Asia
CET Beijing
Zhu Li
CET Beijing
Director of China Programs
Before serving as Director of China Programs, Zhu Li served as Academic Director at CET Beijing for almost 15 years. She has also served as Chinese instructor at Middlebury College, Capital Normal University in Beijing and Hochschule Bremen University in Germany, and has taught all levels and aspects of Chinese language. She has earned certification in the areas of Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) testing, the development of multimedia teaching materials, and the conducting of Oral Proficiency Interviews. The author of numerous publications and the recipient of many teaching awards, Zhu Li brings to the program superior teaching skills and intimate familiarity with CET and the field of Chinese language teaching, and has trained countless Chinese language teachers over the years.
Liang Xia
CET Beijing
Summer Academic Director
Professor Xia comes to CET from Washington University in St. Louis, where she served as both a professor and the director of the Chinese language program. She not only reshaped the university’s Chinese program, but also published a series of textbooks and research papers. Her other experiences cross the globe and include the College of William and Mary, Beijing Normal University, Princeton in Beijing, Middlebury Summer Chinese School, and even Duke in China’s Intensive Summer Language Program—where she served as director for five years. In 2019, Professor Xia will publish an advanced Chinese class teaching demonstration video and her academic work, 美国大学中文教育研究.
CET Harbin
Ren Shujing
CET Harbin
Academic Director
Ren Shujing received her BA in English from Dalian College of Foreign Languages in 1990. She started teaching Chinese at the Harbin Institute of Technology and CET Harbin in 1996. During her tenure at CET, she has taught all courses, arranged one-on-one tutorials, trained teachers of all levels, and created and managed curricular materials. She is also the editor of Chinese language teaching materials produced for the Singapore College of Art and Literature.
CET Kunming
Liu Fang
CET Kunming
Academic Director
Liu Fang oversees the summer program in Kunming. She comes to CET from Oberlin College, where she has served as a Chinese instructor since 2000. She has taught all levels of Chinese at many schools and programs, including the Middlebury Summer School, Boston College, and the University of Vermont. She has presented papers at numerous conferences and is currently working on a Chinese language teachers’ reference book.
Li Qunhu
CET Kunming
Academic Director, Summer 2019
With a BA in Chinese from Tianjin Normal University and an MA in Chinese Linguistics (People’s University), Li Qunhu’s passion for Chinese language has seen him through more than three decades of teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Though his resume is vast and varied, some highlights include his ten years at Middlebury College’s Chinese school, various leadership and teacher training positions at the Associated Colleges in China (ACC) in Beijing, and teaching positions at Princeton in Beijing and Williams College. He also founded the New Century Language and Culture Center in Tianjin in 2001. Li Laoshi believes his own ongoing personal and professional development as an educator is essential to program development, and strives to keep up with the latest teaching trends in both China and the United States.
CET Shanghai
Allison Rottmann, Ph.D
CET Shanghai
Academic Director
Allison Rottmann is a historian of modern China, with a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley (2007) and a law degree from Duke University School of Law (JD, 1988). She first discovered her passion for China as an undergraduate studying international affairs at George Washington University (BA, 1984). For the past ten years, she has directed and taught in study abroad programs in Shanghai. Her teaching and research interests in Chinese history are centered on Shanghai, gender, and revolution.
Qu Zheng
CET Shanghai
Academic Director
Qu Zheng graduated from Beijing Normal University where she received her MA in Applied Linguistics and BA in History, with a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. She lectured in the Department of East Asian Studies at Princeton University from 2007 to 2011. She has served as lead instructor at several summer language programs including Princeton in Beijing (PIB) and CET Hangzhou. She has also served as a contributing editor for university-level Chinese textbooks published and adopted by Princeton University. She has taught a wide variety of Chinese classes from beginning to advanced level. Qu Zheng joined CET Shanghai in 2012.
Zhang Xinjun
CET Shanghai
Office Manager
Zhang Xinjun graduated from Shanghai Normal University with a BA degree in Event Economy & Management. Xinjun enjoys traveling and before joining CET, worked within the field of tourism. Xinjun loves helping CET students assimilate into local life and enjoy their time in China.
