy techniques, has authored several scientific publications, and received numerous honors for his research.ย In addition, Dr. Rewari has been awarded several grants to present his research findings at international meetings as an invited speaker and serves on expert panels that set oncologic quality measures and treatment guidelines.

    Amar studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. Of his study abroad experience, Amar said “my semester in Denmark fundamentally changed how I approach things or view things. Even now when I talk to patients, I try to constantly think of things from many different perspectives and really just listen.”

    He is actively involved in national healthcare payment reform through committee work with Medicare, CMS, the AMA, and the American Society for Radiation Oncology where he was a former Health Policy Fellow. Dr. Rewari graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Temple University, and he received a M.D. / M.B.A. from Yale University.

  • Ellen Yui

    Founding Principal Yui+Company, Inc.

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    YUI+Company Founding Principal Ellen Yui brings 35 years of experience in communications and corporate social responsibility, helping leaders find their voice and design road maps for growth and impact.

    Founded in 1991 as one of the first virtual PR agencies in the US, YCO clients have included Fortune 500s, professional associations, universities, communities, authors and start-ups.

    In addition to extensive pro bono work for thought leaders and artists, Ellen mentors business students as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Cornell University.

    A specialist on complex issues, she has addressed the human genome, affordable housing, sustainable innovation, ethics in MBAs, digital citizenship and community revitalization. She testified before Congress on the need for consumer protection in online purchasing.

    She has managed White House, Congressional, Smithsonian and National Press Club briefings, and webinars and news conferences for cabinet members, CEOs and thought leaders from a variety of markets and nations.

    She was certified in CSR through Johns Hopkins University and the Path of Power through Luminous Warrior. She holds a BA in Political Science from Boston College and the Baccalaurรฉat from the Lycรฉe D’ร‰tat LaMartine in Mรขcon, France.

    Previously, Ellen worked at Edelman Public Relations, Hill and Knowlton, on Capitol Hill and in the US Department of State.

  • Errick L. Greene

    Superintendent Jackson Public Schools (Jackson, MS)

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    Errick Greene is currently the Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools in Jackson, MS. Previously, he was Chief of Schools of Tulsa Public Schools, where he worked closely with the district’s seven instructional leadership directors to drive educational excellence through powerful, personalized learning that is engaging and joyful for all students and staff.

    Prior to these roles, Errick was Special Assistant to the Emergency Manager with Detroit Public Schools, where he supported the district’s day to day transformation efforts. He also was a Managing Director at Insight Education Group. He led Insightโ€™s work in New York and Georgia including initiatives related to principal evaluation, teacher effectiveness initiatives and Common Core implementation.  He also facilitated a learning community of talented aspiring principals with School Leaders Network (in collaboration with Teach for America).

    Prior to that, Errick served as an Instructional Superintendent in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). In DCPS, he managed and supported a cluster of principals to ensure their leadership effectiveness and the overall success of the school and students.

    Errick also played a key leadership role in several DCPS initiatives, including the Secondary School Transformation work, the Library Task Force, the Chancellorโ€™s evaluation system appeals panel, the Testing Integrity Council and partnering with several other offices to support the Districtโ€™s ongoing improvement efforts. Errick is the former Head of School at The Arts & Technology Academy, a PK-5 school located in Washington, DC.

    Errick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s degree in Education Administration from Howard University, as well as a second Master’s degree in Education Administration from Trinity University. He completed his Doctorate degree in Education Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Gail Gugel

    Community Volunteer

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    Gail Gugel has worked for Harvard University, the U.S. Department of State, AMIDEAST, and the World Wildlife Fund. Her professional focus has been citizen exchanges, and she spent several years managing Fulbright programs in the Western Hemisphere. As a tour manager for Academic Travel Abroad, she led several visits to Cuba and Morocco. Gail was an early beneficiary of overseas exchange as an AFS student to Paraguay in high school, an experience which shaped her academic and professional career in countless ways.  She has always been passionate about language learning and the value of study abroad.

  • Gretchen Cook-Anderson

    Executive Director Ignite

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    Gretchen Cook-Anderson, inaugural executive director of Ignite, a budding nonprofit (of parent organization LabCentral), is an award-winning marketing executive with 25+ years of promoting biotechnology, global education, space and Earth science discoveries for NASA, Mars candy, entertainers in Hollywood, candidates for political office, and a host of household products (at Edelman PR).

    In her new role at Ignite, sheโ€™s leading efforts to cultivate greater diversity, equity and inclusive culture across the global biotech industry โ€“ from labs to leadership, and from the STEM student pipeline to the entrepreneurs advancing life-changing innovations that heal, feed and fuel our world. 

