Introducing the new EAIE leaders and volunteers to the EAIE ecosystem
Central to what makes the EAIE unique is our international community of dedicated volunteers. This diverse group of passionate professionals commits their time and energy to sharing ideas, providing inspiration, and shaping the future of international higher education. It is their hard work and generosity that helps us navigate the dynamic future of international higher education, allowing our EAIE ecosystem to flourish.
In April 2024, current members of the EAIE community stepped forward for a range of governance and volunteer positions. From serving on the EAIE’s General Council to sitting as Board members or volunteering on our nine Thematic Committees, each appointed member will play a key role in driving the EAIE’s activities for the coming period. We are thrilled to introduce you to the new EAIE leaders and volunteers.
General Council
At the helm of the Association's governance, the General Council, elected by the members, safeguards their best interests and provides strategic oversight on our long-term vision, finances and longevity. The newly elected members hail from 8 countries and promise to enrich our global perspective, ensuring continued growth and sustainability of the EAIE. Congratualtions to the new General Council members and thank you to the other 10 candidates who put themselves forward. The newly elected General Council will serve a three year term, from 2024–2027, beginning in September. You can view the final elections results here.
Robert Buttery
Robert is Head of International Relations at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz – FHNW). His academic background includes graduate work in Spanish area studies and applied linguistics, postgraduate work in European law, politics and economics, a postgraduate certificate in education, and various professional business and management diplomas. Robert’s work portfolio includes international issue monitoring for key operational and strategic decisions in internationalisation and their implementation.
Robert lectures in management and international studies at FHNW and attends all major higher education international conferences and events, giving presentations and workshops on student and faculty mobility, the use of social media and the study of destination marketing. In 2008, Robert successfully launched an intensive and ground-breaking programme for faculty from business schools. He was awarded the BCCIE Award for Outstanding Programme in 2013 and the CBIE Panorama Award for Outstanding International Education Program (Capacity Building) in 2014. Robert is an expert on programme innovation, curriculum internationalisation and mobility.
Since 2024, Robert has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Adriana Perez Encinas
Adriana Perez Encinas completed her MBA and PhD on strategies for welcoming international students, with a special focus on services provided and volunteer associations. She is lecturer and researcher on business organisations and internationalisation of higher education. Adriana was formerly head of the International Relations Office in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) in Spain, and is currently an evaluator for Spain’s Erasmus+ national agency. Since 2005 she has volunteered for the Erasmus Student Network, serving as a national representative, president of the UAM chapter, project coordinator and researcher.
She has been involved in different roles within the EAIE, including winning the EAIE Rising Star Award in 2017, and is currently a member of the EAIE General Council.
Anna Grönlund
Anna Grönlund is the Head of Higher Education Policy at the Division of Policy & Strategic Planning at the University of Jyväskylä (JYU), Finland. She serves as a policy adviser to the university leadership in strategic planning, development and management of higher education and research, with a special focus on internationalisation and societal interaction and impact. As the previous Head of Internationalisation at JYU and with her strong professional background in international communications and marketing, she continues to contribute to the development of the university’s internationalisation through several projects related to quality assurance, education and research evaluation, international university rankings, international student recruitment, global responsibility and sustainable development in higher education. Anna holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Communications and Public Relations from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland and also serves as the Chair of the Universities Finland UNIFI’s Strategic Advisory Group for Internationalization.
Anna was part of the EAIE Board from 2020 to 2024 and is currently a member of the EAIE General Council.
Caspar de Bok
Caspar de Bok is Head of International Affairs at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance of Utrecht University, the Netherlands. His main tasks are strategic advice and policy concerning internationalisation (in education, research, support and international relations management) and implementing the Faculty Work Programme for Internationalisation. He is Chair of the Internationalisation team and Coordinator for the Diversity Programme at the Faculty. Caspar oversees and coordinates various internationalisation initiatives and advises the Board of the Faculty on strategies to improve its internationalisation ambition in its broader sense, both internally and externally. He worked for 10 years as a Senior Policy Adviser, Internationalisation at Utrecht University Corporate Offices in the Netherlands. Caspar has a great deal of experience in international networking in higher education at various levels, including as Utrecht University’s Senior Officer in The League of European Research Universities (LERU), as Secretariat of Utrecht Network and as a Coordinator of various EC-funded projects. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Biology from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Since 2024, Caspar has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Dyane Koreman
Dyane Koreman is an international higher education professional with over 20 years of experience in different managerial positions, responsible for strategic policy development, international relations, international program management, curriculum development, student and staff mobility, admissions and marketing and recruitment. Dyane is currently a strategic Program Director at Fontys University, the Netherlands. She is always on top of innovative impactful growth, such as the current development of a European University, and a Center of Expertise for an Inclusive Society. Additionally, she is the Project Director of a cross-sectoral multi-stakeholder master for life long learning. She has a passion for coaching, training and team building, and she has been a lead trainer for workshops at many international conferences. She graduated from Tilburg University with a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and completed different international (leadership) programmes in Australia, Argentina, Denmark, the UK and the USA.
Dyane has been involved in the EAIE since 2015 as a session evaluator, mentor, associate and conference speaker. Since 2024, Dyane has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Michelle Stewart
Michelle Stewart is Director Internationalisation (Humanities & Social Sciences) at the University of Strathclyde. She has worked in higher education for over twenty years. After graduating in Public Administration she worked for four years in Spain where she developed executive education courses. When she returned to Scotland she was an adviser to the Lord Provost, Glasgow City Council. Having worked in internationalisation for several years, Michelle has a strong commitment to partnership development and student mobility. At the University of Strathclyde she established many overseas links including the Mexico UK Study Abroad Consortium in partnership with a number of UK universities. Michelle has served on external boards including: Operating Board Education UK Partnership; Chair, Scottish Universities International Group (SUIG); Chair, BUTEX (British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association). She has an extensive network of colleagues across the UK and overseas.
From 2020 to 2022, Michelle served as EAIE President, and since 2022 she has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Alfonso Díaz Segura
Alfonso Díaz Segura is Corporate Director for Business Operations, Marketing and Internationalisation at the Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU, Spain. Before that, he was Vice Chancellor for Internationalisation at the University CEU Cardenal Herrera in Spain. He was responsible for international policies at the University and has implemented the Global Classroom, a framework of initiatives that allow students to acquire soft skills in internationalisation, regardless of where they come from and which degree they are studying. Therefore, the international experience permeates all the layers of the institution, from teachers to staff, focusing on the students. Alfonso studied Architecture and has a PhD in Architectural Projects, combining professional and academic activities for years. He also has an MBA.
Since 2024, Alfonso has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Celine Nygaard
Celine is an International Adviser at the University of Stavanger (UIS) in Norway and is in charge of implementing internationalisation across all departments of the Faculty of Social Science. She handles all international agreements at the faculty level and supports the academic staff in applying for and managing international programmes, projects and funding. Celine is also currently Norway’s representative in the Nordlys university network. Prior to her current position, Celine was an international coordinator at the Faculty of Arts and Education, where she was in charge of all mobility and international activities of the faculty. Celine holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Religion from the University of Tromsø – the Arctic University of Norway. Her formal education includes several study periods abroad and internships at the Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Since 2024, Celine is a member of the EAIE General Council.
