U.S.-based Staff

Students, parents, faculty and advisors can rely on the Alliance for Global Education to provide insightful guidance and thorough support services throughout their experience. Before departure, students may contact the Alliance's China and India Program Managers with any questions or concerns. Once students arrive overseas, the Alliance for Global Education's Resident Directors and staff lead orientation programs and are be available to students at all times for academic and personal support and practical advice. They work to enhance students' experience through planned cultural activities, lectures, field study trips, and social events. 

 

Janice Levitt

Executive Director

Janice is responsible for the leadership and direction of the Alliance, overseeing all aspects of the organization. Janice has spent nearly 20 years in the field of international education, serving as a Resident Director in Beijing and Harbin and later developing and managing study abroad programs across Asia and Europe. She spent five years studying and working in China and has enjoyed travel to over 20 countries. Fluent in Chinese and with a fascination for exploring other cultures, Janice is committed to providing linguistic, cultural, and educational opportunities for students -- especially those going abroad for the first time. She studied East Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chinese Studies at the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, and will complete a Master's in Leadership at Georgetown University in 2012.

 

Andrea Custodi, Ph.D.

Director of Outreach and Operations, Senior Advisor for India Programs

Andrea is responsible for overseeing institutional relations, communications, and outreach for the Alliance, the smooth functioning of Alliance headquarters and student services, and the development of policies and procedures that ensure this. Until recently Director of India Programs for the Alliance, Andrea also continues to oversee program development and management in India. With a background in international education that includes over ten years of program management in India as well as fieldwork and development work elsewhere in South Asia, Andrea maintains interdisciplinary academic interests as well, with doctoral research and publications incorporating contemporary critical and feminist theory. Andrea currently serves on the Council of the Forum on Education Abroad as Co-Chair of the Outcomes and Assessment Committee, Chair-Designate of the Standards Committee, and a member of its Ethics and School of Record working groups.

 

Jonathan Ferguson

Associate Director for India Programs

As Associate Director for India Programs, Jonathan manages the day-to-day operations and development of all Alliance programs in India. He has over eight years experience in higher education administration and study abroad, including academic programming, operations, program development, and marketing. Jonathan has traveled extensively throughout India and was a 2008 David L. Boren Fellow at the East-West Language Institute in New Delhi. He holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has a particular interest in urban development in emerging markets.

 

Ting Wang, Ph.D.

Assistant Director for China Programs

Ting assists the Executive Director with the management and development of the Alliance’s China programs. Prior to joining the Alliance, Ting had broad cross-cultural experience in international media exchange and development. She holds a M.A. in American Studies from China Foreign Affairs University and a Ph.D. in Media Studies from Northwestern University. Ting's academic research centers on media institution, globalization and cultural identity from the perspectives of political economy, cultural studies and audience research, particularly where China and the United States intersect. Having studied, taught and worked in both the U.S. and China, Ting has a long-term passion for international education and exchange, and is committed to promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding between the two countries through study abroad initiatives.

 

Julia Levy

Senior Program Manager, China

Julia has been with the the Alliance for Global Education since its inception. In addition, she has been with the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University since 1988, shortly after receiving her B.A. from Dickinson College. Julia's long-standing relationship with Arcadia began during her undergraduate years, when she participated in a study abroad program to England. Following college graduation, Julia began a career as a program assistant, and since then she has held a number of different positions at Arcadia. In her current role, she manages the admissions and pre-departure process for Alliance China students.

 

Amanda Zimmerman

Senior Program Manager, India

Amanda is thrilled to have joined the Alliance team, after over 5 years of student services experience with our partner, the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication with a specialization in Public Relations from Rowan University.  Amanda has always been interested in international travel, having participated in an English exchange program while in junior high school and later, spending a semester abroad at Macquarie University in Australia. In addition, Amanda taught English in the small town of Hidaka, Japan to junior high and elementary school students.  Living in Japan enabled her to travel extensively throughout Asia.

 

Clay Harmon

Institutional Relations Manager

Clay's primary responsibility is student recruitment.  He maintains the Alliance's relationships with a wide variety of colleges and universities throughout the United States. His fluency in Mandarin Chinese, as well as his combined knowledge of study abroad in China and American higher education, contributes to the Alliance's success in enrolling students and communicating with language faculty and study abroad offices. Clay holds a B.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Puget Sound and an Ed.M. in Higher Education from Harvard University. He studied in both Taiwan and Beijing as an undergraduate, and has traveled extensively throughout China and elsewhere in Asia. In addition, Clay served as resident director for the Critical Language Scholarship program based at the Alliance site in Shanghai in summer 2010. He is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of American students have the opportunity to study in Asia.

 

Teresa Bellono

Communications Manager

Teresa joined the Alliance as an intern in early 2010.  Now, as Communications Manager, she oversees Alliance publications, website maintenance, and social media initiatives and also works closely with the recruitment staff.  She earned a B.A. in French and International Studies from Indiana University and recently received an M.A. in International Training and Education from American University. Her passion for international student exchange stems from her own year abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. Teresa has previous experience in supporting program marketing and management as a Peer Counselor in the Office of Overseas Study at Indiana University. She is eager to promote the Alliance's program portfolio, particularly opportunities for intensive language study and non-traditional majors.

 

Danielle Schneider

Operations Manager

Danielle’s passion for international education and exploring other cultures began with her BA in Sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has traveled throughout Europe and Latin America, ultimately spending a year in Viña del Mar, Chile to teach English and work with an international education organization.  In addition, she volunteered in both the United States and Latin America for the fight against domestic violence and public health issues.  As Operations Manager, Danielle works to ensure the smooth functioning of Alliance headquarters, providing human relations support and managing vendor accounts.

 

Charlotte Ashford

Program Officer

After studying abroad with the Alliance in 2009 at Fudan, Charlotte graduated with a B.A. in International Studies from Rhodes College, Memphis, and quickly made her way back to Shanghai to work as a Student Ambassador during the Shanghai World Expo. Upon returning to the U.S., she was thrilled to officially join the Alliance team in November as their first program alumna and staff member. Currently, as Program Officer, Charlotte supports both the China and India programs, liaising with in-country and U.S. staff, current students, and program alumni. A passion for Asia and an understanding of the powerful impact that study abroad experiences have on students, Charlotte is enthusiastic about her new role. She hopes that her first hand experience and studies in Asia coupled with her insight into the student perspective will play a valuable role in furthering the Alliance mission.

 

Erica Sebastian

Enrollment Counselor

Erica works closely with students during the application, admissions, and pre-departure process. Erica's passion for working with students and helping them prepare for life-changing experiences through study abroad comes from her own experiences studying and working abroad. She first studied abroad in Granada, Spain in 2001, then went on to pilot an internship program in Havana, Cuba in spring 2004, and then graduated from the University of Oregon with B.A.’s in International Studies and Spanish later that year. Since then, she has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Latin America, taught English in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and also spent time at each of the Alliance program sites in China. She is currently working toward her Master's in Global & International Education at Drexel University.  

 

Corey Smith

Program Intern

Corey is serving as Program Intern with the Alliance for 2011-2012. He earned a B.A. in Journalism from Keene State College, New Hampshire and is currently working toward an M.A. in International Media at American University. He previously worked within the field of international education as a Program Assistant for an international travel non-profit for adults. Corey traveled to South Africa in 2009 for an undergraduate Honors course and is looking forward to incorporating more international travel and career experience in his time in Washington, DC and with the Alliance.