Our Staff
Our Staff
Learn more about our dynamic team and feel free to get in touch! We look forward to helping you pursue your Carolina education at sites around the world.
Lindsey Anderegg
Terra Dotta and Credit Transfer Specialist
Lindsey Anderegg serves as the Terra Dotta and Credit Transfer Specialist for the Study Abroad Office at UNC Chapel Hill. Lindsey earned her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Iowa State University. She spent five years teaching courses in Child Development, Fashion, and Interior Design for high school students. Lindsey was also a basketball coach for five years. During Lindsey’s undergraduate experience, she was able to study abroad twice: completing a summer in Germany and student teaching in Norway. She also spent a summer in South Korea visiting family. Lindsey is very passionate about education and the opportunities that studying abroad can offer. Currently, she is working towards her master’s degree in International and Comparative Education through Indiana University. Lindsey is really looking forward to working in study abroad, supporting students and to see the impact of these experiences for students at UNC. In her free time, you can find Lindsey taking her mini goldendoodle Frankie on walks and to dog parks, traveling, spending time with family, and checking out local restaurants and breweries!
Dori Brady
Phillips Ambassadors Program Director
Dori Brady is the Program Director for the Phillips Ambassadors Program in the Carolina Asia Center at UNC. She oversees an annual scholarship cycle supporting 25-30 undergraduates and one graduate student for study abroad in Asia each year. Prior to working with the Phillips Ambassadors Program, Dori was the Study Abroad Advisor for Asia and domestic programs and social media coordinator in the UNC Study Abroad Office. She came to UNC after a career teaching in public elementary schools in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Wake County, North Carolina. Dori has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Denison University where she spent semesters abroad in England and Indonesia, and a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in International Education, from George Mason University. Outside of work, she enjoys time with family and outdoor adventures.
Ben Briggs
Program Director
Ben is the Program Director for Oceania, the UK, and Ireland. Originally from Upstate NY, Ben earned a degree in History from The College at Brockport. Prior to joining UNC, Ben spent more than four years living and working abroad, with extended experiences including Scotland, South Korea, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Spain. When he's not working, you can find Ben reading, running, or slowly adding to his record collection.
Meredith Brown
Enrollment & Credit Transfer Specialist
Meredith serves on the Study Abroad Credit Team. She earned her B.A. in Public Relations from Meredith College, where she also had the chance to study abroad in Italy, the U.K., and Australia. Her study abroad advisors played a big role in helping her find her passion for a career in study abroad. She recently graduated with her Master's in International Studies at NC State University. Meredith enjoys traveling with friends and family, reading, going to Target, and lots of cuddles with her 13-year-old cat, Kitty.
Allison Burnett
President of the Study Abroad Peer Ambassadors & Peer Advisor
Allison Burnett is the Vice President of the Study Abroad Peer Ambassadors, as well as a Peer Advisor in the Study Abroad Office. After studying abroad in Florence last summer, Allison is now a Junior pursuing a dual degree in Economics and Advertising & Public Relations. Allison began traveling at a young age with her family and quickly developed a passion for it. After her time in Florence last summer, Allison backpacked through various European countries and fell even more in love with discovering new cultures, foods, and histories. These experiences have allowed Allison to become very knowledgeable about the different ways to travel and how to tackle various complications, furthering her ability to advise prospective study abroad students on the best way for them to achieve their study abroad goals. In her free time, Allison loves to cook, spend time with her cat, Diesel, and daydream about her next trip!
N. Nicole Cobb
Exchange Student Advisor
Nicole is the Exchange Student Advisor for both the Study Abroad and International Student & Scholar Offices. In this position, she serves all incoming exchange students from all over the world. She has been at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 2010 as a lecturer in the English Department and School of Education. Prior to serving in this role, she was an Academic Advisor in the College of Arts & Sciences working with STEM and pre-health students. Nicole holds an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language and a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. In her free time, you will find Nicole on the tennis courts or being active somewhere in the world.
Samuel Coble
Vice President of the Study Abroad Peer Ambassadors & Peer Advisor
Samuel Coble is the Vice President of the Study Abroad Peer Ambassadors, as well as a Peer Advisor in the Study Abroad Office. Studying abroad in Stirling Scotland as part of Carolina Global Launch his freshman year introduced Samuel to some of his best friends at UNC, but also a passion for adventuring into foreign cultures, histories, and scenes! He is now a Junior pursuing a degree in Management and Society with a minor in Conflict Management. Being from Nebraska, Samuel thought North Carolina was a far trip, but his choice to study abroad has been the most rewarding, and enlightening college experience he has had thus far. Thanks to his time in Scotland, and his various travels while abroad, Samuel has learned some unique habits to make travel safer, eating abroad smarter, and be a time saver. These key skills, and various other experiences is why Samuel is more than ready to help you with any study abroad related questions so you can make the very most out of your study abroad experience. Of course, if he doesn’t know the answer, he knows someone who does and will be more than happy to put the two of you into communication! When he is not busy in Davis Library, Samuel loves to make potatoes, spend time in 1922 by Carolina Coffee Shop, run through the gorgeous Chapel Hill neighborhoods and scroll google flights because he can’t wait to go somewhere new again!