Herwig Dämon
Herwig is Head of Public Affairs and Communication at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Prior to this he was Head of Communications at the University of Liechtenstein, Principality of Liechtenstein. In his roles he oversees the university’s branding, communications and marketing activities. His team provides communications and marketing consultancy services to internal partners. He holds a Master’s degree in German Philology, Psychology and Communications and a degree in Public Relations from the University of Vienna, Austria. Before joining the University of Liechtenstein in 2011, Herwig held positions as Head of Communications at an international medical foundation in Davos. He also worked as Chief Communications Officer at a globally active Swiss industrial company. In the higher education field, he has been advocating an experience-centred communications and marketing strategy with a focus on brand ambassadors. Herwig was a session speaker and workshop facilitator at multiple EAIE Conferences, and since 2024, he has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
- Twitter:
- @herwigdaemon
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/herwigdaemon/
Jeroen Ouburg
Jeroen Ouburg is the Senior Advisor International at the Department for Corporate Strategy & Accounts at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. His focus area is in international institutes to institute relations in the domain of education and building relationships between our university and funding organizations. In this capacity, he advises the rector and the deans on developing the Euroleague of Life Sciences Network and the European BioEconomy University Alliance. He is a member of the Internationalisation platform of the Association of Universities of the Netherlands. Besides these, he is a board member of the Platform for International Education (PIE) and a member of different national advisory bodies relating to education and or collaboration with the global south.
He has been involved in the EAIE since 2013 in different roles and is currently a member of the EAIE General Council.
Michael Rosier
Michael Rosier works at the University of Hertfordshire in southeast England as Associate Dean (International) of Hertfordshire Business School and Director of International Education of the University. He holds a BSc in Economics, an MBA and an MSc in Computer Science. His subject area is industrial relations. He has substantial experience in the field of international education, both nationally and internationally, and has given seminars and workshops on internationalisation, mobility and business school accreditation. He was previously Head of Undergraduate Programmes and Head of International Collaborative Programmes at Hertfordshire Business School and Director of Studies at Oslo School of Management (Markedshøyskolen). He is Secretary of the Association of UK Higher Education European Officers (HEURO) and a member of two UK HE International Unit Communities of Practice for European and Outward Mobility. In addition, he is a member of the UK Association of Business Schools (ABS) International and External Relations Committee.
Michael served as a member of the EAIE Board for two terms and since 2022, he has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Claire O'Leary
Claire is the Director of Recruitment, Admissions, Marketing and Partnerships at the College of Medicine and Dentistry in the UK, which is validated by Ulster University, UK. She is also a Non-Executive Director for Independent Higher Education, a body representing 100 small and specialist private HE providers in the UK. Claire was recently elected to join the General Council of EAIE. Claire has a wealth of experience in international HE, specialising in internationalisation of the student lifecycle, embedding intercultural learning, visa and immigration management, and academic and commercial partnership development.
Since 2024, Claire has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
René Teunissen
Rene Teunissen is a Senior Advisor of International Education and Acquisition at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Rene holds a Master's degree in Human Movement Science, an International Project Management Association C/D Project Management certification, and a Bachelor's degree in Educational Dance Teaching and Theatre, and in Social Work. He works on strategic policy development, creating an international and intercultural context and internationalisation at home.
Through partnerships and collaborating with other institutional and (inter)national departments and networks, he focuses on bringing together people to share, connect and gain awareness. Creating options for others, staff and students, to gain life experiences that allow them to become globally competent citizens understanding and enjoying diversity and intercultural awareness.
René has been involved in different roles within the EAIE and since 2022, he has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
- Twitter:
- @Rene_Teunissen
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/ragteunissen/?originalSubdomain=nl
Sabine Sainte-Rose
Sabine Sainte-Rose is Associate Director for Promotion and Internationalisation in the International and External Affairs of the Université Grenoble Alpes, France. She has worked in five different countries, being in leadership positions in the French diplomacy and cultural network, developing extensive skills in management, academic policy, marketing, public relations and curriculum development. Since 2002, she has enjoyed managing diverse teams of international professionals. Since 2022, Sabine has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Nidhi Piplani Kapur
Nidhi Piplani Kapur is pursuing her PhD in Internationalisation at Home in Irish Higher Education Institutions at the South East Technological University, Ireland (Waterford Campus). She is the recipient of the prestigious Irish Research Council scholarship for her PhD project, which investigates how Irish HEIs can embed internationalisation into their curricula through Internationalisation at Home .Additionally, Nidhi is the Head of the Symbiosis Centre for European Studies (SCES) at Symbiosis International University (SIU) in India, where she leads the university’s international engagements and projects with its European partners.
Nidhi has over 13 years of experience in the international higher education sector, during which she has been an active volunteer with the EAIE for a decade. Starting in September 2024, she will begin a new term on the General Council of the EAIE, after having served two terms in the past.
Board
The Board plays a vital role in guiding the Association’s future by developing and implementing the strategy. Four new Board members have been appointed by the current General Council following rigorous evaluations and interviews, joining Sara López Selga, who will succeed Piet Van Hove as EAIE President. Tayyeb Shah will assume the role of Vice President. All new roles will begin in September.
Sara López Selga
Sara is President of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and Director of International Relations at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain. She is responsible for influencing and implementing internationalisation strategy, promoting agreements and projects for mobility and academic cooperation worldwide, supervising international student services and programme development. Previously, she gained professional experience at the Teaching and Learning Institute of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – UPC) and in Brussels, Belgium, thereby becoming involved in coordinating an EU capacity-building project with Latin America. In 2014, Sara conducted research in international education as a Schuman-Fulbright Scholar in the USA. She received the EAIE Bo Gregersen Award for Best Practice as part of the Network of Catalan Universities. She holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences and Sociology and a Master’s in Public and Social Policies from UPF. She also received executive training at the Anderson School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), USA.
Sara's term as President of the EAIE is from September 2024 to 2026.
Tayyeb Shah
Tayyeb Shah is an experienced international higher education and business development executive with a deep knowledge of global markets. He is the Senior Vice President for International Higher Education at Espalier Ventures. He serves as an advisor at several organisations including Wells Advisory and INTO University Partnerships and sits on several boards including the European Association for International Education and Nurture Higher Education. He also advises and mentors several university senior international officers and is a regular speaker at conferences worldwide.
Tayyeb was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Partnerships) at the University of Western Australia, responsible for a portfolio that spanned Global Engagement, Innovation & Industry Engagement, Arts & Culture, and Development & Alumni Relations. Before that, he served as Deputy Vice President (Global Business Development) at King’s College London, where he was responsible for identifying and developing major strategic projects that expanded the university’s international and commercial partnerships, particularly in China and the Middle East.
Educated at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), and Imperial College London, Tayyeb spent more than a decade in the commercial sector and creative industries before moving to higher education in 2007 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
Tayyeb has been involved with the EAIE in different roles and since 2022, he has been a member of the EAIE Board and is currently the EAIE's Vice-president.
Edyta Lachowicz-Santos
Edyta is the Director of Internationalisation Strategy at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland. She has been engaged in diverse activities related to the internationalisation of higher education institutions within various positions for the past 20 years. She has coordinated and participated in many international projects involving higher education institutions and employers. She has also co-founded and is a board member of the Silesian Universities Network (SUN).
Since 2018, Edyta has cooperated with the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) as an expert and consultant. She has been involved with the EAIE since 2002, received the EAIE Rising Star Award in 2015, and is currently a member of the EAIE Board.
Joanne Pagèze
Joanne Pagèze is Vice-President for Internationalisation at the University of Bordeaux, and university lecturer at the Department of Languages and Cultures. She has worked in university language education for over 25 years and has a research interest in the internationalisation of the curriculum and education for global engagement. She has wide experience in teacher development having set up an award-winning programme at the University of Bordeaux (national PEPS prize 2017) and participated in EQUiiP (an E+ Strategic Partnership). Her current position covers all aspects of internationalisation but she still enjoys working alongside lecturers in the classroom. Assistant-editor of the European Journal of Language Policy, she is a board member of RANACLES affiliated to CERCLES. She holds a research Master's degree from Ecole Normale Supérieur de Cachan/ University Bordeaux Segalen and another Master’s degree from St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge.