    Until recently, Gretchen served as Associate Vice President, Assistant to the President & Director for Diversity Recruiting & Advising at IES Abroad, one of the largest providers of academic study and internship programs abroad which educates about 9,000 US college/university students abroad each year across 35 international cities. Gretchen led diversity and inclusion-related marketing outreach, resulting in 151% growth in enrollment diversity during her 10+ years at IES Abroad. In 2014 and again in 2016, her efforts garnered Diversity Abroadโ€™s EDIIE (Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education) Award, and an achievement award from IES Abroad in 2018.

    In May 2021, Gretchen was awarded NAFSA’s (the Association for International Educators) inaugural Award for Impact in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in International Education — a distinction from the most prominent, global professional association in the field.

    She is active as a board/advisory member for several organizations (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Facing History & Ourselves, North Hill Senior Community, Beacon Academy and the Japan-US Friendship Commission) and independent schools (Belmont Hill School & Dana Hall School), cares deeply about social justice, equity, and inclusion, and speaks publicly and consults on related themes dozens of times locally and globally each year.

    Gretchen was honored in October 2020 among the inaugural 50 Most Influential Businesspersons of Color by the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce (MetroWest region). She was also recognized in February by the Massachusetts Legislature as a 2021 Black Excellence on The Hill honoree. 

    Gretchen is an alumna of Spelman College (B.A. Political Science); The Johns Hopkins University’s Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (dual M.A. International Economics/Japanese Studies); and the IES Abroad program (undergrad junior year) at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. She is a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations; Charles E. Merrill, Jr. Scholar; Toyota Motor Sales Scholar; Thomas J. Watson Foundation Fellow; German Marshall Fund Transatlantic Leaders Fellow; and former adjunct faculty of Japanese language at Howard University. Gretchen is based in suburban Boston and is a wife and mother of three children.

  • Heather Jacobs

    Chief Human Resources Officer Delaware North

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    Heather Jacobs, a seasoned hospitality executive with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Delaware North. Delaware North manages and provides food and beverage concessions, premium dining, entertainment, lodging, and retail at many large venues and special places. These include sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national and state parks, airports, and casinos. 

    Prior to arriving at Delaware North, Heather had an accomplished career of more than 25 years with Four Seasons  Hotels and Resorts, where she held a variety of leadership positions in operations and human resources that saw  her working across the globe in Europe, the Middle East and North America. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has  always distinguished itself by delivering the highest levels of personalized service to guests by investing in its  culture and being an employer of choice. 

    For the past two years, Jacobs served as senior vice president of people and culture for Four Seasons and was  based in the companyโ€™s global headquarters in Toronto. She led the talent management strategy for 50,000  employees at 115 properties in 45 countries. 

    Prior to that most recent enterprise role, Jacobs led international human resources for Four Seasons based out of  Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, with responsibility for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and the Asia  and Pacific region. Before that Jacobs spent 10 years in increasingly more senior roles in human resources for Four  Seasons in Europe and the Middle East while based in Geneva, Switzerland. 

    Jacobs has been involved in a number of industrywide initiatives, including the Castell project, which aims to  advance diversity and inclusivity in the hospitality industry. 

    She earned her degree in Hotel Administration at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and is currently a member of  the Deanโ€™s Advisory Board for the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell and a past guest lecturer and faculty  mentor.

  • Joan Gore

    President Emeritus J. E. Gore International Consultants

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    Joan Elias Gore, President Emeritus of J. E. Gore International Consultants, engaging in consulting projects with undergraduate education abroad organizations, has had a long career in international education, most recently including positions as Senior Academic Consultant with the Foundation for International Education, London;  a faculty appointment at the University of Virginia as Director of Adult Education Travel Programs in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, with appointments to university-wide international education committees and projects and adjunct faculty member at UVaโ€™s Curry School of Education.  

