Conference Agenda 2025

 Keynote | 10:00 - 10:40 am | Room 314AB

Keynote: Global Experience, Lifelong Engagement: Nurturing Mutual Understanding for a Better World | Room 314AB

Study abroad experiences often act as a catalyst for lifelong engagement with global issues both locally and abroad. It emphasizes the lasting impact of international experiences on fostering a deep curiosity about diverse cultures and perspectives, while inspiring a continuous commitment to advocating for mutual understanding, social justice, and positive global change. The theme encourages students to reflect on how their journeys abroad have shaped their views and to explore ways they can advocate for a more interconnected and compassionate world.

Jennifer Dixon is the current Executive Director of WorldChicago, an organization dedicated to promoting citizen diplomacy through programs that connect the Chicago community with the world. As Executive Director, Dixon has the opportunity to continue to elevate the profile of WorldChicago, increase its role in promoting citizen diplomacy in the Chicago region, and develop the next generation of citizen diplomats. In her previous role as Vice President of WorldChicago, she oversaw the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI), a fellowship program that serves 60 fellows from 59 countries. Dixon’s career in the nonprofit sector spans 30 years. Prior to joining the WorldChicago team in 2021, she served in civic leadership roles for over 25 years for organizations such as Urban Alliance, Umoja (now New Root Learning), Girls on the Run – Chicago, and UCAN. She has also been an entrepreneur, having founded and successfully run her own business for 10 years and served as a consultant in the not-for-profit sector.

Morning Sessions | 11:00 - 11:55 am 

Morning Session: reflecting and adapting now that you’re back! | Room 312

Join this session to unpack your experience abroad. Come together to share new insights on how you have changed as a result of having this experience; what you miss about being abroad vs. what makes you happy to be home; figure out how you may decide to use the new KSA’s (knowledge, skills and abilities) that you have gained in order to benefit you in your professional aspirations; and explore what new goals may have emerged since studying abroad as well as how to plan to achieve those goals while you continue to learn, grow and develop in your life. Join this discussion to learn more about what reverse culture shock is and how it can show up after returning to the U.S. Understand the top ten challenges for returned study abroad students and how to adjust now that you’re back home. Use this time to reflect on your own experience with returning home, or to prepare yourself for returning after you have studied abroad.

Kat Kozlik is a Study Abroad Program Manager at DePaul, where she is also an English (Literary Studies), Anthropology, and Irish Studies undergraduate alumna. She studied at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland during her Junior year of college. Kat oversees a portfolio of short-term faculty-led programs for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Science and Health, and the School of Public Service. After graduating from DePaul and leaving her student worker position in the Study Abroad office as a Peer Advisor, she went on to teach English to high school students, then worked in both the Enrollments and Academics departments at IES Abroad in Chicago. As a first-generation college graduate and study abroad student from a single parent household, Kat is extremely passionate about working to extend higher education and general international education opportunities to underrepresented students. She is currently earning a Masters degree at DePaul University. Go Blue Demons!

Alicia Emerich currently works as a Senior Program Advisor at IES Abroad. During her undergraduate career at UW Madison, Alicia was lucky enough to complete two study abroad programs in Cuba and South Korea. She also taught abroad in South Korea after graduation. Alicia is excited to share her insight and personal experience returning from life abroad and hearing from her peers and students!

Morning Session: Networking for Introverts by Extroverts | Room 314AB

Networking for Introverts by Extroverts: Does the thought of trying to 'network' send butterflies into your tummy? Or maybe you feel confident but are just looking to learn more about what 'networking' really means? Join this session to address those fears that come up, learn the basics of networking, hone your skills, and practice first hand with support and feedback.

Lily Andrules is a Chicago based professional with over 10 years of international higher education experience. She currently works as the University Relations Manager for the Arava Institute. Prior to this role, she worked as a regional director and program manager for students traveling to programs in Asia Pacific. Much of her personal work in international higher education has been focused in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice including building out informational resources for both educators and students.