Joanne has been involved with the EAIE in different roles and since 2024, she has been a member of the EAIE Board.
Stephen Orme
Stephen Orme is Senior Vice-President at Studyportals after previously being employed by Navitas, Study Group, Nuffic and Leiden University. He has a wide range of experience in the field, covering admissions, international recruitment, pathway education and management. Stephen was born in Northern Ireland but was educated in the Netherlands. He holds a Master of Arts degree in English Language and Literature.
Stephen has been involved with the EAIE in different roles. He won the EAIE Rising Star award in 2009 and was a member of the EAIE General Council for two terms, from 2020-2024. Since 2024, he has been a member of the EAIE Board.
Thematic Committees
The nine new Thematic Committees will contribute to the creation and curation of high-quality, relevant content within the EAIE, helping to enrich the professional journeys of our members. Appointed by the current Board, taking into account a Member Consultation and various other considerations to achieve a balanced composition, these Thematic Committee members are poised to make significant contributions. The new Thematic Committees will serve a two-year term, from 2024–2026, beginning this September. Congratulations to the new Thematic Committee members, listed below in alphabetical order, and sincere thanks to all who expressed interest in serving.
European-funded programmes
Adam Lipski
Adam Lipski is in charge of building up the International Compliance Sector at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Prior to this role, Adam served as the Director of the International Office.
From 2013 until 2023, he coordinated European university partnerships and EU programmes at Frankfurt University UAS, focusing on the ERASMUS programme. He was selected to serve on the panel of German Erasmus Experts by the National Agency DAAD for four consecutive years. From 2008 until 2012, Adam worked for the International Office of the Technical University of Braunschweig and was a visiting scholar at Shizuoka University in Shizuoka and Hamamatsu, Japan.
Since 2024, Adam has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee European-funded programmes.
Andreas Winkler
Andreas Winkler is Head of International Relations Europe and Unite at the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU), Germany. He has been Secretary General of the European University Alliance Unite! since its foundation in November 2019. Prior to his current position, he successfully managed European projects and networks as coordinator of the CLUSTER consortium (2018-20), as a funding and policy advisor for internationalisation at TU Darmstadt (2015-19) and while working with universities in the Western Balkans as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Bamberg (2010-15). Andreas studied Geography, Political Sciences and Communication Sciences and holds a PhD in Geography. He is also a certified university and science manager.
Since 2024, Andreas has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee European-funded programmes.
Dorothée Brac de la Perrière
Since 2024, Dorothée has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee European-funded programmes.
Mojca Maher Pirc
Mojca Maher Pirc works as the Head of Erasmus+ Projects and Project Manager for the European University Alliance, EUTOPIA, at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.
She brings over two decades of extensive experience in the field of international education and European-funded programs, with a particular focus on Erasmus+ KA2 initiatives and European Universities. Mojca possesses a proven track record in coordinating and leading numerous international projects and events, collaborating with partner universities across the globe. Her work directly impacts students, academic and professional staff, fostering opportunities for both professional and personal development.
Mojca is highly motivated and inspired by the dynamic environment of international collaboration. Her core strengths include flexibility, adaptability, problem-solving skills, a commitment to teamwork, a focus on sustainability, diversity and inclusion, a dedication to continuous learning and a drive for innovation and strategic development. She holds a Master's degree in Business and Organization with a specialisation in Marketing. Previously, from 2017 to 2024, Mojca was a member of the EAIE Expert Community Business Education while working at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana.
Since 2024, Mojca has been a member of the EAIE Thematic European-funded programmes.
Niamh Burke
Niamh Burke is the Associate Director for Partnerships and Global Mobility at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where she oversees all central mobility programmes, including international exchanges, study abroad programmes and Erasmus+. She also oversees the Partnerships and Networks team, which manages the development of dual, joint, and articulation programmes and Trinity’s engagement with university partners, such as Networks and Consortia.
Niamh has worked in the Global Engagement Office at Trinity College Dublin for almost ten years. Previously, she worked with a leading Irish law firm and in the Australian public sector. Since 2024, Niamh has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee European-funded programmes.
Rui Branco Lopes
Since 2009, Rui Branco Lopes has worked as an International Relations and Communication Specialist at Coimbra Health School of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra. In this role, he has been responsible for the management of online communication platforms (webpage and social media), press relations and management of exchange programmes and international cooperation, with emphasis on the Erasmus+ programme. He has participated annually in international staff weeks of development and professional dialogue, which has allowed him to continuously increase his personal and institutional network of knowledge and experience. He has a degree in Modern Languages and Literature (English and German studies) from the University of Coimbra, Portugal and a Master's degree in Business Communication from the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Portugal.
Since 2024, Rui has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee European-funded programmes and is the Chair.
Veronika Kupriyanova
Veronika Kupriyanova is the Deputy Director at the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA). She has almost fifteen years of experience in the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of EU policy initiatives and projects in higher education and research. In her current position, Veronika is responsible for monitoring, analysing and consulting ACA members on key European policies and programmes in higher education and research while serving as the co-chair of ACA’s thematic peer group "European policies and programmes". Before joining ACA, Veronika worked as a Policy Analyst at the European University Association (EUA), focusing on funding, institutional autonomy and governance, as well as on efficiency and effectiveness in the context of higher education. She has gained hands-on experience in university collaborations at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HUB) in Germany. Veronika studied International Relations and holds a joint Master’s degree in World Politics from the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) in Russia and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in France.
Since 2024, Veronika has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee European-funded programmes.
- Twitter:
- @v_kupriyanova?lang=en
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/veronika-kupriyanova-33406752/
Leadership, strategy and policy
Christel Vacelet
Since 2024, Christel has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy.
Iryna Sikorska
Since 2024, Iryna has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy.
Jacqueline van Marle
Since 2024, Jacqueline has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy.
Marina Casals Sala
Marina Casals is the Director of Member Relations for Europe and the UK at the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) Study Abroad, a non-profit organisation that aims to break down financial and academic barriers and make study abroad accessible for all.
Marina holds an undergraduate degree from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, a master’s degree from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid, and is currently pursuing her PhD at the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy.
Marina has more than 22 years of experience in higher education internationalisation, spanning roles in Spain, Finland and Morocco. In her most recent position, she managed international strategy and operations as the Director of International Relations at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain. Marina also created the Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation (SUCTI) Project, an award-winning training course designed to empower university administrative staff on internationalisation. She trains and presents at conferences internationally and has been recognised with the EAIE Rising Star Award and the SGroup IMPACT Award. She has served as a member of the EAIE Leadership and a board member of CHEI.
Since 2024, Marina has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy.
- Twitter:
- @MarinaCasalSala
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/marinacasalssala/
Olga Krylova
Olga Krylov is Senior Expert at E-Quadrat Science&Education, a German-based research group which provides strategic consultancy for HEIs. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in the field of International education, she was involved in the coordination of international projects of different scale, the development and management of educational programs, the development of partnerships and international marketing. Olga has presented at a number of international conferences (eg NAFSA, EAIE, APAIE and others) on a variety of topics such as internationalisation, building university interationalisation strategy, and marketing and recruitment. She honed skills in leadership, strategic planning, and policy development and really commited to driving positive change.
As a lifelong learner and advocate for international education, she has always believed in the transformative power of education on a global scale and eager to collaborate with like-minded professionals. Hence Olga was a Steering group member of the Expert Community Marketing and Recruitment from 2019–2022.
