Announcement

Announcing the Graduates of the 2023 Virtual Exchange Academy

Through the 2023 Virtual Exchange Academy, 90 education and exchange leaders and practitioners are now prepared to participate in the innovative and powerful field of virtual exchange. This year’s cohort was the most geographically diverse since the Academy began in 2021, with participants logging on from California, U.S., to the Philippines. Nearly half of the group teach at the K-12 (primary and secondary school) level, and this year marked the first Academy working with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in an effort to connect educators in Wisconsin, U.S. with their sister states Bordeaux, France, and Hessen, Germany, through this training. This cohort, which was selected through a competitive process late last year, diligently learned and thoughtfully collaborated with one another throughout six weeks of live session trainings on virtual exchange design and practice. These graduates of the 2023 Virtual Exchange Academy are well prepared to bring virtual exchange to young people they serve, whether through joining an existing program or network, or creating a virtual exchange program of their own.

2023 Virtual Exchange Academy Graduates

Abdalkarim Zawawi | Palestinian Territories

Assistant Professor, An-Najah University

Abdul Qayoum Almas | Afghanistan

In Country Program Director, Global Connection and Exchange Program

Dr. Abigail Canales Ibarra | Mexico

Partnerships Manager, Millennium Campus Network

Dr. Ageila Ali Elabbar | Libya

University Teacher, Faculty of Education, University of Benghazi

Agnès Fichter | France

History, Geography, and Geopolitics Senior High School Teacher, French Ministry of Education and Youth

Amal Almasafri | United Arab Emirates

Lecturer, Higher Colleges of Technology

Ameena Piracha | Pakistan

Program Officer, Society for International Education

Anna Griffiths | Michigan, U.S.

Admissions Specialist, Muskegon Community College

Anne Wooleyhand | Delaware, U.S.

Educational Programs Director, The Marshall Legacy Institute

Alexa Miriam Torchani | Germany

French, English, and Spanish Teacher, IGS Lindenfeld, Hessisches Kultusministerium

Bryan Thomas Shuler | Florida, U.S.

Assistant Professor, Humanities and Cultural Studies, Hillsborough Community College

Camila Lopes Ferreira | Brazil

Professor, São Paulo State University

Carley Goodkind | Wisconsin, U.S.

German Language Educator, Greenfield High School, Greenfield School District

Carolin Schwarz | Germany

Teacher, Martin-Niemöller-Schule, Wiesbaden

Caroline Faircloth | Washington, DC, U.S.

Global Studies Specialist, District of Columbia Public Schools

Cassidy Alvarado | California, U.S.

Director of National & International Fellowships, Loyola Marymount University

Catharine Curran | Massachusetts, U.S.

Director of Global Engagement, Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Charity Davenport | Tennessee, U.S.

Instructional Technology Specialist (Accessibility), Pellissippi State Community College

Cinthia Johnson | Wisconsin, U.S.

Spanish Teacher, Amery High School

Daniela Goldfine | Wisconsin, U.S.

Assistant Professor of Spanish, University of Wisconsin River Falls

Danielle Chaussee | Wisconsin, U.S.

Spanish Teacher and Global Scholars Program Coordinator, Oconomowoc High School

Danielle Walters | Tennessee, U.S.

Director of International Programs, Lincoln Memorial University

Daria Housman | Connecticut, U.S.

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Global Citizens Initiative (GCI)

Diana Lambert | New Jersey, U.S.

English and Special Education High School Teacher, Trenton Board of Education

Diane Spradling | Pennsylvania, U.S.

Assistant Teaching Professor of Business, Penn State University (DuBois Campus)

Diba Mani | Florida, U.S.

Instructional Assistant Professor, University of Florida

E’lisa Moss | Missouri, U.S.

Volunteer Development Director, GRO Health Center

Fabiana Cristina Frigieri De Vitta | Brazil

University Professor, São Paulo State University

Filmor Jacob Murillo | Philippines

Associate Professor and International Relations Officer, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

Florence Pi | California, U.S.

Program Manager, Global Education Benchmark Group

Glenn Muschert | United Arab Emirates

Professor of Sociology, Khalifa University

Hafedh Mechergui | Tunisia

Facilitator, Soliya

Hanan Bugaigis | Libya

Doctor and Clinical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi

Heba Mohamed | United Arab Emirates

Assistant Professor, Higher Colleges of Technology

Ho’omana Nathan Horton | Oklahoma, U.S.

Teaching Assistant Professor and Teaching Support Specialist, Oklahoma State University

Jana Flenker-Resch, Germany

Teacher, Augustinerschule

Jaqueline Costa Castilho Moreira | Brazil

Assistant Professor, São Paulo State University

Jennifer Bulanda | Ohio, U.S.

Associate Professor, Miami University

Read a press release that Jennifer’s institution wrote about her participation in the Academy.

Jennifer Piorkowski | Wisconsin, U.S.

World Language Educator, Oconomowoc High School

Jennifer Yourd | Wisconsin, U.S.

Spanish and World Cultures Teacher, Waukesha STEM Academy

Jessica Swemke | Wisconsin, U.S.

