Our Team
WorldKind is a woman-owned "public benefit company," and our team of experts who designed and vetted our Traveler Trainer PROgram consists of international educators, instructional designers, travel health and safety professionals, legal experts, environmentalists, and other academics drawn together from many different subject matter areas.
Advisors
Duke Adams, B.S.
Contracts & Environmental Policy
The Master of Handshakes
Valerie Rambin, MA.Ed.
Subject Matter Expert Advisor
Hero of Faculty-Led Experiences
Hero of Faculty-Led Experiences
valerie@worldkindlearning.com
Patricia Sagasti Suppes, Ph.D.
Curriculum Development
The Content Consultant
patricia@worldkindlearning.com
Kevin Sullivan, MA.Ed.
Subject Matter Expert Advisor
The Accessibility Oracle
The Accessibility Oracle
kevin@worldkindlearning.com
Student Ambassadors
We proudly recognize the WorldKind Student Ambassadors from universities throughout the US as peer mentors and for their collaboration with the WorldKind team. Through sharing their stories and adding their voices, they have contributed to the creation of relevant and authentic pre-departure program.
Duke Adams, B.S.
Contracts, Negotiations, & Environmental Policy
The Master of Handshakes
Duke Adams is a born-bred Pennsylvania native who is living his best life when out on the water. A true vagabond at heart, he is always ready for a new adventure and revels in exploring both near and far-flung corners of the world. Believing that cross-cultural exchanges and partnerships are vital for the future of our planet, Duke is excited to be able to negotiate mutually beneficial contracts with our partners and to advise WorldKind on best practices in our sustainability practices and environmental policies.
Since earning a BS degree in biology from Lebanon Valley College, Duke has spent almost 20 years working on both sides of environmental regulations. On the industry side, he has helped companies improve practices and achieve compliance with established regulations. And as a policymaker and regulator with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), he has developed and enforced the regulations that protect our environment. Throughout his years with DEP, he has gained experience leading compliance negotiations and has helped many diverse stakeholders reach agreements on complex issues. He also has been involved with numerous grant projects, both reviewing applications on the front end and analyzing grant reports and compiling data to measure deliverables on the backend.
In 2017, Duke was involved in his first international exchange program when he participated in one of Rotary’s Group Vocational Study Exchanges and spent one month learning about Taiwan’s implementation of environmental practices. Duke credits this and other international experiences with broadening his perspective and allowing him to develop a global mindset that is rooted in acceptance and compassion.
In his free time, he serves as the President of his local Rotary Club where he is currently leading the “Hop on the Bus” project, a joint venture between Rotary District 7390 and YesLiberia related to education and international development. He is also the co-owner of, the appropriately named, Vagabond Bowties company, so you know he’s always traveling in style.
Corinne Beverly, MS.Ed.
Subject Matter Expert
The Travel Ninja
Corinne currently serves as a Student Success Advisor at St. Louis Community College. In her previous role as a Program Coordinator for Texas A&M University's (TAMU) Education Abroad office, Corinne supported TAMU colleges and other academic units as they coordinate their international group trips.
With WorldKind, Corinne serves a subject matter expert and graciously shares her wealth of knowledge and experience in the fields of education abroad and international travel with us. She's been instrumental in reviewing and beta testing WorldKind's Traveler Trainer Program (TTP). She's also helped to create some of the program's scenarios based on her own real-world travel experiences and has added even more levity to the "worst-case whimsy" we try to incorporate in our storytelling. Her editorial eye for detail is exquisite as is her common-sense travel advice and crisis management preparation.
Outside of work, Corinne enjoys walking with her dog to coffee shops and obsessing over all things Disney. Corinne has also lived abroad in Spain and France and traveled to over 40 countries and 6 continents!
You can learn more about Corinne here.
Victoria Christman, Ph.D.
Curriculum Development
The Manager of Mischief
Victoria's introduction to international education came when she traveled to the US from the northwest of England to complete an undergraduate degree in History and Comparative Religion at Harvard, and she has been studying abroad and promoting study abroad ever since. She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of Arizona and spent three years in the archives of the Netherlands and Belgium, conducting research for her dissertation on early modern religious coexistence.
