Leadership + Staff

We believe in what we do.

Cultural Vistas brings together a wealth of talent, diverse backgrounds, and an array of experience to every project.

We believe that a commitment to cultural understanding is the key to sustained success in today’s global society. Collectively, our staff speaks more than 20 different languages. For many of us, it has been the impact of our own personal and professional experiences abroad that have led us to careers in international exchange.

We aim to share with others the experience of traveling to another country and absorbing its culture. We believe deeply in the value of international education and the meaningful impact of intercultural exchange. This is central to what we do every day.

Jennifer Clinton, Ph.D.
President and CEO

Jennifer has devoted her career to international education and business because of a deep passion for bridging cultures, people, and ideas. She is best known for developing, implementing, and managing bold organizational transitions, as well as helping individuals and nonprofits to realize their full potential.

When Jennifer joined Cultural Vistas as its President and CEO on November 6, 2017, Cultural Vistas Chairman Karl Geercken, remarked, “Jennifer Clinton brings deep expertise, proven leadership, passion for the exchange mission, and a spirit of innovation that is well suited to lead the talented, entrepreneurial, and dynamic team at Cultural Vistas. On behalf of the entire Board, we are proud to welcome her to the Cultural Vistas family and look forward to supporting her and the ongoing— and increasingly important—work of Cultural Vistas.”

Jennifer joined Cultural Vistas after serving five-and-a-half years as President and CEO of Global Ties U.S., where she led a grassroots network of 120 community-based organizations in 45 states and 21 countries around the world that engage 40,000 volunteers who implement public diplomacy and international exchange programs in close partnership with the U.S. Department of State.

Prior to Global Ties U.S., Jennifer held leadership roles at the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, the Telecommunications Industry Association, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Jennifer serves on the boards of Women’s Foreign Policy Group, the Global Ties Foundation, and Open DC.

She earned her executive MBA at the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Ph.D. in French Literature at the University of California, Davis; and her bachelor’s degree in political science and French from Marquette University. Jennifer grew up outside of Detroit and lives in Maryland with her husband and son.

Follow Jennifer on Twitter or get to know more about her on our blog:

Reflections on My First Year at Cultural Vistas
Get to Know Our New CEO

Linda Boughton
Chief Operating and Engagement Officer

Linda has been part of the executive leadership of Cultural Vistas, and its predecessor organization, CDS International, since 1991. In the past, she served as Interim President and CEO for a year as well as Executive Vice President and CFO for over 25 years. She initially joined the organization to work on the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange.

As the current Chief Operating and Engagement Officer (COEO), Linda leads Cultural Vistas’ Client Relations Services, Information Systems, and Software Product Development teams. She also develops partnerships with like-minded organizations, universities, and individuals to support building the global skills capabilities of current and future leaders through international professional exchange programs.

In addition to Cultural Vistas, Linda actively serves on the Board of Directors and Membership Committee of the Alliance for International Exchange. She is also a member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and American Council on Germany.

Prior to joining Cultural Vistas, Linda worked at The American-Scandinavian Foundation on Exchange Visitor Intern and Trainee programs. Her passion to facilitate life-changing international exchange opportunities for others began with her own experience studying at The Philipp University of Marburg in Germany during the Cold War. She also completed a post-graduate internship in London, England.

Linda is currently enrolled in Harvard Business School’s Executive Business Analytics program. She received her MPA certification from Rutgers School of Public Affairs and her bachelor’s degree in international studies and German from Juniata College in Pennsylvania.

Megan Bah
Chief Financial Officer

Megan serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Cultural Vistas.

She joined Cultural Vistas (then CDS International) in 2007 where she started working part time in accounting and part time doing program work. Working on the programmatic side gave her a greater understanding of the value of international exchange. During her tenure, she has since worked her way through the finance department in various roles from Accounting Manager, Accounting Director, Controller, and now CFO. Through her time spent at Cultural Vistas she has grown passionate about non-profit accounting and reporting.

Megan holds a masters degree in Accountancy from Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick, NJ. She also has a certificate in Not-For-Profit Accounting and Governmental Reporting from NYU-SPS. She received her bachelors degree in Mathematics from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

Dan Ewert
Vice President, Program Research, Partnerships + Innovation

Dan serves as the Vice President for Program Research, Partnerships and Innovation, and the National Secretary of the United States affiliate of the International Association of the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE).