Morning Session: pre-deparTure orientation for study abroad | Room 313

If you have NOT gone abroad yet, attend this session. This session will help you prepare for an upcoming study abroad program. Learn about differences in academic culture; how to manage finances; understand culture and culture shock; how to stay healthy and safe while abroad; best practices for living with a local Homestay family; packing tips and advice for a positive and meaningful experience abroad!

Alma Sandoval is Assistant Director of Advising and Partnerships and she oversees implementation and strategy of 20+ term-long study abroad programs and all exchange partnerships. She ​advises specifically on term-long programs in Latin America (Chile & Mexico), Europe (Spain & Italy - Milan only), College of Law exchanges, & external study abroad. ​ Alma is a Double Demon – She received her Bachelor of Science in Business and Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul.​ Alma studied abroad during her junior year on the Madrid: Spanish Language and Culture program. While in Spain, she also interned for Tommy Hilfiger at the Spanish headquarters in their showrooms. As a student, Alma was the first in her family to attend university and she never thought she would leave the Chicago area, but a great academic advisor pushed her to study abroad and that experience changed her life and career path. She hopes to do the same for other students and help them have transformative study abroad experiences, like her own.

Afternoon Sessions I | 1:00 - 1:55 pm 

afternoon sessions I: Processing Identities after Return | Room 312

Join this session to explore the topic of identity. Together, reflect on how identity can become salient when traveling abroad and how your identities may shift after your return. Expand awareness of identities that you carry and build vocabulary in articulating how those identities can help to build more inclusive spaces anywhere you are in your world.

Tendai Kachingwe (he/him) serves in the role of Study Abroad Advisor with DePaul University Study Abroad. His career in the field started with studying abroad through an exchange program with DePaul and Sciences Po in France. After studying abroad, Tendai took a position with DePaul Study Abroad as a student worker before taking on the full-time role of Program Assistant. After serving in that position for 2 years, Tendai was promoted to Study Abroad Advisor. Included in his portfolio of 9 programs across 7 countries is the exchange program with Sciences Po that he participated in. He is motivated by his goal of increasing participation in education abroad programs by students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. Tendai serves on his office’s Diversity Committee, focusing with his colleagues on increasing access while incorporating DEI principles in all activities and procedures. Tendai enjoys helping to guide students to resources and education abroad experiences that they may not have known about or believed to be available to them, as was his personal experience. He hopes to also help with increasing representation in the International Education profession.

afternoon sessions I: Gain an Employment Edge: Incorporating Study Abroad Experience into your Resume | Room 314AB

Learn how to leverage your study abroad skills to improve employment outcomes post-graduation. Studying abroad can help you land your dream job! Employers are often impressed with the skills gained while studying abroad. Learn how to feature your study abroad experience in a cover letter and on a resume and articulate your newly acquired soft skills in an interview by attending this workshop.  

Shannon Diegel studied abroad while pursuing a degree in Finance and Human Resource Management at Loyola University of Chicago, and the experience changed her global perspective.  After graduation, she taught English in Bangkok, Thailand and loved every minute of it.  With her Master’s Degree in International Education, she has dedicated her career to helping students open up their minds and challenge their view of the world. She currently works for Sage Corps on the programming team where she helps support university students as they prepare for internships at innovative startups abroad!

Katie Rooney is a Product Marketing Manager at Meta, having previously spent over eight years working in international education at The Education Abroad Network, Loyola University Chicago, IES Abroad, and Semester at Sea. She holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts in German Language & Literature from the University of Notre Dame. She discovered her love of international education during her undergraduate study abroad experience, when she spent a year studying in Innsbruck, Austria and did a summer internship in Mannheim, Germany. Before she began her master's program, she also spent four months as an au pair in Matrei in Osttirol, Austria. She's traveled to 32 countries so far and isn't planning to stop anytime soon!

afternoon sessions I: How to lead a Globally Focused Life and practice Global Citizenship | Room 313

Focused Life The study abroad experience often results in a new awareness and discovery of global realities. When your study abroad program ends, learning and caring about the world and social issues does not end when you return home. Global learning and commitment to issues of social justice, environmental conservation, and peace in the world are life-long commitments that complement and enrich the study abroad experience. This session will examine how study abroad often awakens interest in global concerns, ways to identify personal issues of importance, and discuss strategies for effecting change. Together, explore the concept of “Global Citizenship” in various contexts, such as the meaning of the term, how it is viewed internationally, its intersection with study abroad goals and practices, and how study abroad returnees (present and future) can implement “Global Citizenship” on a practical level.