CET Taiwan
Jeremy Friedlein
CET Taiwan
Interim Director
Jeremy is a specialist in program management, student management, out-of-classroom learning and student internship programs. He has lived in China since 1995, started working for CET in 1999, and now travels the globe in support of CET initiatives. Jeremy has served as a resident director at three CET programs–C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in China, Hangzhou Summer Immersion and Intensive Chinese Language in Beijing, and has been instrumental in the founding of new programs including CET Shanghai in 2008 and CET Taiwan in 2015. When not travelling for work, Jeremy can be found in Shanghai hard at work on his Chinese language studies. Jeremy holds a BA in China Studies from North Carolina State University.
Chunling Wang
CET Taiwan
Internships Director & Office Manager
Chunling completed her undergraduate studies in English Literature at National Taiwan University in 2004 and got an MA in the same discipline at National Sun Yat-sen University in 2008. She then went on to work as a research assistant on a wide variety of government-funded education, literature and the humanities projects at both her alma maters and at National Cheng Kung University. Chunling has a special affinity for Shakespeare and has worked for three different organizations dedicated to the study of his work! While no stranger to the big city and an expert on all things National Taiwan University, Chunling was born and raised in rural southern Taiwan and loves to introduce foreign students to the unique language, culture, and geography of this region.
Melita Percy
CET Taiwan
Resident Director
Melita graduated from Princeton University in the class of 2020 with a BA in Near Eastern Studies focused on a mix of Arabic, Chinese, and anthropology. Immediately following graduation, she came to Taiwan to teach English for a year followed by a year-long self-designed fellowship in which she established an online language and culture exchange program that connects public K-12 schools between Taiwan and Tennessee (her home state). As Taiwan has become a second home, Melita is excited to support CET students in navigating their life in Taipei. When not at work, you can find Melita dancing, choreographing, hiking, and cooking with friends.
Greta Hagedorn
CET Taiwan
Student Life Coordinator
Greta graduated from Georgetown University, in 2017 with a BA in Chinese and a minor in Justice and Peace Studies. After participating in the CET Harbin program, CLS Suzhou, and a year at NTU’s CLD program, she worked in exchange programs in China before pursuing a master’s degree in Taiwan Studies. In her free time Greta enjoys hiking, translating, and browsing traditional markets.
Owen O'Connell
CET Taiwan
Academic Coordinator
As a student at the College of the Holy Cross (BA, 2021), Owen studied Chinese and Economics. During his junior year, he participated in the CET Beijing program. After graduation, he continued his Chinese studies on a scholarship in Taipei. Owen enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and videography in his free time.
Wei-Hsin Tsai
CET Taiwan
Program Assistant
Wei-Hsin was born and raised in Chiayi, southern Taiwan. She earned a BA in Language and Creative Writing from National Taipei University of Education in 2020. After graduation, she worked as a research assistant for the Higher Education Sprout Project at Kaohsiung Medical University, then worked for the localization team of a Korean webtoon company. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, listening to rock music, and watching baseball.
CET Japan
Shogo Sakurai
CET Japan
Academic Director
Shogo Sakurai is an Osaka native who received his B.S. in Education, M.A. in TESOL, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics. He has been teaching Japanese as a foreign language for over 15 years in various institutions in the USA, Singapore, and Japan, namely St. Cloud State University, Purdue University, Beloit College, Nanyang Technological University, Sophia University, and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. His research interest encompasses second language acquisition, bilingualism, intercultural competence, and teacher education. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally and trying local cuisines.
Masatomo Yonezu
CET Japan
Senior Resident Director
Masatomo Yonezu studied both Swahili and East African culture, completing an BA at Osaka University of Foreign Studies in 2007 and an MA in International Studies at Hiroshima City University Graduate School in 2009. He then relocated to the United States to pursue a degree in ethnomusicology at Indiana University Bloomington. He has conducted ethnographic research in Tanzania, focusing on institutionalization of traditional music. Prior to joining CET, Masa served as an assistant Japanese language instructor for beginning through advanced levels, and led study abroad programs for Indiana University high school students.
EJ Legaspi
CET Japan
Resident Director
When EJ Legaspi went to the UK for his first study abroad experience at the age of twelve, in many ways, part of him never completely went back home to Manila. EJ spent over a decade teaching high school English and leading study abroad programs for Filipino students to the UK, Germany, and China. Eventually, he swapped out teaching Shakespeare for teaching English on the JET Programme. He received his Master in Educational Administration at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2017, where he also earned his undergraduate degree (AB Literature in English, Japanese Studies minor) in 2004. On the weekends, you can probably find EJ leisurely walking around at Universal Studios Japan or furiously baking the afternoon away at his apartment.
