McCarry awardees 2018

Mallory Carpentier, Regional Coordinator, GeoVisions

Mallory Carpentier is the Senior Regional Coordinator for the western United States with a focus on participant program and host company support at GeoVisions. Her favorite part of her job is having the opportunity to travel across both the United States and the globe to meet partners and prospective students. Spending time with partners in their home countries allows a more uniquely immersive experience in different cultures. Mallory is looking forward to many more years of expanding her knowledge about cultures from around the world and learning from others about how to improve this program for future participants.

“After returning from Washington, DC and the Annual Conference, I’m absolutely amazed at the industry we are apart of. We have been given the opportunity to change lives and that is the inspiration that keeps me moving every day. Being apart of the Annual Conference was truly an honor and I walked away feeling hopeful and energized to get out in the world and do more for these programs.”

Molly McCarthy, Manager, Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

Growing up in a family dedicated to the Foreign Service and living abroad, Molly McCarthy’s appreciation for cultural exchange was instilled at an early age. Originally, from Maine, Molly grew up living in Amman, New Delhi, Seoul, and Beijing. Molly returned from overseas to complete her undergraduate in Political Science and International Studies at the University of Southern Maine. CIEE opened its doors in Portland over 11 years ago and ever since you will find Molly carrying out her strong passion for cultivating mutual understanding between cultures and fostering young change makers of tomorrow. Her tenure with CIEE has taken on many facets allowing her to interact with all stakeholders connected to Exchange Programs, gain a deep knowledge and appreciation for cultural exchange, and to become an impactful leader. In her day-to-day, Molly strives to bridge cultural gaps and promote global awareness at a local level through community involvement and volunteering with youth in a state not primarily known for its diversity.

“Personally, being able to network and share inspirations with this year’s McCarry Leadership Award recipients and those of years past was the highlight of the conference. In a short time of over lunch, we laid the foundation for projects to strengthen cultural exchange while creating a space for future young leaders to emerge within the industry.  I look forward to collaborating and harnessing the energy I experienced from these incredible women.”

Mandy Sheriff, Manager – Alumni Relations, AFS-USA

Drawn to the mission of creating a more just and peaceful world through intercultural exchange, Mandy Sheriff joined AFS-USA four years ago to take on the challenge of building the first Alumni Relations program ever implemented at AFS-USA. Since coming on board, she has led the charge to promote and grow alumni engagement not just at AFS-USA, but also with AFS International and across AFS’s global partners. Ms. Sheriff also oversees the AFS-USA Young Ambassadors, President’s Circle advisory group, and has actively participated in AFS-USA’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. Through a myriad of programming promoting networking, leadership, and advocacy, she seeks to create a legion of more informed, more engaged AFSers, remaining close to the organization, and ultimately exemplifying the impact of exchange just by living their lives. Ms. Sheriff’s prior professional experience was based in fundraising for cultural and educational non-profits and she received a BA in Political Science from the University of Georgia. She lives and works in New York City.

“Attending this year’s meeting gave me a much broader understanding of the International Exchange industry’s national and global impact. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn, connect, and brainstorm with colleagues across the industry, and to hear many exciting new perspectives and ideas. I came away from the meeting with a renewed resolve toward our collective work and was invigorated by the vision, dedication and spirit of collaboration among my peers and fellow McCarry awardees.”