Verto Education offers the onlyfirst year abroad experiencethat keeps you on-track to graduate in four years with world-class academic providers and 70+ partner colleges.
Our Mission
Verto prepares global leaders and transforms access to higher education through a coming-of-age first-year start to college abroad.
Our Values
Verto Education was founded to make travel the path of least resistance to a college education. We believe in inclusion, transparency, access, equity and, above all, the power of travel to foster empathy and kindness across cultures.
What Verto Education Offers
An Accessible, Global Academic Year
Verto Education helps participants discover themselves and the world around them by making education abroad a foundational and accessible part of a four-year college plan.
With Verto, students can begin college with a study abroad experience with world-class academics offered by our Academic Providers, while having the option to gain admission to Verto’s 70+ partner college.
Verto participants walk away with much more than incredible memories and transferable credits; they gain the confidence, self-awareness, and global perspective needed to thrive in college and in life.
Direct Admission to a Verto Partner College
Students can use their Verto Application to gain direct admission to our 70+ partner colleges, where the credits earned from our Academic Providers during the Verto experience will transfer seamlessly. Students have many available options after their time with Verto, allowing them to stay on track for a 4-year college graduation timeline.
A Well-Rounded Cross-Cultural Experience Focused on Personal Growth
Semesters foster self-discovery through journaling, mindfulness training, mentorship, service learning programs, and—for some locations—a homestay experience. Weekly structured reflection gives students a sense of who they are and want they want from their university career.
Meet Our Team
Executives & Leaders
Mitch Gordon
President & Co-Founder
Ben Welbourn
Chief Enrollment Officer & Co-Founder
Michael Kabbaz
Senior Vice President of Strategy & Chief of Staff
Emily Sauey
Head of People Operations
Nataly Huff
Vice President of Marketing
Ahmad Refky
Vice President of Operations
Sara Troy
Director of Program Development
Aline Parnagian
Director of Digital Product
Rick Silvestrini
Chief Operation Officer
Paige Butler
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Michael Goldstein
Executive Director, Verto Fund
Faculty & Program Staff
Blaire Modic
Country Director, Costa Rica
Andrés “Fofo” Zúñiga
Program Director, Costa Rica
Andrea Bravo
Senior Student Affairs Coordinator, Costa Rica
Fabricio Arguedas
Clubs & Community Coordinator, Costa Rica
Yesenia Obando Diaz
Faculty, Spanish, Costa Rica
Leslie Jernigan
Faculty Support Coordinator & Teaching Faculty, Costa Rica
Edgardo Arevalo
Faculty, Environmental Science, Costa Rica
Manuel Ramírez Cordero
Program Coordinator, Costa Rica
Johel Chaves-Campos
Academic Manager, Costa Rica
Josue Borbon
Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Yolanda Cobblah
Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica
Kara Dudley
Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica
Valerie Hernández
Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica
Chase Parnell
Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica
Andrew Carbaugh
Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica
Dylan Stiegemeier
Faculty, Costa Rica
Paige Sturley
Faculty, Costa Rica
Maia Schulte
Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Hashim Muhammad
Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Maria Gonzalez
Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica
Alexis Sinder
Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Pratyush Sharma
Faculty, Costa Rica
Katherine Carrillo Mesen
Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Ana Lucía Jiménez
Faculty, Costa Rica
Jean-Pierre D’Alessandro
Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Jose Guillermo Chacon
Faculty, Costa Rica
Tiyamike Mkanthama
Faculty, Costa Rica
Luis Dumani
Faculty, Costa Rica
Makensi Ceriani
Faculty, Costa Rica
Maria Batista
Faculty, Social Problems, Costa Rica
Stefanie Ramírez Brenes
Program Coordinator, Costa Rica
Laura Moreira
Faculty, Costa Rica
Carmen Hutchinson Miller
Faculty, Costa Rica
Mario Arroyo
Faculty, Costa Rica
Daniel Borge
Resident Life Coordinator, Costa Rica
Alex Anchia
Faculty, Costa Rica
Sheriden Kuech
Associate Program Director, England
Amy Ramirez
Academic Success Coordinator, England
Valerio Lintner
Faculty, England
Sarah Hughes
Senior Academic Success Coordinator, England
Stephen Humphrey
Faculty, England
Piero Corcillo
Faculty, England
Theocharis Papadopoulos
Faculty, England
Yulia Kovas
Faculty, England
Eliza Wilton
Senior Student Affairs Coordinator, England
Fatos Selita
Faculty, England
Graham Box