Since 2024, Olga has been a member of the Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy and is the Chair.
Sandra Slotte
Sandra Slotte is the Senior Policy Advisor for Internationalisation at Arcada University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. Her expertise lies in the strategic and comprehensive internationalisation of higher education, as well as in matters related to the employability of international students and the employer-ability of receiving organisations. Sandra's professional journey began in student recruitment and admissions to professional competence development and establishing a recruitment company for young professionals. From there on to international marketing and communications and further on to international student recruitment, including student experience and -success. This in turn took her into Internationalisation at Home (IaH) and then to strategic, comprehensive and ethical internationalisation. She has served as Secretary for the Steering Group for Internationalisation at Arcada since 2019 and as Steering Group Member of the EAIE Expert Community for Strategy and management 2022-2024. She was appointed as a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee for Leadership, strategy and policy for 2024-2026. Sandra also manages the INTERLOCALITY Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership project at Arcada 2022-2025. She holds a Master's degree in Education and is currently a PhD student at the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) in Milan.
Since 2024, Sandra has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy.
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/sandraslotte/
Vicky Lewis
Dr Vicky Lewis is an experienced independent consultant, based in the UK, who advises universities on international strategy development. She has completed over sixty projects for institutions with widely differing profiles and at various stages of internationalisation - mainly in the UK, but also in Europe, Asia, the US and Australia.
Before becoming a consultant in 2013, Vicky worked for many years at the Director level within UK universities, establishing an award-winning International Office from scratch and leading development of institutional strategies in the areas of internationalisation and marketing.
Vicky's undergraduate degree is in Modern Languages (German and French) from the University of Oxford, UK. She completed a Doctorate of Business Administration (Higher Education Management) at the University of Bath, UK, with a thesis exploring different motivations for and approaches to international engagement at UK universities. She continues to undertake research alongside her consultancy and regularly publishes thought leadership articles and blogs on global engagement strategy, transnational education and national policy.
Vicky joined EAIE in 2014 and, since then, has provided mentorship, co-delivered Academy training, contributed to conference workshops and sessions, and written several articles for Forum. Since 2024, Vicky has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Leadership, strategy and policy.
Marketing and admissions
Alejandra Otero
Alejandra Otero is the Founder & CEO at geNEOus - Education Marketing Experts With A Purpose, a consultancy optimising marketing and student recruitment strategies that empower educational institutions to meet the expectations of younger generations.
Previously, she served as a HigherEd Marketing, International Relations and Admissions intrapreneur in the USA and Europe. Alejandra is a sought-after speaker on digital innovation, marketing automation, international education, student enrollment enablement, AI and Gen Alpha.
In 2023, Alejandra was recognised by The PIE as one of the Top 50 Voices to follow in international education. After four years of contributing to the Marketing & Recruitment Steering Group of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), she has now joined the EAIE's Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions for the 2024-2026 mandate.
Kris Achten
Kris Achten leads the international marketing team at Karel de Grote (KdG) University of Applied Sciences and Arts, in Antwerp, Belgium. He has been at KdG for seven years, starting as a lecturer and recruiter, and later as the project lead responsible for building the integrated services for its fast-growing portfolio of English-taught degree programmes. In this role, Kris helped build and align KdG's international marketing, admissions, and student services efforts and teams. As a story strategist and fractional Chief Marketing Officer, Kris helps startups and scaleups develop their marketing and teams.
Kris has been involved with the EAIE as a mentor and speaker at previous EAIE Annual Conference and Exhibitions. In 2024, Kris was appointed to the EAIE Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions for the 2024–2026 term.
Magdalena Setlak
In her current position, Magdalena is responsible for evaluating international credentials, analysing the data and monitoring the entire application procedure. Her main focus is credential verification, quality enhancement, programme-level equivalency, digitalisation, innovation and new technology management. She was involved in creating the International Admissions Office at the Politecnico di Milano and has been working within the Internationalization Project.
Magdalena has 16 years of experience working in international higher education, including professional training for other credential officers and consultancy in foreign degrees. On a daily basis, she collaborates with the International Marketing Office and International Students Office. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and Literature as well as a Master's degree in Cultural Heritage Studies. Over the years she worked as a Senior Credential Evaluator at the Bachelor, Master and Phd level.
Since 2024, Magdalena has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions.
Marlies Overbeek
Marlies Overbeek is College Director at Navitas. Before that, she worked as Senior Marketing Adviser at the University of Twente, the Netherlands, where she headed a team of 10 marketing and communication professionals working on the university’s internationalisation goals. She was also previously involved in organisational change projects at Delft University of Technology and building Delft’s international presence from 2005 onwards.
The common thread in her career so far is connecting marketing and recruitment of graduate students and universities’ strategic policies and activities. Her interests involve building bridges within the university to facilitate enrolment of qualified students. In the past, Marlies has been a board member of the Dutch higher education marketeer network DHENIM. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Languages from HAN University of Applied Sciences, and a Master’s Degree in Communication from the University of Twente, both in the Netherlands.
Since 2024, Marlies has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions and is the Chair.
Marybeth Gruenewald
Marybeth Gruenewald is Director of Global Initiatives at Educational Credential Evaluators in the USA where she engages in marketing content development, cross-functional team management, public relations, manages the ECE® e-Learning programme, works with external strategic alliances, and serves as a liaison between ECE and U.S. and national and international organisations and International governmental bodies.
As a former international credential evaluator, Marybeth has served in leadership positions for NAFSA and received the NAFSA Award for Service to the Organization. Marybeth received the National Association for Graduate Admissions Professionals' [NAGAP] Building Bridges national award. Marybeth served on the Board of Directors for the United States National Association of Credential Evaluation Services [NACES] for ten years. Having assisted the EAIE office with its first webinar programme offering, Marybeth then was a six-year member of the EAIE Professional Development Committee where she had helped oversee EAIE training programmes and the organisation's workshop content for its annual conference. She is a frequent presenter and workshop developer for various organisations, including EAIE, NAFSA, TAICEP, and many others. Her expertise continues to be her ability to bring together diverse professionals so that others can gain insight and understanding into the varied procedures, policies and trends in our global community of international educators.
Since 2024, Marybeth has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions.
Monique Swennenhuis
Monique Swennenhuis is a strategicnal marketing and international affairs at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Monique has worked in variousadvisor for internatio disciplines within internationalisation since 1996 and has 18 years of experience in international higher education marketing. She has experience with all aspects of marketing and recruitment, be it enrolment management, CRM, marketing and recruitment tools, website or portfolio management. She is a board member of the Dutch Higher Education Network on International Marketing and a regular presenter and workshop leader at the EAIE Conference on topics such as the basics of marketing and CRM. Monique has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature, a Master's degree in Language and Speech Pathology, an International Certification as NLP trainer, and a teaching degree.
Within the EAIE, she is a trainer and presenter and since 2024, Monique has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions.
Tom Wilmot
Tom Wilmot is the Recruitment and Admissions Solutions Director at StudyLink Connect, UK. He works with universities to ensure that their international student journey yields as many enrollments as possible by maximising conversions. Tom has been working with or in universities for nine years, having begun his career at the University of Leicester Students' Union and then working at Endsleigh in the UK before moving into international higher education in 2016 with the International Student Admissions Service (ISAS). When ISAS was acquired in 2018, Tom was asked to head up Studee's University Partnership team and he has been working to help Studee's partners bridge the gap between their marketing and admissions departments. Tom studied Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leicester before completing his Master's degree at Aston University Business School in Human Resource Management and Business.
Since 2024, Tom has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Marketing and admissions.
