Verto Education offers the onlyglobal, academic travel experiencethat partners with colleges—travel, earn college credit, and graduate in four years.
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 (and degree). 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 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.
Meet Our Team
Executives & Leaders
Mitch Gordon
President & Co-Founder
Ben Welbourn
Chief Enrollment Officer & Co-Founder
Ahmad Refky
Vice President of Operations
Michael Kabbaz
Senior Vice President of Strategy & Chief of Staff
Oronde Baylor
Senior Director of Enrollment Services
Aline Parnagian
Director of Revenue Operations
Steve Jones
Director of Marketing
Mary Otto
Director of Student Financial Services
Sara Troy
Director of Program Development
Jake Weissbourd
Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives
Liz Kather
Director of Student Affairs
Kaycie Lawson, Ph.D.
Director of Academics
Sean Bridegam
Director of Health, Safety & Risk Management
Stephanie Espina
Director of Admissions—Recruitment
Michael Goldstein
Executive Director, Verto Fund
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.