In 2005, she took a faculty position at Luther College, where she has been teaching history and international studies ever since. Since 2009, she has been creating and leading study-away courses for Luther College students, work she enjoys so much, that she has now transitioned into the role of Director of the Center for Global Learning. Each year, she and the Center's excellent team of study away professionals help 300-500 undergraduates explore their academic interests elsewhere on the planet.
Shamaine Daniels, J.D.
Policy DevelopmentThe Empress of Inclusion
A lover of travel, people, and the Arts, Shamaine is a champion for the rights of women and migrants in the United States and abroad. Communications, NGO management and administration, Policy and Culture Creation are tools Daniels deploys strategically to address the needs of these communities.
She graduated with a B.A. in Political Science: International Relations and Sociology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. in Women’s Studies from University of Cincinnati the and a J.D. from theUniversity of Cincinnati College of Law. Originally from Venezuela, Shamaine has put down roots in central Pennsylvania but is always ready and willing to spread her wings to travel to new places and learn about other cultures.
Martin Rosales, M.Ed.
Educational Technology
The Digital Prophet
Martin Rosales is an international higher education professional who champions the voices of others that are often not heard through targeted, specific presentations and training. Martin holds a master’s degree in Education focusing on Higher Education Administration, Teaching English as a Second / Foreign Language, and Adult Education and curriculum development.
He currently serves as the Assistant Director - Organizational Effectiveness (Global Engagement Unit) for Texas A&M University supporting Education Abroad, International Student & Scholar Services, and Global Partnership Support in creating meaningful digital content with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. He manages multiple software for the unit including Via TRM, Terra Dotta ISSS, Microsoft SharePoint and Teams, etc. Prior to working in Global Engagement, he served as a technology coordinator for Education Abroad and as an immigration advisor for students studying in the United States on J-1 and F-1 visas.
He currently serves as the Assistant Director - Organizational Effectiveness (Global Engagement Unit) for Texas A&M University supporting Education Abroad, International Student & Scholar Services, and Global Partnership Support in creating meaningful digital content with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. He manages multiple software for the unit including Via TRM, Terra Dotta ISSS, Microsoft SharePoint and Teams, etc. Prior to working in Global Engagement, he served as a technology coordinator for Education Abroad and as an immigration advisor for students studying in the United States on J-1 and F-1 visas.
Since joining Texas A&M University, Martin has served as a First Year Experience instructor, LGBTQ+ Pride Center Mentor, is a trained facilitator for the Texas A&M University STAND Up Workshops, and represents Global Engagement in the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Working Group, which brings together campus and community partners to better educate students and staff on power-based and dating violence. He has presented at regional and national conferences on the topics of support, mental health, and intercultural competency in actively supporting diverse student populations domestically and abroad.
He currently serves on the Via TRM Advisory Board and is a trainer in NAFSA Trainer Corps. One of his aspirations is to create a collective understanding of often marginalized or forgotten populations and provide an additional lens by which to inform practice. He hopes to continue lifting the voices of others, educating students and staff on intercultural competency, and guiding others toward becoming global citizens with a clear pathway to success.
He currently serves on the Via TRM Advisory Board and is a trainer in NAFSA Trainer Corps. One of his aspirations is to create a collective understanding of often marginalized or forgotten populations and provide an additional lens by which to inform practice. He hopes to continue lifting the voices of others, educating students and staff on intercultural competency, and guiding others toward becoming global citizens with a clear pathway to success.
Patricia Sagasti Suppes, Ph.D.
Curriculum Development
The Content Consultant
Dr. Patty Sagasti Suppes has over twenty years of experience in higher education and currently serves as the Director, DSO/ARO, Office of Global Education at Stockton University in New Jersey.