Partnerships
Anna Pellegrino
Anna Pellegrino is Head of International Development at LUISS University, Italy. Anna has more than ten years of progressive experience in the field of international education management. Her activity is focused on the implementation of the University’s internationalisation process, both abroad and at home, as well as through the management and development of a team of young professionals. Key areas of her activity are strategic planning, partnership management and mobility programmes, implementation of student welcome services, accreditations and rankings, staff development and intercultural communication. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and a Doctorate in Communication Studies.
Since 2024, Anna has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Partnerships.
Anna Stina Sinisalo
Anna Stina Sinisalo works as a Head of Development, International Affairs at the University of Helsinki, Finland. In her current role, she acts as the University of Helsinki operational lead of the Una Europa alliance and a deputy unit head of the UH International Affairs. She has been working with diverse tasks within higher education international relations for over 15 years and has broad expertise on international higher education cooperation, joint degree programmes, international exchanges and collaborative projects with external funding. She has contributed to steering groups and development committees of various international networks. Anna Stina holds a Master’s degree in French Language from the University of Turku in Finland and studied international marketing and organisational management at Åbo Akademi University.
Anna Stina has been in different volunteer roles of the EAIE. Since 2024, Anna has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Partnerships
Hanne Liv Østtveit-Moe
Hanne Liv Østtveit-Moe is a Senior Advisor in Internationalisation at VID Specialized University, Norway. Hanne Liv has been working in the field of internationalisation of higher education for more than 10 years and has extensive experience with the administration of international student mobility in higher education. In her current role, she supports academics and leaders through staff trainings on internationalisation, student and staff mobility and supporting international projects and partnerships.
She also has extensive volunteer experience in non-formal training in intercultural learning from the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Programs and has been dedicated to giving people international experiences to promote understanding and counteract xenophobia, both through professional and volunteer engagement.
Hanne Liv holds a Master of Science in Globalisation, Global Politics and Culture from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and a Bachelor's degree in Intercultural Communication and French from the University of Bergen and NHH Norwegian School of Economics.
Since 2024, Hanne Liv has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Partnerships.
Karin Kim Lim
Karin Kim Lim is Head of International Cooperation and Partnerships at the Ecole normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon) in France. In her current position, Karin oversees international cooperation agreements and projects with foreign universities and institutions. She also leads a task force on International Rankings strategy. Originally from Mauritius, Karin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and a Master’s degree in International Business. Before joining the Higher Education sector, she worked as a senior consultant in intelligent transport systems and smart cities, with proven success in managing European projects and networks.
Since 2024, Karin has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Partnerships.
Leasa Weimer
Leasa Weimer is the Director for Global Partnerships at the University of Denver, Colorado, USA, and provides strategic thought-leadership and vision to develop an integrated partnership approach. Previously, she worked in Europe for over a decade, holding positions at the Fulbright Commission in Helsinki, the European Association for International Education (EAIE), and as a research fellow at the University of Jyväskylä. She has authored/edited numerous international publications and was a Principal Investigator for research projects with the Finnish Ministry for Education and Culture and UNESCO. Weimer holds a doctorate from the University of Georgia, USA, and received a Fulbright grant to conduct her dissertation fieldwork in Finland. She also received an Erasmus Mundus joint master's degree, where she lived and studied in Norway, Finland, and Portugal. She served as the president of the Erasmus Mundus Student & Alumni Association.
Since 2024, Leasa has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Partnerships.
Mirko Varano
Mirko Varano serves as Vice Rector for International Affairs at Tecnologico De Monterrey - ITESM. Mirko has been active in the field of internationalisation of higher education for the past 25 years. He covered different positions of responsibility at the Turin Technical University between 1992–2008 in the field of international relations. He was appointed as CLUSTER network coordinator from 2008 to 2010. He was previously internationalisation officer at KTH Royal Institute of Technology where he was appointed a member of the international strategy group from 2013 to 2016. He is currently an adviser for international projects at the same institution, with a focus on Erasmus+ and university networks. Mirko holds a Master’s degree in Political Science with a specialisation in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Turin, Italy.
Since 2024, Mirko has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Partnerships and is the Chair.
Tallulah Forrest
Tallulah is the Education Partnerships Manager at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Europe, the European innovation hub of RMIT University, an Australian university of design, technology and enterprise with a strong presence in Asia-Pacific and an international focus, with partnerships all over the world.
As part of the RMIT Europe team based in Barcelona, she leads the Education Partnerships area, enabling education collaborations with European partners.
With a long experience in international higher education, she previously worked in international recruitment and admissions, as an exchange programme coordinator, and coordinated the international office activity at La Salle Campus Barcelona-URL.
She is passionate about facilitating global connections and collaborations that will have a positive impact through education, tackling some of the many challenges of today’s world, and building students’ global mindset, awareness and motivation to make a positive contribution to the world.
With a background in Social Education, Psychology and Management, she has a special interest in social initiatives that work for the common good.
She has been a member of the EAIE since 2013 and is looking forward to taking on a more active role within the Partnerships Thematic Committee as of 2024.
Research on internationalisation
Adinda van Gaalen
Adinda is strategic advisor on research and internationalisation as well as team leader at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. She is also part time PhD candidate at Ghent University in Belgium. Adinda's research focuses on the role of values and dilemmas in agenda setting and policy development for Internationalisation of higher education.
Adinda was previously an elected member of the EAIE General Council. She worked at the Dutch National Agency Nuffic as well as at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Adinda has (co) authored a number of publications and worked as a trainer and auditor in various educational sectors. Adinda is a member of the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) and has been involved in the development of a Green Travel Policy at Nuffic, Ghent University and Inholland UAS. Currently she is the chair of the Dutch national platform for policy advisors on research in universities of applied sciences (HON).
Since 2024, Adinda has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation.
Agata Mannino
Agata Mannino works at the University of Padova, Italy, to manage and promote National and International educational projects. Previously, she worked as the International Partnerships Coordinator at the University of Trieste, Italy, where she also managed international networks. Agata worked as a project manager in designing and launching Bachelor's degree courses in Economics in English, then as an Event Manager and Web and Communication Manager at the Erasmus office, and finally in international relations. She gained extensive experience in partnership agreements, coordination of international networks and managing projects on different levels.
Since October 2018, Agata is also a member of the Executive Committee of the SGroup European Universities' Network. She holds a Master's degree in Translation and Interpretation, a Teaching license for German as a Second Language and a Vocational Master's in Public Communication. Agata is pursuing her PhD at the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI). Since 2020, she has been a member of the EAIE General Council.
Since 2024, Agata has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation.
Emmy Arts
Emmy Arts leads the International Relations Department at École Centrale de Marseille, France, handling international cooperation since 2004. Her background includes Linguistics and Environmental Sciences. Emmy is a Sociology Doctoral candidate at Université Paris Cité, co-directed with the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, studying minorities' access to international mobility in the context of higher education policies in Brazil. Her research aims to enhance educational policies for better social outcomes, stressing education as a public good. Emmy actively engages in global education conferences, focusing on fostering partnerships and advocating education as a crucial resource.
Since 2024, Emmy has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation.
Jarosław Tomaszewski
Jarosław Tomaszewski is Head of The Center for International Cooperation WSB Merito University in Wroclaw. He is responsible for the university's implementation of international educational projects in programs such as Youth in Action, Spinnaker, Welcome to Poland, Erasmus +, Polish-German Foundation for Science.
Jarosław Tomaszewski is Head of the Center for International Cooperation at WSB Merito University in Wroclaw. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing the university's international cooperation strategy, managing the institution's internationalization efforts, expanding English-language courses, and overseeing international educational projects such as Youth in Action, Spinnaker, Welcome to Poland, Erasmus+, and the Polish-German Foundation for Science.
