Ellen Hoggard has been working in the field of international educational exchange for over 35 years. Her passion for exchange was forged by her own lived experience as a high school exchange student to Romania and England followed by a degree in Political Science from Duke University.

During her career she has implemented programs across the exchange industry that have provided an opportunity for thousands of high school students, au pairs, interns, adult learners, and American host families to engage in exchanges. She was a pioneer in creating the first exchanges between the USA and the former Soviet Union.

Ms. Hoggard was one of the founders of the Alliance, participated in the CSIET Review Committee process and represented the US high school exchange industry at the US-EU Department of State Summit.   She has received the Award for Distinguished Service from Sister Cities as well as the Exemplary Leadership Award from the Alliance for International Exchange where she served as Treasurer for 3 consecutive terms and has been an Alliance board member for many terms since its inception.

Maria is director and co-founder of InterStudy, a study abroad agency based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Since its founding in 1998, InterStudy has dedicated itself to fostering international education and cultural exchange programs, collaborating with exchange organizations, schools and higher education institutions across 17 countries.

As a strong believer in the potential of today’s youth as tomorrow’s leaders and the driving force behind positive societal change, Maria is passionate about high school exchange programs. With a dedicated team of high school exchange enthusiasts, InterStudy has been promoting cultural exchange programs and inspiring teenagers to seize the enriching opportunities of international experience, empowering them to become global citizens and ambassadors of intercultural understanding.

Maria holds a master’s degree in English Language & Literature and German Language & Literature from Masaryk University, Czech Republic, and has studied at the University of Regensburg in Germany as a DAAD scholarship holder.

Brenda Padilla Ericksen has prepared thousands of J-1 and F-1 students for high school programs in the USA.  She is the founder of GAP Academy, serving teens around the world. Originally from Seattle, Washington, she graduated from Western Washington University with a Spanish degree. She has lived in Spain for nearly 30 years working as a journalist and cross-cultural trainer. Brenda has experienced study abroad and cultural exchange as an international student (Spain/Norway), an agent (Training/Student Supervision/Family & International Liaison), a host mother (USA/Thailand/France/Austria) and as the sending mother of her four daughters (France, Canada, USA, South Korea, Nepal). Visit her on LinkedIn.

Óscar Porras is the director of Midleton School. 20 years ago he had an idea and today that idea has become one of the most specialized organizations in language immersion abroad in Spain, now part of the Educatius Group. He has a degree in English Literature and Applied Linguistics. He also holds a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

For 8 years, he was also the president of ASEPROCE (the Spanish Association of Promoters of Language Courses Abroad). Promoting and improving the sector, as well as the professionalism of its associated businesses.

He is a born communicator and in his day-to-day work he combines the improvement of the company’s internal processes with the development of Midleton School and Grupo Educatius in new fields.

Amy leads a team that administers the Exchange Visitor Program for the Teacher, Physician, and Secondary School Student categories. She also oversees compliance reviews to help sponsors adhere to program regulations. Both roles support the Department of State’s mission as well as the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ work in sustaining the mutual understanding with other countries necessary to advance United States foreign policy goals. With over 16 years of service at the Department of State, Amy has held several positions, including Chief of Bilateral Affairs in the Office of Russian Affairs and assignments in the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. She began her State Department career as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of Inspector General and previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine.