McCarry Leadership Award – 2025 Call for Nominations

We are excited to announce this year’s launch of the McCarry Leadership Award – an initiative promoting the professional development of emerging leaders in the U.S. exchange community. The award honors former Alliance Executive Director Michael McCarry and serves as an opportunity for our community to champion emerging exchange leaders who will be crucial to the advancement and success of international exchange programs.

If you’re an early career professional who works at an Alliance member organization and is looking for opportunities to gain leadership experience, or supervise an early career professional who exhibits leadership potential and a commitment to the exchanges field, we encourage you to review the award information and submit a nomination package by Monday, August 11.

Awardees receive the following:

• Complimentary admission to the Alliance Annual Conference.

• Up to $1,000 reimbursement will also be provided for actual travel expenses associated with the Conference.

• Complimentary admission to Advocacy Day the following year.

Candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Have at least three years of experience in the international education and exchange field. This can include experience as an exchange participant and volunteer work in the field.

• Demonstrate significant leadership potential

• Be employed by an Alliance member organization

• Be 35 or younger

Links to the nominator and candidate application are available here.

Introducing the 2024 McCarry Leadership Awardees!

Eliza Chirilă-Pop is the Country Director at American Councils for International Education in Romania. She has previously served as a Romanian Youth Delegate to the United Nations and has worked at the Romanian American University, the Romanian Youth Forum, and the Romanian Students Union on programs related to youth, labor market access, and international affairs. Under her leadership, American Councils in Romania implements major programs like FLEX, FLEX Abroad, and Open World, as well as regional initiatives such as the Elie Wiesel Study Tour and SURE – Students for a United and Resilient Europe.

With extensive experience in international education and cultural exchange programs, she plays a key role in promoting educational opportunities and fostering cross-cultural collaboration between Romania and the United States. Through her leadership, she helps develop programs that support students, educators, and institutions in both countries, enhancing academic and professional exchanges.

“Receiving the McCarry Leadership Award is an incredible honor, as it reflects not just personal achievement, but a shared commitment to fostering understanding and cooperation across borders. It is a recognition of the power of international exchange to transform lives and communities, and I am deeply grateful to contribute to this important work. This award belongs to all my colleagues at American Councils for International Education, especially the team I have the honor of leading in Romania.”

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Amber Spalek is a Program Officer for the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program at Amideast, where she oversees a portfolio of countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In this role, she works on recruitment and selection, on-program student support, and international alumni programming.

Prior to Amideast, Amber worked on the YES program at iEARN-USA and with a global youth training organization. She is particularly passionate about finding the intersections between international exchange, social justice, and youth development. She was also a 2019 Boren Scholar to China and Taiwan and a 2017 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholar to China. She graduated from George Mason University where she studied Global Affairs and Mandarin Chinese.

“I am deeply honored to be a recipient of the McCarry Leadership Award. My work focuses on youth exchange, which has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of youth in shaping our world. I am eager to deepen my involvement with the Alliance, connect with other emerging leaders in our field, and to foster a more equitable environment for young professionals in international exchange. Through my participation in the Alliance, I hope to open new pathways for future generations of leaders.”

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Laura Wondra is a passionate advocate for International Exchange, inspired by her own transformative experiences that opened her mind to diverse perspectives and cultures. From an early age, Laura engaged in homestays in Vietnam and forged connections with locals in Egypt, experiences that profoundly shaped her worldview. Driven by a desire to create similarly meaningful intercultural experiences for others, she has dedicated herself to this work.

After earning her MA in International Education from SIT Graduate Institute, Laura led exchange programs both in the US and abroad, eventually leading her to direct an international leadership exchange program for teenagers in upstate New York. In her current role with World Learning, Laura manages two full-scholarship exchange programs with youth from Argentina, Chile, and México. She additionally designed and managed the inaugural Youth Ambassadors Summit in Washington, DC, bringing together young leaders from 26 countries and 25 US states.

With over a decade of experience in International Education and Exchange, Laura has worked with youth from more than 35 countries and 30 US states. Laura believes that every positive intercultural encounter is a move towards a more understanding world, and she is committed to making these opportunities accessible to all.

“I am genuinely honored to receive the McCarry Leadership Award. Michael McCarry’s legacy of advocating for emerging leaders in International Education and Exchange inspires me to deepen my commitment to supporting youth in their own leadership journeys through the programs I manage.

I’m excited to connect with my fellow awardees and learn from the broader Alliance community and am incredibly grateful for the Alliance’s advocacy in a field I know and love. International exchange has been pivotal in my personal and professional growth, and I look forward to continuing that journey within this vibrant network.”

McCarry Leadership Award - Call for Nominations

As the international education and exchange field continues to evolve, championing emerging leaders in the field is essential for its continued advancement and success. With this in mind, we are thrilled to announce this year’s launch of the McCarry Leadership Award – an initiative promoting the professional development of emerging leaders in the U.S. exchange community. The award honors former Alliance Executive Director, Michael McCarry – a leader who has conveyed over decades the importance of exchange through his unyielding commitment to the field.

Are you a young professional committed to the exchange field and looking for opportunities to grow in your work, gain leadership experience, and build relationship? Do you supervise a young professional that exhibits leadership potential and a commitment to the exchanges field? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, we encourage you to review the award information and submit an application by Monday, August 12.

McCarry Leadership Awardees receive and commit to:

• Complimentary registration to the Alliance Annual Conference

• Up to $1,000 reimbursement will also be provided for actual travel expenses associated with the Conference

• Complimentary admission to Advocacy Day 2025

• One year of service on the Alliance’s young professional steering committee

• Creation and implementation of Alliance event that promotes the mission and values of the organization

Candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Have at least three years of experience in the international education and exchange field. This can include experience as an exchange participant and volunteer work in the field.

• Demonstrate significant leadership potential

• Be employed by an Alliance member organization

• Be 35 or younger

Links to the nominator and candidate application are available here.

Introducing the 2023 McCarry Leadership Awardees!

Jaime Fahy

Managing Director, One to World

Driven by a passion for promoting intercultural understanding through meaningful face-to-face exchanges, Jaime Fahy joined One To World four years ago, and went on to take on a number of roles and projects at the organization.

Jaime is now the Managing Director at One To World and in her current role, she supports the Executive Director and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the membership organization, including K-12 programming with Global Classroom, international student and Fulbright enrichment programming, partnership management, finances, and human resources. Most recently, Jaime led One To World’s J-1 Intern & Trainee Sponsor designation application, and is looking forwarding to building out this new NYC program and connecting with the J-1 community.

She has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, working both in the US and abroad. Before One To World, she worked at a community ecopark in Ramallah, West Bank, and undertook her undergraduate studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

“Receiving the McCarry Leadership Award is a true honor. This marks my first year as a member of the Alliance, and I am so excited to learn from my fellow awardees, young professionals, and the broader membership. I owe so much of my growth as a person to international exchange, and I look forward to continuing that growth within the Alliance community. 

I am deeply thankful to the Alliance and to Michael McCarry for their unwavering commitment to international exchange and young leaders, which has strengthened our work and community. Through this award and the community it represents, I am inspired to continue McCarry’s legacy, empowering leaders and advocating for our shared goal: to promote the transformative power of international exchange and education.”

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Adrienne jacobs

Senior Program Officer, IREX

Adrienne Jacobs is a senior program officer for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at IREX, and is currently also supporting the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan (Global UGRAD-Pakistan). 

In this role, she supports multiple aspects of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, including the planning and implementation of Fellowship events, such as the annual Summit, program operations including travel coordination, congressional engagement, and more.  For UGRAD-Pakistan, Adrienne is supporting the team to implement a large-scale Alumni conference taking place in Bangkok, Thailand in 2024. 

