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Spanish Studies Staff
U.S. Office, Amherst, Massachusetts
Beth Savage Marchese
Office Manager
I oversee all Spanish Studies program processes (academic and cultural travel) including student and participant inquiries, applications and general academic administration. I direct all student communications and coordinate administration of academic programs. I also handle office-related billing.
Email: beth[at]spanishstudies.org
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Place of birth: Medford, Massachusetts
Interests/hobbies: Foreign languages, writing, reading. I’ve travelled to Ireland, Puerto Rico, Germany, and London.
Interesting facts: I play keyboards in a band, and I’m left-handed.
Education: University of Massachusetts at Amherst: B.A., Spanish |
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Gisella Casasnovas
Institutional Relations Director
I oversee the Institutional Relations team's recruiting and marketing efforts. I also work closely with academic contacts interested in creating their own customized educational programming in Spain or Argentina.
Email: gisella[at]spanishstudies.org |
Place of birth: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Countries/cities in which you have lived/worked/studied:
I have lived in Miami, Washington, DC and New York City. I studied abroad for one year in Italy.
Interests/hobbies: I love to travel and gain insight about new and diverse cultures. I also enjoy reading, photography, music, foreign films, hiking and spending my free time with my dog.
Interesting facts: I am also fluent in Italian and worked at the Embassy of Italy - all thanks to my study abroad experience! :)
Education: Florida State University: B.A. in Italian Studies; American University: M.A. in International Affairs |
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Kathryn Bridge
Senior Institutional Relations Coordinator
Based in Denver, CO
I am responsible for the promotion and recruitment of our study abroad programs in Seville, Spain, Alicante, Spain and Córdoba, Argentina. I help to maintain and foster relations with institutions in the Western states and parts of the Mid-Western, Central, and Southern regions of the U.S. primarily by meeting with study abroad staff and Spanish faculty, attending study abroad fairs and visiting Spanish language classes.
Email: kathryn[at]spanishstudies.org |
Place of birth: Augusta, Maine
Countries/cities in which you have lived/worked/studied:
Bordeaux, France for 1 year; Santiago, Chile for 1 semester; Avignon, France for a summer; Shanghai, China for 2 years; Cultural Travel in Brazil, Japan, Thailand, Chile, France, Norway and typical tourist in many other countries.
Interest/Hobbies: I love to travel to international destinations, and learn new languages. I also enjoy tennis, trying new foods, swimming, kayaking, and meeting new people.
Interesting fact: I can say at least one word in 16 different languages.
Education: I have a B.A. in Spanish from College of Charleston (Charleston, SC), and an M.A. in International Education from SIT Graduate Institute (Brattleboro, VT). |
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Bonnie Cowan
Institutional Relations Coordinator
Based in Atlanta, GA
I am responsible for the promotion and recruitment of our study abroad programs in Seville, Spain, Alicante, Spain and Córdoba, Argentina. I help to maintain and foster relations with institutions in the Southeastern states, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-Western regions of the U.S. primarily by meeting with study abroad staff and Spanish faculty, attending study abroad fairs and visiting Spanish language classes.
Email: bonnie[at]spanishstudies.org
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Place of birth: Lawrenceville, Georgia
Countries/cities in which you have lived/worked/studied: I studied for a summer in Cadiz, Spain, a semester in San José, Costa Rica, and I lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a year after I graduated from college.
Interest/Hobbies: Traveling, meeting people and learning about different cultures, Spanish, dancing, Latin food (I love plantains!), tennis, and spending time with family and friends.
Interesting fact: Even though I have Scottish/Irish descent, and was born and raised in Georgia, my Spanish speaking friends tell me that I'm Latina on the inside.
Education: B.A. from the University of Georgia (Athens, GA) with a major in Spanish and a minor in ESOL. |
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Will Froehlich
Institutional Relations Coordinator
Based in New York, NY
I am responsible for the promotion and recruitment of our study abroad programs in Seville, Spain, Alicante, Spain and Córdoba, Argentina. I help to maintain and foster relations with institutions in the Northeastern states and parts of the Mid-Western region of the U.S. primarily by meeting with study abroad staff and Spanish faculty, attending study abroad fairs and visiting Spanish language classes.
Email: will[at]spanishstudies.org
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Place of birth: Davis, California
Countries/cities in which you have lived/worked/studied: I was born and raised in Davis, California and I did most of my studying in Los Angeles with a semester in San José, Costa Rica. I have lived/worked in Portland, Oregon and Quito, Ecuador and I currently work for CC-CS out of New York City.
Interest/Hobbies: I love basketball and traveling and combine both when possible! Sports have been a great way to integrate into the local community during my time abroad.