    Joan earned her Ph.D. in Communication, Culture and Policy from the Institute of Education, University of London (University College), and holds both an M.A. in Modern European History and an M.A. in Rhetoric and Communications Studies from the University of Virginia, with a B.A. in History and Political Science earned at the University of Toledo.  Joan began her career as a faculty member at the Department of Rhetoric and Communication Studies and Assistant Dean and the in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia, where she created the first Study Abroad Office and built faculty support and study abroad participation at the institution. From 1987-2006 she worked with U.S., British, and Danish international education organizations (AIFS, CIEE, DIS) on education abroad program and enrollment development, holding a variety of senior positions in these organizations. Her research and publications in the field of international education include the books Dominant Beliefs and Alternative Voices: Discourse, Belief, and Gender in American Study Abroad and Cost-Effective Techniques for Internationalizing the Campus and Curriculum, with book chapters in international education publications including The Handbook of Practice and Research in Study Abroad: Higher Education and the Quest for Global Citizenship; NAFSA: Guide to Education Abroad and magazine and web publications. She has created and presented at numerous panels, workshops, and professional training programs for international education and academic associations, including NAFSA, where she has held leadership appointments, and at AIEA, CIEE, FORUM, EAIE, AASCU, NAFEO (National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) and many others, including most recent projects developing cost effective study opportunities for students at students attending AASCU (American Association of State Colleges and Universities) institutions and completing a video interview project for the AASCU-CCIEE (China Center for International Educational Exchange) pioneering China/U.S. programs.

  • John Christian

    President & CEO, CAPA The Global Education Network

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    John has a longstanding history in the field of international education spanning more than 25 years. He has been an active and contributing member of the international education industry including NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, and Forum on Education Abroad.

    He began his international education career as a Foreign Student Advisor for the State University of New York at Oswego in the Office of International Education. He attended graduate school at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies where he completed a masterโ€™s degree in Area studies: China. During this time, John was also the executive director of the SUNY Oswego London Center which led to the development of CAPAโ€™s first program center in London.

    As an entrepreneur and leader, John continues to evolve and support the field of international education. He strives for new and innovative ways to enhance the student experience in academics, personal and professional development and cultural exchange using state-of-the-art technology to create globally collaborative communities across the CAPA network of programs. His entrepreneurial approach to learning takes a diverse number of students to places they never knew they could go and prepares them to function and compete in an increasingly interdependent global landscape.

    Currently, John sits on the Fund for Education Abroadโ€™s Access Advisory Board, the Advisory Council for Diversity Abroad, and the Development Board of the California Innocence Project and the fundraising advisory board for Best Buddies International

  • Keshia Abraham

    Founder & President The Abraham Consulting Agency

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    Dr. Keshia Abraham, founder and president of The Abraham Consulting Agency, is an African Diaspora scholar and J.E.D.I (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) educator committed to facilitating personal and organizational development through intercultural growth. She is a bridge builder who firmly believes in the transformative power of international education and the long term impact it has, hence her unwavering commitment to global learning especially at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). She has served as a tenured faculty member, department chair, academic Dean and program director at several MSIs and most recently as the inaugural Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion at CIEE.

  • Mark Lenhart

    Executive Director CET Academic Programs

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    Mark Lenhart is the Executive Director of CET Academic Programs, a study abroad provider based in Washington, DC. Mark has worked for CET since 1990, when he began as Resident Director of CETโ€™s Harbin Chinese Language Program. After nearly five years studying and working in China, he became CETโ€™s Director in 1995, and he oversaw CETโ€™s expansion from a small provider of two Chinese language programs to a much larger organization with dozens of programs worldwide. Mark frequently speaks at national conferences on topics related to study abroad risk, underrepresentation, and the LGBTQ student experience. Mark is the 2014 recipient of NAFSAโ€™s Lily von Klemperer Award. As a student, Mark focused on Asian Studies, Chinese language, and photography, and he has degrees from Bowdoin (BA), Harvard (MA), and the University of Maryland (MBA).

  • Mitzi Short

    CEO & Co-Founder New Season Coaching & Consulting Group

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    Ms. Short is a versatile and dynamic leader and speaker who specializes in coaching executives and senior leaders who are seeking to maximize their impact, effectiveness, and influence in regional, national and global organizations.

    Mitzi is the CEO and Co-Founder of New Season Coaching & Consulting Group, a boutique coaching and consulting firm, and an Adjunct Executive Coach at the Center for Creative Leadership and for the University of Oregonโ€™s Executive M.B.A. Program. As a former corporate executive, Mitzi held leadership positions in sales, marketing, operations, and general management during a span of 25+ years with Fortune 50 Companies–PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble.

    Mitzi received her B.A. in Economics from Davidson College and M.B.A. from the University of Oregon. She is certified by the International Coaches Federation (ICF) and earned her team and executive coaching credentials from The Coaching & Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute, The Center for Creative Leadership, and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

    Ms. Short is a member of The Executive Leadership Council, recently served on the Board of Trustees for Davidson College as Chair of the Public Relations Committee and member of the Executive Committee, and as former Marketing Chair for GOFLTECโ€™s Advisory Board. Mitzi resides in Oak Park, IL and is a big sports fan who loves traveling, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends.