After receiving an A.B. in Spanish and French with a minor in English from Sweet Briar College, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. Upon her return to the U.S. she earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in modern Latin American literature in Spanish, with a minor in Francophone literature. In graduate school she participated in a study abroad intensive language program through the Alliance Française du Val de Loire, and earned a certificate from the UNC-Duke Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
After receiving an A.B. in Spanish and French with a minor in English from Sweet Briar College, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. Upon her return to the U.S. she earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in modern Latin American literature in Spanish, with a minor in Francophone literature. In graduate school she participated in a study abroad intensive language program through the Alliance Française du Val de Loire, and earned a certificate from the UNC-Duke Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
At private and public colleges, universities, and community colleges, Dr. Sagasti Suppes has taught all levels of Spanish language, as well as the literature and culture of Spanish-speaking Latin America and Spain and U.S. Latinx communities, and language classes in French. She has created original content and taught travel courses in five countries and has delivered presentations and workshops in nine countries across three continents. She has also held various leadership positions, including heading the Study Abroad and the International offices at three institutions. She is a member of NAFSA’s Trainer Corps, has completed the NAFSA Academy training, and has held various leadership roles in NAFSA regional teams.
In addition to her commitment to equity and accessibility in higher education, Dr. Sagasti Suppes has devoted free time to activism on behalf of underserved communities as a founding member of Roanoke Indivisible, an organizer of the Women’s March on Roanoke, and a participant in various lobbying groups. She has also worked to support immigrant and refugee communities in North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and New York.
Alisdair McLeod, M.A.
Host Project Coordinator
Mover of Mountains
Alisdair is WorldKind's Local Host and Program Support wizard. Alisdair comes from the old city of Aberdeen, studying Philosophy at its ancient university. As a result of his origins in Scotland's Northeast, he speaks at least two languages fluently, and his native Doric charm is always a hit with international guests! His experience facilitating visiting students began when he worked for the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, organizing and managing groups from all over the world.
A mind sports enthusiast, Alisdair plays Bridge and Chess competitively, and represented Scotland as a Bridge player. He currently serves as the Scottish Bridge Union's Junior Co-ordinator, taking on the role just in time to reinvent it during the pandemic! He has a great love for the education of 16-26 year old Bridge players, establishing remote and in-person training and mentorship, ensuring Juniors progress safely and enjoyably. Through extensive liaisons with stakeholders and parents, he has taken many Junior Bridge players to attend international events where they represent Scotland, as well as organizing events nationally.
He excels in absorbing, analysing and interpreting information, and always has an interesting fact or story to share - both useful when he worked front-of-house as Receptionist (among other roles) at Aberdeen's popular and greatly missed Mariner Hotel. While he has spent countless hours managing websites or social media accounts, emails and Microsoft Office programs, a personal mantra is that using technology is all very well, as long as he knows what to do if he didn’t have (access to) it. Not content to let his brain rest, he likes the challenge of bringing in a project on budget and in fulfilment of goals. He's a people-pleaser in the best way, used to liaising both in-person and remotely, while keeping customers happy. Accordingly, he is WorldKind's general dogsbody on tour as well as a valued member of the planning and support crew!
Alisdair approaches everything with inexhaustible enthusiasm wherever he can express his talents in a productive manner. He looks forward to publishing his debut novel and embracing a life of creativity. His wife looks forward to reading the next chapter.
Amaris (Ami) Vázquez-Mohan, MA.Ed.
Institutional Research
The Master JEDI
The Master JEDI
Ami currently serves as a Program Coordinator at Prairie View A&M University and was previously a Program Coordinator at Texas A&M University’s Education Abroad office for 5 years.
Prior to joining A&M, Ami worked as the Exchange Coordinator at The George Washington University's Office for Study Abroad where they got their Master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs. In their role as Program Coordinator in Education Abroad at TAMU, they work with faculty-led programs to provide support for stakeholders in program development and preparation for those engaging in abroad opportunities.
Prior to joining A&M, Ami worked as the Exchange Coordinator at The George Washington University's Office for Study Abroad where they got their Master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs. In their role as Program Coordinator in Education Abroad at TAMU, they work with faculty-led programs to provide support for stakeholders in program development and preparation for those engaging in abroad opportunities.
Ami is passionate about DEI work and continuously engages in creating and implementing resources for students before, during, and after their abroad experience. Always striving to learn more to better serve others, Ami is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration at A&M and researching topics related to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Such experience makes Ami the perfect “JEDI warrior” for WorldKind as she reviews our Traveler Trainer Program (TTP) with a keen eye towards these topics.
Outside of work, Ami enjoys spending time with family and their pets, Maze (cat) and Cleo (dog), and decorating their planner.
You can learn more about Ami here.