He has been with the organization (as AIPT) since 1994, including stints as Director of Career Development Exchanges, Director of Program Development and Vice President of Programs and Sales. Previously, Dan served as the Director of Internships for The Washington Center, where he managed the organization’s business, economics, health and science placements, and was a teaching associate for its foreign policy seminars. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member for the organization since 1991, co-leading a college-level course on research methodology and writing.Additionally, Dan has been a student advisor at the University of Washington in Seattle, and Director of Personnel for Federal Business Centers in Edison, New Jersey.

Dan also currently acts as the Treasurer and founding member of the Board of Directors of the Global Pathways Project, a nonprofit organization that helps expose inner-city Baltimore youth to international events and opportunities.

He has presented at a number of national conferences of NAFSA, the American Society of Experiential Education, the Clean Energy Workforce Education Council, the American Academy of Science, the Cooperative Education International Association, the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce, AMCHAM Brazil, AMCHAM Vietnam, the National Career Conference and the Intercultural Management Institute.

Dan holds a masters degree in geography from the University of Washington in Seattle, and a bachelor’s degree in international studies and Asian studies from American University in Washington, D.C.

On the blog:
Do we need educators with a global perspective?
Why we care about Southeast Asia

Elizabeth Kumbhari, J.D.
Vice President, Professional Exchange Programs and Legal Counsel

Elizabeth joined Cultural Vistas in May 2015 and serves as the Vice President of Professional Exchange Programs and Legal Counsel.

In this role, she oversees the organization’s Train USA J-1 Intern and Trainee exchanges, which sponsor more than 4,200 participants annually. She is responsible for the business development and administration of programs at more than 1,000 host companies throughout the United States.

As Legal Counsel for the organization, Elizabeth is responsible for reviewing internal and external operational policies as well as the organization’s contractual agreements. She also oversees the organization’s continuing legal education courses.

Prior to this position, Elizabeth served as the Director of International Admissions at Long Island University where she oversaw immigration, recruitment, and admissions for LIU Post, LIU Brooklyn, and the university’s Global College program.

She also held various positions at Northern Kentucky University, including serving as the Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Elizabeth was a member of the American International Recruitment Council’s Founding Standards Committee.

Elizabeth holds a J.D. from Northern Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Capital University. Elizabeth was a CBYX high school exchange student, and later participated in an internship and educational exchange to Austria. She holds a legal license and was a pro bono attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Cincinnati.

She is very active with NAFSA currently service on the Embassy Dialogue and Membership Engagement Committees after having completed a term as the national Travel Subcommittee Chair.

Anna Oberle-Brill
Vice President, Exchange Visitor, Grant Programs, International Programs + Fellowships

Anna serves as the Vice President of Exchange Visitor Programs, Grant Programs, International Programs and Fellowships at Cultural Vistas.

She has extensive expertise in the field of cultural exchange with more than 15 years of experience, including nearly a decade serving as the Senior Program Director of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals, a Department of State-funded, U.S.-German reciprocal exchange program.

Anna has been an integral part of this organization (formerly CDS International) since 2000, most recently in the role of directing the American side of the CBYX for Young Professionals program. In this position, she has overseen the annual tripartite placement (college, host family, internship) of 75 German students in communities across the United States. She has also maintained responsibilities for recruiting, selecting, and preparing the contingent of 75 American participants for spending a year abroad in Germany.

Anna possesses an expertise in cross-cultural training, grant management and writing, and program development that has shown through in the 12-plus years of successfully administering the CBYX program, including previous stints as an Assistant Program Officer and Program Assistant. She has also presented on such topics at a number of national conferences including NAFSA.Anna herself participated in several exchange programs throughout high school and college including travels to United States, England, France, and Switzerland. She is a passionate advocate for international exchange and looks forward to leading our efforts to provide more opportunities for Americans to gain professional experience abroad.

Anna earned her master’s degree in history, political science, and North American studies from Freie Universität Berlin in 2000.

A diverse and dynamic board.

Cultural Vistas’ Board of Directors guides the overall philosophy and direction of the organization and reflects the global reach of our programs and initiatives. Our diverse and accomplished board includes former ambassadors, leaders of the NGO and business communities, university administrators and professionals who closely monitor government relations, organizational policy, finance and programs.

Cultural Vistas’ board members are committed to the common goal of enhancing careers and building cultural understanding through life-changing exchange experiences.