Kotaro Matsumoto
CET Japan
Academic Coordinator & Japanese Instructor
Kotaro Matsumoto graduated from Florida State University in 2015 with an MS in Curriculum and Instruction and a concentration in Foreign Language Teaching. He studied computer science abroad at Cabrillo College in California from 2010 to 2013. During this time, he learned English through immersion while living with an American family. Over the years, he has taught a wide variety of Japanese classes, from novice to intermediate. As a lover of coffee, video games, animation, and kendo, Kotaro always tries to incorporate his numerous interests, hobbies, knowledge of technology, and business experience into his lessons to bring everyday Japanese into the classroom.
Ayaka Tamura
CET Japan
Japanese Instructor
Ayaka Tamura received a BA in 2012, after having participated on an exchange program at Shanghai University and interned at National Sun Yat-sen University (国立中山大学). In 2015, she completed an MA in Japanese language education at Hiroshima University while also teaching Japanese as a TA at Furman University (South Carolina, USA). In 2022, she completed a Ph.D. at Tohoku University, changing her focus from Japanese-language education to linguistics (experimental pragmatics). She has written numerous papers and book chapters in English, given presentations at international conferences and taught Japanese as a part-time lecturer to international students at multiple universities in Japan. She started working at CET in 2018 and teaches Japanese at all levels. In her spare time, she loves to travel to different places. She enjoys seeing new places and eating different food.
Kazushi Emoto
CET Japan
Academic Coordinator
Kazushi Emoto was born and raised in Kobe City, Japan. After graduating from Okayama University, he worked at companies in the hospitality field. He has travelled to ten countries and fifteen US states, mostly on his own. On these trips, he loves to observe local people’s lifestyles at places like shopping malls, supermarkets, parks, and walk around downtown areas and famous landmarks. In addition, his hobbies are listening to the music and singing. He’s a part of a mixed chorus club in Kobe that has periodic concerts.
Tomoha Uchimura
CET Japan
Resident Assistant
A 2023 English and International Studies graduate of Osaka Gakuin University, Tomoha served as a CET roommate during her freshman year and as a language partner throughout the pandemic. She is passionate about Japanese tea ceremonies, having studied the tradition since the age of ten. Tomoha has worked at Universal Studios Japan, so she is an expert of shows and attractions. In her free time, you can find her surrounded by books or watching anime at home.
Robert Gordon
CET Japan
Custom Programs Resident Director
Robert graduated from Newcastle University with a BA in Linguistics with Japanese in 2014. During his time in Japan, Robert has spent time working on farms in Gifu, studying abroad in Akita, teaching English in Tokushima, and working in the field of study abroad experiences in Osaka. With his passion for domestic travel, and experiences in different regions in Japan, Robert is a person with great knowledge and familiarity with Japan. Robert’s experiences have shaped him into a person focused on cross-cultural communication and understanding. His interests include: creating art, learning about history, enjoying spicy foods, and telling cool facts about birds to anyone who will listen.
Europe
CET Prague
Jiří Bukovinský
Prague Programs
Director of Prague Programs
Jiří is a graduate of Charles University in Prague, where he studied Religious Studies and Pedagogy. He also studied in Scotland, at the Divinity Faculty of the University of Glasgow. Jiří has organized programs for international volunteers and coordinated conferences for human rights organizations. Relying on this experience, he has enhanced the service-learning opportunities for CET Prague students, and specifically Central European Studies concentrators.
Kevin Johnson, Ph.D
Prague Programs
Academic Director of Prague Programs
Kevin was bitten by the study abroad bug when he spent two months in Germany at the age of 17 as part of an immersive language program for Indiana high school students. He went on to participate in a number of other study abroad programs in Germany and the Czech Republic, including a year as Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Leipzig and several intensive Czech language programs. With a BA in German and Anthropology from Indiana University and an MA and PhD in Germanics from the University of Washington (with an emphasis on cinema), he speaks German and Czech fluently. Kevin has extensive teaching experience at a variety of institutions in both the USA and in Prague, including the University of Washington, Lawrence University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Charles University. Prague has been a consistent port of call since 2000 and his permanent residence since 2015. Before starting at CET, he taught courses on Prague literature and film studies at Anglo-American University in Prague and for several study abroad programs in the city.