You can learn more about Ami here.
Dr. Lombuso S. Khoza
Director of International Education
Howard Community College
Dr. Lombuso S. Khoza, an advocate for international education, serves as the director of
international education at Howard Community College.
She provides leadership for the Office of International Education through managing student and faculDdty mobility programs, international exchanges, partnerships development with global and community entities, international education campus programming, collaborative online international learning, scholarship awards and faculty grants, and participates in broader campus committees and internationalization efforts. Dr. Khoza has worked with service learning and civic engagement partners on civic engagement initiatives. She has experience as a principal designated school official (PDSO) and responsible officer (RO) supporting inbound international students and scholars. She has co- developed, implemented, and led and co-led international study tours to Europe and the Dominican Republic, undertaken site visits to Costa Rica and Turkey, and served as a Carnegie Fellow at the University of Pretoria and Fulbright alumna for the international educators’ administrators program in Taiwan.
Dr. Khoza has served on grants and awards as co-principal investigator to address the needs of students and faculty by enhancing experiential learning activities. As a faculty member she has taught fashion merchandising related courses to undergraduate and graduate students and has extensive research experience in the human sciences including international education leadership, dress and material culture, cross-cultural learning styles, and international trade of developing economies. Dr. Khoza is a strong proponent of international education high impact experiences for students and faculty that enhance their global awareness.
She provides leadership for the Office of International Education through managing student and faculDdty mobility programs, international exchanges, partnerships development with global and community entities, international education campus programming, collaborative online international learning, scholarship awards and faculty grants, and participates in broader campus committees and internationalization efforts. Dr. Khoza has worked with service learning and civic engagement partners on civic engagement initiatives. She has experience as a principal designated school official (PDSO) and responsible officer (RO) supporting inbound international students and scholars. She has co- developed, implemented, and led and co-led international study tours to Europe and the Dominican Republic, undertaken site visits to Costa Rica and Turkey, and served as a Carnegie Fellow at the University of Pretoria and Fulbright alumna for the international educators’ administrators program in Taiwan.
Dr. Khoza has served on grants and awards as co-principal investigator to address the needs of students and faculty by enhancing experiential learning activities. As a faculty member she has taught fashion merchandising related courses to undergraduate and graduate students and has extensive research experience in the human sciences including international education leadership, dress and material culture, cross-cultural learning styles, and international trade of developing economies. Dr. Khoza is a strong proponent of international education high impact experiences for students and faculty that enhance their global awareness.
Kevin Sullivan
Assistant Director, Education Abroad
Case Western Reserve University
Kevin Sullivan is the assistant director of education abroad at Case Western Reserve University, helping students find and plan study, research, internship, and co-op opportunities around the world. He is also a member of the NAFSA Rainbow SIG leadership team.
Sullivan received his master's degree in Leadership in Higher Education from Baldwin Wallace University in 2020 and held internships there with Study Abroad, the Learning Center, and Disability Services. He also interned with the Office of Education Abroad at Case Western Reserve during his master's program.
Prior to completing his master's, Sullivan held leadership positions in the hospitality industry and spent two years teaching high school arts, humanities, and social sciences in English in Madrid, Spain.
Sullivan has a BA in International Studies and Spanish from Baldwin Wallace University, where he studied abroad for an academic year in Mexico and spent two summers teaching elementary school English in Honduras.
Jackie Palmer
Program Coordinator, International EdHoward Community College
Jackie serves as Program Coordinator for International Education at Howard Community College. Her passion for travel during her own undergraduate experience led her to pursue a professional journey within the wonderful world of International Education. She earned a B.A. from Rider University and an M.Ed. in Student Affairs from Clemson University. Following her graduate work Jackie has been dedicated to empowering and supporting students holistically as they work toward becoming productive global citizens. She is a big believer in the positive effects experiential education has on student development and helping them understand the classroom can be defined as much more than just the traditional four walls of a brick-and-mortar.
Her goal is to continue to encourage, advocate and support high impact practice experiences within different cultures, while making them both accessible and equitable for all. Outside of work, Jackie enjoys reading, being outdoors, and of course all things travel! In her previous experiences she has been able to take advantage of leading programs, experiencing culture alongside students, and living internationally to fully immerse herself in unfamiliar territory to experience culture first-hand. She strives for excellence in every person and is dedicated to breaking barriers, clearing pathways for all students to dream big!
