U.S. Office of Admissions and Alumni Affairs

IAU is committed to delivering the highest quality experience to students from the first point of contact. If you're preparing to study abroad or plan to enroll in one of IAU's degree-granting programs, you'll most likely speak with one of our U.S. team members. We invite you to meet the team below!

ADMINISTRATION

Kurt Schick
Vice President, U.S. Operations

Emile Lamah
Chief Financial Officer

Emile has over 35 years of experience in business, finance, and accounting. He joined IAU in September 2023 as the Chief Financial Officer. Before joining IAU, Emile worked as a financial consultant for eight years namely outsourced and fractional CFO services where he served many small and medium-sized enterprises in several sectors including higher ed, manufacturing, logistics, video production, engineering, and retail. Emile also served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Lebanese American University (LAU) where he oversaw the wellbeing of LAU’s finances, supervised the financial functions at the university including financial planning and budgeting, treasury and endowment management, accounting, grants administration, and financial reporting and controls. He also provided leadership in developing policies and procedures to ensure that all the functions were properly managed to serve LAU’s strategic goals. 

Dr. Jessica Calhoun
Dean of Admissions

Dr. Kira Espiritu
Dean of Academic and Strategic Initiatives

Kira Espiritu began working for IAU in 2024 as the inaugural Dean of Academic and Strategic Initiatives, where she strengthens IAU's support of its study abroad partner institutions and their students. She also serves as the Director for the MA program in International Education Administration (MAIE), which is offered through IAU's degree-granting institution, The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM). She received her BA in Psychology at Creighton University, along with an MA in Counseling and a PhD in Leadership Studies, both from the University of San Diego (USD). Kira had an impactful 24-year career at USD following her graduation, most of which was spent as Director of the Office of International Studies Abroad. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Provost of International Affairs. She has been very active in the international education field presenting regularly at conferences and serving in a variety of roles at NAFSA as Academy Chair and Coach as well as a trainer for NAFSA's Trainer Corps and Management Development Program. She is also a member of the Forum Council and various conference planning committees, and has led numerous conference sessions at NAFSA, FORUM, and AIEA. 


STUDY ABROAD 

Sydney Pidgeon
Associate Director of Study Abroad

Sydney Pidgeon serves as the Associate Director of Study Abroad at ACM-IAU. She is a double alumna of the University of San Diego, with a B.A. in Psychology and Theology & Religious Studies, and an M.A. in Higher Education Leadership. Before joining ACM-IAU, Sydney gained diverse experience across university departments, including Residential Life, Orientation, and Admissions, before discovering her passion for international education as a Study Abroad Manager at University of San Diego. In USD’s Office of International Studies Abroad, Sydney oversaw an extensive portfolio of semester, short-term, and double-degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate students and championed accessibility abroad through various scholarship initiatives. Sydney’s approach to international education is driven by a commitment to expanding global perspectives, fostering sustainable partnerships, providing proactive student support, and enhancing access to international opportunities.

Lindsey Ruth 
Study Abroad Manager

Lindsey Ruth (she/her) began working as an Admissions Counselor and Study Abroad Advisor at IAU in 2022, managing the application and advising processes for IAU’s Barcelona programs, and is now Study Abroad Manager. Lindsey is from Southern California and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business: Leadership & Management and Business: Human Resource Management from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Her enthusiasm for international education was solidified while studying abroad in London, England. Before starting at IAU, she was an intern with the Fund for Education Abroad and the Foundation for International Education, where she gained an understanding of the industry and realized her passion for making cross-cultural experiences accessible to all students. She has also worked in various positions within higher education, including experience as a Resident Assistant and Housing Ambassador at her alma mater. In her free time, Lindsey loves to read, play the guitar, and go to the beach.

