Our story, mission & team
At-a-glance
VERTO OFFERS THE ONLY GLOBAL, ACADEMIC TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES – TRAVEL, EARN COLLEGE CREDIT, AND GRADUATE IN FOUR YEARS.
Meaningful Academics
Verto Education’s Mission:
We help students discover themselves and the world around them by making education abroad a foundational and accessible part of a four-year college education. We believe that through these transformative experiences, students become impactful leaders and global citizens.
Do it correctly
Verto Education’s Values:
Verto Education was founded to make travel the path of least resistance to a college education (and degree). We believe in inclusion, transparency, access, equity and, above all, the power of travel to foster empathy and kindness across cultures.
How it works
What Verto Education Offers:
An Affordable, accredited, global academic semester or year
Verto is designed to give students the opportunity to explore new environments while graduating in four years affordably. Each semester’s programming is intentionally focused on global citizenship and personal development to help students build valuable college and life skills.
Guaranteed admission to a top Verto partner college
When students are accepted to Verto, they’re automatically accepted to at least one of Verto’s partner colleges. Upon application to Verto, students can simultaneously request their application also be sent to our partner colleges and universities. When accepted by the school of choice, students have reserved enrollment for the semester or year after Verto, depending on whether students participate in one semester or a full year.
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 semesters – a homestay experience. Weekly structured reflection gives students a sense of who they are and want they want from their university career.
Verto was founded by a team of passionate travelers and educators
Our team’s goal is to revolutionize higher education and make international experiences a core part of the college experience. With a collective 50+ years in international education, we understand how important and impactful traveling is to learning more about yourself and the world around you.
Executives & Leaders
Mitch Gordon
President & Co-Founder
Mitch Gordon is the former Entrepreneur in Residence at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Mitch is an entrepreneur, starting a number of companies in the fields of travel and education.
He believes passionately in Verto’s mission: To change the world of higher education and put students first. His previous company, Go Overseas, with 1 million+ monthly visitors, is the most trusted resource for researching international education programs around the world.
Mitch is a frequent presenter in the areas of entrepreneurship, travel and international education. Mitch previously lived in Taipei, Taiwan for 5 years and currently resides in San Francisco. He completed his BS at Binghamton University and his MBA at UC Berkeley. When he’s not working you can find Mitch on a run, hiking, traveling or reading.
Ben Welbourn
Vice President of Enrollment & Co-Founder
Ben is an alum of a self-designed gap year, during which he hiked the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia, worked in a variety of industries, taught English in rural Peru, and led outdoor education programs in New Hampshire and Maine.
Ben went on to earn his degree in international relations from the College of Wooster in Ohio. Before joining the field of experiential education, he taught at a primarily Dominican-American school outside of Boston. Ben has since overseen international program development, student outreach and recruitment, and business development for a number of student travel organizations including Rustic Pathways and Winterline Global Education.
Ben spends equal parts of his free time exploring New York City, and escaping to the woods with his wife and dog.
Dave Dennis
Vice President of Health and Safety
Dave Dennis is the Vice President of Health and Safety at Verto Education and founder of a consulting firm supporting tour operators and experiential education providers worldwide. He has a Master’s degree in Business Continuity from Norwich University, 25 years of experience in adventure and experiential education, and is the Co-Chair of the Standards and Accreditation Committee with the Gap Year Association.
As an actively engaged leader in the travel industry, Dave presents at conferences, hosts online webinars, coordinates networking groups, and participates in panelist discussions. He remains passionate about human safety while understanding the importance of preserving life-changing experiences through travel.
Based in Colorado, Dave is a devoted husband and father spending as much time as possible outdoors.
Ahmad Refky
Vice President of Operations
Ahmad Refky is the Vice President of Operations at Verto Education. He has been active in the International Education field for 15 years. He has extensive experience in program design, operations, risk management, and student health & safety. Prior to joining Verto Education, Ahmad oversaw international operations at a large study abroad organization, and provided leadership to a globally dispersed team, spearheading the implementation of study abroad programs, risk management, and student health & safety.
Originally from Egypt, Ahmad’s first foray into study abroad was as a high school exchange student to the United States, which sparked his love for international education. Ahmad earned his B.A. in Political Science from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and has done his graduate studies at DePaul University. He is a zealous advocate for access, inclusion, diversity and equity, and recognizes that the field has a lot of work to do to make study abroad inclusive to all participants.
After many Chicago winters, Ahmad now calls Phoenix, Arizona home. When not traveling, Ahmad and his husband enjoy spending their time spoiling their growing menagerie of dogs–currently four and counting!
Michael Kabbaz
Senior Vice President of Strategy & Chief of Staff
Michael Kabbaz is the Vice President for Institutional Partnerships at Verto Education. Prior to Verto, Michael has served in a number of senior higher education roles at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the University of Richmond. He has also worked for the College Board overseeing higher education services for the Midwest office in Chicago and was responsible for creating the higher education office within the Advanced Placement Program. In addition to consulting with dozens of institutions, Michael has also served in various admission roles at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to his career in higher education, he served as a staff auditor at the accounting firm KPMG.