Program Teams

Alfa Fellowship Program

Melissa Graves, Program Director
Steve Hendrickson, Assistant Program Officer

Global Programs for Young Professionals [CBYX, IAESTE USA, Internships Abroad]

Katie Novy, Assistant Director
Max Flescher, Program Officer, CBYX
Keenan Toure, Assistant Program Officer, IAESTE USA
Tommy Ruether, Assistant Program Officer, Internships Abroad
Felix Rodriguez Meinert, Program Assistant, CBYX
Elin Forsslund, Recruiting + Communications Intern
Note: Dan Ewert serves as IAESTE USA National Secretary.

International Visitor Leadership Program [IVLP] + Muskie Internship Program

Paul Champaloux, Senior Director of Exchange Visitor and Grant Programs & Global Programs for Young Professionals (EVGP & GPYP)
Anastasiia Futrell, Sr. Program Officer, Muskie
Michelle Kulikauskas, Sr. Program Officer, IVLP
Steven Washington, Sr. Program Officer, IVLP
Sarah Amin, Program Officer, IVLP
Natalia Etten, Program Officer, IVLP
Uma Trivede, Assistant Program Officer, IVLP
Chelsea Beaulieu, Assistant Program Officer, IVLP
Jorge Bagaipo, Administrative Assistant, IVLP

Korea WEST

Emily Kessel, Program Director
Steve Lainez, Program Officer, Placements
Bruce Allen, Assistant Program Officer
Jennifer Ventura, Korea WEST and Inbound Placements Intern

Program Development

Courtney Nelson, Director
Rachel Reed, Sr. Program Development Officer, Japan IDYL
Phoebe Heibeck, Program Development Officer
Angela Beltran, Program Development Officer
Fiona Laux, Program Development Assistant

Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program + Cultural Vistas Fellowship

Michelle Kulikauskas, Sr. Program Officer
Marissa Gillwald, Program Assistant
David Tarsha, Intern

Train USA, J-1 U.S. Internship + Training Programs

DC Office
Caroline Gillam, Director of J-1 Compliance and Training
Coco Lei Li, Assistant Director
Diana Mellitz, Program Manager
Kara Haslbeck, Program Manager
Jerrika Anderson Edwards, Program Specialist
Malgorzata Bonar-Kotarski, Participant Advisor
Jorge Bagaipo, Administrative Assistant, Train USA

NY Office
Shaina Katz, Senior Program Director of Train USA
Sarah Hocevar, Director of Operations of Train USA
Christine Paiva, Sr. Program Manager, Client Engagement
Donna Hatziioannou, Program Specialist, Client Engagement
Jennifer Nina, Program Manager
Marta Checko, Program Manager
Erin Merritt, Program Manager
Avery Rodriguez, Program Manager
Adam Szyperek, Program Manager
Chloe Bergman-Ray, Program Specialist
Stacy Macceca, Program Specialist
Catherina Rojas, Program Specialist
Grant Montoya, Participant Advisor
Hannah Vona, Participant Advisor
Korrin Harvey, Administrative Assistant

European Office

Will Maier, Sr. Office Director
Matthias Neureither, Program Manager
Margaret Clark, Seminar Manager, Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship

Operations Teams

Accounting + Finance

Simone Cook, Director
Elizabeth Bortkiewicz, Accounting Manager – Accounts Receivable
Marina Brodsky, Accounting Specialist

Administration

Laura Gross, Administrative Services + Advancement Manager

Client Relations

Roxana Pleacoff, Sr. Director
Jocelyn Coffin, Research Analyst

External Affairs

Anthony Naglieri, Sr. Director of External Affairs
Emily Commer, Sr. Events + Outreach Officer
Richard Bobo, Sr. Alumni Relations + Advancement Officer
Kathy Artus, Corporate Relations Officer
Laura Gross, Advancement Manager + Administrative Services
Piotr Narel, Marketing and Communications Officer
Hafsah Sarfraz, Communications Fellow
Daeyun Park, External Affairs Intern

Creative Studio

Jeremiah Berger, Creative Director
Peter Plotica, Sr. Designer

Human Resources

Nicole Eissa, Sr. Director
Kelly Zhu, Manager of Payroll and Benefits + Administrative Services
Henrietta Campbell, HR Specialist

IT Information Systems

Mike Hoffmann, Director of Information Systems
Robert McKnight, Systems and Support Analyst
Moises Gomez, Support Assistant

IT Product Development

Alison Steffen, Product Manager, Software Development
Anthony D’Aliasi, Sr. Software Engineer
Hana Stanojkovic, Software Engineer
Shamin Karim, Quality Assurance Analyst
Lubica Komarova, Software Engineer Intern
Natalia Acosta, Software Development Intern
Abir Chermiti, Software Development Fellow
Daegon Kim, Software Development Intern