ISEP Study Abroad welcomes Dr. Rajika Bhandari, Mr. Robert Carolin, Dr. Elaine Meyer-Lee and Dr. ‘Dimeji Togunde to the Board of Directors.
Arlington, Va. — Members of the ISEP Board of Directors elected four prominent international education leaders to join the ISEP Board for a 3-year term, effective July 1, 2020:
Dr. Rajika Bhandari is the President and CEO of the IC3 Institute. Prior to joining IC3, she spent over a decade at the Institute of International Education (IIE), leading IIE’s thought leadership initiatives and its global research and impact studies on student and scholar mobility. An expert in international higher education, Dr. Bhandari is a frequent speaker and widely published author with a forthcoming book on the international student experience. A product of global student mobility herself, she holds advanced degrees in Psychology and Education from the University of Delhi (India) and from North Carolina State University in the U.S.
Mr. Robert Carolin is the Assistant Vice President for Global Programs and Services at California State University, San Marcos, overseeing all aspects of international engagement for the university including study abroad, exchange, international degree-seeking admissions and advising and Intensive English Program. He previously worked at two other ISEP institutions in California, with the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay as well as at ISEP’s Global Office. In addition, Mr. Carolin has spent several years in Japan. He received his Master’s in International Education from the School for International Training and is fluent in Spanish. A strong advocate for an immersive international experience for faculty, students, and staff, he served two terms on ISEP’s Council of Advisors prior to joining the Board.
Dr. Elaine Myer-Lee is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Goucher College. She previously served as associate vice president for global learning and leadership development and as a professor of psychology at Agnes Scott College. She has been a senior academic administrator and international/intercultural leadership, diversity, and inclusion educator for over two decades. Dr. Myer-Lee served for two years as President and Chair of the Board of Directors of NAFSA: Association of International Educators (2017-2018). She received her doctorate in human development and psychology from Harvard University and studied abroad in France and Haiti.
Dr. ‘Dimeji Togunde serves as vice provost for global education and professor of international studies at Spelman College, where he provides leadership for the design and implementation of the College’s Strategic Planning on campus internationalization (2017-2022) and the institutionalization of the 2016 Quality Enhancement Plan known as Spelman Going Global! An experienced presenter, reviewer and consultant on study abroad and international initiatives, Professor Togunde received both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in demography and social statistics from the Obafemi Awolowo University (Nigeria) and a Ph.D. in Development Sociology from Cornell University.
“I am delighted that Dr. Bhandari, Mr. Carolin, Dr. Meyer-Lee and Dr. Togunde have agreed to join the ISEP Board of Directors,” said Heidi Gregori-Gahan, former Chair of the Board and current Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. “Each one possesses unique skills as well as a strong commitment to ISEP’s mission. Their insights gleaned from professional and volunteer experiences in academia, government and non-profit education organizations will enrich Board discussions.”
ISEP’s President and CEO, Dr. John Lucas, added “I, too, am pleased to welcome this impressive group of international education leaders to the ISEP Board of Directors. Their interest in and engagement with ISEP from our initial contact with them until now is auspicious for the organization as student mobility navigates the current challenges of COVID-19.”
ISEP’s Board of Directors consists of university presidents and faculty members, senior leaders in international education, non-profit and business leaders dedicated to ISEP’s core values. Their commitment to ISEP’s mission of making life-changing experiences of studying, interning and volunteering abroad accessible and affordable for everyone is unparalleled. Board members have experience living and working in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, reflecting the global diversity of the ISEP community.
About ISEP Study Abroad: As the largest global membership non-profit for student mobility, ISEP has 300+ member universities in more than 50 countries. ISEP students build real connections and gain a true understanding of what it is like to live in another culture through studying, interning and volunteering. Since 1979, ISEP has provided nearly 65,000 students access to affordable, high-quality and immersive programs, that in return help develop culturally sensitive skill sets needed for today’s global workforce and society.
Media Contact: Melody Stratton at 703-504-9973 or mstratton@isep.org.
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