Jarosław has been involved in different roles within the EAIE. Since 2024, he has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation.
Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans
Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans received the Bo Gregersen award in 2008. The Awards Committee acknowledged that her work has "taken our profession to a higher level", noting the "significant and long-lasting contribution to the careers of all those members who once, twice and even more times have attended her training courses, workshops and sessions." When she received this award, Jeanine was Director of Communication and Spokesperson of the Executive Board at Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
Since 2024, Jeanine has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation.
Jos Beelen
Jos Beelen is a Professor of Global Learning at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands, as well as a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Global Learning at Coventry University in England. He has facilitated workshops and coached academic staff in internationalising academic programmes at universities in the Netherlands and across Europe, as well as in Colombia, Brazil, South Africa and Australia. He edited the EAIE’s Toolkit publication Implementing Internationalisation at Home (2007) and has since written a range of articles on the same topic, often co-authored with researchers from Europe and Australia. Jos is currently researching the internationalisation of learning outcomes in academic programmes, focusing on developing the skills that enable academic staff to assume ownership of curriculum internationalisation. In addition to being an EAIE senior trainer, he was a member of the EAIE Publications Committee.
Jos was honoured with the 2018 President's award by the President at the time, Sabine Pendl in recognition for his productive commitment to the Association. Since 2024, Jos has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation.
Simone Hackett
Simone works at The Hague University of Applied Sciences as a Researcher & Senior Lecturer. She previously worked at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences for eight years, where she coordinated internationalisation activities and developed and implemented internationalisation strategies. Simone established international agreements and strategic relation management with partner universities and networks worldwide. She also set up Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiatives, developed international curricula and lectured in sociology and psychology. Simone holds a Master’s of Education degree and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology from the National University of Ireland.
Simone has been involved in the EAIE since 2010, presenting workshops and sessions and being a session evaluator, a mentor and a member of the EAIE Conference Programme Committee. She served in the EAIE General Council for the 2022–2024 term. Since 2024, she has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Research on internationalisation and is the Chair.
- Twitter:
- @Simone_Hackett
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/simone-hackett-9a79638/
Social responsibility
Ceren Genc
Ceren Genc is the Team Leader for International Student Admissions at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. For over a decade, Ceren held positions as an admissions officer at a prominent university and as an academic partnership coordinator. Over the years, she has built up a strong international network and gained expertise in different aspects of internationalisation of higher education. She has delivered several sessions and workshops on admissions and on recognition for refugees. Her professional interest lies in informal and non-formal learning recognition, as well as formal learning recognition. She has been awarded the EAIE Rising Star Award in 2016.
Since 2024, Ceren has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Social responsibility.
Claire Cox
Claire Cox is Head of Partnerships and Engagement at Griffith College in Ireland. Personal development, lifelong learning and active citizenship are what drive Claire. At Griffith College, Claire is responsible for supporting the Director of the International Office in overseeing international marketing, recruitment and academic collaborations. Claire’s focus is on implementing the College’s internationalisation strategy abroad and at home. Key areas of her activity are strategic planning, partnership development and management, mobility programmes, staff development through Erasmus projects and student recruitment.
She holds a Bachelor’s (Hons) degree in French and Spanish and an MSc in Management from Dublin City University. She has also completed several management trainings at NAFSA, EAIE and AIEA. Since 2024, Claire has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Social responisbility.
Hege Kristin Widnes
Hege Kristin is an International Adviser in the Central administration at the University in Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway (UiT). She is the Institutional Coordinator for Erasmus+ ICM in addition to being the Coordinator for Cooperation with India, China and South-Africa and the Global South. She has extensive knowledge and experience with externally funded collaboration programmes with the Global South funded both by Norwegian agencies and EU-funded programmes (especially KA2).
Since 2024, Hege Kristin has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Social responsibility.
Martin Bogdan
Martin Bogdan has been a Policy and Project Coordinator working for the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) since 2019. He coordinates several of ACA’s projects on inclusion and societal engagement, as well as the Inclusion ACAdemy capacity-building training series for higher education institutions and national agencies. Martin also co-chairs ACA’s Thematic Peer Group "Widening Inclusion in Higher Education," which discusses managing national and European funding to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in international higher education.
Before joining ACA, Martin worked at the European Commission and in several NGOs focused on open access policies, migrants, arts and media. He also briefly taught at an international school. Martin holds a master’s degree in European Studies from the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the Netherlands and Jagiellonian University Kraków, Poland, as well as a master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Museum and Heritage Management from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, with an exchange year at the University of Łódź, Poland. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology and Information Science from the University of Zagreb.
Since 2024, Martin has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Social responsibility.
Peter Kerrigan
Peter R. Kerrigan is the Deputy Director of the German Academic Exchange Service's (DAAD) Regional Office in New York and is the Director of Marketing and Outreach for DAAD in North America. He is responsible for marketing German higher education and research and DAAD's scholarship programmes in the U.S. and Canada. Peter served as Vice President of Membership Development and Services at The Forum on Education Abroad, Assistant Director of the Higher Education Resource Group at the Institute of International Education (IIE) and Senior Program Coordinator in the Work Abroad Division of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).
He served as Chair of the EAIE's Professional Development Committee, Chair of the Inclusion and Diversity Expert Community, a Resource Person on the Marketing and Recruitment Expert Community, and as a member of the EAIE General Council. In September 2016, Peter received the EAIE's Transatlantic Leadership Award. Peter was awarded a Master's degree in Political Science by the Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and German by Bates College, Maine, USA.
Since 2024, Peter has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Social responsibility and is the Chair.
Rosalyn Eder
Rosalyn Eder has over 15 years of experience in international higher education. She is currently the Head of the International Office and the Bologna Coordinator at the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) in Salzburg, Austria, where she actively shapes the university's strategic development and global reach. Rosalyn spearheads the ENGAGE Initiative to guide the International Office's internationalisation agenda. To launch this initiative, she is organising an international workshop titled "ENGAGE: Fostering Community Engagement in Higher education for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" in October 2024. In 2021, she initiated a working group of international offices from all Salzburg higher education institutions to facilitate collaboration and dialogue.
In addition, Rose is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and teaches Globalisation and Education, Research Methods and Cross-Cultural Management. Her research explores the complex relationship between policy and practice in global higher education through the lens of social equity.
She fondly remembers her first EAIE conference in Madrid in 2009. She became an EAIE member in 2013 and has since volunteered as a session evaluator several times. In September 2024, she joins the Thematic Committee on Social responsibility and hopes to contribute to the development of this important theme within the EAIE.
Stella Saliari
Stella Saliari is a feminist researcher and social justice consultant who works with institutions striving to achieve intersectional justice. She collaborates with organisations in higher education and the not-for-profit sector, presenting and researching topics such as Eurocentrism and knowledge production, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in international education, the politics of positionality and holistic and flexible resourcing. She also curates and moderates events ranging from discussions on inclusion and diversity in the Erasmus+ programme to training sessions on feminist knowledge production and non-hierarchical classrooms.
All her work is guided by interventions at epistemological levels, challenging normalised assumptions. Her research practice is intersectional, reflexive and participatory. She advocates for the co-creation of knowledge, employing non-extractive methods and engaging in non-hierarchical relationships with the organisations and people she collaborates with.
At the Technical University Braunschweig, Germany, Stella studied English and German Language and Literature. At the University of York, UK, she studied Linguistics under the ERASMUS scheme. She holds an Master's degree in Middle East Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, UK and an Master's degree in Gender Studies from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Since 2024, Stella has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Social responsibility.
