Strengthening Institutional Support for Student Success to Grow Education Abroad in the Mediterranean Region

Tangier, Morocco 
Thursday, February 5, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Forum on Education Abroad is honored to convene our second event in Morocco in as many years in collaboration with our host, University of New England, who will welcome Regional Seminar attendees to their Tangier campus.  

Education abroad administrators and practitioners from across North Africa, the U.S., and the Mediterranean region are invited to spend a day together to network, share ideas, and co-create solutions to some of the timeliest changes and challenges facing their work today, including:  

• Building student success infrastructure that meets the needs of foreign students while being practical and respectful of the local context 
• Innovating program design to adapt to the changing needs of today’s global universities and their students 
• Collaborating to build multi-city or multi-country programs that engage beyond the surface level 

In addition, participants will come away from the seminar with an expanded network of education abroad professionals following a day of learning and community building. 

Register

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learning outcomes

By attending the Regional Seminar, you can expect to:     

• Develop and apply strategies to articulate the value of education abroad in ways that resonate with diverse stakeholders in contexts of limited funding and shifting priorities. 
  
• Explore practical tools, technologies, and practices to reduce barriers and create more accessible education abroad experiences for all students. 
  
• ​Learn to champion supportive practices for student well-being and the well-being of practitioners. 

Agenda & Location

Agenda

Time	Session	Speakers
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.	Registration and Networking
10:10 - 10:30 a.m.	Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.	The Panorama of International Education in Morocco and Across the Region
11:30 - 12:15 p.m.	Coffee Break and Networking
12:15 - 1:15 p.m.	Designing Student Success Supports that Honor Local Realities
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.	Lunch provided by our hosts at UNE
2:15 - 3:45 p.m.	Success Stories of Place-Based Learning
3:45 - 4:30 p.m.	Closing Provosts and Presidents Panel

​Location
​University of New England, Morocco
Auditorium

Registration Rates

Making the ask to attend? Download our Letter to Your Manager template for a place to start!

• Letter to your manager: Early registration rate
• Letter to your manager: Regular registration rate

Not sure if your institution is a Forum member? Check here.

​Registration Rates for Attendees from Middle East and African Countries:  ​

Registration Period	Valid Dates	Pricing
Early Bird Registration	September 18 – November 14	$29
Regular Registration	November 15 – January 9	$49
Late Registration	January 10 – February 2	$69

Registration Rates for all other attendees:

Registration Period	Valid Dates	Pricing
Early Bird Registration	September 18 – November 14	Member: $149 Non-Member: $199
Regular Registration	November 15 – January 9	Member: $199 Non-Member: $249
Late Registration	January 10 – February 2	Member: $249 Non-Member: $299

Your registration includes lunch and a coffee break. Registration for this event closes on February 2, 2026.

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 Speakers and Planning Committee

Dr. Debra Leahy
Associate Provost for Global Affairs (SIO) and Professor of Global Management 
University of New England

Read Debra's Bio

​Dr. Debra Leahy is the Associate Provost for Global Affairs and Professor of Global Management at the University of New England, where she leads strategic internationalization across UNE’s Maine campuses and its Tangier, Morocco campus. Previously, she served as Associate Vice President for International Education and Engagement at California State University, Fullerton, the largest institution in the CSU system. Prior to that, Leahy served as Dean of International Engagement at Southern New Hampshire University leading international strategy in New Hampshire and instructional sites in Vietnam and Malaysia. Dr. Leahy holds a doctorate in international higher education. Her research centers on transnational higher education, with a particular focus on glocalization and the development of reciprocal, mutually beneficial international partnerships.​

Farah Cherif D'ouezzan
Founder & General Director
Center for Cross Cultural Learning CCCL​ 
​

Read ​Farah's Bio

Farah Cherif D’ouezzan is an educator in the field of intercultural education. As the Center for Cross Cultural Learning (CCCL) Founder, she develops, designs and runs, with her team, educational study abroad programs, such as faculty-led, semester abroad, internships and provides logistical support and ongoing follow up, training and orientation to students, faculty and on-site staff and hosts in-country. She has developed career-oriented internship programs for Moroccans and International students in various areas in Morocco. Her academic research has been focusing on religion, gender issues, youth participation, leadership training and cross-cultural understanding. Speaking from Within, her recently published book covers all aspects of crossing cultures, and it is a useful introduction to Morocco.