Nela Faltusová
CET Prague
Program Coordinator, CET Prague
Nela graduated from the Masaryk University Faculty of Law and worked in various capacities as a project coordinator at human rights NGOs, at the Czech Radio, and as coordinator for a documentary film festival. She would like to become a documentarist herself one day as well. She is passionate about people, travel and coffee.
Quinn McGavin
CET Prague
Student Life Coordinator, CET Prague
A Chicago native, Quinn always knew she would eventually move to Europe. After graduating from Illinois State University with a degree in social work, Quinn worked mainly with foster children and their families in the child welfare system. Quinn has also enjoyed working with high schoolers in pre-college programs around the US, and getting to know young people, and their interests. Quinn received her Masters in School Social Work from University of Illinois-Chicago during the pandemic, and has enjoyed her life in Prague since November 2021. In her free time, Quinn likes movies, theatre, sewing, travel, and meeting people from around the world.
Anna Tomenendalová
CET Prague
Custom Programs Coordinator
Anna has a bachelor degree in social anthropology and environmental studies and currently working on a master’s degree in civil society studies at Charles University. In her previous roles, she worked in admissions and student support at the International office of Masaryk University, and as an Immigrant Office Assistant at the Ministry of the Interior Department of Asylum and Migration Policy. She also worked at the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research. She lived in several countries including Turkey where she taught English.
Simona Sobolevská
CET Prague
Custom Programs Coordinator
Simona is a graduate of Charles University, having attained both her BA degree (English and American studies and European History) and MA degree (English Linguistics and Education) there. During her studies, she taught English at Charles University’s language school JazykoFFka and worked at Charles University as a part-time librarian. She also has tour guiding experience and is particularly interested in history and language education. She is passionate about hiking, cooking, painting and learning languages.
Nataliia Slobodianyk
CET Prague
Office Coordinator
Nataliia is a graduate of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy (Linguistics) and College of Cherkasy State Technological University (Commercial Activity), Ukraine. She has experience in accounting, specifically within a governmental organization. Nataliia is from a small but cozy town from the very heart of Ukraine. She has been living in Prague since March 2022 and likes to explore the city with her children to learn new experiences. Currently she is in the process of learning Czech. She loves books, movies, baking, conversations with friends and spending time in nature.
CET florence
Emiliana Caldarelli
CET Florence
Director of Italy Programs
A native Italian, Emiliana earned a Laurea in Political Science in 1996 and a Post Graduate Master in Mediterranean Studies and Islamic Finance in 2013 from the University of Florence. In 1994, during her graduate studies, she was awarded a scholarship from Rutgers University in New Jersey where she conducted a research study about the financing of political campaigns. After returning to Italy, her work has focused on educating American students in Italy. She served as coordinator for the Rutgers Study Abroad Program in Florence, and from 1997 until 2002, taught classes on Italian culture, politics and history in US university programs in Florence such as Rutgers Junior Year in Florence, Richmond College, Portland Community College and University of San Diego-Law School. Emiliana has been involved with the CET programs in Italy since their inception. She began as the CET Siena Resident Director (2001-2003), continued as the CET Florence Resident Director (2003-2004), and has served as Italy Programs Director since 2004.
Elizabeth Johnson
CET Florence
Resident Director
Born in France where she spent her first few years, Elizabeth grew up in San Gimignano, the renowned Italian Medieval hill-town, and moved to Long Island NY at age 17. She earned a BA in Psychology with a French minor at Hofstra University before returning to Paris for her MA in French Literature at New York University in France. As a graduate student, she worked part-time in the NYU’s main office, which turned into a full-time position upon completion of the program. But her heart was in the Tuscan hills where she has been residing again since 1997, continuing her study abroad career at SACI Studio Arts College International in Florence for over 20 years before starting at CET. Elizabeth likes to share her passion for Italian culture with students, but is also aware and understanding of the difficulties they often face in a foreign country. Her largest accomplishment is hearing alumni speak about study abroad as a life-changing experience.