Alyssa Schmirler is a Program Advising Manager at IES Abroad, where she supports students from the moment they open an application until the day they arrive abroad. Alyssa studied abroad in Varanasi, India for a semester and earned a master’s degree in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She also taught English in Talas, Kyrgyzstan for two years and conducted research in Nairobi, Kenya. Having lived abroad extensively herself, Alyssa is passionate about preparing students for their life-changing adventures abroad!

Afternoon Sessions I | 2:10 - 3:05 pm 

afternoon sessions II: Transformation and Change | Room 312

A familiar refrain from students returning from study abroad programs is how the experience "changed their lives". This workshop on Change will take a closer look at whether this statement is true, and if so, how did students actually change. The interactive format will explore the concept of Change from a variety of perspectives, examine its multiple dimensions, highlight students’ personal experiences, and identify opportunities for students to become Agents of Change.

Jonathan Montgomery joined the DePaul University Study Abroad team in 2022. He is an alumnus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned a B.A. in Spanish and M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. As part of his undergraduate degree, he participated in a term-long study abroad language program in Valladolid, Spain and has been an avid traveler and advocate for international education ever since. He went on to live and teach in Beijing and later worked as an Assistant Professor of English, specializing in teaching multilingual students transitioning from ESL to college-level courses. Jonathan is a Program Manager for faculty-led, short-term study abroad programs for the College of Law, College of Computing & Digital Media, and Identities Abroad.

afternoon sessions II: Go Abroad Again! Work/Intern/Volunteer/Teach Abroad Panel | Room 314AB

Are you looking for ways to go abroad again? Want to be paid to live and work abroad? Are you thinking about applying to graduate school abroad? Representatives from across the international education profession (Peace Corps, Fulbright, JET Program, etc.) will share how you can live, work, volunteer and study abroad once again post-graduation.

Michael Bugajski currently serves as Business Coordinator for the office of Academic Support and Learning Advancement at Northwestern University.  Prior to joining ASLA in August 2023, he worked in the JET Program as an assistant language teacher in northern Japan, teaching high school and special education. Michael also has experience as a freelance food and culture writer, worked in the corporate aviation industry, and had a brief stint as an archivist and genealogical researcher.

Bruce Jones is the President & Founder of International TEFL Academy, one of the largest TEFL certification schools in the world with over 50,000 graduates. Bruce has over 20 years of experience in the international education field including previous work in coordination of world conferences with the World Health Organization, United Nations, World Trade Organization, and World Bank in international health care. Bruce has international experience of living, working and traveling to over 65 countries in six continents including two years of continuous travel. He is dedicated to helping people make their dreams come true by traveling and living abroad as an English teacher and making a difference in the lives of their students.

Ambrosia Maddox took her first trip abroad after college graduation with the Peace Corps, where she taught English in Gori, Georgia. She then spent over a year teaching conversational English in Zhengzhou, China; returning to Chicago to become TEFL certified with ITA, and then moved to Asia for an additional year and a half teaching English test prep at a private academy in Uijeongbu, South Korea.  As an ITA alumni, she returned to us in 2021 to become an admission advisor helping over a thousand students change their lives to teach English abroad. 

Olivia Manternach served as a Program Advising Assistant at IES Abroad. She earned a Bachelor's degree in International Studies - Political Science from the University of St. Thomas, and in 2023, worked as a Study Abroad Peer Advisor there. She has previous experience as an Auxiliary of Conversation in Madrid, Spain, where she worked with elementary school students to improve their English language skills and fostered an inclusive and curious atmosphere that promoted appreciation for diverse viewpoints. She enjoys fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaborating with diverse teams.