Emily Dragon
Senior Director
University of New England
​

Read ​EMILY's Bio

Emily Dragon is the senior director for Global Affairs and the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) at the University of New England (UNE). She joined UNE in 2011 and was instrumental in establishing the Tangier Campus in 2014, as well as growing UNE’s many other semester abroad and short-term faculty-led global programs. In her role as PDSO, she also works to support UNE's international students across all undergraduate and graduate programs.

​Prior to working at UNE, Emily served as the director at a large international language school in Boston, where she managed intensive English programs, activities, a residence hall and homestays for hundreds of students from over 70 countries. Previously, she also worked for many years managing short-term educational programs abroad for faculty and students.

Emily’s own passion for global education started when she was an undergraduate student at Brown University and had the opportunity to study abroad as part of her degree programs in Economics and Psychology. As a first-generation college student herself, Emily hopes to inspire students to challenge themselves through global experiences and would like to help every student to make study abroad a priority in their education.

Oussama El Addouli, Ph.D.
Center Director
IES Abroad Morocco​ 

Read ​oussama's Bio

​Dr. Oussama El Addouli is the Director of the IES Abroad Morocco, a branch of the Institute for the International Education of Students in Chicago. IES Abroad and Since 1950, has been offering study abroad programs that redefine how students view the world. It is a global not-for-profit educational organization present in 21 countries with more than 100.000 American alumni. It offers programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and South America. Dr. El Addouli is the responsible head of the program, and is the main point of contact with colleges and universities in Morocco, Thew Middle East and the U.S.

Dr. El Addouli is also a former outreach director at the Fulbright Moroccan American Commission in Morocco. He has been working as outreach director, providing academic advice for both Moroccan and American students, scholars and specialists on the higher education system and market in Morocco and the USA.

Dr. El Addouli received his PhD in The Internationalization of Higher Education and Study Abroad in Morocco. He also earned hi Master Degrees in international Relations and development, Global Studies and Social Entrepreneurship from leadings universities in the USA, England, Germany, Austria, Poland and Italy.

Dr. El Addouli interests and expertise span the fields of Internationalization of Higher Education, Leadership, Management of Higher Education, Educational Curriculum Development and Design, Global Studies, Educational Governance, Higher Education Governance, Multi-Cultural Education, Career and Technical Education, Accreditation, Leadership and Management of Higher Education Institutions and Special Education. 
​
Dr. El Addouli is very well traveled and has been trained and certified by many prestigious universities such as Harvard in Strategic Management and Leadership, Academic Diplomacy, Social Work, study Abroad and International Education.

​Yamina El Kirat El Allame, Ph.D.
Director, Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies, ​Mohammed V University in Rabat​

Read ​Yamina's Bio

Yamina EL KIRAT EL ALLAME got her Ph.D. in minority identities, languages and cultures. She is the director of the Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies at Mohammed V University, and the coordinator of the UNIMED SUB-Network on migration. She was a member of the UNESCO Ad Hoc Committee of Experts for Endangered Languages. She is an international adviser and consultant in the field of higher education. 

She was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Greenville Tech in 2010 with the program entitled "Direct Access to the Muslim World" where she helped in developing a program entitled “Middle Eastern Studies”. She is the coordinator of the AMAS Erasmus Inter Africa Mobility Project in Morocco, a member of the Erasmus Capacity Building Project “Edu-BioMed” on biosphere reserves and a member of the Global Youth Academy Project and a research partner of the GLoSYS Project. El Kirat has been teaching courses at IES-ABROAD Rabat-Morocco on the topic ofcultural identities in the MENA region, and has been coordinating IES programs at Mohammed V University. 
​
Professor El Kirat is a member of the Standing Committee of the World Congress of African Linguistics (WOCAL) and the President of the organizing Committee of WOCAL 9, which took place in Rabat-Morocco in August 2018. She has taught and carried out research in cultural linguistics/anthropology, sociolinguistics, language endangerment, minority cultures, cultural representations and attitudes, gender issues, and language and educational policy, internationalization of higher education for more than 30 years. Her interest in all these issues stems from her personal experience and interest in the linguistic, cultural, social, educational and political issues in North Africa in general and the Moroccan context in particular. She has published articles in indexed journals and chapters in collective books at the international level.