Faculty, England
David Royster
Student Life Coordinator, England
Emma Pradarelli
Academic Success Coordinator, England
Neil Coade
Faculty, England
Sarah Hutchinson
Academic Success Coordinator, England
Joanna Mikosz
Student Life Coordinator, England
Yana Kolpakova
Academic Success Coordinator, England
Aishe Smith
Academic Success Coordinator, England
Cecilia Onwochei-Garcia
Student Life Coordinator, England
Scott Mclean
Faculty, England
Josh Ferry
Student Life Coordinator, England
Faissal Hameed
Faculty, England
Gemma Miller
Faculty, England
Laura Ludtke
Faculty, Rhetoric & Research, England
Claudio Rocha
Faculty, England
Ike Mohar
Faculty, England
Jakub Mildner
Faculty, England
Scott Kelly
Faculty, England
Laura Ludtke
Faculty, England
Noam Yadin-Evron
Faculty, England
Peter Lowe
Faculty, England
Victor Mellors
Faculty, England
Syed Hussain
Faculty, England
Daniel Whitehouse
Faculty, England
Niccolo Salvatori
Faculty, England
Alice Jones Bartoli
Faculty, England
Francesco D’Alema
Faculty, England
Oscar Ceballos
Center Director, Spain
Michaela Hill
Student Life Manager, Spain
Manuel “Manolo” Rufete
Academic Manager, Spain
Elena González Rojo
Faculty, Spain
Antonio Barneto Ochoa
Faculty, Spain
Fran Pascual
Program Administrator, Spain
Nadia Sousa Garzón
Academic Success Coordinator, Spain
Samantha Wasek
Student Life Coordinator, Spain
Dan Manuel Serradilla Avery
Faculty, Spain
Fran Aguado
Student Life Coordinator, Spain
Alejandro Varela
Faculty, Spain
Rosario Sivianes
Faculty, Spain
Carlos Pineda
Faculty, Public Speaking, Spain
Natalia Couste
Faculty, Spain
Elisa Fernandez
Faculty, Spain
Kelly Southworth
Academic Success Coordinator, Spain
Aoife Higgins
Student Life Coordinator, Spain
Cristina Gonzalez
Housing Coordinator, Spain
María Esther Beltrán
Academic Success Coordinator, Spain
Rubén Díaz López
Faculty, Spain
Amanda Cummings
Senior Academic Success Coordinator, Spain
Emily Woerfel
Student Life Coordinator, Spain
Rafael Ortiz Martínez de Carnero
Faculty, Spain
Miguel de Lucas
Faculty, Spain
José Joaquín Moreno
Academic Success Coordinator, Spain
Cristiana Gallai
Program Director, Italy
Gilda Bassani
Student Life Coordinator, Italy
Martina Ghiandelli
Faculty, Italy
Leonardo Giustini
Faculty, Italy
Alice Cini
Academic Affairs Manager, Italy
Lucia Giardino
Faculty, Italy
Mattia Rondinelli
Faculty, Italy
Kristel Campaert
Faculty, Italy
Marco Di Manno
Faculty, Italy
Marco Pacioni
Faculty, Italy
Kristi Bauer
Administrative and Operations Assistant, Italy
Shauna Kavanagh
Student Life Manager, Italy
Elisa Varlaro
Student Life Coordinator, Italy
Simonetta Ferrini
Faculty, Italy
Paolo Monetti Lucianer
Housing Coordinator, Italy
Blasco Sciarrino
Faculty, Italy
Giulietta Molinari
Student Life Coordinator, Italy
María Fernández Bascones
Student Life Coordinator, Italy
Kiara Stucchi Prinetti
Student Life Coordinator, Italy
Anneka Stevens
Academic Success Coordinator, Italy
Israel Barroso
Academic Success Coordinator, Italy
Umberto Gori
Faculty, Italy
Federica Di Sarcina
Faculty, Italy
Johanna Mae Indias
Academic Success Coordinator, Italy
Veronica Guida
Faculty, Italy
Rossana Ungaro
Faculty, Italy
Maia Wellington Gahtan
Faculty, Italy
Emanuele Tognelli
Faculty, Italy
Mayara Pereira
Academic Success Coordinator, Italy
Valentina Dolara
Faculty, Italy
Diego Palombi
Academic Success Coordinator, Italy
Maria Videtta
Academic Success Coordinator, Italy
Tiziano Lucchesi
Faculty, Italy
Laura Romero Calero
Student Life Coordinator, Italy
Dario D’Ambrosa
Faculty, Italy
Silvia Gentili
Faculty, Italy
Octavio Di Leo
Center Director, Argentina
Juan Franco Pecora
Academic Success & Student Life Coordinator, Argentina
Natalia Polito
Faculty, Argentina
Veronica Hopp
Faculty, Argentina
Ayelen Pagnanelli
Faculty, Argentina
Ananda Casanova
Academic Success & Student Life Coordinator, Argentina
Andrew Roberts
Faculty, Argentina
Mario Rossi
Faculty, Argentina
Matias Ilivitzky
Faculty, Argentina
Alejandro Manara
Faculty, Argentina
Jill Cefalo
Program Director, Czech Republic
Óscar Hidalgo
Faculty, Czech Republic
Michael Zaharczuk
Academic Success & Student Life Coordinator, Czech Republic
Kristián Šrám
Faculty, Czech Republic
Lea Jakob
Faculty, Czech Republic
Michael Pitts
Faculty, Czech Republic
Michaela Seifrtova
Faculty, Czech Republic
Peter Zvagulis
Faculty, Czech Republic
Lillian Schmidt Block
Academic Success Coordinator, Czech Republic
Michal Lehecka
Faculty, Czech Republic
Marek Červeny
Faculty, Czech Republic
Chandreyee Goswami
Faculty, Czech Republic
Kesed Haglund
Resident Peer Mentor, Czech Republic
Admissions
Our Regional Admissions Counselors frequently present at all-school assemblies, college fairs, High School lunchrooms, community events, and we even offer home visits for prospective Verto families (we’ll bring the coffee). Schedule a presentation with one of our regional admissions counselors using the links below.
