Andrea Bodine joined the Alliance for International Exchange in early 2018. Prior to joining the Alliance, she was a transatlantic community analyst intern at The Streit Council for a Union of Democracies, a small international affairs think tank. She holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a focus on European foreign policy and globalization. Andrea had previously studied abroad at KU Leuven while pursuing her B.A. in Global Studies and Economics at Loyola University Maryland, where she was a Presidential Scholar. Andrea is originally from Hagerstown, Maryland.

Nicole Elkon joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange in September 2021. Until June 2021, Ms. Elkon was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Human Rights First, an independent advocacy organization focused on human rights and the rule of law. Prior to her position as COO, Ms. Elkon was a Senior Advisor at Results for America (RFA), a non-profit organization focused on advancing data-driven, evidence based public policy at all levels of government.  She also served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of ECA and was Director of the Office of Public Private Partnerships at ECA working to leverage strategic partnerships to enhance Administration foreign policy priorities.   

From December 2001 through January 2003, Ms. Elkon was the Chief of Staff and Director of Communications of the 9/11 United Services Group (USG). Prior to joining the USG, Ms. Elkon was Vice President, International Communications and Strategic Planning at Merrill Lynch. She also worked in The White House as the Director for Planning for the National Security Council and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Scheduling from 1995 to 1999.   

 Ms. Elkon is a native New Yorker. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. 

Steve Gerdes is a self-confessed introvert.  Other than when he makes presentations on this topic, he does his best to hide this fact. Some of his less introvert-like activities include serving as a tennis official for US Open and Davis Cup matches. He is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on representing people with traumatic brain injuries. 

Steve Gerdes was a short-term exchange student to Japan in 1970 and studied at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan in 1973.  After graduating from law school, he became active with the Omaha Sister Cities program where he ran its youth exchange program for over ten years.  He served as Chair of the Rotary District 5650 Rotary Youth Exchange Committee from 2004-13 and since then has served as its senior advisor and international exchange coordinator.  He served as President of South Central Rotary Youth Exchange (SCRYE) from 2018-19. He currently serves as President of the North American Youth Exchange Network (NAYEN).

Kyle Harrigan joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 2016 and is currently a Program Analyst with the Office of Private Sector Exchange Program Administration focusing on the Secondary School Student, Teacher, and Physician categories of the BridgeUSA/Exchange Visitor Program. Originally from Maine, Kyle has an educational background in International Affairs and participated in a few exchange programs.

Dr. Pascal Losambe is the Co-Founder, Chief Content Officer and primary consultant for Synergy Consulting Company. Dr. Losambe has a Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Middlebury College and a Master’s of Science in Biology with a focus on Neurobiology from Boston College where he received the Donald J. White award for teaching excellence, a distinguished honor given annually to graduate instructors. Dr. Losambe has earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Purdue University with a focus on cultural competence. He is the keynote presenter and curriculum developer for the United Front Initiative, a city and regional program with the goal of bringing unity and reconciliation to the region. Additionally, Dr. Losambe consults and presents to companies and other organizations on various topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion, educational leadership, and organizational culture. He has led strategic vision initiatives for various institutions and has conducted multiple workshops on cultural competence at national and international conferences. Dr. Losambe’s achievements include the Mosaic Award in 2018 and being invited onto the Purdue University Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Advisory Board, the Purdue University Fort Wayne College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, the Young Scholars Academy Board, and the Heart of Character Leadership Committee. He previously served on the Independent School Association of the Central States Equity and Justice Committee Board.

Dr. Sari Luoma is Vice President of Assessment Materials at Ballard & Tighe, Publishers. She joined the Ballard & Tighe assessment division in 2003. Prior to that, she held in positions related to test design, research and development at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

Sari is responsible for the design and direction of Ballard & Tighe’s standardized testing initiatives and she also contributes to the design and development of the company’s instructional products. In addition to test development, she has designed in-service training programs and taught courses on computer-assisted language assessment, test development, and the use of assessment in support of learning. Her research interests in language testing include test development and validation, the assessment of speaking, and computer-assisted assessment.

Sari is a frequent speaker at conferences and author of several articles and chapters in edited volumes, as well as the book Assessing Speaking, published by Cambridge University Press (2004). She holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics, and a M.A. and B.A. in language arts and education from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. She lives in Aptos, CA with her husband Bill and two daughters, Ronja and Eila.

Christopher Page is Executive Director for the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. After 21 years as a Spanish teacher and a six-year tenure with the CSIET Board of Directors (2003-2009) Chris began his professional journey with CSIET in 2011.  Facing new J-1 high school regulations, a rise in use of the F-1 visa, and an increasingly complex industry landscape, Chris has positioned CSIET and its Standards to serve the needs of a diverse membership of J-1, F-1 and Outbound practitioners from the field of international student exchange.  He has spearheaded a variety of new initiatives, including the evaluation of F-1 programs and schools, leading to a 52% growth in program membership and a markedly increased awareness of the value of the CSIET seal of approval. Outside his professional life, Chris is an author of a Spanish textbook, a writer of occasional poems, and an aspiring guitarist.  He lives in Alexandria, Va. with his wife, two children.