Bouchta El Moumni, Ph.D.
President 
Abdelmalek Essaâdi University

Read ​Bouchta's Bio

Professor Bouchta El Moumni is the President of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University. He has previously held several senior leadership positions within the University, including Vice-President, Dean of the Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies in Larache, and Acting Director of the National School of Business and Management (ENCG) in Tangier. He also serves as the national representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Scientific Commission on the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM) and as the national coordinator of the Erasmus+ project SCOLAMAR.

Professor El Moumni holds a Ph.D. in Oceanology (Marine Sciences), obtained in France and Morocco, and completed advanced training in Integrated Coastal Zone Management through programs supported by the European Union and UNESCO at the University of Nice. He has served as a visiting and associate professor at several French universities, including Perpignan, Aix-en-Provence, and Cherbourg, and was invited to the European Parliament in 2011.

Over the course of a distinguished academic and scientific career spanning several decades, Professor El Moumni has led and contributed to numerous international and Euro-Mediterranean research initiatives focused on climate change, marine resources, and environmental sustainability. He has coordinated major international projects, including Hydrochanges, and has been actively engaged in regional cooperation frameworks under the Union for the Mediterranean. He is also an expert affiliated with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and has collaborated with a wide range of international research and funding institutions.

An accomplished scholar, he has authored and co-authored numerous articles in indexed international journals and scientific volumes, supervised more than twenty doctoral dissertations, and regularly contributes to public outreach through media appearances on national and international television and radio. His work reflects a sustained commitment to scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the strategic role of higher education in addressing global environmental challenges.

Said Graiouid, Ph.D.
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
​School for International Training

Read ​Said's Bio

Dr. Graiouid is provost and dean of faculty at School for International Training in Vermont, U.S., where he oversees a portfolio of more than 85 undergraduate programs, graduate immersive and hybrid programs, and a professional doctorate. He is responsible for the articulation of the institution’s top priorities for academic programs and policies, teaching and learning, research and thought leadership, and faculty affairs.

Dr. Graiouid is a program builder who innovates through planned diversification, data-driven approaches to internationalization, and enhancement of an inclusive pedagogy that reckons with the values of social justice. His commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access informs his vision of SIT as a global university and a leader of international innovative academic programs recognized for their high impact approach to teaching and research, and intellectual engagement with the complexity of critical global issues from non-hegemonic perspectives.

As a scholar, Dr. Graiouid has decades of research and intellectual engagement with the politics of identity, youth culture, migration studies, critical theory, and the cultural interrogations of political systems and social movements in Morocco and across the Mediterranean. At Mohammed V University in Rabat, he has been affiliated with the graduate program on culture and development as head of the Research Group on Migration and Culture and later as director of the Research Center Homme, Langues, Cultures et Religions. He has taken part in international collaborative research projects, supervised doctoral dissertations, served as consultant for the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, and organized symposia and international conferences including on Migration and Human Rights (2012); Art, Revolutions, and the Arab Spring (2015); and “Music and Migration: North African Artists’ Networks across Europe and Africa” (2008) in partnership with universities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 2020, he launched the SIT Perspectives from the Global South Lecture Series, a space to celebrate perennial systems of becoming and pluriversal epistemologies and practices. The series brings into conversation a diverse pool of thought leaders, philosophers, and a global audience from dozens of countries.

Dr. Graiouid was general editor of Langues et Littératures, Mohammed V University’s journal of humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. In 2009, he edited a special issue on cultural representations in Morocco that has become a main reference in the study of cultural politics in Morocco.

His most recent research interests focus on the theorization of academic excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion, and an examination of political culture through the lens of the interface between Islamists, social media influencers, and the neoliberal state.

​Dr. Graiouid was educated at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco, (BA and MA), University of Surrey, UK (PhD), and the University of Texas at Austin (Fulbright Scholarship).

Abdellatif Harraida
Director of International Affairs​
Rabat Business School​

Read ​Abdellatif's Bio

Abdellatif Harraida has been involved in International Education since 2004. He was director of international programs and strategic partnerships at the Rabat office of an American NGO. He is currently Board Member of Rabat Business School (International University of Rabat), and its Director of International Affairs overlooking the overall international strategy. As a member of the Board of Directors of Rabat Business School, RBS was able to achieve both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. Abdellatif was able to build as important portfolio of partnerships with big institutions throughout the world. Abdellatif holds an MBA degree through a joint program between International University of Rabat and HEC Montreal.