Josh Sadagursky
Associate Director of Admissions, West Coast
Amy Wruck
Regional Admissions Counselor, Midwest
Edward “Ned” Liggett
Regional Admissions Counselor, NYC
Kaylee Koenig
Regional Admissions Counselor, Florida
Emma Tillman
Regional Admissions Counselor, Atlanta
Janet Currier
Regional Admissions Counselor, New England
Neal Crosson
Regional Admissions Counselor, VA/D.C.
Dan Quick
Director of Enrollment Operations
David Dillard
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Catherine Malcolm
Associate Director of Admissions
Hillevi Johnson
Associate Director of Admissions
Daniel Marion
Enrollment Operations Manager
Gabriela Granote
Senior Admissions Counselor Team Lead
Shaunene Edwards
Senior Admissions Counselor Team Lead
Hannah Swangler
Senior Admissions Counselor
Hailey Darrow
Senior Admissions Counselor
George Goldman
Senior Admissions Counselor
Nayshia Streator
Senior Admissions Counselor
Bradley Good
Senior Admissions Counselor
Michelle Korczynski
Senior Admissions Counselor
Chre Davis
Senior Admissions Counselor
Marla McLeod
Senior Admissions Counselor
Kristen Korkowski
Senior Admissions Counselor
Rob Castillo
Senior Admissions Counselor
Krista Flagg
Senior Admissions Counselor
Student Onboarding
Brittni Weimer
Senior Manager of Onboarding Operations
Stuart Robbins-Butcher
Student Onboarding Advisor
Allie Hidy-Lukacs
Student Onboarding Advisor
Academic Success & Advising
Janice Johnson Shephard
Program Director, Academic Success & Advising
Brandon Ransom
Associate Director of Academic Success & Advising
Escely Marr
Assistant Director of College Counseling
Analee Giordano
College Counselor
Uyen Yasmine Vu
College Counselor
Academics
David Collier, Ph.D.
Sr. Associate Director of Academics
Karen Masters
Director of Academic Affairs
Colleen Dutton
Assistant Director of Academic Scheduling & Registrar
Steven Mockler
Academic Affairs Manager
Programming & Operations
James Lorello
Dean of Students
Claire Kibblewhite
Director of Operations
Nicole Horvath
Director of Student Life
Stephanie Collens
Assistant Director of Student Life
Matteo Travers
Verto Discovery Manager
Jessica Willis
Strategy and Operations Manager
Partner Relations
Stephanie Espina
Director of College and University Relations
Clark Brigger
Associate Vice President of University Partnerships
Lakota Bowen
Assistant Director of Partner Relations Operations
Nicole Holmberg
Assistant Director of College & University Relations
Curt Dircks
Assistant Director of College & University Relations
Revenue Systems & Operations
Akilah Arthur
Systems and Revenue Operations Manager
Hilary Peterson
Senior Product Manager: Student Financial Services
Nicoholas Holly
Technical Systems Lead & Developer
Sheridan Gill
Senior Salesforce Developer
Christopher Lappe
Salesforce Developer
Joed Emile
Digital Product Systems Administrator
Andrew Dunkle
Staff Product Engineer
Marketing
Brynna Rao
Director of Brand & Content Marketing
Sarah Ford
Senior Marketing Operations Manager
Meaghan Conly
Marketing Lifecycle Manager
Elaine Diekroger
Senior Partnerships Marketing Manager
Jeff Geisinger
Senior Graphic Designer
Parrish Preston
Student Communication Coordinator
Samantha Nani
Marketing Coordinator
Allie Chatas
Social Media Manager
Steven Radabaugh
Full-Stack WordPress Developer
Parker Thompson
Senior Analytics Manager
Billing
Brandi Turner
Associate Director of Student Accounts
Maurissa Miller
Billing and Scholarship Coordinator
People Operations
Nicole Simonds
Talent Acquisition and Onboarding Manager
Syed Ali
IT Manager
Jeremy Cantu
People Operations Generalist
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board guides Verto on its initiatives for student services, equity, inclusion, and access, curriculum, partnerships, and student recruitment.
Verto’s Advisory Board members were each selected for their demonstrated commitment to college access, their leadership in the field, and their expertise in educational advising.