Student and alumni services
Christèlle Cronjé
Christèlle Cronjé is Manager for Alumni and Stakeholder Relations at Stellenbosch Business School. She is an alumna of Stellenbosch University, where she earned a BA in Social Sciences, and University of Pretoria, where she completed her Honours in Demography. She also obtained an Honours Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and an MBA cum laude from Stellenbosch Business School. She completed Executive Education short courses in Resolving Strategic Complexity, Scenario Planning, Strategy Execution, Women in Leadership, and EMBA.
Christèlle commits to investing in individuals and partnerships, thereby contributing to sustainable growth and meaningful impact through integrated communications and stakeholder engagement strategies within complex and diverse environments. She focuses on creating impactful interventions in business and society. She applies her expertise in organisational and business management, to maximize the value derived from local and global networks.
Christèlle has successfully managed social responsibility programmes, donor relations, and global grant funding, and has adeptly negotiated policies, partnerships, and service level agreements across governmental, non-governmental, and private sectors. Christèlle lectured in business and marketing management and is a certified Integral Coach with a passion for exploring diverse cultures, nature, and communities.
Since 2024, Christèlle has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and alumni services.
Géraldine Dufour
Having worked in universities for over 20 years, Géraldine Dufour is a leading expert in matters related to university wellbeing and mental health and Vice-Chair of the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Expert Group (MWBHE) at Advance HE. She is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex, UK and works directly with individuals and organisations across the sector, facilitating training, consultancy, coaching and supervision. Géraldine has wide-ranging experience and an interest in international education, including being Head of Counselling at the University of Cambridge, Chair of the National Executive Committees for Student Mental Health and Counselling and founding member of national research groups in student mental health. As a former French Erasmus student working and collaborating internationally, with a visiting professorship at Fudan University, Géraldine is interested in cross-cultural work, differences, and diversity.
Since 2024, Geraldine has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and alumni services and is the Chair.
- Twitter:
- @DufourGeraldine
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/geraldine-dufour-45a2654a/
Jessica Price
Jessica works as Programme Leader of Health and Wellbeing at the LUNEX University in Luxembourg. She is also an academic lecturer and higher education consultant in the field of diversity and mental health for various universities in Germany. Her passion for working with internationals and the challenges they face when moving abroad is central to her work. Since 2008, after relocating to Bremen, Germany, she worked as a consultant for higher education institutions in mental health, diversity and inclusion.
Since 2018, she also worked partially with "Refugio Bremen e.V.", an organisation that offers psychological therapy to refugees and victims of war. Her website, "Culturally Sensitive Psychotherapy", is a trusting and safe space where international clients can be truly open about the challenges of being "lost in translation" and "lost in culture". She teaches at the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen, and Jacobs University in Germany on topics such as Gender and Multiculturalism, Intercultural Competence and Sensitivity and Organisational Behaviour, among others. She holds two Master’s degrees from New York University, USA and Jacobs University and a PhD in Psychology from Jacobs University.
Since 2024, Jessica has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and alumni services.
Kevin Chevillon
Since 2024, Kevin has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and alumni services.
Laura Spencer
Laura Spencer is the International Development Manager at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. Working alongside people with different cultural experiences and perspectives is what motivates Laura. With nearly twenty years of experience in international education, she has an instinctive understanding of what good customer service and student-orientated marketing mean. She is particularly keen to champion the embedding of alumni into student recruitment practices and regularly promotes the value of building and nurturing sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships as a result.
Laura holds a BA Hons in History and Politics from the University of Warwick, a PG Cert Management of International Higher Education from Edge Hill University and a Global Alumni Relations certificate from the University of Albany, SUNY.
She has written blogs highlighting the value of alumni relations and is an enthusiastic supporter of the EAIE Mentorship programme. Since 2024, Laura has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and alumni services.
Stephanie Griffiths
Stephanie is an intercultural consultant/trainer at her own intercultural consultancy for higher education institutions, which focuses on the internationalisation of students. She recently retired from the position of Associate Director for Counselling and Mental Health Support at King’s College London, UK, after having worked in the field of psychological counselling for over 30 years. Stephanie has developed an outreach and training programme to enable home and international students, academics and frontline administrative staff to be trained in the psychological pressures they may encounter. She embarked on a study trip to Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong Universities, China, in 2015 to understand the presentation and treatment of mental health issues among students in China. She has since been invited to speak at several conferences in China organised through Oxford Prospects and Global Development Institute. Stephanie studied English and Education at Goldsmiths University, UK; Psychology at Birkbeck College, University of London, UK; Guidance and Counselling at Reading University, UK and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. She received the King’s College Principal’s Award in 2018, recognising an individual who has ‘gone above and beyond to champion the goals of the university and has delivered outstanding service as a King’s Ambassador’.
She has been a trainer at the EAIE Academy for the past five years and was one of the keynote speakers at the AACSB on the topic of ‘avoiding virtual burnout: maintaining engagement, motivation and mental health in students, staff and faculty’.
Stephanie received the EAIE Award for Outstanding Contribution in 2022 in recognition of her important contributions to supporting international education by ensuring that the students and staff within our institutions can thrive. Since 2024, Stephanie has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and alumni services.
Student and staff mobility
Adrijana Lazic
Adrijana has worked in international education for over 10 years and is currently responsible for short-term programmes at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She was involved in various internationalisation activities, e.g., outgoing mobility, staff mobility and digitalisation of processes in general. She is an expert in managing summer and winter schools, both on-site and online and has been involved in the organisation of tailor-made programmes and study abroad tours for international partners.
Adrijana holds a Master’s in Business Studies from the University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business. She has been involved with the EAIE since 2018. Since 2024, Adrijana has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility.
Alejandra Vicencio
Alejandra Vicencio has been working in international education for 20 years. She is currently Head of International Mobility at Northumbria University, UK, where she manages all aspects of international mobility programmes for students and staff, funding and partner relations.
Originally from Chile, she is passionate about internationalising higher education and based her postgraduate research on this topic in a development context. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Chile and a Master’s in international development from Northumbria.
She has been involved with the EAIE since 2014 as a session evaluator and an EAIE mentor for the last five years. Since 2024, Alejandra has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility and is the Chair.
Angeliki Psychogyiou
Angeliki Psychogyiou serves as the Policy and Project Coordinator at the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), where she primarily focuses on digitalisation and sustainability within international higher education.
In the framework of overseeing the related portfolio of ACA, she is the co-chair of ACA’s Thematic Peer Group on "New Mobility Formats", exploring the intersection between digitalisation and sustainability and discussing emerging trends and issues in new digitally enhanced mobility formats as well as their implications for programme design and the work of funding agencies.
Additionally, Angeliki has been actively involved in the European Digital Education Hub, most recently leading the working group on sustainability in digital education and training. She is also the coordinator of the HIBLend project, aiming to raise interest in and enhance HEIs’ capacity to develop high-quality blended mobility opportunities for students.
Before joining ACA, Angeliki spent five years as a project manager and engineer at the international relations office of the University of Paris 8 - Vincennes Saint Denis. She also worked for one and a half years in the secretariat of the European Vocational Training Association, where she managed the EU projects division, overseeing a portfolio of 14 projects.
Angeliki has also been working in the private sector, in a complementary capacity, in evaluating EU funding applications in education and conducting research for EU studies.
She holds an advanced master’s degree in International and European Relations from Linköping University, Sweden, and an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Since 2024, Angeliki has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility.
- Twitter:
- https://x.com/a_psychogyiou
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/psychogyiouangeliki/
Iris Waringer
Iris Waringer has been working in higher education for more than 20 years. She managed transnational educational programmes for around ten years before becoming Head of International Relations at the International Management Center (IMC) at Krems University of Applied Sciences. In this capacity, Iris oversees student and staff mobility programmes, short-term programmes, and the IMC Welcome Center. Additionally, she is involved in international projects such as the aspiring European University Alliance.
