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
