introducing the 2025 mccarry leadership awardees
Suzanne kolasa
Director of Professional Programs, Spirit Cultural Exchange
Suzanne Kolasa is the Director of Professional Programs at Spirit Cultural Exchange, managing the Intern, Trainee, and Teacher Programs. She has worked with Spirit since 2012, starting her career working on the Summer Work and Travel Program before moving into new and developing programs.
Suzanne started her cultural exchange journey with a semester abroad in Granada, Spain while pursuing her degree at Valparaiso University, where she studied Spanish and International Economics and Cultural Affairs. As Director of Professional Programs, she focuses on creating experiences that encourage exchange participants to broaden their professional and personal horizons while cultivating an environment where team members feel inspired and motivated.
“It is truly an honor to receive the 2025 McCarry Leadership Award. Over the past 13 years, I have been mentored and inspired by an unbelievable group of colleagues and teammates at Spirit Cultural Exchange. Working alongside them has reinforced my belief that cultural exchange and travel is a transformative and necessary experience. I am excited to continue learning from the Alliance and collaborating with colleagues across our field to shape the future of exchange programs; ensuring they remain accessible, impactful, and essential to our interconnected world.”
leydi lucas
Senior Manager of Membership Operations and Engagement, Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)
Leydi Lucas is the Senior Manager of Membership Operations and Engagement at the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). She began her career in K–12 education, holding both instructional and administrative roles, before transitioning into international higher education. An immigrant and native Spanish speaker, Leydi’s cultural and linguistic experiences guide her commitment to advancing equity, access, and inclusion across educational communities.
At AIEA, Leydi manages membership operations and engagement for leaders in international education from more than 20 countries and organizes international delegations for the association’s annual conferences, collaborating with participants from 10 different countries during her four years with the organization. Committed to continuous learning and professional growth, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Training and Development at North Carolina State University.
“Being named a McCarry Leadership Award recipient is an incredible honor that affirms my passion for equity, access, and community-building in international education. This recognition inspires me to continue creating pathways for more inclusive leadership and to contribute to the growth of the field by uplifting diverse voices. I look forward to deepening my connections with other leaders and working together to strengthen the future of international exchange.”
julia stewart
Program Officer, Amideast
Julia Stewart is a Program Officer at Amideast, where she supports students from the Middle East and North Africa in pursuing undergraduate studies in the United States. Her work spans programmatic support, scholarship administration, donor stewardship through impact reporting, and alumni engagement, with a focus on fostering meaningful educational exchange and long-term impact.
Julia is an alumna of the University of Virginia, where she earned a double major in Global Studies – Middle East & South Asia and Foreign Affairs. She is also an alumna of the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program in Jordan and the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for Arabic. Prior to joining Amideast, she interned with Sister Cities International and the U.S. Department of State.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the McCarry Leadership Award. As an exchange alumna, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative international exchange experiences can be: not only for individual participants, but for the communities they return to and the global networks they help build. It’s been a privilege to learn and grow in a field centered in the mission of bridging communities and creating opportunities. I am excited to grow my involvement with the Alliance and continue to learn, grow, and advocate alongside the passionate individuals and organizations working to shape the future of international exchange.”