Prior to IREX, Adrienne worked for the United States Senate Committee on the Budget for nearly two years. She has since been able to translate this experience into supporting the advocacy efforts of the Fellowship’s Institutes and other partners. She is also happy to share her insights with projects and staff across IREX on best practices in informing government representatives about the important work IREX does. Adrienne has a M.A. in peace research and security policy from the University of Hamburg, and a B.A. in international relations and diplomacy from Schiller International University. 

“I am sincerely grateful and looking forward to deepening my engagement with the Alliance. Over my nearly six years at IREX, through sometimes turbulent political times, it has never been clearer to me how important international exchange programs are for the expansion of global understanding and creating meaningful ties with our international partners across sectors and ideologies. I look forward to participating in the Young Professional Steering Committee and bringing new voices from the next generation into the conversation. ”

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trevor phipps

Overseas Partner Account Manager, Alliance Abroad

From a very young age, I was drawn to learning about cultures and people around the world. Along with this global interest, I realized I truly just wanted to be everyone’s friend. A friend helps out each other. So, with this in mind I went on to receive a B.A. in International Development and a minor in African Languages- Swahili from Hamilton-Lugar’s School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University. During this time, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Tanzania for a full academic school year and a separate Summer semester which would impact my life and career more than I knew at the time. I would later go on to receive my Masters in African Studies for International Development. 

My thoughts were that if I could learn the techniques of development that are succeeding in some of the harshest socio-economic environments (like East Africa), then I could apply those techniques to help those all around the world. Later on, through this education I came to learn more about the extreme faults that arise through a large array of different developmental approaches which would make them unsustainable. Along with that, I truly didn’t feel called to a certain field providing development services. That was until I remembered my time abroad. International Exchange is a developmental practice that I truly believe is a sustainable approach to fulfilling the gaps in societal needs. Being able to learn and live with others achieves infinite constructive possibilities. Through connection, relationships, and cross-cultural understanding a problem is not specific to a few but can be approached with the strength of many. 

“I am blessed to work in a field with extraordinary people that go above and beyond to provide life changing opportunities to individuals around the world. My peers are people that I look up to, that I respect, and that, honestly, someday hope to embody. Winning the McCarry Leadership Award is proof of that; proof that those who came before me (like Michael McCarry) built the pathways so that I can do what I love and change lives for the better. I know I can set forth and provide those same pathways for the next generation.”

McCarry Leadership Award - Call for Nominations

As the international education and exchange field continues to evolve, championing emerging leaders in the field is essential for its continued advancement and success. With this in mind, we are thrilled to announce this year's launch of the McCarry Leadership Award - an initiative promoting the professional development of emerging leaders in the U.S. exchange community. The award honors former Alliance Executive Director, Michael McCarry – a leader who has conveyed over decades the importance of exchange through his unyielding commitment to the field.

Are you a young professional committed to the exchange field and looking for opportunities to grow in your work, gain leadership experience, and build relationship? Do you supervise a young professional that exhibits leadership potential and a commitment to the exchanges field? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, we encourage you to review the award information and submit an application by Friday, September 8.

McCarry Leadership Awardees receive and commit to:

• Complementary registration to the Alliance Annual Conference

• Up to $1,000 reimbursement will also be provided for actual travel expenses associated with the Conference

• Complementary admission to Advocacy Day the following year

• One year of service on the Alliance’s young professional steering committee

• Creation and implementation of Alliance event that promotes the mission and values of the organization

Candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Have at least three years of experience in the international education and exchange field. This can include experience as an exchange participant and volunteer work in the field.

• Demonstrate significant leadership potential

• Be employed by an Alliance member organization

• Be 35 or younger

Links to the nominator and candidate application are available here.

Introducing the 2019 McCarry Leadership Awardees!