Heather Harris
Administrative Coordinator
​Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF)

Read ​HEATHER's Bio

Heather Harris is the Administrative Coordinator of the Arabic Language Institute in Fez, Morocco. Originally from Gainesville, Florida, USA, she has lived abroad for over 13 years (in Chile, China, Indonesia, and Morocco) working in international education. Heather holds an MA in Intercultural Relations, a BA in Spanish and Anthropology, TEFL certification, and PADI Master SCUBA Diver Certification.

Garett Heysel, Ph.D.
Provost
The American College of the Mediterranean

Read ​Garett's Bio

​Dr. Garett Heysel, previous member of IAU’s Council of Academic Advisors, became ACM’s inaugural Provost in September 2022. In addition, Heysel is a Professor of French and serves as ACM’s Senior International Officer (SIO). He completed his undergraduate education in French, International Political Science & Economics at Middlebury College and studied at the Ecole Française de Middlebury in Paris. Before earning his MA in French at Northwestern in 1992, Heysel worked in finance and accounting in Boston and Chicago. Dr. Heysel completed his PhD at The Ohio State University in 1997 and taught French at Connecticut College, Utah State University, and Lycoming College where he earned tenure and served as Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. In 2006, Heysel returned to Ohio State, first as Senior Associate Director at the University Honors & Scholars Center, then Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. From 1994 to 2006, Heysel served as Dean at Lac du Bois, Concordia Language Villages French languageand culture immersion program. In 2020, Heysel was appointed Associate Dean at Emory University where he directed the Office of International and Summer Programs. His research interests span 19th and 20th-Century French Literature and Culture, the avant-garde, and queer studies. His publications have appeared in theModern Language Association and Contemporary French Civilization, Stanford University Press, and Le Figaro and has presented in several countries. Active in AIEA, he has recently presented on DEI-focused program design and leadership at the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Diversity Abroad, NAFSA. Heysel is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and has studied Spanish and Italian.

Douaa Imran
Managing Director
University of New England, Tangier campus

Read ​douaa's Bio

Fluent in five languages, Douaa Ben Imran has been an integral leader at the University of New England’s Tangier campus since 2015. Her career spans international education and cultural exchange, from pioneering Moroccan-German student collaborations in Berlin to guiding American students in immersive experiences across Morocco. At UNE, Douaa champions inclusivity, academic excellence, and organizational transformation.

Her expertise in Business Management and Organizational Psychology informs her innovative approach to student wellness, staff development, and campus safety. She has built a robust network of strategic partnerships across Morocco, enabling impactful internships, service learning, and community engagement opportunities for students. Through her work, Douaa embodies the mission of cultivating global citizens and advancing holistic, multicultural education.

Ibtissam Jadir, Ph.D.
​University Lecturer and Professional Translator, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University

Read ​Ibtissam's Bio

Dr. Ibtissam Jadir is an experienced university lecturer, international education professional, and translator, with a sustained commitment to cross-cultural exchange, academic excellence, and institutional development. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics, Management, and Sustainable Development from the National School of Business and Management in Tangier, as well as a Translator’s Degree from the King Fahd School of Translation, specializing in Arabic, French, and English. Her academic background also includes advanced training at the Haute École Francisco Ferrer in Brussels, Belgium.

She currently serves as Communications Officer and official translator at Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (Tetouan), where she contributes to strengthening the university’s international visibility, supporting institutional partnerships, and facilitating multilingual academic communication. Her professional profile bridges higher education teaching, translation, and international coordination, positioning her at the intersection of pedagogy, global engagement, and education abroad practice.

With nearly a decade of experience in higher education, Dr. Jadir has taught across Moroccan and American academic contexts. A multilingual educator and cultural bridge-builder, she teaches Arabic at the University of New England’s Tangier Campus, while also delivering a broad range of courses in Moroccan higher education settings. Her teaching spans management and business-related subjects, cultural and civilization studies, languages, and intercultural communication, reflecting a multidisciplinary and context-responsive pedagogical approach.
​
Dr. Jadir’s academic and professional interests include student success in international programs, intercultural communication, territorial anchoring and the internationalization of SMEs, management sciences, and translation studies. She has translated several books across Arabic, French, and English and has published scholarly and cultural contributions in regional and international outlets, engaging in broader discussions on management, culture, language, and global exchange.