Derek Brendel
Admissions Counselor / Study Abroad Advisor
Advises for Madrid

Derek Brendel joined IAU in 2021. As an Admissions Counselor and Study Abroad Advisor in the San Diego office, Derek manages admissions and enrollment of ACM’s degree programs as well as assists with the management of IAU’s growing offerings in Madrid, Spain. Derek has 10+ years of working in international education including on-site program management, co-curricular planning and execution, and international student support. As a student, Derek studied abroad twice as an undergraduate and completed a graduate program in the United Kingdom. In his free time, Derek enjoys leisure sports, purposeful travel, and specialty coffee. He speaks conversational Spanish.


Chloe Dunnigan
Admissions Counselor / Study Abroad Advisor
Advises for Barcelona

Chloe (she/her) joined IAU in 2024 as an Enrollment Specialist, and is now a Study Abroad Advisor managing the application and advising processes for IAU's programs in Barcelona. With a M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the Universitat de Barcelona and a B.A. in Anthropology with minors in History and Arabic from Northern Arizona University, Chloe has a strong background in intercultural communication and international education. Before IAU, Chloe worked for a study abroad provider in San José, Costa Rica. She spent three semesters abroad during her undergraduate degree, in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and England. In her free time, Chloe enjoys long hikes, good food, and beach days. She is fluent in English and Spanish. 

Annie Navran
Admissions Counselor / Study Abroad Advisor
Advises for Barcelona and Madrid

Annie (she/her) joined IAU in 2024 as an Admissions Counselor and Study Abroad Advisor, where she helps advise for IAU’s Barcelona and Madrid programs. Annie received a B.A. in French Literature and Languages and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She went abroad for the first time in college and studied in Lyon, France, which inspired a personal and professional passion for study abroad and international travel. After college, she returned to France twice as an English language assistant with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), where she worked in Bordeaux and Toulouse. Annie received a Dual Master of Arts in International Education Management and a Master of Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and was again able to work in France by completing a practicum in international education at the Syracuse University Strasbourg Center. Annie speaks French and is relearning Spanish. Outside of traveling, Annie loves to be outside in any capacity, try new recipes out for friends, and get lost in a good book. 

Kayla Fredericks
International Programs Assistant

Kayla Fredericks joined IAU in 2024 as an International Programs Assistant. As a member of the Study Abroad team, she provides support to students through the admissions process. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Texas State University and studied abroad in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan as a student. After college, she returned to the international education field and worked at the Alamo Colleges District (ACD) in San Antonio, Texas as an Assistant International Programs Coordinator where she and her supervisor coordinated faculty-led study abroad programs for all five colleges under ACD. A career highlight of hers was co-leading a study abroad program to Seoul, South Korea in the summer of 2023. Kayla loves to travel and support students, and her hobbies include playing video games and cake decorating.

CUSTOM & FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS

Rebecca Coyle
Senior Director of Custom Programs 

Rebecca Coyle, a 2005 Alumna of IAU, has managed custom programs at IAU since August 2012. As Senior Director, she oversees IAU's large portfolio of customized programs, including but not limited to, organizational strategy and program development. Prior to coming to IAU, she served as a Study Abroad Program Coordinator at the University of San Diego for five years, advising for programs in Latin America, Spain, and France. Rebecca has a B.A. in Spanish and International Relations (Minor in French), and an MBA in International Business and Management from the University of San Diego. She speaks fluent Spanish and French. 

Julie Dugan
Director of Custom Programs 

Julie Dugan (she/her) joined IAU in 2023 as Assistant Director of Custom Programs and now serves as IAU's Director of Custom Programs, where she oversees the development, implementation, and execution of custom programs. Prior to IAU, Julie worked at Tufts University in their Global Education Office, and most recently San Diego State University as a Program Development Specialist in International Affairs. She has also worked abroad in both Spain and Colombia. She completed her Masters at Tufts University in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership, focusing on accessibility to international education and the personal abroad experiences of students from historically underrepresented and marginalized populations. Julie earned her bachelor's degree in History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and completed a semester abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has worked in custom program development and operations for K-12 and university students participating in educational trips domestically and internationally, and was a tour leader on dozens of programs. Julie speaks Spanish, and is learning Italian.