Valerie Rambin
Valerie serves as the Director of Education Abroad at Case Western Reserve University. Previously, as the Assistant Director, she worked primarily with faculty-led study abroad programs.
As an undergraduate at the University of Puget Sound, Valerie studied abroad at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. Valerie spent five years teaching English in Niigata, on the JET Programme, and Tokyo, Japan before returning to the United States to start a career in higher education. After earning her MAEd in Leadership in Higher Education from Baldwin Wallace University,
Valerie has worked at numerous small and mid-sized private institutions and nonprofit organizations throughout the midwest.
Sandra Halbruner, DNP
FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC
Professor and Nurse Practitioner
Penn State University
Penn State University
Since I became an FNP in 1999, I have spent most of my time in adult medicine and infectious disease. I worked in college health for five years between 2009-2015, and have also done moonlighting in hospitalist medicine since 2012. I currently serve as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State and as a Family Nurse Practitioner for UPMC Health.
My hobbies include running, traveling, rescuing cats and raising backyard chickens.
BA in Biology, Franklin & Marshall College, 1992 BSN,
Johns Hopkins University, 1996 MS in Nursing and FNP,
Penn State University,
1999 DNP Wilkes University, 2012
My hobbies include running, traveling, rescuing cats and raising backyard chickens.
BA in Biology, Franklin & Marshall College, 1992 BSN,
Johns Hopkins University, 1996 MS in Nursing and FNP,
Penn State University,
1999 DNP Wilkes University, 2012
Tonya Veltrop, M.B.A.
Assistant Director,
International Health, Safety, and Security
Tonya Veltrop is the Assistant Director of international health, safety and security for the University of Missouri.
Her 20+ years in international education have included many rewarding experiences in admissions and recruiting, advising, enrollment management, international student services, and education abroad.
She currently serves on the NAFSA Education Abroad Health and Safety subcommittee and is an active member of the Forum on Education Abroad, the Overseas Security Advisory Council's Academia Sector Committee, Pulse: Higher Education International Health and Safety Professionals, Women in Security and the Global Leadership League.
She was recently awarded a Fulbright International Education Administrators award to Japan and she enjoys mentoring colleagues new to the field of International Education and coordinating a hybrid international educators' network which has been meeting monthly for over 15 years.
You can find her on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tveltrop.
Todd Lee Goen
Communication and Institutional RelationsThe Relationship Rockstar
Todd Lee Goen is an international educator with over 20 years of instructional and administrative experience
at public universities in the United States. He is currently Founder & Principal of Global Puzzles, LLC - a
consulting firm focused on assisting organizations with strategy, professional development and training, and
partnership development.
Prior to founding Global Puzzles, Goen served as Director of Global Education and Senior International
Officer at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and held full-time faculty positions at Christopher Newport
University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Clemson University, teaching courses in human communication
and quantitative research. His previous university administrative leadership includes: Faculty Director for
Cultural Communication Competence in Benelux, Internship Director, Public Speaking Coordinator, Chair of
International Studies Advisory Committee (the oversight committee for campus internationalization), and
Vice-Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Professionally, Goen is active in leadership of a number of professional organizations. He currently serves as
President of the Board of Virginia International Educators (VIE) as well as the United States Qualifications
Framework (USQF). He is a former Chair and Coach of the NAFSA Academy, an active member of
NAFSA’s Trainer Corps, a NAFSA Management Development Program trainer, and an IDI Qualified
Administrator. He’s served on multiple Forum on Education Abroad Working Groups, the AIEA Strategic
Planning Taskforce, and currently is a member of the AIEA Professional Development and Engagement
Committee. His service to the Southern States Communication Association includes his current role of
parliamentarian, four years as chair of Resource Development Committee, and three years in the chair
streams for the Interpersonal and Community Theory Divisions. For many years, he routinely volunteered as a
judge and parliamentarian for speech and debate tournaments, and with community organizations to
improve their intercultural relations.