TANYA BUROVTSEVA, External Engagement Manager, InterExchange

Originally from Ukraine, Tanya first experienced the field of international exchange as a program participant and is a proud alumna of two Exchange Visitor Programs: Summer Work Travel and Trainee. In her current role as External Engagement Manager, she is leading InterExchange’s advocacy activities by collaborating with fellow sponsor organizations and representing InterExchange in advocacy projects on local and national levels. One of Tanya’s favorite parts of her work is creating an online series of cultural advice for InterExchange participants called Tanya’s Tips, where she uses her own exchange program experience to help incoming students navigate American culture. Tanya holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science/International Relations from Suffolk University in Boston.

"Attending the Alliance Annual Conference was a very special and inspirational experience for me. It's an excellent opportunity to network with exchange industry professionals, learn more about the latest trends and, most importantly, get inspired again and again with the impact that cultural and educational exchange programs make in individual lives, communities, and the world. Receiving the McCarry Leadership Award and being recognized for my work is a great honor. I look forward to being a part of the inspirational network of past and future award recipients and to collaborate on meaningful projects together!"

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JENNIFER CHEN, Digital Program Specialist, World Learning

Jennifer Chen is the Digital Program Specialist at World Learning. In her role, she manages The Experiment Digital, a virtual exchange program for high school students in Algeria, Iraq, the United States, and Yemen, and provides consultation on various digital programming initiatives for youth, undergraduate students and professionals. Ms. Chen grew up living in Taiwan, Italy and Thailand. She previously worked at PBS KIDS designing mobile learning products for children and was a former high school history teacher. She received her B.S. in International Politics from Georgetown University and M.Ed. in Technology, Innovation and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

"Attending the Annual Conference was a rewarding experience. The sessions inspired me to think more intentionally about program design, stakeholder engagement and digital storytelling; the luncheon offered a productive space for me to network with a variety of practitioners in the field of international exchange. After hearing from a wide range of specialists from different sectors, I felt motivated to further explore the role, potential, and reach of virtual exchange in the greater international exchange landscape."

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KATE SANDERS, Program Officer, Meridian International Center

Kate came to work in international exchanges after a long history of cross-cultural living and learning. She lived as an expat with her family in Guatemala, spent a high school semester in Australia with Youth for Understanding (YFU), and studied for two college semesters abroad in Honduras and Spain, and a year teaching English in Vietnam. She is currently a Program Officer in the Professional Exchanges Division at Meridian International Center where she administers International Visitor Leadership Programs (IVLP) for the U.S. State Department. Prior to that she obtained her M.A. in Anthropology and Education from Columbia University Teachers College.

"It was truly an honor to be recognized as a McCarry Leadership Awardee. I appreciated the opportunity to attend the Annual Conference, connect with so many of my inspiring colleagues in the industry, and hear from expert panelists on the trends and challenges facing the world of exchange programs. At the same time, the breakout sessions catered to more niche interests and allowed for in-depth conversations on topics to support our day-to-day work. Following the conference, I felt renewed in my commitment to our field and passion to increase access to quality exchanges."

Introducing the 2018 Mccarry leadership awardees!

Mallory carpentier, senior regional coordinator, geovisions

Molly mccarthy, employment relations manager, ciee

mandy sheriff, alumni relations manager, afs-usa

Introducing the 2017 McCarry Leadership Awardees!

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Leslie Corn, Senior Director, Cultural Exchange Network Corporation (CENET)What began as an Office Assistant job out of college turned into a challenging, zigzagging journey of 7 years. Working with people from around the globe, understanding cultural differences, and striving for a kinder, more humane world, has become Ms. Corn’s drive as she works, travels, and develops her acumen in this ever-important field. Hers has not been an Ivy League tract, but a Midwestern plodding, a learning and re-learning by doing, by failing, by learning some more, by overcoming, and, finally, by developing a deep driving empathy for those who are embarking on a journey. This empathy led her to create Culture in the Community, a program focused primarily on underfunded schools, with a mission to teach students the beauty of differences. After wearing many hats at CENET, Ms. Corn became Senior Director. What years of dedication in the exchange community has taught Ms. Corn is the wonderful truth that there is always much more to learn.