Christina Tran
Custom Program Manager

Christina Tran joined IAU in 2022 as the Coordinator of Degree Programs and transitioned into the Admissions Counselor/Study Abroad Advisor role in early January 2022, where she helped advise for IAU's programs in France and beyond. In 2024, she joined the Custom and Faculty-Led Programs team as Custom Program Manager. She studied in Lyon, France on the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and later returned to France to teach English with TAPIF. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.A. in French and received her M.A. in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. From working at her alma mater's Office of Education Abroad to building an alumni ambassador program at Campus France USA, she has always been passionate about international education. She speaks English and conversational Vietnamese and French.


Raymundo Gutierrez
Custom Program Manager

Raymundo Gutierrez (RR-eye-MOON-dough) is a dedicated professional with a diverse range of experience in the private and nonprofit sectors. Raymundo joined IAU in late 2023 as the Enrollment Specialist for Custom and Faculty-Led Programs, and is currently a Manager of Custom Programs. He communicates with stakeholders to develop study abroad programs and provides logistical on-site support. After completing his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from New York University Steinhardt, he worked with the NYC Department of Education as a Music Educator on the Lower East Side. Raymundo pursued his Master of Education in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he analyzed education financing patterns for indigenous groups in Mexico and general trends in international tertiary education. Raymundo holds both Bookkeeping and Business Management Certificates from North Orange Continuing Education and is fluent in Spanish. During his time at NYU, he had the privilege of studying abroad in Australia and in the Czech Republic. Raymundo was positively impacted by his experiences in diverse environments and strives to deliver transformative programming. 


Taylor Jackson
Custom Program Manager

Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross and spent a year living and studying in León, Spain. Prior to coming to IAU, she worked in Development on the Corporate and Foundation Relations fundraising team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. While there, Taylor oversaw the corporate giving program which included gift support for postdoctoral fellowships and scientific research.


Arianna Lopez
Custom Program Manager

Arianna is an advocate for global experiential learning and is committed to democratizing international experiences for historically underserved students. In her most recent role as the Assistant Director of Global Learning and Leadership at American University, Arianna oversaw the Alternative Break Program, a student-designed and driven travel program rooted in social justice and solidarity-building. Arianna received her Master's in International Training and Education from American University and her Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a certified International Tour Director from the International Tour Management Institute, and has led dozens of tours throughout the US, the Dominican Republic, and of course, her hometown of San Diego.

Riley Blackwell
Custom Program Manager

Riley is an experienced program manager specializing in international education and cross-cultural initiatives. Holding a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University, Riley has a strong background in economic and political development with a focus on the Africa region. Prior to joining IAU, Riley developed and led numerous experiential learning programs connecting U.S. students with local communities around the world. Additionally, Riley has managed development projects for various international organizations like UNICEF, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable growth. Fluent in Swahili and currently working on his French, Riley leverages his analytical skills and innovative thinking to address global challenges and foster international collaboration.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Greg Grassi
Associate Director of Admissions, Degree Programs
Greg Grassi serves the Associate Director of Admissions for ACM's degree-seeking programs. He has a BA in Psychology and Spanish from the University of San Diego (USD) and a Master of Social Work with an emphasis in educational counseling from San Diego State University (SDSU). Prior to joining ACM, Greg worked for over 11 years as the Associate Director for International Students and Scholars at USD where he supervised J-1 exchange programs, led pre-arrival and orientation programs, managed the international student health plan, and advised international student leaders. In this role, he worked closely with Admissions to help recruit and retain students from abroad and developed a reputation as a strong student advocate, mediator, and mentor. Greg’s passion for international education began as an undergraduate student when he interned at the USD Study Abroad Office and then studied and worked at USD’s Guadalajara, Mexico summer program. He later completed a post-graduate semester in Madrid, Spain through New York University. Greg speaks fluent Portuguese, advanced Spanish, and basic Italian. He is currently eating something delicious or planning his next meal.