Goen’s research interests focus on interpersonal and family relationships in intercultural contexts. His current
work explores the impact of familial relationships on education abroad experiences. His scholarly
accomplishments include over seventy-five presentations as well as service as journal, conference, and grant
reviewers. His scholarship and professional writing appears in publications such as Communication Research
Reports, Family Science Review, International Educator, and the Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy,
Pedagogy, and Perspective.
Goen is an Honors College Graduate with a BA in Computer Science, French, and Vocational Ministry from
Harding University, holds an MA in Communication from the University of Arkansas, and completed all
coursework toward a PhD in Communication from the University of Georgia. He is the 2020 recipient of
SSCA’s John I Sisco Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2022 recipient of NAFSA’s Lily von Klemperer
Award for supporting and strengthening professional development in education abroad.
Josh Wethli, CRNP
Travel Health and WellbeingThe Health Hero
Josh believes every person needs to be treated holistically — recognizing that health is a mix of body, mind, and the environments and community in which we work and live.
Wethli is a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) with Aspire where he evaluates and treats patients in both the family medicine and urgent care setting. He is a graduate of Messiah College and Pennsylvania State University. As a CRNP, Wethli has worked in hospital medicine and family practice since 2010. He also spent a year in Nepal teaching nursing and basic sciences at a rural mission hospital.
Wethli enjoys traveling, reading well-written novels and outdoor fun like hiking, running and playing Frisbee.
Annette Benson, M.S.
Intercultural Learning and Instructional DesignThe Pathfinder of Perspectives
Since 2003, Annette Benson has served in a variety of administrative roles at Purdue University, including oversight of an ESOL program, HR training in diversity and inclusion, creation of integration and intercultural learning programs, management of the Intercultural Learning Hub, public relations for Center for Intercultural Learning, Mentorship, Assessment and Research (CILMAR), and now as a Senior Instructional Designer in Course Production for Purdue University Online. Annette holds a Master of Science degree in strategic communication from Purdue’s Brian Lamb School of Communication.
You can learn more about Annette on her LinkedIN here.
Monika Ciesielkiewicz, Ph.D.
Intercultural Learning and Educational TechnologyThe Polyglot Envoy
She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Sciences from Complutense University of Madrid and a Ph.D. in Indo-European Linguistics (in four languages: English, Spanish, Polish, and Russian) from the University of Granada, Spain. She has received research grants from both Spanish and American institutions and has conducted research projects at Harvard University, the University of Silesia, Seoul National University, and Sookmyung Women’s University in South Korea. She has coordinated study abroad programs in Ghana, Peru, and Spain at Messiah College and Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as exchange programs for incoming and outgoing students at Villanueva-Complutense University of Madrid. Her research interests include applied linguistics, second language acquisition, heritage languages, ICT for language learning and teaching, educational technology, and high-impact practices, particularly service-learning and ePortfolios.
Emily McLemore, Ph.D.
Leadership & Development Strategy
The Architect of
Adventure
The Architect of Adventure
Dr. Emily McLemore is a higher education leader committed to expanding global learning and advancing equitable access to international experiences. She serves as the Director of Global Initiatives and Services at Tarleton State University, where she builds institutional partnerships, supports international students, and promotes meaningful study abroad and experiential learning opportunities. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, an M.F.A. in Theatre Administration, and a B.A. in Theatre with a minor in Business Administration. Dr. McLemore is passionate about empowering students, strengthening global engagement, and fostering inclusive, high-impact educational practices.
You can learn more about Emily on her LinkedIN here.
Şenel Poyrazlı, Ph.D.
Leadership & Development Strategy
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Şenel Poyrazlı received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Houston, M.Sc. in counseling psychology from Northeastern University – Boston, and B.A. in psychological counseling and guidance from Hacettepe University - Turkey. Her clinical background includes working with adolescents, college students, adults, married/unmarried couples, and war veterans, and dealing with issues primarily related to relationships, psychosocial adjustment, decision making, depression, and trauma. Her research primarily involves college students’ and immigrants’ psychosocial and academic adjustment processes; with cross-cultural competency being an additional research interest. Most recently, she explored microaggressions Syrian refugee college students face. Dr. Poyrazli teaches counseling skills, interviewing and counseling, group counseling, theories of counseling, family therapy, internship, research methods, and multicultural competency. She was awarded a Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty Diversity Award, and Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity Award by Penn State Harrisburg. She also received the Outstanding International Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 52 International Psychology, and the Excellent Contribution Award from the APA Society of Counseling Psychology International Section.