Moncef Lahlou, Ph.D.
Director of Accreditation and Professor
Al Akhawayn University​

Read ​Moncef's Bio

Professor Moncef Lahlou holds a doctorate degree from Aix-en-Provence University in France (Phonetics) and one from UT Austin (Sociolinguistics.)

He has over 40 years of higher education experience, both in teaching and in administration, in Morocco, USA, and Europe.

One of the founding members of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, he has served in various positions, including Director, Dean, and VPSA. He is currently teaching part time and serving as Director of International Accreditations.

​He has participated and given presentations at conferences in many universities and research institutions in Morocco and abroad.

Gwen Mahon, Ph.D.
Provost
University of New England

Read ​Gwen's Bio

Gwen is the provost for the University of New England. She joined UNE with immense experience in several leadership positions over a 24-year span at Rutgers University, where she served in multiple roles, including dean of the Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP), associate dean for Administration at the SHP, assistant dean for Research at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), and director of Cancer Research Program Development and Planning at the NJMS University Hospital Cancer Center.

With a master’s degree in medical genetics from the University of British Columbia and a doctorate in biomedical science from Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Gwen is an accomplished scholar. Her well-funded research has made important contributions to the field of molecular oncology, and she received the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Gallo Award for Outstanding Research five times. In addition, her experience in strategic research leadership and management includes overseeing a large research enterprise at NJMS that included six core facilities and a portfolio of $90 million in extramural funding. She has developed and secured highly competitive NIH grant funding for novel pre- and post-doc cancer research training programs, as well as summer research exposure experiences for undergraduate and professional students.

Gwen recently led the development and publication of the new Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Strategic Plan and was selected to chair the strategic plan implementation and assessment committee charged with shepherding the plan forward over the next five years.

Gwen is the president of the National College of Health Deans, the chair of the Marketing, Communications and Branding Strategic Planning Sub-Committee of the National Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), and a member of ASAHP’s Leadership Development and Training Committee. She has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles, book chapters and abstracts.

She has a deep appreciation for the liberal arts in undergraduate education and, during her time at Rutgers, forged partnerships with liberal arts colleges, including Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, to build joint bachelor’s degrees and articulations that capitalize on the critical skills developed through the humanities and social sciences. As a professor, she believes intensely in the art of teaching and understands that quality instruction is at the heart of educational excellence.

In more recent years, she has served as faculty for the Rutgers Center for Organizational Leadership, where she teaches crisis communication and change management in the academic leadership program. She was the 2020 recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award from the New Jersey Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association for her consistent community-wide communication efforts and her championing of mental health and wellness programming for faculty, professional staff, and students at Rutgers SHP during the COVID pandemic.

​As a first-generation college graduate, Gwen is passionate about helping others access the opportunities that higher education has provided her and has a keen understanding of the importance of a student-centered philosophy and a community-engaged approach in higher education.

Brian Seilstad, Ph.D.
Director of Internationalization and Partnerships, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane

Read ​Brian's Bio

Dr. Seilstad currently serves as the Director of Internationalization and Partnerships at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. Prior to this position, he taught high school Greek and Latin, served in the Peace Corps in Morocco, was the Deputy Director of Youth Service California, and held teaching and leadership positions at Al Akhawayn University and American Academy/College Casablanca. His academic work focuses on linguistic diversity and equity and internationalization of higher education.

Christian Sinclair
Director 
Arabic Language Institute in Fes &
American Language Center Fes

Read ​Christian's Bio

Christian Sinclair is a global educator with 30 years of experience designing, managing, and directing international programs. He is currently the director of the American Language Center Fes as well as director of ALIF (Arabic Language Institute in Fes). He has been running both centers for the past five years.  

Prior to arriving in Morocco in 2021, Christian held various positions, including Assistant Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at University of Arizona and Director of Middle Eastern Studies at SIT Study Abroad. He has taught Intercultural Communication, Human Rights & Music, and Beginning Arabic. He holds an M.A. in International Education. 
​
Over the span of his career, he has lived and worked in Colombia, Egypt, Jordan, Peru, Scotland, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and the US.