"The Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to learn and connect within the exchange community. Despite being competitors, it’s understood that we’re much stronger together than we are as individual organizations. J. William Fulbright once said that exchanges "can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations." It was a privilege to gather in D.C. and to endeavor as a community to do just that-- humanize international relations and advocate for programs that inspire a better world."

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Leslie Costa, CEO & Founder, The International Student CompanyFor the last six years, Leslie Costa has been the custodian for connecting students, graduates and young professionals, seeking to enrich their own career prospects, with valuable work experience opportunities throughout the United States. As a true cross cultural advocate and a recognized leadership expert, Ms. Costa can be found speaking about the benefits of getting out of comfort zone by engaging in cultural exchange experience at, corporate events, webinars at local and international universities. With the support of U.S. Department of State, Ms. Costa has recently founded the first international exchanges conference in the U.S.:  International Exchange Summit (I.E. Summit) that connects awesome J-1 participants from all across the globe with local and international leaders across industries based in Florida. Ms. Costa holds a Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance from Group INSEEC in Paris, France.

"After receiving this award, I feel even more energized and motivated to advocate and fully embrace the responsibility of ensuring that we continue to foster mutual understanding between nations.I left the Annual Meeting with the confidence that what we do is important and highly beneficial for the world, I am positive that we will overcome the current challenges on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Programs, with the right determination and resilience.”

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Janice Fox, Northeast Regional Account Manager, Intrax Work TravelJanice Fox is the Northeast Regional Account Manager for Intrax Work Travel, based near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Growing up in a military family, Ms. Fox became accustomed to travel and cultural exchange at an early age, which later became two of her passions. Ms. Fox had her first cultural exchange experience when she studied abroad in Rabat, Morocco. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in French, she spent a year teaching at English First in Changchun, China and, later, returned to Morocco as an English and Foreign Language Teacher at Amideast in Casablanca. The care and compassion her host communities demonstrated during her time overseas led Ms. Fox to pursue a career in the field of cultural exchange and inspired her to focus on enhancing the experiences of exchange visitors in the United States. In her current capacity, as a regional account manager at Intrax, Ms. Fox identifies ideal host employers and communities, and collaborates with local organizations to improve transportation and safety resources available to Summer Work Travel participants. Prior to her current position, she worked as an operations assistant and field support coordinator.

"Attending the annual meeting provided focus on long and short-term goals for myself and for the larger cultural exchange community. The panels and workshops offered excellent insight into the work we’ve already accomplished together and where we can go next. We all realize it won’t quite be “business as usual” for the next couple of years, and I gained valuable tools to apply to both advocacy and day-to-day operations work that will be critical in ensuring the future of our exchange programs. After listening to and speaking with many experienced and passionate colleagues, I left the meeting feeling reassured about our strength as an industry and community."

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Lisa George, Manager of Latin American Youth Programs, World LearningLisa George is a youth development professional, with ten years of experience in international exchange programs and training. She is an AFS-USA Returnee (Costa Rica) and longtime AFS-USA volunteer. She is a previous member of the AFS-USA National Council (2012-15; 2016-17) where she acted from a national perspective to make decisions for the good of the organization, while representing volunteer needs, views and opinions to the AFS-USA executive management team and the Board of Directors. Ms. George has studied, lived and worked in Costa Rica, Italy and Turkey. As Manager of Latin American Youth Programs at World Learning, she currently manages, implements and overseas international cultural exchange programs for youth participants funded by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies worldwide. In this role she also oversees the Youth Ambassadors Consortium, composed of Georgetown University, SUNY Plattsburgh and Amigos de las Américas. Ms. George recieved an MA from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont.

"Attending this year’s Alliance meeting was a wonderful opportunity to step back from the piece of International Exchange that I engage with on a daily basis and view our field from a broader angle. I appreciated the space to interact with IE colleagues and peers, while participating in relevant and relatable sessions. The benefits of likeminded organizations coming together to take part in these important dialogues is immeasurable; I left the event feeling reenergized, inspired and hopefully for the future of International Education in the United States."