Dr. Poyrazli was given a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award for the 2022-2023 academic year. She was placed at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. Dr. Poyrazli is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is actively involved within the organization.
Dr. Poyrazli is connected well with the immigrant community around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She served as the vice-president of Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network (PAIRWN) and organized for three years an annual immigrant women's health conference that is sponsored by PAIRWN, American Cancer Society, Highmark, and Harrisburg Area Community College.
You can learn more about her LinkedIN here.
You can learn more about her LinkedIN here.
Christina "Chris"
Thompson, Ph.D.
International Education Strategy & Leadership
The Respectful Disruptor
Award-winning international education strategist and scholar-practitioner, Dr. Chris Thompson is widely recognized for advancing ethical, inclusive, and people-centered practice across global education and education abroad. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Compear Global Education Network, where she partners with universities, global education organizations, and cross-sector leaders to strengthen access, opportunity, and impact through strategic advising, program design, and leadership development. She is the founding partner of the Global Respectful Disruption Summit and the co-creator of the Global Respectful Disruption Initiative (GRDI), a global platform and leadership ecosystem advancing ethical innovation, funding resources, intercultural learning, and human-first systems change across international education.
Dr. Chris brings more than two decades of experience spanning university-based international education, education abroad organizations, and global consulting. She has served in leadership and advisory roles within higher education institutions, supporting internationalization strategy, faculty engagement, student mobility, and intercultural learning initiatives. This institutional experience grounds her work in the operational realities of universities and informs her approach to sustainable, systems-level change.
She currently serves as Chair-Elect of the NAFSA Education Abroad Knowledge Community, contributing to field-wide leadership, professional development, and strategic direction within education abroad.
Previously, Dr. Chris held senior roles across the international education field, including working with a Spain-based provider where she pioneered the nationally recognized TODOS strategy and expanded institutional partnerships. These experiences continue to inform her current work through Compear.
A frequent contributor to the international education community, Dr. Chris has presented at more than 50 national and international conferences and has served on working groups for NAFSA, The Forum on Education Abroad, and CANIE. Her scholarship and publications focus on inclusive global program design, intercultural learning, leadership development, and risk-informed practice in education abroad.
Her work has been nationally and internationally recognized with honors from NAFSA, GoAbroad, and The PIEoneer Awards for innovation, inclusive leadership, and systemic change in global education.
Dr. Chris holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership and Innovation at Marymount University. Her dissertation, To Disrupt or Not Disrupt? Redefining Equitable International Education through Respectful Disruptive Leadership, explores how human-first leadership can transform exclusionary practices within global education systems.
At her core, Dr. Chris is a builder of innovative ethical global education systems, leading with empathy, disrupting with intention, and centering shared humanity in international learning.
Dr. Chris brings more than two decades of experience spanning university-based international education, education abroad organizations, and global consulting. She has served in leadership and advisory roles within higher education institutions, supporting internationalization strategy, faculty engagement, student mobility, and intercultural learning initiatives. This institutional experience grounds her work in the operational realities of universities and informs her approach to sustainable, systems-level change.
She currently serves as Chair-Elect of the NAFSA Education Abroad Knowledge Community, contributing to field-wide leadership, professional development, and strategic direction within education abroad.
Previously, Dr. Chris held senior roles across the international education field, including working with a Spain-based provider where she pioneered the nationally recognized TODOS strategy and expanded institutional partnerships. These experiences continue to inform her current work through Compear.
A frequent contributor to the international education community, Dr. Chris has presented at more than 50 national and international conferences and has served on working groups for NAFSA, The Forum on Education Abroad, and CANIE. Her scholarship and publications focus on inclusive global program design, intercultural learning, leadership development, and risk-informed practice in education abroad.
Her work has been nationally and internationally recognized with honors from NAFSA, GoAbroad, and The PIEoneer Awards for innovation, inclusive leadership, and systemic change in global education.
