Institutional Relations Team

 

 

David began his international education career with CAPA in California as a Program Development Consultant in 2002, where his primary responsibility was building custom faculty-led programs with US institutions in the Southeast. In 2005, David relocated to CAPA’s Boston headquarters to lead the newly established Institutional Relations team. He became Vice President of Institutional Relations in 2007, and over the following years served in a number of different leadership roles including Vice President of US Operations and Vice President of Marketing. He also served on CAPA’s Board of Directors/Boundary team.  

 

 

 

Michael has spent much of his career in an international context. Prior to working in mainstream international education, he taught American Literature at the universities of Hull, Middlesex, Padova, and Venice, and worked as a researcher-writer for BBC radio. Michael has held leadership roles with FIE, CIEE, and Syracuse University. He has also consulted for New York University, Brethren Colleges Abroad, Warwick University, and is an adviser to the President of Tamagawa University in Tokyo.

He serves on a number of boards and committees including the Curriculum Committee of the Forum on Education Abroad, the Editorial Boards of Frontiers and the Journal of Studies in International Education, EAIE’s Knowledge Development Task Force, and Braun Stiftung für Internationalen Austausch. Michael was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Forum on Education Abroad from 2006 to 2012.

Michael holds a PhD in American Studies, an MA in Literature, and a BA in History and Politics. He has written widely and has published extensively on international education and cultural studies. Most recently, he published work aimed at critically reviewing the core assumptions of study abroad. You can read a sample of Michael’s short essays in his monthly blog column Thoughts on Education Abroad.

 

Nora joined CAPA in 2013. Based in Boston, she works with CAPA partner institutions in New England and manages a team of Institutional Relations Managers. Outside of CAPA, she has held the position of Secretary for NAFSA Region XI (2017-2019), presented at conferences and returnee events, and contributed as a guest editor for the Special Issue on Religion and Study Abroad of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad and in CAPA’s Occasional Publication on Civil Rights and Inequalities. Prior to joining CAPA, Nora held positions as an English Language Teaching Assistant in Salzburg, Austria, and as a Program Associate at IES Abroad.

She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where she studied International Affairs, European Cultural Studies, and German. She earned a MEd in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in 2018. She enjoys walking her dog, Frances, in the Arnold Arboretum and tasting the Thai food specialties in whatever New England town she finds herself.

 

Darin joined CAPA in 2014. Based in Los Angeles, he works with CAPA partner institutions on the West Coast and Pacific Northwest and oversees a team of Institutional Relations Managers.

Additionally, he focuses on equity and inclusion initiatives and partnerships to increase diversity and access in the field and on CAPA programs.

Prior to joining CAPA, Darin served multiple roles within AFS Intercultural Programs USA, with a focus on program design, development, and implementation. He managed the Faces of America Diversity Scholarships to Study Abroad program and developed and implemented the US Department of State Youth Exchange and Study Abroad Program.

He is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he studied Political Science. He earned an MPA in Public Sector Management and Leadership from California State University Northridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura received her BA in Hospitality Business and MA in Higher Education, Adult, and Lifelong Learning from Michigan State University. Her passion for global education, business, and higher education stems from her study abroad experience in Norway and her extensive world-wide travel.

 

Kirsten joined CAPA in January 2020, after living and working in England for four years. She is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and works with partner institutions in the Mid-Atlantic (NAFSA Region VIII). Prior to joining CAPA, she served as Head of Study Abroad at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, and also oversaw their recruitment strategy and activities for North America. Kirsten previously held a variety of roles related to international education and international development.  Kirsten has been deeply involved with NAFSA for a number of years, as a presenter, exhibitor, and member leader. She served on the NAFSA Education Abroad Regulatory Practice Committee for ten years working on issues that affect students studying abroad, including changes to visa regulations.   

She is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she majored in International Relations, and spent a year studying in Reading, England. Kirsten also received her MA in International Development Studies from The George Washington University. 

 

 

 

Originally from the Boston area, Hayle works on the Custom Programs team responding to university requests and writing proposals to develop exciting customized and faculty-led programs. She also supports the Institutional Relations team as a whole through managing the Global Education Workshops, overseeing CAPA’s Advisors Council, and drafting communications to institutions. With a particular interest in identity and inclusion, she also is a member of CAPA’s Diversity Committee, Pride Committee, and Scholarships Review Committee. Hayle decided to pursue education abroad after studying in New Delhi, India, and completing an internship at the Institute of International Education in Washington, DC. She holds a BA in Political Science and History from Middlebury College. Hayle is proficient in Spanish, French, and Portuguese, and enjoys learning about different cultures through dance.

 

Cara joined CAPA in 2019, and she supports both the Institutional Relations and Marketing teams on a variety of projects. While pursuing her bachelor's degree at the University of Pittsburgh, she spent a summer interning and studying in Sydney, Australia, on a CAPA program. She also spent a semester studying in Nice, France, and traveling around Europe and North Africa. Cara is thrilled to be able to share her passion for travel and international education with the CAPA community. Cara is originally from New York, and she spends her free time exploring Boston in search of a good slice of pizza.