Melissa Rossi
CET Florence
Academic Coordinator
Melissa is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, where she earned a BA in Literature with a minor in Education. She then continued her studies to earn a MS in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She came to Italy from her native California in the early 90s as an undergraduate study abroad student and found that her life choices continued to bring her back to Florence. Since the late 90s, she has worked extensively in all sectors of study abroad, from academics to student life, and as a professional counselor assisting students with their cultural adjustment. Her personal, educational, and professional background give her a keen insight into the experience abroad that is at the foundation of her learning methodology. Study abroad has become a passion for her, and her goal is to use the deep cultural experience a primary element of learning, both inside and outside the classroom.
Donatella Cerretelli
CET Florence
Housing Coordinator
Born and raised in Florence, Donatella earned her high school degree in Languages and Tourism. After completing her degree, she spent two summers in Philadelphia, where she studied and worked in a multicultural environment. After working in several different fields, Donatella joined the fashion industry, working with customers from around the world for several years. She then transitioned to the study abroad field in 2014, when she started as Librarian and Housing Assistant at SACI Studio Arts College International, a study abroad program in Florence. Donatella finds great satisfaction in assisting students with the challenges of living away from home.
Lucy Clark
CET Florence
Senior Program Coordinator
Lucy grew up in rural North Carolina, where people hardly left the county lines. Determined to see more, she moved to New York City after graduating high school to work for a photographer and began taking jewelry courses. She studied abroad in the Tuscan town of Certaldo, Italy, but after realizing that three months abroad was not enough, she finished her BFA at Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewelry in Florence. After almost four years in Italy, Lucy decided to stay and has since gained seven years of experience as student services coordinator for study abroad students. Through her work and personal experience, Lucy feels extremely connected to the trials and tribulations of study abroad students and is very empathetic to the feeling of culture shock.
Margarita Degurko
CET Florence
Academic Assistant
Margarita, a native Ukrainian, graduated from Zaporizhzhya National University in 2014 with a degree in Law and a Master’s in International Public Law from the Kyiv National Academy of Internal Affairs in Ukraine in 2016. She also studied Political Science in Italy at the University of Florence. She became interested in living in Italy when she began to study Italian language and culture. As a travel and language lover, she worked in the field of tourism. Margarita is eager to utilize her passion for Italy to help provide the best possible experience for students.
Gabriele Marchese
CET Florence
Activities Coordinator
Gabriele was born in Florence. He graduated in 2019 with a degree in Administration, Finance and Marketing. He is a native English speaker, having spent his summers in California where his mother was born and his love for the United States is rooted. During those extended visits, Gabriele learned about American culture, especially individual and group sports. In 2020, he pursued and completed in-depth tourism courses in Florence to broaden his knowledge of Italian art, culture and history, and became a licensed tour leader. In 2021, he worked in an Italian resort where he hosted many tourists and taught individual and group tennis lessons for children and adults. Gabriele enjoys welcoming American students to Italy by orienting them to life in Italy and accompanying them on excursions during their stay in Florence.
Sara Ruffino
CET Florence
Program Coordinator
Born in Florence and raised between the city and Sardinia, Sara cultivated a passion for art and archeology by visiting museums and archeological sites with her uncle, a self-taught painter and sculptor. As a high school student, she dreamed of traveling the world and has since achieved that with time spent in Mexico and the United States. After her return to Italy, she studied journalism at the University of Florence, spent seven years in the fashion industry, and then switched gears in 2019 when she became a licensed tour leader to help people discover her beloved country and enjoy their time in Florence in the best way.
Niccolò Bertini
CET Florence
Activities Assistant
Born and raised in Florence, Niccolò graduated with a degree in STEM studies in 2019 and is now a mechanical engineering student at the University of Florence. He enjoys accompanying students on excursions around Florence and Italy, showing them Italian culture. And as an undergraduate student, he even spent his summers organizing activities and excursions for children and students.
Emiliano Calvani
CET Florence
Receptionist
A born-and-raised Florentine, Emiliano earned a laurea in cultural event planning and completed his master’s degree in cinema, television, and multimedia production at the University of Bologna. His work experiences are vast—from tutoring middle school and high school students to event management—but through it all he discovered his own interest in working with people of different backgrounds with different stories to share. Emiliano lives in Florence with his three dogs and is described as curious, empathic, and always donning a smile because he wants to make people comfortable in every situation.