  • Stephanie Lewin

    U.S. and Global Immigration Executive

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    Stephanie Lewin is an influential US and global immigration leader demonstrating impactful and groundbreaking work in government, corporate, law firms and community organizations. As senior vice president of partnerships and government affairs for Envoy Global, Stephanie gained visibility with the US government by attending White House briefings and facilitating discussions with House and Senate Judiciary Committees and USCIS on global immigration policy and advocacy. She initiated and launched membership in multiple coalitions  to demonstrate support for immigrants and new Americans, reinforcing workforce diversity and equality action plans.  

    Stephanie led multiple teams team of immigration experts across North America, EMEA and APAC to build relocation, global mobility and immigration processes, applications and programs for clients. Stephanie and the teams delivered these programs to an impressive client portfolio, including Novartis, Cognizant, Kerry Foods, American Express, UnitedHealthcare, Publicis, Qualcomm, Netflix, Nordstrom, Medidata, Walmart, Stripe, Coinbase, Dell, and Bank of America. C-suite executives and mobility leaders in these corporations recognize Stephanie for exemplary service and results.  

    In addition, Stephanie has spearheaded business expansion plans and achieved significant results by overseeing business development strategy, operationalizing plans to acquire licenses in countries outside of the US and partnering with marketing teams as the subject matter expert to gain recognition as a prominent thought leader in the global mobility and immigration community.

    As a public speaker addressing audiences on global mobility, relocation and immigration topics, Stephanie is frequently a featured speaker at conferences hosted by Worldwide ERC, SHRM, the Midwest Relocation Council, and other organizations. She also received recognition as a global immigration thought leader by Randi Zuckerberg in the #52Women52Weeks series. Stephanieโ€™s insights on navigating US and global immigration policy have brought awareness to complex corporate issues. She contributes to content that has captured the attention of media outlets, including CNN, Forbes, Axios, Bloomberg, Politico, Fast Company, CNBC, Morning Consult, HR.COM, SHRM, and The New York Times.

    Stephanie holds a Juris Doctor with honors from Michael E. Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University. She is a certified global mobility specialist (GMS), an active member and volunteer in the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a mentor for graduating students attending the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University, her alma mater.

  • Tonija Hope Navas

    Director, Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center Howard University

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    Tonija Hope Navas brings over 19 years of experience in the international exchange, international education, and management fields to the Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University. After completing her BA in Latin American Studies & Latin American/Spanish Literature from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, Ms. Navas moved to South Africa where she worked with a professor at the University of Cape Town to develop mechanisms to encourage exchange among international and South African students. Ms. Navas returned to the US to earn her Masterโ€™s degree in Tourism Administration with a focus on International Education from George Washington University in Washington, DC. After completing her Masterโ€™s, Ms. Navas joined the DC-based international non-profit, Phelps Stokes Fund, where she worked on the US Department of Stateโ€™s International Visitor Leadership Program and became involved with other initiatives of the organization, like the Ralph Bunche Societies, and the creation of the Collaborative for Diversity in Education Abroad. Ms. Navas was later promoted to Director of Programs for Latin America and the Caribbean, where she oversaw a variety of projects focusing on youth leadership development in Afro-descendant communities, primarily in Colombia, with thematic lenses such as comparative legal frameworks and workforce development in the health sector.

    Ms. Navas has a keen interest in and passion for facilitating relationships between and among people of different cultures, and particularly for exposing young people from underserved communities, domestically and internationally, to opportunities for travel and education abroad. Prior to joining Howard University, Ms. Navas served as the founding Executive Director of the Baoba Fund for Racial Equity-North America, a Brazil-based non-profit, focused on supporting Afro-Brazilian civil society organizations through a $25 million challenge grant offered by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She also serves as the Chair of the US Civil Society Committee of the US-Colombia Action Plan for Racial and Ethnic Equality (CAPREE), an initiative of the Colombian and US governments to address issues of racial discrimination and social inclusion in both countries. Ms. Navas was born and raised in Washington, DC, to a Liberian mother and an African-American father.

Emeritus Trustees

  • Anne Krieg

  • Anthony C. Ogden

  • Cynthia Banks

  • David Comp

  • Eric Sanner

  • Heather Barclay Hamir

  • James F. Perna

  • Jan Kieling

  • Jane Edwards

  • Joรซl A. Gallegos

  • John Gabelus

  • Kate Simpson

  • Kenya Casey

  • Linda G. Steckley

  • Lindsay Lebel

  • Lucas Mackey

  • Martha Johnson

  • Paisley Sato

  • Prem Manjooran

  • Sarahann Yeh

  • Susan Popko

  • Ted Davis