Michael believes passionately in Verto’s mission to provide transformational and life-changing experiences abroad to students regardless of their socioeconomic background before they enroll at a great partner institution.
When he’s not wearing his fashionable bow ties for work, you can find Michael riding his Harley, traveling to new places, and reading for his doctoral classes.
Oronde Baylor
Director of Admissions
Erin Murphy
Director of Student Experience
Aline Parnagian
Director of Revenue Operations
Steve Jones
Director of Marketing
Higher Education & Student Success
Michaela McGee
Senior Associate Director for Student Success Services
Madeline Willett
Associate Director for Student Communications
Stephanie Collens
Associate Director for Student Financial Services
Olivia Rockwood
Assistant Director for Student Success
Patrick Northover
Assistant Director for Student Academic Success
Rebecca Liebeskind
Academic Success Coordinator and Course Director, Special Topics
Leslie Matheu
Academic Success Coordinator
Stephanie McCreary
Academic Success Coordinator
Chris Morales
Academic Success Coordinator
Maggie Musty
Academic Success Coordinator
Shelby Silva
Student Success Coordinator
Michaela Yisrael
Student Success Coordinator
Parrish Preston
Student Communication Coordinator
Academics
Kaycie Lawson, Ph.D.
Director of Academics
Kelley Reardon
Academic Operations Coordinator
Cam Silver, Ph.D.
Course Director, International Development
Robin Garcia, Ph.D.
Course Director, Latin American History
Erin Johnston, Ph.D.
Course Director, Sociology
Shastri Akella, Ph.D.
Course Director, Rhetoric & Composition
Ashley LaBoda, Ph.D.
Course Director, Spanish Language
Hashi Jayasinghe, Ph.D.
Course Director, World Literature
Jay Fancher, Ph.D.
Course Director, Cultural Anthropology
Ali Swank
Coordinator, Rhetoric & Composition and World Literature
Courtney Pickett
Coordinator, Environmental Science
Tess Bird
Field Instructor, Cultural Anthropology
Lauri Travis, Ph.D.
Field Instructor, Cultural Anthropology
Honor Stoner
Field Instructor, Environmental Science
Edgardo Arevalo
Field Instructor, Environmental Science
Matthew Paffhouse
Field Instructor, International Development
Austin Wheeler
Field Instructor, Latin American History
Leslie Jernegan
Field Instructor, Rhetoric & Composition and World Literature
Courtney Carlson
Field Instructor, Rhetoric & Composition and World Literature
Jacqueline Leshan
Field Instructor, Sociology
Christian González Jaworski
Field Instructor, Sociology
Alejandra Salas
Field Instructor, Spanish
Programming
Sara Troy
Director of Program Development
Liz Kather
Director of Student Affairs
Gary Robinson
Mental Health Consultant
Jackie Broussard
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant
Andrés “Fofo” Zúñiga
Regional Manager, Costa Rica
Ben Wright
Regional Manager, Fiji
Aimee Gunn
Regional Manager, Hawaii
Galen Merigliano
Program Leader & Operations Associate
Fabricio Argueda
Program Leader
JaKyah Beatty
Program Leader
Madison Prior
Program Leader
Malia Wakinekona
Program Leader
Nancy Trujillo
Program Leader
Shannon Horgan
Program Leader
College Counseling & Partner Relations
Jake Weissbourd
Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives
Liz Le
Senior Associate Director of College Counseling and Partner Relations
Erika Cacsire-Strauss
Associate Director for College Counseling
Krista Goebel
College Counselor
Lakota Bowen
Partner Relations Coordinator
Admissions
Daniel Marion
Assistant Director of Admissions
Josh Sadagursky
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Layni Pistone
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Shaunene Edwards
Senior Admissions Counselor and Training Director
Gabriela Granote
Senior Admissions Counselor
Catherine Malcolm
Senior Admissions Counselor
Brandon Vernon
Senior Admissions Counselor
George Goldman
Senior Admissions Counselor
Michelle Korczynski
Senior Admissions Counselor
Dan McSweeney
Senior Admissions Counselor
Dan Quick
Senior Admissions Counselor
Hillevi Johnson
Admissions Counselor Team Lead
Mary Atyemizian
Admissions Counselor
Annie Dawson
Admissions Counselor
Bart Weidman
Admissions Counselor
Torrin Rosegold
Admissions Counselor
Sarah Horton
Admissions Counselor
Marla McLeod
Admissions Counselor
Taylor Klinefelter
Admissions Counselor
Hailey Darrow
Admissions Counselor
Allie Chatas
Admissions Counselor
Analee Henley
Admissions Counselor
Emma Herrick
Admissions Counselor
Gracie Adsit
Admissions Counselor Intern
Emily Rosenberger
Admissions Counselor Intern
Revenue Systems & Operations
Joe Cardin
Salesforce Administrator
Marketing & Administration
Jodi Marcus
Marketing Manager
Raymon David
Marketing Operations Manager
Emily Sauey
People Generalist
Aaron Montoya
Web Developer
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.