Rachid Touhtou, Ph.D.
Professor and Doctoral School Director
INSEA​
​

Read ​Rachid's Bio

Rachid Touhtou currently serves as professor and director of the Doctoral School, CEDOC SSID, affiliated to the National School of Statistics and Applied Economics in Rabat, Morocco. He is also the Academic Coordinator of Amideast Education Abroad program in Rabat Morocco. An accomplished academic, professor, researcher, and leader with expertise in development studies, sociology, political science, Migration studies, gender studies and youth studies, Dr. Touhtou is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, advancing research, and promoting cross-cultural understanding. He is often invited by international universities for lectures and conferences on the MENA Region.​

Fatima Zahra Et-Talby, M.A.
Student Affairs Coordinator 
IES Abroad (Rabat)
​

Read ​Fatima's Bio

Fatima Zahra Et-Talby is a first-year PhD candidate at Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University (Dhar El Mahraz, Fez), focusing on translation, cultural studies, and intercultural communication. She holds master’s degrees in Gender Studies, Translation, and Business Management, and has experience in teaching and academic support for international learners. Since 2024, she has served as the Student Affairs Coordinator at IES Abroad (Rabat), supporting student onboarding and orientation, coordinating arrivals and housing/homestays, providing day-to-day advising, and helping deliver co-curricular programming in collaboration with local partners. Her academic interests include cultural diplomacy, gender studies, and sustainable development.

Hariclea Zengos, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Al Akhawayn University

Read ​Hariclea's Bio

Dr. Hariclea Zengos joined AUI as Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) on August 1, 2025, bringing over 30 years of academic leadership experience. Dr. Zengos was previously the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (2022-2025). Before that, she was the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research at Northwestern University in Qatar (2017-2021) and held several administrative positions at the American College of Greece (1989-2017). Dr. Zengos is a distinguished scholar of contemporary world literature in English; her research explores migration, displacement, and identity politics in postcolonial texts. She holds a Ph.D. in English (Tufts University), an M.A. in English (Clark University), an M.Ed. (Harvard University), and a B.A. in English (American College of Greece). Her expertise spans NECHE accreditation—gained through her tenure at the similarly accredited American College of Greece—alongside strategic planning, curriculum innovation, online education, and research advancement. Dr. Zengos will collaborate closely with outgoing VPAA, Dr. Christopher Taylor, to ensure a seamless transition and will play a pivotal role in launching AUI’s new strategic plan this September.

Audrey Bistline
Administrative & Events Coordinator
The Forum on Education Abroad

Read ​Audrey's Bio

As The Forum’s Administrative & Events Coordinator, Audrey is responsible for supporting office operations and serving as the first point of contact for inquiries and visitors. Audrey was born and raised in Brittany, France. She studied English, Spanish, and contemporary dance before earning a bachelor’s in psychology from the Université de Bretagne Occidentale.

​Audrey lived the abroad experience by visiting and discovering Polynesia, the West Indies, and the United States all before the age of 25. She has spent the last twelve years living and working in both the United States and France. Prior to joining The Forum, she assisted clients in the travel and tourism industry in the Languedoc Roussillon region of France.

Amelia Dietrich, Ph.D.
Senior Director for Research & Publications
​The Forum on Education Abroad

Read ​Amelia's Bio

Dr. Amelia Dietrich is the Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum on Education Abroad and Managing Editor of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. She joined The Forum in 2015 as a Mellon/ACLS Public Fellow. Amelia’s work focuses on leading original research initiatives and supporting the publication of others’ scholarship on best practices in education abroad, maximizing the impact of education abroad for students, institutions and communities, and identifying promising practices on the leading edge. Amelia also facilitates professional development workshops on the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad in a variety of venues and lends her expertise to project-based consultancies and comprehensive reviews. She serves on the IIE Open Doors Study Abroad Working Group and the Advisory Board for the Center for Research on Abroad
and International Student Engagement.

Previously, Amelia taught Spanish and linguistics at Penn State University, and led students on a research fellowship to Spain. Amelia holds a B.A. from Moravian University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish and Language Science from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a Certified Professional in Education Abroad.

Annette Mares-Duran
Director for Membership & Engagement
The Forum on Education Abroad

Read ​ANNETTE's Bio

Annette Mares-Duran serves as the Director for Membership & Engagement. She develops and implements strategies for membership engagement and outreach related activities. She serves as the primary liaison to current and prospective members and systematizes opportunities for members to engage and provide feedback on services.

​Prior to joining The Forum, Annette was the Faculty-Led International Program Coordinator at the University of New Mexico and an elected Forum Council member. As a program leader herself, she facilitated group programs to Ecuador and Peru. As a student, she studied abroad in Spain and Nicaragua. Annette received her B.S. in Education and M.A. in Language, Literacy, & Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico.