Meet Our Students

Meet the International Education Management Students!

Hear Our Stories

Read in-depth stories of what our students are up to in the International Education field.

Alisyn Henneck

Works for: Monterey Institute of International Studies

Title: Enrollment Marketing Manager, Language & Professional Programs

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Anna McCloskey

Works for: Center for Advising & Career Services, Monterey Institute of International Studies

Title: Graduate Assistant

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Student Profiles

Meet the IEM students here at the Monterey Institute!


Lucas Olson

Before MIIS: Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine

Career Goal: Work in education and training in Eastern Europe

Fun Fact: Lucas can cook Borsch.

Heather Frank


Heather Frank

Before MIIS: Working with international students at Mandarin language center in Taiwan

Career Goal: Work for U.S. university with branch in Asia.

Fun Fact: Heather makes her own honey.

Tash Abdyrakhmanov


Tash Abdyrakhmanov

Before MIIS: Managing 7 prep schools for low-income students

Career Goal: Work in the Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Education.

Fun Fact: Tash is a Fulbright student from Kyrgyzstan.

Lily Buchanan


Lily Thorpe-Buchanan

Before MIIS: Working as a publicist in NYC and volunteering in an after-school program

Career Goal: Run a non-profit education center in Haiti.

Fun Fact: Lily is determined to learn how to windsurf.

Ximena Oospina


Ximena Ospina

Before MIIS: Studying abroad in Bilbao, Spain during her time at CSU, Chico

Career Goal: Work in study abroad to establish sister universities between the U.S. and Colombia.

Fun Fact: Ximena had an accent in English until she was in the 4th grade.

Thierno Diallo


Thierno Diallo

Before MIIS: Teaching at a university in Guinea

Career Goal: Work with UNESCO/UN as an international education advisor.

Fun Fact: Thierno is a Fulbrigh student who loves to discuss politics of education in his country.

Sendy Ramos


Sendy Ramos

Before MIIS: Graduating from CSU, Chico

Career Goal: Open a private language institution in Denmark.

Fun Fact: Sendy is vegetarian.

Alex Nichol


Alex Nichol

Before MIIS: Coordinating internships for international students at NASA Ames Research Center

Career Goal: Work at the Institute of International Education.

Fun Fact: Alex is an amateur beer brewer who is happy to teach others!

Vanessa Caudill


Vanessa Caudill

Before MIIS: Teaching science to middle school students.

Career Goal: Speak both of her languages on a daily basis and design cross-cultural programs.

Fun Fact: Vanessa enjoys silkscreening.

Jessica Mautone


Jessica Mautone

Before MIIS: Teaching ESL in Miami

Career Goal: Found her own language school abroad and become a Peace Corps volunteer when she retires.

Fun Fact: Jessica's first job after college was working at MTV.

Karla Micheli


Karla Micheli

Before MIIS: Volunteering for AmeriCorps

Career Goal: Advance the cultural education of primary and secondary aged students.

Fun Fact: Karla's internship in Nicaragua turned into a multimedia exhibit at the Monterey Museum of Art

Cary Choy


Cary Choy

Before MIIS: Traveling to France and working in Queens, NY

Career Goal: Work as study abroad dean or admissions counselor in Paris, Belgium, or Switzerland

Fun Fact: Cary was an assistant director a Williamstown Theater Festival Production.

Bree Doan


Bree Doan

Before MIIS: Teaching ESL in Berkeley, CA

Career Goal: Work with international NGOs on educational development projects

Fun Fact: Bree loves music and dance from Latin America.

Rebecca Owen


Rebecca Owen

Before MIIS: Studying psychology at University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Career Goal: Help students discover that studying other cultures makes you a stronger person.

Fun Fact: Rebecca wishes to be at the ocean on any given day!

Stephanie Toriumi


Stephanie Toriumi

Before MIIS: Working as Coordinator for International Relations, JET program in Okinawa

Career Goal: Work as director of study abroad program or international school.

Fun Fact: Stephanie speaks Japanese, Spanish, French and English.

Karen Wong


Karen Wong

Before MIIS: Teaching in South Korea

Career Goal: Work with international students at an U.S. university

Fun Fact: Karen plays the flute.

Adam Mathis


Adam Mathis

Before MIIS: Working with a travel company in Laos and Cambodia

Career Goal: Work for an exchange program in Cambodia.

Fun Fact: Adam used to professionally raise and show rabbits.

Lauren Brereton


Lauren Brereton

Before MIIS: Working at the World Bank

Career Goal: Work in Miami with international university students.

Fun Fact: Lauren has a black belt in Tae Kwan Do.

Kirsten Greene


Kirsten Greene

Before MIIS: Working as an international student advisor

Career Goal: Become director of international programs at a college or university.

Fun Fact: Kirsten has been hang gliding in New Zealand.

Michelle Swenson


Michelle Swenson

Before MIIS: Co-foundeding a company that builds websites for eco-friendly businesses

Career Goal: Work at an international education or exchange organization.

Fun Fact: Michelle loves promoting women’s health and empowerment.

Nick Thomas


Nick Dreselly Thomas

Before MIIS: Working as a manager for Rustic Pathways and consultant with Hostel International USA

Career Goal: Work with Semester at Sea and State Department.

Fun Fact: In 2004, Nick dropped out of college to live with and work for Coretta Scott King.

Sierra Tan


Sierra Tan

Before MIIS: Helping the British Schools Group to set up The British School of Beijing

Career Goal: Run an educational exchange program between China & the U.S.

Fun Fact: Sierra is a big fan of Cuban style salsa.

Abasin Ludin


Abasin Ludin

Before MIIS: Working at the Defense Language Institute.

Career Goal: Manage international education programs

Fun Fact: Abasin likes to play cricket in the rain.

Myneisha Davis


Myneisha Davis

Before MIIS: Volunteering for the Panamenian Ministry of Education with World Teach

Career Goal: Run an international exchange program

Fun Fact: Myneisha studied abroad in Venezuela.

Sarah Teigen


Sarah Teigen

Before MIIS: Translating materials for French students applying to study in the U.S.

Goal: Work with international students and scholars in the U.S. or U.S. students studying abroad

Fun Fact: Sarah can juggle.