Creating international learning opportunities for all students by building bridges and connecting individuals for international collaboration is what Iris loves most about her job. Starting from a vocational education in tourism, Iris holds a diploma in Business Administration from IMC Krems and a Master's in Business Education from the University of Economics and Business in Vienna.
Since 2024, Iris has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility
Iris represents IMC Krems in the Africa Uni-Net, the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and several national working groups for international higher education. Since 2024, Iris is a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility.
Kristin Torp Skogedal
Kristin Torp Skogedal is Erasmus Institutional Coordinator at the University of Bergen, Norway. She has worked in the higher education sector for 20 years and has spent the last 10 years with the Erasmus program. Her main tasks include European partnership agreements, student and staff mobilities, information and advisory services and participation in international projects and networks.
Kristin represents the University of Bergen in several networks and has previously been President of the Utrecht Network. She has extensive experience with digitalisation and has participated in several national and international digitalisation projects. In 2023, she joined the Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) Champions group. Kristin holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Bergen.
Since 2024, Kristin has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility.
Marijke van Oppen
Marijke van Oppen is an expert in interactive, creative workshops and training in cross-cultural development in Higher Education. She has been a Senior Educational Consultant and Intercultural Trainer at the Education Support Centre of Wageningen University & Research since 2000. She also has teaching and training experience, with a focus on inclusive education, in Russia, China, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. She holds a MA in Social Education and a MA in Fina Arts and specialises in inclusive intercultural learning and education on an individual, group and curriculum level.
Since 2010, she has been an active EAIE member and a speaker, trainer or chair at EAIE events. Since 2024, Marijke has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility.
Tom McAlear
Tom McAlear is a Senior Lecturer and International Lead for Nursing at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland and has been a registered nurse since 1992. After 10 years of clinical practice in surgical nursing, he took up a practice education facilitator role that linked the clinical and education settings to support student nurse practice education. Tom joined Glasgow Caledonian University in 2006 and has had a number of roles in the Department of Nursing since then. Leading a nursing top-up degree programme to gaining approval for delivery in Singapore in 2018 triggered his interest in internationalising curricula, teaching and student opportunities. Tom was appointed CPD Business Development Lead for nursing in 2020 before moving to International Lead for Nursing in 2022.
Since 2024, Tom has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Student and staff mobility.
Teaching, learning and curriculum
Alexandra Bočkova
Alexandra works as an Erasmus+ coordinator at the University of Ostrava, Czech Republic. Alexandra studied at several European universities. She studied European Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Manchester (UK), Sociology and Political Science at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg (DE) and Creative Photography and Teaching at University of Ostrava (CZ). Before her return to Czech Republic, she worked in an international environment of various organisations and companies in the UK, Germany and Spain. Her main interests and professional focus are the internationalisation of education, intercultural competence and communication, intercultural sensitivity, cultural diversity and informal learning. She speaks fluent Czech, English, Spanish and German. Currently, Alexandra is undertaking a mentoring training programme.
Since 2024, Alexandra has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum.
Alicia Betts
Alicia Betts has over 15 years of experience in international higher education, having served in various roles across higher education associations and universities. Currently, Alicia serves as the Strategic International Projects Manager at the University of Girona in Catalonia, Spain. In this role, she coordinates the COIL and Virtual Exchange Community of Practice, engages in Internationalization at Home (IaH) initiatives and is part of the local team at the European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing (Across). Alicia graduated from the Universities of Oslo (Norway), Tampere (Finland) and Aveiro (Portugal) with an Erasmus Mundus Master's degree in Higher Education Policy and Management.
Since 2024, Alicia has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum.
Eva Haug
Eva Haug is an Educational Advisor for Internationalisation of the Curriculum and COIL in the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), the Netherlands.
Eva has a Master's degree in Spanish Literature and Culture from the University of Amsterdam and did a Postgraduate in Higher Education. She's worked in higher education since 1992. As the Coordinator of Internationalisation, she specialises in internationalising the curriculum and campus experience of the students at AUAS. As COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) coordinator, she provides entire cohorts the possibility of experiencing international teamwork by pairing Amsterdam students with students from around the globe. Lecturers and students collaborate, at a distance, on real-life challenges. She has presented on COIL at conferences in Brazil, South Africa and the US, as well as at the Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition, and universities regularly invite her to train staff in intercultural and online collaboration.
Eva received the 2024 EAIE Award for Outstanding Contribution in recognition of her generosity in sharing her expertise in the field of COIL, her active engagement, and her valuable contributions to the EAIE community. Since 2024, Eva has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum.
- Twitter:
- @EvaHaug1
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/eva-haug-80406a29/
Julia Zuber
Julia Zuber is a psychologist at the student counselling centre in Linz and a lecturer at the University of Applied Science Upper Austria. Julia studied Psychology at the University of Salzburg, Austria, and got her PhD in Psychology at the University of Linz. She works in psychological research and clinical psychological counselling. In the Psychological Counselling Service, Julia is responsible for counselling for students and student-relevant workshops for national and international students. Her research deals with learning and teaching settings and how they can be improved. Julia is currently completing her training as a psychotherapist.
Since 2024, Julia has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum.
Lucie Weissova
Lucie Weissova is the Internationalisation at Home Coordinator at Halmstad University, Sweden. In this role, she is committed to promoting inclusive internationalisation practices, including internationalisation at home, internationalisation of the curriculum, and virtual exchange. Prior to this, she spent over a decade at Jönköping University, where she developed international partnerships and student mobility programmes. In addition, she consults for higher education institutions both nationally and internationally.
Lucie holds a background in International Education Management and is pursuing a PhD at the Center for Higher Education Internationalisation at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy. Her research focuses on institutional support and professional development for academics in the implementation of internationalisation of the curriculum.
She is also affiliated with the Mestenhauser Institute of International Collaboration and actively participates in domestic networks such as FINT, as well as global networks like the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence. She values the global connections that continue to challenge and shape her both personally and professionally.
Since 2024, Lucie has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum.
Pouneh Eftekhari
Pouneh Eftekhari is a seasoned internationalisation professional with over 15 years of experience in policy development, strategic planning, and project implementation. Her work has spanned universities across the United States, Denmark, Spain, and Sweden, where she has successfully fostered international collaborations and partnerships at various levels.
Her practical experience is complemented by her doctoral research, which explores the impact of disciplinary culture on academic engagement with curriculum internationalisation. Pouneh also leads an international research project that investigates the intersection of internationalisation and education development.
Her expertise is demonstrated through her journal publications, presentations at various international conferences and her certification by the European Consortium for Accreditation as an expert in assessing the quality of internationalisation.
Pouneh has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum since 2024.
Thierry Villard
Thierry is a language teacher, Mobility Officer, and Head of Studies at IUT de Bordeaux at the Université de Bordeaux, France. As a language teacher, Thierry has always been involved in European projects. Since he started his work at the Institute of Technology of Bordeaux, he has focused on internationalisation of the curricula. Since the creation of the 'Pôle Langues' in 2017, a structure gathering language and communication teachers, he has also been involved in the development of the language policy, a huge and exciting task. Thierry holds a Masters degree in English from Université Bordeaux Montaigne.
As of 2024, Thierry has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum and is the Chair.
Stay engaged and connected via the Community Platform
The Communities of Practice are where all EAIE members share ideas, knowledge and resources, providing support and inspiration to the global EAIE network. This interactive space is your hub for joining discussions, gathering new insights and elevating your professional journey.