Marta Falugiani
CET Florence
Receptionist
Marta is a graduate of the University of Florence, where she earned a laurea in history of arts, music, and performing art in 2019. She has since worked in the cultural sector as an events manager, as well as a stage manager for shows and festivals. In 2022, she earned a master’s degree in design of sustainable tourism systems from the University of Florence. Marta looks forward to providing students with a unique experience through her passion for Italian culture.
CET Siena
Emiliana Caldarelli
CET Florence
Director of Italy Programs
A native Italian, Emiliana earned a Laurea in Political Science in 1996 and a Post Graduate Master in Mediterranean Studies and Islamic Finance in 2013 from the University of Florence. In 1994, during her graduate studies, she was awarded a scholarship from Rutgers University in New Jersey where she conducted a research study about the financing of political campaigns. After returning to Italy, her work has focused on educating American students in Italy. She served as coordinator for the Rutgers Study Abroad Program in Florence, and from 1997 until 2002, taught classes on Italian culture, politics and history in US university programs in Florence such as Rutgers Junior Year in Florence, Richmond College, Portland Community College and University of San Diego-Law School. Emiliana has been involved with the CET programs in Italy since their inception. She began as the CET Siena Resident Director (2001-2003), continued as the CET Florence Resident Director (2003-2004), and has served as Italy Programs Director since 2004.
Victoria Van Luit
CET Siena
Program Director
Victoria grew up in California and studied at the University of California San Diego. In 1998, she participated in a UCSD study abroad program in Siena, an experience that changed her life. Victoria has been in Siena ever since, marrying her Italian husband and raising their two daughters, and working in study abroad. She has worked at the UC Siena Study Abroad Center and Dante Alighieri Siena. Victoria has a keen understanding of student cultural adjustment and other issues related to living abroad.
Matilde Santini
CET Siena
Program Coordinator
Born and raised in Siena’s Torre Contrada, Matilde started working in the study abroad field with another provider in Siena in 2016 before joining CET. She is working towards a degree in Cultural Mediation at the University for Foreigners of Siena. In her free time, Matilde enjoys traveling, learning about other cultures, listening to music, and practicing hobbies that require creativity and craft skills, especially when maintaining traditions, as happens in Siena’s Contrade where craftsmanship is handed down from generation to generation.
The Middle East
CET Jordan
Manal Yosef
CET Jordan
Academic Director
With two decades of experience teaching Arabic under her belt, Manal Yosef earned her Master’s degree in Arabic Language and Literature in 2020. Before joining CET in 2011, she served as Academic Director and Senior Instructor for the Arabic Flagship Overseas program and Senior Instructor, Course Coordinator and Curriculum Developer for the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) program in Damascus. Manal is a certified ACFTL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) tester. As Academic Director, Manal manages all issues related to curricula, including developing syllabi, overseeing language instruction, training instructors, and advising students.
Mazen Bernieh
CET Jordan
Director of Operations
Mazen’s interest in international education began in 2008 when he served as a program coordinator for the Arabic Overseas Flagship program and the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad (CASA) program at the University of Damascus. He soon discovered his passion for learning about the cultural differences between peoples, and worked to help study abroad students adapt to the culture of life in the Middle East. Mazen joined CET in 2012 to support students in adapting and adjusting to the host culture in Jordan. Mazen keeps pace with tech developments and leverages technology to create effective academic materials and support students through cultural challenges. He uses his creativity to build constructive relationships with the local community that enrich program activities, and in turn, student experience and learning. He is very interested in everything related to computers, both at work and for fun. When he’s not playing computer games, he enjoys handicrafts like leatherwork.
Ahmad AbuShaikha
CET Jordan
Resident Director, Student Life
Ahmad is a proud Ammani who has been in the study abroad field for the past 10 years. After graduating from The Hashemite University with a BS in Cultural Heritage Management (2007), he turned his focus to sharing the jewels of Jordan with students. Ahmad completed an MA in International Development at the University of Sussex (2018) in the United Kingdom and is committed to creating sustainable opportunities for community engagement with students. In his free time, Ahmad enjoys cooking, traveling, and music.