Dr. Chris holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership and Innovation at Marymount University. Her dissertation, To Disrupt or Not Disrupt? Redefining Equitable International Education through Respectful Disruptive Leadership, explores how human-first leadership can transform exclusionary practices within global education systems.
At her core, Dr. Chris is a builder of innovative ethical global education systems, leading with empathy, disrupting with intention, and centering shared humanity in international learning.
You can learn more about Emily on her LinkedIN here.
Cowabunga!
You earned the best reward yet . . . ME!
If your uni or college is a WorldKind partner campus, drop by your Education Abroad office to choose your own Hamish sticker. Can't pick up Hamish in person? Download a virtual sticker HERE.
Take Hamish on your travels abroad by sticking him on your water bottle, computer, or wherever you'll see him. The QR code leads to the "Emergency Resources" page, so if you ever get into a sticky situation abroad and can't remember what to do, scan the QR code. Hamish will be there to help.
To learn more and to see all your Cowabunga COOpons, visit your "My Rewards" page.
Cowabunga!
You earned another COOpon
Are you going on a health-related program abroad or are simply interested in learning more about Global Health? If so, then this additional module reward will be perfect for you . . .
Child Family Health International has agreed to give WorldKind alumni 15% off their “Pillars of Global Health: Building Competencies for Global Health Engagement” course.
To learn more and to see all your Cowabunga COOpons, visit your "My Rewards" page.
Cowabunga!
You earned your first COOpon
Imagine having a Spanish teacher on speed dial 24/7. . .
Meet BaseLang - the world's largest online Spanish school trusted by over 20,000 students. WorldKind alumni receive $30/mo discount on any program FOR LIFE off any Baselang programs that offer 1-on-1 Spanish tutoring, on-demand, 24/7 with 350+ Spanish teachers from 7 countries.
Meet BaseLang - the world's largest online Spanish school trusted by over 20,000 students. WorldKind alumni receive $30/mo discount on any program FOR LIFE off any Baselang programs that offer 1-on-1 Spanish tutoring, on-demand, 24/7 with 350+ Spanish teachers from 7 countries.
With Baselang, you can practice Spanish on demand by booking classes last minute or up to 5 days in advance using a 10-level program optimized to go from beginner to conversational.
Discount Code: worldkind
Discount Code: worldkind
Sign up here: http://baselang.com?ref=worldkind
To learn more and to see all your Cowabunga COOpons, visit your "My Rewards" page.
Cowabunga!
You earned another COOpon
By completing your Travel Finance PRO module, you've either a FREE Multi-Currency Bank Card ($10 value) to use in 215 countries OR your first currency transfer (up to 500 GBP) fee-FREE with Wise.
New Wise users must use this link to sign up to receive the reward: https://wise.com/invite/ecac/7730f81l5
To learn more and to see all your Cowabunga COOpons, visit your "My Rewards" page.
Cowabunga!
You earned another COOpon
It's time to become a true Flight Finder PRO. WorldKind alumni booking their flights through ScholarTrip receive a $20.00 discount on the purchase of one (1) US International Outbound only flights.
Discount Code: worldkind
Use this link when booking to receive your discount:
https://scholartrip.com/travel/programs-worldkind/?CID=SCHWDK
Use this link when booking to receive your discount:
https://scholartrip.com/travel/programs-worldkind/?CID=SCHWDK
Expiration Date: 30JUN2026
To learn more and to see all your Cowabunga COOpons, visit your "My Rewards" page.
Cowabunga!
You earned another COOpon
Half the Price, All the Adventure!
WorldKind Alumni can become a HI USA member for just $10 (half the normal price). As a member, you’ll get 10% off HI USA hostel stays across the U.S. and other discounts at over 2,500 Hosteling International Hostels around the world.
WorldKind Alumni can become a HI USA member for just $10 (half the normal price). As a member, you’ll get 10% off HI USA hostel stays across the U.S. and other discounts at over 2,500 Hosteling International Hostels around the world.
See your Cowabunga COOpon anytime on your "My Modules" page.
Cowabunga!
You earned another COOpon
Keep connected across the globe with eSIMcard.com. WorldKind alumni receive 20% OFF their Data & Voice eSIMs.
To learn more and to see all your Cowabunga COOpons, visit your "My Rewards" page.