Trina Van Schyndel currently serves as a Peace Corps Recruiter to bring together skilled, committed U.S. citizens with welcoming host communities in more than 60 countries who collaborate on locally prioritized projects, build relationships, exchange cultures and knowledge, and help transform lives for generations. She is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served as an English teacher (TEFL Secondary Education) in Ukraine from 2006-2008.

Closing | 3:05 - 3:25pm | Room 314AB

Closing Remarks: Resiliency and a Post-Election Call to Action | Room 314AB

Study abroad students will face new challenges and opportunities over the next few years not only abroad but returning home as well. This session will explore studying abroad and returning home in an age of populism and ways you can navigate internal and external political controversies in the countries where you will study or work, as well as domestically. Equally important, discussion will focus on the role you can play in encouraging a global outlook, discouraging isolationism, and building cross-cultural empathy.

Meghan McAuliffe is an educator at Chicago Math and Science Academy, a charter school serving underrepresented and minority students in the diverse Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. She holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership from DePaul University and completed her undergraduate at the University of Dayton. Meghan was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in South Korea in 2016, where she developed curriculum, led cultural exchange programs, and tutored a North Korean defector family. In 2023, she participated in the Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Program in Hungary, focusing on cross-cultural education. She serves as a board member of the Fulbright Chicago Chapter and is the chair of its Mentoring Program, working to strengthen international educational connections. With almost ten years of experience in education, Meghan is passionate about creating opportunities for students, fostering global perspectives, and exploring the world around her.

Marilyn Susman, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita of Counseling Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. During her tenure she taught classes in counseling and consulting skills and theory, and supervision. Her research focused on the inner experiences of therapists and on couple resilience across cultures. She was director of clinical training for over a decade. She was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Malaysia (1997), where she lectured at the University of Malaya and consulted with mental health professionals in community agencies and in Cyprus (2003) where she worked in both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities training faculty, students and mental health professionals in universities, hospitals and community agencies. In 2013, she was a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Indonesia, working with faculty in the creation of a Center for School Counseling. The development of the Center is moving forward with a collaboration between Sanata Dharma University and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she is an Adjunct Professor. Dr. Susman was Senior Psychologist with the Evanston Psychological Group and continues practice and supervision. She has been on the board of the Chicago Fulbright Alumni Association since its inception and in 2011 received the Dee Sarelas Service Award. Marilyn enjoys the mountains, classical music, contemporary art and reading.

Linda Higgins Spoleti’s learning about other cultures started with Dominican University’s junior year abroad program in Fribourg, Switzerland. She has been teaching for over 40 years and continues working at Dominican University. During past summers, she has participated in training teachers of English for four summers in Lithuania through two programs: the American Professional Partnership for Lithuania (APPLE) and the Wisconsin International Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (WIESCO). A Fulbright Teacher Exchange in Budapest, Hungary from 1994-1995, she worked with all secondary levels at a public gimnazium on speaking and writing English. A recipient of the Fulbright Memorial Fund Award from Japan, she represented the state of Illinois for one month meeting with teachers and administrators from kindergarten to university levels in the Hiroshima prefecture in the summer of 1999. In 2005, she spent one summer in China through Jiangsu Teachers’ Training Program at Yancheng Teachers’ University in Yancheng, China. This involved teaching Chinese English teachers from all levels the methods of teaching English grammar, vocabulary, speaking, writing, and literature. Being involved with the Fulbright Association today continues to fulfill her passion for intercultural relations.

Cara Miller is a Study Abroad Advisor at DePaul University and has been traveling the world since 2003, encouraging others to study, work and volunteer abroad! Cara earned her Master’s degree from the School for International Training (SIT Graduate Institute) in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management. Cara studied abroad during her junior year in Paris and afterward, garnered professional experience teaching in Chicago Public Schools, leading high school and university-level student groups to France, Spain and Italy; and working at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C as well as the Australian Consulate in Chicago as a Public Diplomacy Officer.