Latin America
CET Brazil
Súlia Folli
CET Brazil
Senior Resident Director
Súlia Folli earned her BA degree in Film from Universidad del Cine (in Buenos Aires, Argentina) and a certificate of Photography from Escuela Creativa Andy Goldstein. As a undergraduate, she studied abroad in Vancouver, Canada. Before joining CET, Súlia served as the Program & Housing Coordinator for CIEE in São Paulo. She has participated in productions for various film festivals and cultural organizations, and enjoys developing her own photography projects. Súlia loves to travel and learn about different cultures, and she enjoys helping CET students get to know São Paulo.
Mariana Jansen Ferreira
CET Brazil
Senior Academic Coordinator
Mariana Jansen Ferreira is an economist and holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil. She has been professor of Brazilian economics at the Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP) since 2006. Between 2017 and 2019 she served as vice-coordinator of the Economics major. She is the co-creator of the new Public Policy major at PUC-SP, which she presently coordinates. Dr. Jansen has published articles and book chapters in the areas of public policy, Brazilian economy, and health economics. She has taught CET students since 2014.
Vinícius Rodrigues
CET Brazil
Academic Coordinator
Vinícius Rodrigues is a doctoral candidate in Social Anthropology at the University of Sao Paulo. He has a Master’s degree in Political Science and a BA in Social Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University in Sao Paulo. He has taught courses on racial debate and the formation of Brazilian social thought.
Vinicius also works as cultural producer and curator in several cultural institutions and museums such as Itaú Cultural, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, MASP, Fundação Bienal and Centro Cultural São Paulo, where he developed curatorship, executive production, research and racial literacy courses for collaborators. He assisted in the implementation of the Racial Issues Committee and the Diversity Committee of Itaú Cultural, where he participated as a coordinator.
Leandro Tardin
CET Brazil
Resident Coordinator
Leandro’s interest in learning about other cultures, history, sociology, and politics motivated him to study International Relations at Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo where he earned his BA in 2020. His passion for the cultural scene in São Paulo City and eagerness to meet people from all around the world inspired him to work with organizations where he can work with exchange students and help them in their adjustment to a new culture and the development of social work of NGOs in São Paulo.
CET Colombia
Mariela Palacios
CET Colombia
Director of Operations
A schoolteacher by vocation, Mariela holds undergraduate degrees in economics (Universidad de La Salle en Bogotá, 1998) and education (Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó “Diego Luis Córdoba” Quibdó, 1989). She has pursued graduate work at London Metropolitan University and is currently completing her thesis for an MA in Population Studies at Universidad Externado de Colombia Bogotá. Mariela has more than 20 years of experience working in the development of Afro-Colombian communities across the country, under the auspices of both government and international cooperation agencies. She has served in a variety of positions, from managing one of the biggest cultural festivals in Colombia to devising a job creation plan for 200 people in the city of Quibdó.
Beatriz E. Balanta, Ph.D.
CET Colombia
Academic Coordinator
Beatriz holds a Ph.D. in Literature and Cultural Studies from Duke University (2010). She is interested in cultural management, the politics of identity, innovative curriculum design, African beat, and cooking. She is the founder of BlackGround, a production company that promotes Afro-diasporic art and culture.
Alexia Martin
CET Colombia
Resident Coordinator
Alexia Martin is a global educator that values breaking cultural and financial barriers to provide equitable experiences for community members. She graduated with her B.A. in Spanish Education K-12 from Saint Catherine University, a private Women’s College. From her experiences as a Spanish & TEFL Teacher, to being a college advisor with AmeriCorps, she values time spent listening to people’s stories and having justice-centered conversations looking through a communal lens. After completing an ETA Fulbright Colombia term in Spring 2022, she is eager to begin this pivotal moment as CET Colombia’s incoming Resident Coordinator working first-hand with students. Outside of being immersed in Latin American cultures, she enjoys roller skating, following Bob Ross tutorials, and cooking.
Armando Zuñiga
CET Colombia
Program Assistant
An educator by vocation, Armando received a bachelor’s degree in Popular Education (Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia 2020). He has since been active in education and community work, particularly in Afro- Colombian communities located in the eastern part of Cali, where he lives. Armando is passionate about alternative education. He has worked with children and teenagers, supporting their pedagogical processes through academic, cultural, and artistic activities. Armando was part of CET Colombia as a roommate coordinator when the program opened in 2019, and he now serves as the Program Assistant. Armando enjoys welcoming international students to Colombia, orienting and supporting them in forming meaningful experiences during their stay in his country.