Spanish Teacher, Lincoln High School, Manitowoc Public School District

Jodi Resch Brownell | Wisconsin U.S.

Spanish Teacher and Global Scholars Advisor, Crandon High School

Judith Kuzay | Germany

German and English as a Foreign Language Teacher, Schule für Erwachsene Dreieich

Karen Ambrosh | Wisconsin, U.S.

District Library Media Specialist, Greenfield School District

Lalitha Murali | Wisconsin, U.S.

Gifted and Talented Teacher, Glendale River-Hills School District

Lance Vought | Michigan, U.S.

Economics Instructor, Muskegon Community College

Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto | Brazil

Associate Professor, São Paulo State University

Ligia Pamfilie | Michigan, U.S.

Global Learning Design Coordinator, Wayne State University

Lindsey Decker | Minnesota, U.S.

Peer Coach (TOSA) and Secondary Social Studies Teacher, Plymouth Creek Elementary, North Woods Elementary, and East Middle School

Lucas Rzehak | Germany

Teacher, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Schule

Mahmoud Mamdouh Mahfouz Eid | Egypt

Science Teacher, Ghabbour Foundation for Development

Mandy Comes | Tennessee, U.S.

Associate Professor of Biology, Pellissippi State Community College

Mary Christensen | Wisconsin, U.S.

International Education Program Coordinator, Janesville School District

Maysa Abuzant | Palestinian Territories

Instructor, An-Najah National Universit

Megan Everts | Washington DC, U.S.

Program Coordinator, Stevens Initiative, The Aspen Institute

Meghan Ellis | United Kingdom

Global Engagement Project Officer, Bournemouth University

Mellisa A. Stein | Virginia, U.S.

Gifted Education Teacher, Kiptopeke Elementary School

Melquin Ramos | Chile

Director, TOCA Online, Teens of Color Abroad

Michele Meek | Massachusetts, U.S.

Assistant Professor, Bridgewater State University

Muhammad Saleem Ibrahim | Pakistan

Director, Society for International Education

Dr. Nadia C. Gadson-Moses | Louisiana, U.S.

Assistant Dean, International Affairs and University Outreach, Southern University and A&M College

Nahla Nassar | Israel

Lecturer and Pedagogical Trainer, The Academic Arab College for Teacher Education in Haifa

Nancy Guimarães | Brazil

International Relations Coordinator, Inteli – Instituto de Tecnologia e Liderança

Nashad Carrington | Missouri, U.S.

President, GRO Health Center

Nathalie Hochapfel | Germany

Trainee Teacher, Oberstufengymnasium Eschwege and Friedrich-Wilhelm-Schule

Nydia Dmytrow | Germany

Teacher, BSO Michelstadt

Oliver Jung | Germany

Assistant Principal, Gustav-Heinemann-Schule

Omar Ezzaoua | Morocco

Assistant Professor, University of Hassan II Casablanca

Othmane Zakaria | Morocco

English as a Foreign Language Teacher Trainer, Mohammed V University in Rabat

Pam Delfosse | Wisconsin, U.S.

World Language & Global Education Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Roberto Mugnani | Massachusetts, U.S.

Director of Program Development, Mount Holyoke College

Rasha Nazar Mansour | Iraq

Educator, Maarif

Regina Hauf | Germany

English, French, and Spanish Language Teacher, Gutenbergschule Darmstadt

Roman Belter | Germany

English as a Foreign Language and History High School Teacher, Gymnasium Nidda

Salwa Youniss | Egypt

English Teacher and Global Education Leader, Al Bashaer International School

Samantha Jay | France

English Teacher, Lycée Gaston Crampe, Aire sur l’Adour, Académie de Bordeaux

Dr. Samar Abid | Oklahoma, U.S.

University Faculty, Research Administrator, and International Development Practitioner, Oklahoma State University

Sara Idrees Mohammed | Libya

Facilitator, Soliya

Read an interview about Sara’s own virtual exchange experience.

Sergio Escobedo Reyes | Mexico

Teacher, Conalep

Shamsa Saeed Bin Tarraf | United Arab Emirates

Senior Specialist in Networking & Partnerships, Higher Colleges of Technology

Sharmila Udyavar | North Carolina, U.S.

Associate Director for Global Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Shawn Wall | Colorado, U.S.

Executive Director, Blessed to Be a Blessing (B2baB)

Suad Alnasfi | Libya

Lecturer, University of Benghazi

Thalía Natividad Pérez Llamas | Mexico

Coordinator for International Cooperation, Education Office of Technological High School Education, Ministry for Education of the State of Jalisco

Tim Koglin | Germany

Teacher, Goethe-Gymnasium Kassel (Hessen, Germany)

Victor Manuel Olea Contreras | Mexico

Professional Development, Universidad de Guadalajara

Virginija Wilcox | Minnesota, U.S.

Associate Dean of International Programs, Bethel University

Yamina El Kirat El Allame | Morocco

Director of Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies, Mohammed V University in Rabat

Yolanda Fajardo Santana | Mexico

English as a Second Language Teacher and Academic Coordinator, Escuela Normal Para Educadoras de Arandas

Zainab Ahmed | Tennessee, U.S.

Adjunct Faculty, Pellissippi State Community College

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