Jeffery Keith has founded or co-founded multiple successful companies in various sectors including education, industrial services, financial services, and commercial real estate. Cuba was a necessary step for me to find the world, life, and passion that I needed. What attracted me to API is the team’s genuine friendliness and willingness to help, and the passion that the entire API team has for cross-cultural learning. ", “The API Buenos Aires staff was absolutely wonderful. I studied abroad with API in Granada, Spain and my daily work facilitates for thousands of others the transformational experience of spending time abroad with API. I can’t wait to travel there with my family, hopefully someday soon! I felt a true connection to the human experience and what truly matters. In 2013 she took over as the Regional Director for Italy. Education: Bachelor’s degrees in Italian and Spanish from Bangor University, Wales. It gives you hope for humanity. This was my first international experience. View All … MBA with Hospitality and Tourism major from Florida State University. One big lesson I learned was that if I wanted to improve my spoken language skills, I had to accept that making mistakes would be an integral part of that. Study abroad insight + one lucky winner gets their initial deposit waived! I fell in love with the liveliness of the city. My classrooms were incredibly diverse with students from all over the world and the IB program, with its focus on global understanding and cultural diversity, gave way for a learning environment which encouraged students to learn from each other. Learn About Developing a Customized Program. ), Education: Bachelor's degree in Modern Languages with a concentration in Spanish from Framingham State University. API … Everyone I met had their own story and their own take on the world. Next came a move to Austin, Texas where Rachel discovered a love of promoting the benefits of study abroad and worked in the API Texas office for a period of 3 years. Given the degree of complexity involved with operating programs in international destinations, each with its own laws, legal system, and cultural perceptions of appropriate behavior, API cannot have one uniform approach to all forms of disrespectful behavior, harassment or sexual discrimination. Legal protections in the host country may differ from those in place in a participant’s home country. I spent several years working in other industries but did not feel fulfilled or passionate about my work. in Foreign Language Education (U.T.-Austin). My favorite travel destination is actually the place I studied abroad – Scotland! Prior to NRCCUA, Patrick served as CEO for both public and private digital media technology companies and has held senior executive positions at some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including The Weather Channel, Sony, HP, and Dell. Life Transforming. I believe in the mission of API and want to help grow the company. And when they didn’t visit our small town they sent the most beautiful dresses for my sister and I and delicious chocolates for both Easter and Christmas. I’ve worked for a variety of study abroad organizations over the past decade in a university relations capacity and believe the value a global perspective provides US college students is more important than ever. Even though she is a Parisian, she loves living in the middle of the gorgeous Alps, in Grenoble, where she can spend lots of time in the outdoors, hiking and skiing as well as taking advantage of the historical and cultural environment of this part of France. I loved both countries so much, as both were so rich with art, history, food and wine! While API is an organization that reaches all corners of the earth, all people- including participants and employees alike are treated with the same welcoming hospitality that I have experienced from people in each country I have had the chance to visit. We learned a lot about the history of South Africa and some of the resulting socio-economic issues. These strangers who have become friends have shown me that a kind word or gesture goes a long way and I try to remember that with every conversation and smile I give. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics & Spanish from Kalamazoo College, Master’s degree in International Development Studies from The George Washington University. Want to go abroad and go virtual? She began her professional career in the Tourism industry working for several years as a tour leader in Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, and North Europe. Programs offered include Study Abroad, Internship, Volunteer, Intensive Language, Gap Year, Graduate Program, and High School abroad programs in 21 countries such as Gap Year Abroad… Senior Director for University Relations and Inclusion Initiatives, Study abroad experience: Au pair – Biarritz, France; ESL instructor – Pusan, South Korea, Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism (Texas State University), M.A. With a wide variety of courses offered in … If only one API representative is based in the host city, an API representative from the same country shall be assigned to support the participant or a non-API representative could be identified to work with the participant who has reported the incident. Reporting Discrimination or Other Inappropriate Behavior, Procedure Following Report of Assault or Harassment Between Program Participants, Procedure Following Allegations of Harassment/Discrimination by API Representative/Employee. If a reporting party elects to file a police report with local authorities, API may be required by law to defer or suspend an internal investigation. I grew up hearing stories from my dad's backpacking adventures and my mum's life in South Africa, and visiting family in England on a consistent basis. It is a special place that I wish everyone in the world could experience. I am so happy to be a part of API's team and support our participants' learning and growth for a better world! As a plant lover and someone who tries to be environmentally conscious, I think this is absolutely amazing. Check out our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page for diversity resources for all students. API is Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in International Education! Prague taught me acceptance and how to be open. Study abroad in Seville with API. in Intercultural Communication and minor in Business from Washington State University. Master’s in Spanish Language & Culture from the University of Salamanca. We deliver exceptional experiences with student well-being as our highest priority. Many of those lessons have stuck with me. Upon graduation from Elon, I moved back to Italy, and for two years I taught English to Italian students between the ages of three and eighty-two. I never tire of promoting our locations there to potential participants. Global Select Program - Fall 2020, It was the greatest six months of my life and had such an amazing impact on my story. I can still remember vividly the excitement (and nervousness!) I first studied abroad on a gap year program in Madrid, Spain as a senior in High School and the experience definitely changed my life and career path. API will inform the responding party(ies) of the accusations and require them to provide written testimony of their actions during the specific window of time in question within 72 hours of receiving the request from API. About. In addition to our full-time internship programs, API also offers students the option to participate in an internship while on a semester, academic year, or summer study abroad program. Immerse yourself in Spanish culture with API. If I could pick one API program to attend it would be to Bhutan. Explore our virtual programs and customize it to your schedule! No matter how hard it is to fumble your way through asking for directions, there’s really no better time or place than during a semester abroad. I was accompanied by my husband and then two-year-old son and had the distinct pleasure of introducing them to my Ecuadorian host family who I had not seen in person for almost 17 years! If API has cause to believe the allegations are true, API may choose to dismiss a participant at any time to protect the reporting party or fellow participants from potential harm, without conducting an extensive investigation. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INTERNATIONAL • 301 camp craft road • suite 100 • Austin TX 78746 Telephone 512/600-8900 OR 800/844-4124 • FAX 512/600-8999 • E-mail api@apiabroad.com Enforce “no contact” agreements: API may require the reporting and responding parties to sign an agreement specifying that they will make every effort to avoid unsupervised contact. In addition to attending games, I got to experience an amazing country with an abundance of wildlife and culture. I would love to take a summer course in Florence and study jewelry making and learn to cook delicious Italian food — what a dream! I found a home with API, an organization that shared my philosophies in student development and creating opportunities for expanding global awareness. We now send more than 4,000 participants abroad annually to nearly 50 cities in over 25 countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Oceania. Studying abroad can make you more competitive in the workforce. Fast forward and now going into my eighth year with API; Long story short I met one of the founding mamas and was able to get to know API thru my connection with Julie Leitman. Where in the world (that API has programs) would you like to travel, and what is it about that location that speaks to you?My own life-transforming study abroad experience as a college student in Seville, Spain over 20 years ago is what inspired me to get into the international education industry, and continues to guide the work that I joyfully do every day! Hometown: Houston, TX; Paris, France; Los Angeles, CA. API generally encourages both the reporting and responding parties to be open with trusted friends or family members at home about such incidents, so they may provide additional emotional support. During the summer of 2016, I traveled to Quito, Ecuador, to train our newest director. She is highly knowledgeable and compassionate.". 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