Interesting fact: My grandparents and their cousins immigrated to places all over the world so we now have family members on four continents!
Education: B.A. in Communications and a minor in Spanish from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I studied abroad at the Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT) in San José, Costa Rica. |
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Karen Sigel Carswell
Marketing Manager
I manage and design all advertising, public relations and marketing efforts for Spanish Studies Abroad programs. I work extensively updating the Spanish Studies website and also run the Student Ambassador Program.
Email: karen[at]spanishstudies.org |
Place of birth: Worcester, Massachusetts
Countries/cities in which you have lived/worked/studied: Beverly Farms, MA; Albuquerque, NM; Brattleboro, Vermont; Cuernavaca, Mexico; Seville, Spain
Interests/hobbies: Enjoy spending time with my family in the great outdoors.
Interesting fact: Alumnus Spanish Studies Abroad Seville program and my favorite place to sketch and journal was in the Plaza de España.
Education: B.A. in Spanish from Union College (Schenectady, NY), and an M.A. in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute (Brattleboro, VT).
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Claire Martin
Admissions Manager
I assist in all Spanish Studies Abroad programming matters and act as a primary contact for program participants, applicants, and graduates. I process applications for all Spanish Studies programs and manage enrolled participants administration, as well as perform general office administration and support.
Email: claire[at]spanishstudies.org |
Place of birth: Connecticut
Countries/cities where I have lived/worked/studied: Although I was born in Connecticut, I have lived in Pennsylvania for most of my life, attending college there as well. During the fall of my junior year, I studied in Seville, Spain with Spanish Studies Abroad. I also spent a total of nine months working as a long-term volunteer for a non-profit organization in Ensenada, Mexico.
Interests/hobbies: Learning about other cultures and languages, traveling, cooking, and reading.
Interesting fact: I think my love of culture and traveling comes from my grandfather, who has traveled all over the world. Someday I hope to follow in his footsteps and visit all of the places I have seen in his pictures.
Education: Susquehanna University: B.A. in Spanish with Pennsylvania teaching certification for Spanish grades K-12. |
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Amanda WrightAdmissions Coordinator
I assist in all Spanish Studies Abroad programming matters and act as a primary contact for program participants, applicants, and graduates. I process applications for all Spanish Studies programs and manage enrolled participants administration, as well as perform general office administration and support.
Email: amanda[at]spanishstudies.org
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Place of birth: St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Countries/cities where I have lived/worked/studied: I was born and raised in Northeastern Vermont. I moved to Ithaca, NY for college where I spent the better part of four years. During my senior year, I spent a semester in Córdoba, Argentina with Spanish Studies Abroad. While in Córdoba I traveled to Chile and Bolivia. Also, I've visited a number of European countries during a 6-week backpacking trip, as well as Mexico and Belize.
Interests/hobbies: I enjoy travel, both foreign and domestic, and learning new languages. I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, baking, music, foreign films and still photography. Lastly, I love food--trying it, preparing it, any part of it, really!
Interesting fact: I am a first-generation college graduate. Aside from Spanish, I also know random phrases in French, Italian, Thai and Mandarin.
Education: Ithaca College: B.A. in Spanish, minor in Latin American Studies |
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Erinn Kennedy
Programs Assistant
I assist in a variety of admissions and administrative projects, including managing student inquiries, coordinating acceptances, and helping with the general admissions process.
Email: erinn[at]spanishstudies.org
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Place of birth: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Countries/cities where I have lived/worked/studied: In High School I went on a trip to Greece and Turkey where I fell in love with traveling. I lived in Copan Ruinas, Honduras for a year and a half, Cambrils, Spain for a few months, visited the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Uruguay and studied in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Interests/hobbies: I love to travel and learn about new cultures.
Interesting fact: While living in Honduras I was a cashier at a local grocery store, I had immersed myself so much that the locals thought I was Hondureña!
Education: B.A. in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am currently working on my masters in Higher Education at the Umass Amherst.
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Alisha Panariti
Marketing Intern
I manage all social media for Spanish Studies Abroad. I assist with the marketing and public relations efforts for Spanish Studies programs. I assist on website updates and advertising updates for our search engines.
Email: intern[at]spanishstudies.org |
Place of birth: Winchester, Massachusetts
Countries/cities where I have lived/worked/studied: Stoneham, MA, Wollongong, Australia.
Interests/hobbies: I enjoy playing beach volleyball, traveling, and being around people.
Interesting fact: My dream is to see as much of the world as possible and experience new cultures.
Education: B.A. in Communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. May 2012.
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