Members of the ISEP Board of Directors elected four distinguished leaders to join the ISEP Board for a 3-year term, effective July 1, 2021:
Raja G. Bhattar, PhD
Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar (pronouns: they/them/theirs) is a nationally-recognized higher education leader, advocate, consultant and author. Previously, Dr. Bhattar served as the Assistant Provost and Executive Director of the Center for Identity + Inclusion at the University of Chicago, overseeing the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, LGBTQ Student Life and Student Support Services along with campus-wide climate and inclusion work. Raja also served as the Director of UCLA’s LGBTQ Campus Resource Center for seven years. They hold a PhD and Master of Arts degrees in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA, a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont and Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Spanish Literature from Boston University.
Leigh Cole, JD
Leigh Cole joined the ISEP Board because she is passionate about education, business and internationalization. She currently chairs the Education Practice at Dinse P.C., a Vermont-based law firm and is the Immigration Counsel to Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP, an employment boutique law firm in California. She has served on many regional and national boards, including the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Vermont Council on World Affairs. Ms. Cole received her JD degree from the Albany Law School of Union University and her undergraduate degree from Cornell University.
Jeannie H. Caicedo, MS
For over 20 years, Jeannie Caicedo has been engaged in the field of international higher education. She is currently the Rector´s delegate of International Relations at Universidad del Norte (Colombia), responsible for developing and overseeing university wide international projects, initiatives and strategies. Ms. Caicedo has an extensive experience in the promotion of student mobility, Internationalization at Home and international visibility strategies as well as capacity building in the field of internationalization of higher education. She is an active member of Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge-CCYK, a network that promotes Colombia as an international destination for higher education and quality research.
Joël Gallegos, MA
Joël A. Gallegos is Assistant Provost for International Programs at UNC Charlotte where he oversees ca63mpus-wide internationalization efforts. He is a regular presenter and panelist at international education conferences and currently serves as a trustee for the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA). He is also a board member at the World Affairs Council of Charlotte as well as Charlotte Sister Cities. Gallegos has formerly served on the boards of directors of several international education organizations including NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).
ISEP’s international Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from higher education, non-profits, foundations and the private sector, all of whom have personal interest in international student mobility for academic and cross-cultural learning. Their commitment to ISEP’s mission and their belief in our core values are unparalleled. Board members reflect the global diversity of the ISEP Community, having studied, lived or worked in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America.
ISEP is a not-for-profit educational community dedicated to helping students overcome academic and financial barriers to study or intern abroad. Made up of more than 300 member and affiliate higher education institutions in over 50 countries, the ISEP Community works together to provide students immersive, affordable and life-changing programs. Our students develop highly desirable skills for life and future employment as well as achieve a transformative self-confidence that only comes from an authentic experience in another country.
Media Contact: Melody Stratton at 703-504-9973 or mstratton@isep.org
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