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Verto Education offers the only first year abroad experience that keeps you on-track to graduate with our world-class Academic Provider and 70+ partner colleges.

Our Mission

Verto transforms access to higher education through a coming-of-age first-year experience.

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

Photo: Two students talking, smiling and laughing in class

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 your college plan.

With Verto and our Academic Provider, the University of New Haven, students can begin college with a study abroad experience, 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.

Photo: Students sitting walking through plaza

Admission to a Verto Partner College

Participants can gain admission to our 70+ partner colleges, where the credits earned from our Academic Provider while abroad will count towards graduation. Participants have many options available after their time with Verto, allowing them to stay on track to graduate.

All courses, credits, faculty, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.

Photo: Verto Education students surveying meals served in tropical jungle leaves and grass roof hut

A Well-Rounded Cross-Cultural Experience Focused on Personal Growth

The Verto Experience fosters self-discovery through mentorship and our Verto Discovery Programming. Workshops, excursions, and cultural immersion programming help students develop a sense of who they are and what they want from their university career.

Is Verto Right For You?Frequently Asked Questions
Our ExperiencesVerto Study Abroad
Before You ApplyAdmissions & Enrollment Info

Meet Our Team

Executive Leadership

Mitch Gordon

President & Co-Founder

Ben Welbourn

Chief Enrollment Officer & Co-Founder

Michael Kabbaz

Senior Vice President of University Partnerships & Strategy

Emily Sauey

Head of People Operations

Nataly Huff

Vice President of Marketing

Ahmad Refky

Vice President of Operations

Rick Silvestrini

Chief Operation Officer

Paige Butler

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Emily Herman

Vice President of Enrollment

Abroad Experience Staff

Blaire Modic

Center Director, Costa Rica

Andrés “Fofo” Zúñiga

Program Director, Costa Rica

Andrea Bravo

Student Affairs Manager, Costa Rica

Fabricio Arguedas

Clubs & Community Coordinator, Costa Rica

Johel Chaves-Campos

Academic Manager, Costa Rica

Valerie Hernández

Academic Success Coordinator, Costa Rica

Maia Diaz

Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica

Manuel Ramírez Cordero

Program Coordinator, Costa Rica

Alexis Sinder

Student Life Coordinator, Costa Rica

Stefanie Ramírez Brenes

Program Coordinator, Costa Rica

Claire Kibblewhite

Program Director, England

Di Lampitt

Academic Director, England

Eliza Wilton

Student Life Manager, England

Yana Kolpakova

Academic Success Coordinator, England

Sarah Hutchinson

Academic Success Coordinator, England

Cecilia Onwochei-Garcia

Student Life Coordinator, England

Oscar Ceballos

Center Director, Spain

Cristina Gonzalez

Housing Coordinator, Spain

Amanda Cummings

Senior Academic Success Coordinator, Spain

María Esther Beltrán

Academic Success Coordinator, Spain

Emily Woerfel

Student Life Coordinator, Spain

Michaela Hill

Student Life Manager, Spain

Nadia Sousa Garzón

Academic Success Coordinator, Spain

Manuel “Manolo” Rufete

Academic Manager, Spain

Samantha Wasek

Student Life Coordinator, Spain

Fran Pascual

Program Administrator, Spain

Fran Aguado

Student Life Coordinator, Spain

Cristiana Gallai

Program Director, Italy

Anneka Stevens

Academic Success Coordinator, Italy

Mayara Pereira

Academic Success Coordinator, Italy

Johanna Mae Indias

Academic Success Coordinator, Italy

Alice Cini

Academic Affairs Manager, Italy

Lori de Lucia

Academic Director, Italy

Laura Romero Calero

Student Life Coordinator, Italy

Giulietta Molinari

Student Life Coordinator, Italy

Diego Palombi

Academic Success Coordinator, Italy

Paolo Monetti Lucianer

Housing Coordinator, Italy

Shauna Kavanagh

Student Life Manager, Italy

Kiara Stucchi Prinetti

Student Life Coordinator, Italy

Kristi Bauer

Administrative & Operations Assistant, Italy

Julian Lonsdale

Student Life Director, Italy

María Fernández Bascones

Student Life Coordinator, Italy

Octavio Di Leo

Center Director, Argentina

Juan Franco Pecora

Student Life Coordinator, Argentina

Jiovih Augustave

Academic Success Coordinator, Argentina

Jill Cefalo

Program Director, 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.