Jonathan Belk
Assistant Director of Admissions, Degree Programs

Jonathan Belk serves as the Assistant Director of Admissions for Degree Programs at ACM. Jonathan manages the enrollment and admissions of ACM’s undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students along with facilitating visa requirements. He has a BA in International Studies and Business from the University of South Florida and received an MA in Linguistics/TESOL at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He comes from a background working in international education in and out of the classroom and extensive knowledge working with all visa types. He studied in Florence, Italy and has lived in Madrid, Spain as well as traveled throughout many European countries. His passion for international education began with his interest in language learning which ultimately led him to teaching and then working in higher education admissions. Jonathan can read, write, and speak French, Spanish, & Russian after having studied for many years. 

ALUMNI AFFAIRS & MARKETING


Evelyn Najarian
Assistant Director of Marketing

Evelyn joined ACM-IAU at the end of 2023 as Assistant Director of Marketing. Prior to joining the team, she worked in the localization industry, managing operations, marketing, and communications strategies for a language industry-focused publication and media company. She received a dual BA in Linguistics and French from UC Berkeley, during which time she studied abroad in Bordeaux, France and completed an internship in Paris, affirming her passion for international education. After completing her undergraduate degree, she returned to the Bordeaux region of France for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), teaching English at the elementary school level. Evelyn is fluent in French and English and speaks conversational Italian.

FINANCE & FINANCIAL AID

Nina Bello
Associate Director of Admissions & Student Financial Services

Nina Bello began working as Associate Director of Admissions & Student Financial Services in 2022 and manages financial aid for both our study abroad and degree programs. Nina is from San Diego, California and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego. Prior to joining ACM, Nina served as a Financial Aid officer at Point Loma Nazarene University for over 4 years. Nina’s passion for equity and diversity in international education has inspired the work she does at ACM. Her enthusiasm for international education comes from participating in 4 study abroad programs during her time at USD that took her to multiple countries including: Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, and the UAE. Nina enjoys traveling and exploring new cities and she is currently learning French. 

Debora Chlad
Assistant Director of Student Financial Services

Debora joined the IAU Finance Team in 2023 to enhance the team’s experience with accounts receivables and invoicing. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Student Financial Services. She has 16 years of experience in the field of higher education covering numerous areas of student financials and international student payments, serving both graduate and undergraduate as well as V.A. students and families.  She has a Bachelor of Science in C.J.S.A, under the Department of Public Administration from San Diego State University (SDSU). Her experience with international travel is both local to Canada and Mexico numerous times and abroad to Egypt, France, The Netherlands, and Israel. Her travel experience enhances her understanding of the student’s point of view in international student finance.

Cathy Caton
Senior Accountant

Cathy joined the ACM-IAU team in early 2024 as Senior Accountant, providing support to the CFO in automating the accounting process. Her industry experience includes SEC, Private, and NFP. Prior to joining ACM, she worked at HomeStart, billing for SD HUD and other Federal, State, City, and NFP entities. In her spare time, she volunteers at local offices for the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.


Johnna Williams
Assistant Accountant

Johnna joined the ACM-IAU Finance Team in 2024 as Assistant Accountant, providing support to the CFO and Senior Accountant in all areas of accounting with an emphasis on Accounts Payable. Her NFP experience includes working as Staff Accountant at Providence Health and Services in Portland, Oregon. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University with special interest in ethics and art history. After graduating high school in San Diego, she moved abroad to Germany and while there took the opportunity to learn German as well as visit Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. Johnna enjoys traveling and has spent time in Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia where she enjoyed practicing conversational Arabic. She considers herself to be a lifelong learner and believes higher education combined with global travel can pave the path towards greater understanding between diverse cultures and promote peace.