Dr. Bill Pfohl was the 2020 recipient of the prestigious APA Division 16: Jack Bardon Distinguished Services Award due to his hard work and dedication as an inspirational change agent in the field of school psychology. Over the years, his leadership has impacted the lives of many individuals and groups and has resulted in a long –lasting positive chain reaction of best practices flowing through local, state, national, and international levels of influence. Over a 49-year career thus far, Dr. Pfohl has been a consultant, advocate, practitioner, trainer, and university professor in supporting the mental health needs of students across Kentucky and in promoting a best practice crisis response model in his leadership role with the National Emergency Assistance Team (NEAT). Dr. Pfohl has also served as president of the Kentucky Association for Psychology in the Schools (KAPS), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the International School Psychology Association (ISPA). Dr. Pfohl has worked with CSIET member organizations in leading workshops to support the mental health needs of our international exchange students, and CSIET is excited to welcome him to its 38th Annual Conference.

Melinda Quigley is from Tarpon Springs, FL.  She has a Master of Health Care Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management with a minor in Bioenvironmental Engineering. Melinda has been employed with the U.S. Department of State for over 6 years and has previously served her country in the United States Air Force.  Melinda joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 2016 and is currently the lead Program Analyst for the Secondary School Student program in the Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation.

Jennifer was an international student herself and studied in Angers, France earning the distinguished Alliance Française “Diplome de Langue Française: Niveau Superior”. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in French from Virginia Wesleyan University.  She lived and worked in Japan, gaining an appreciation for Asian culture.  Never letting go of her strong ties to France, Jennifer seamlessly meshed the two together, teaching American English and French language and culture for the Japanese Ministry of Education in Miyagi, Japan.

She served as international admissions counselor and PDSO at the University level.  Involved with and trained by NAFSA, Jennifer developed a passion for international student advising, immigration regulations, and intercultural training. She worked with the implementation of SEVIS guidelines and trained faculty and staff on F-1/J-1 student regulatory issues affecting international students.  She also served as PDSO at the high school level for six years. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of orienting and properly advising F-1/J-1 students to ensure their success, both academically and socially.

Jennifer has presented at both NAFSA and other international conferences in the US and abroad and currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Immigration Specialist for Global Horizons USA, welcoming international students to private high schools since 2015.

<p>Andrea has a Master’s Degree in Social Psychology from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina and has been an IACCP (International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology) Member since 1998.</p>
<p>She has had long and short term experience abroad herself, and has received training through the Intercultural Instructor Course by AFSAI/Italy and the Council of Europe (European Youth Centre). She is an author, has served as a guest teacher at multiple schools and institutes, and has experience working with CSIET member programs. Andrea is currently the owner of Andrea Sebben Psicologia Intercultural, through which she has conducted cross-cultural training for expats abroad (inbound & outbound), high school exchange programs, university students, and soccer players. She currently resides in Brazil, where she has worked in the preparation & adaptation of Brazilians abroad for 25 years.</p>

Mark Uyl was named Executive Director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association in May of 2018, becoming the association’s fifth full time director.  He first joined the MHSAA staff as an Assistant Director in January of 2004.

Uyl is a 1996 graduate (BA) of Calvin College (NCAA Division III), where he was a four-year starter in baseball, serving as a team captain and earning all-conference honors on two occasions. He received a Master’s Degree (MA) from Grand Valley State University.   He is a former high school teacher, coach, and building administrator.  He has an extensive background in officiating having been a longtime high school and college official including a NCAA Division I baseball umpire for 22 seasons primarily in the Big Ten Conference.  He has umpired ten NCAA Division I Baseball Regionals, five Super Regionals and the 2014 and 2017 College World Series in Omaha, serving as the crew chief in 2017 along with the 2007 Pan American Games played in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  He is also involved with college football in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NCAA D-III) as a former on-field official (referee) and currently serves as the league’s coordinator of officials.  He served on the Board of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) from 2011-2015 and 2021-present, and served as the Board Chair in 2015.  Currently, he serves as the high school representative on the Officiating Development Alliance (ODA), which consists of the supervisor of officials for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, CFL, MLS and NCAA Division I sports.

Uyl’s wife, Marcy, is an accomplished educator and coach, having served as a high school varsity basketball coach since 1994.  They have three children, Jackson who is a junior swimmer at Hope College, Grant who is a freshman football player at the United States Air Force Academy , and Madi who is a 3-sport high school freshman.

Jill Woerner is the Director of Education & External Outreach for AFS-USA. Having served as a Spanish teacher, school administrator and Global Learning Specialist at the Indiana Department of Education, Jill continues to support students, educators, and AFS-USA volunteers in building intercultural skills and learning how to integrate global competence, biliteracy and interculturality in their everyday learning environments. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for a variety of state, regional and national organizations focused on cultivating global citizens.

Jennifer R. Wright (MA), is Director of Certification and Associate Director at the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC), a U.S.-based Standards Development Organization and non-profit membership association. AIRC Certification is the U.S. quality standard recognizing professionalism and ethical operations in international student recruitment by educational agencies around the world. She also coordinates professional development training for recruiting professionals and international educators, including for staff at colleges, universities, secondary schools and recruitment agencies. Jennifer has held leadership positions in international education and exchange at universities and third party providers including The George Washington University, Cleveland State University and the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her master’s degree is from the University of Kentucky and her undergraduate degree is from Franklin and Marshall College.