Dan Quick

Director of Enrollment Operations

David Dillard

Senior Associate Director of Admissions

Daniel Marion

Enrollment Operations Manager

Hillevi Johnson

Associate Director of Admissions

Mimi Eglin

Senior Admissions Counselor

Gabriela Granote

Senior Admissions Counselor Team Lead

Shaunene Edwards

Senior Admissions Counselor Team Lead

Hannah Swangler

Senior Admissions Counselor

Michelle Korczynski

Senior Admissions Counselor

Kristen Korkowski

Senior Admissions Counselor

Elisabeth Smith

Senior Admissions Counselor

Bradley Good

Senior Admissions Counselor

Rob Castillo

Senior Admissions Counselor

Krista Flagg

Senior Admissions Counselor

Marla McLeod

Senior Admissions Counselor

Dianna Jennings

Senior Admissions Counselor

Deanna Young

Senior Admissions Counselor

Kaja Carter

Senior Admissions Counselor

Josh Sadagursky

Associate Director of Admissions, West Coast

Amy Stevens

Regional Admissions Counselor, Midwest

Edward “Ned” Liggett

Regional Admissions Counselor, NYC

Kaylee Koenig

Regional Admissions Counselor, Florida

Emma Tillman

Regional Admissions Counselor, Atlanta

Neal Crosson

Regional Admissions Counselor, VA/D.C.

Student Onboarding

Meredith Tarditi

Director of Student Onboarding

Brittni Weimer

Senior Manager of Onboarding Operations

Kara Dudley

Student Onboarding Advisor

Stuart Robbins-Butcher

Student Onboarding Advisor

Emma Pradarelli

Student Onboarding Advisor

Academic Success & Advising

Janice Johnson Shephard

Program Director, Academic Success & Advising

Escely Marr

Assistant Director of College Counseling

Uyen Yasmine Vu

College Counselor

Analee Giordano

College Counselor

Academics

Karen Masters

Director of Academic Affairs

David Collier, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Director of Academics

Colleen Dutton

Registrar

Steven Mockler

Academic Affairs Manager

Programming & Operations

Sara Troy

Director of Program Development

Jessica Willis

Strategy & Operations Manager

Stephanie Collens

Assistant Director of Student Life

James Lorello

Dean of Students

Matteo Travers

Verto Discovery Manager

Partner Relations

Stephanie Espina

Director of College & University Relations

Clark Brigger

Associate Vice President of University Partnerships

Lakota Bowen

Assistant Director of College & University Relations Operations

Nicole Holmberg

Associate Director of College & University Relations

Meghan Godding

Associate Director of College & University Relations

Digital Products

Aline Parnagian

Director of Digital Product

Hilary Peterson

Senior Product Manager, Digital Product

Akilah Arthur

Technical Lead, Systems Administrator

Nicoholas Holly

Technical Systems Lead & Developer

Sheridan Gill

Senior Salesforce Developer

Syed Ali

IT Manager

Andrew Dunkle

Technical Program Manager

Christopher Lappe

Engineering Team Manager

Hannah Benning

Senior Academics Systems Analyst

Keegan Amrose

Salesforce Systems Administrator

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

Samantha Nani

Marketing Coordinator

Allie Chatas

Social Media Manager

Steven Radabaugh

Full-Stack WordPress Developer

Amanda Rankin

Lifecycle Marketing Specialist

Billing

Brandi Turner

Head of Student Financial Services

Maurissa Miller

Billing & Scholarship Coordinator

People Operations

Nicole Simonds

Associate People Partner

Jeremy Cantu

People Operations Generalist

Finance

Tatiana Kweder

Vice President of Finance

Parker Thompson

Senior Analytics Manager

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.

Lucas Frankel

Shady Side Academy

Jeff McAdam

Director of College & Academic Advising, Saint Dominic Academy

Danielle Jakob

Associate Director of College Counseling, United Nations International School

Blair Parker

Head of Upper School, Friends Seminary NYC

Tara Miller, M.Ed.

Lead College Counselor, Stephen F. Austin High School

Suzanne Crossman

Director of Transition & Guidance, Landmark School

Beverly Low

Director of Guidance & College Counseling, Manchester Essex Regional School District

Sophia Bazile

Founder, F.L.Y.P Coaching & Consulting

Melissa Nipper

Director of College Counseling, Andrews Osborne Academy

Dean A. Jacoby

Director of College Guidance, Albuquerque Academy

Jason Vallozzi

Founder, Campus to Career Crossroads

Kyle Kane

Educational Consultant, LD Specialization

College Consulting Collaborative

Sawyer Earwood

Co-Founder, Virtual College Counselors