Morgan Douglas
Accounting Manager
Morgan Douglas serves as the Accounting Manager for the Study Abroad office at UNC Chapel Hill. She earned her B.A. in Integrated Science and is currently working on her Master of Accounting degree at UNC Greensboro. Morgan spent over a decade helping her community by working as a pharmacy technician, and let's just say that helping others is what she was born to do. She wants to continue expanding her UNC skills and knowledge to better help UNC students live out their dreams of traveling around the world. When she is not at work, you may find her hiking, camping, dancing, playing board games with friends and family, and traveling to new places.
Matt Eckler
Study Abroad Advisor
Matt Eckler is the study abroad advisor for programs in Asia, Africa, and Canada along with UNC’s domestic programs. Originally from upstate New York, Matt graduated from Siena College with his bachelor’s degree in management and a minor in Spanish. During his time as an undergrad, Matt studied abroad for a semester in Havana, Cuba where he focused on language immersion. Now an advisor for study abroad students, Matt is passionate about helping each student that comes his way to find their ideal experience abroad. In addition to Cuba, he has travelled to several countries including Kenya, Oman, Portugal, Egypt, Greece and more. Outside of work, Matt enjoys being in nature and anything related to baseball.
Angeline Fabre de la Grange
Peer Advisor
Angeline Fabre de la Grange serves as a Peer Advisor for the Study Abroad Office at UNC Chapel Hill, assisting students in their international endeavors. She is currently a junior at UNC, pursuing pre-business and pre-information science studies. Angeline has a very international background, as she is a triple US, French, and British citizen, with family spread across the world. She grew up attending a public language immersion school, and she is a native French speaker. She has been a passionate explorer ever since she was young, having visited many national parks, and traveled to twelve countries across five continents. Angeline studied abroad in Florence, Italy, where she examined business practices in her Fashion Marketing and Intercultural Communication courses. She loves to connect with students, helping them find their perfect study abroad program. In her free time, Angeline enjoys dancing, going for long walks, and finding new places to explore!
Sofia Graham
Peer Advisor
Sofia Graham works as a Peer Advisor for the Study Abroad Office. She is currently a sophomore at UNC, majoring in Economics and minoring in Urban Studies and Planning. Inspired at a young age by frequent trips to Colombia to visit family, she quickly developed a passion for travel and learning about different cultures. Some of her most meaningful experiences have happened abroad, including a recent trip to Honduras where she was able to serve as a Spanish translator on a mission trip, and in Spain, where she hopes to return to study abroad. Sofia loves being able to answer fellow students’ questions about travelling abroad and provide guidance on choosing the right program. In her free time, Sofia enjoys soccer, cooking Colombian dishes, and planning her next trip.
Chrissie Greenberg
Senior Director for Business Operations
Chrissie Greenberg serves as the Senior Director for Business Operations for the Study Abroad Office. Chrissie has 20 plus years of professional experience in both the public and private sectors with a specific focus on financial operations and higher education administration. She enjoys the daily challenge of navigating international finance diversities and unique state institutional policies that directly relate to the Study Abroad Office community. Chrissie is an active member of the UNC community and is currently serving a third term on both the UNC Employee Forum and the University Managers’ Association (UMA) Board of Directors. She is also a graduate of the University Leadership Education and Development (ULEAD) program. Chrissie is a 1994 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, a third-generation UNC legacy and a Chapel Hill native. While at UNC, Chrissie studied abroad in Manchester, England. Chrissie now lives in Durham with her husband and three children and loves spending time with her family, traveling and cheering on her Tar Heels.
Jade Hibshman
Enrollment Management Specialist
Jade Ruddy Hibshman serves as the Enrollment Management Specialist in the UNC Study Abroad Office. Prior to joining the Study Abroad team, Jade held positions in the UNC Registrar’s Office working with student records, registration, and curriculum. Jade realized her passion for exploring the world during her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University after a backpacking trip through Spain, Italy, Croatia, Austria, and Switzerland. Post-undergraduate studies Jade became an English teacher in Thailand and embarked on another 8-week backpacking journey through Southeast Asia. Her time abroad influenced her to create similar experiences for others and encourage global citizenship. Jade also holds a Master’s in International Studies from North Carolina State University and aims to continue supporting students studying abroad by facilitating a seamless academic credit transfer process. In her free time Jade enjoys Italian dinners with family, going to the beach, journaling, live music, and scoping out new breweries with her husband.
Jocelyn Holt
Study Abroad Advisor
Jocelyn serves as the study abroad advisor for Latin America, Portugal, Spain, France, and the Caribbean. She received her B.S. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Biology from Elon University, and her Master of International Studies from North Carolina State University. During her time at Elon, she participated in three winter term study abroad programs in Ireland, Belize, and a combined program in London, Germany, and Prague. Throughout graduate school, she worked as a graduate assistant in the Poole College of Management Global Programs office at NC State, and was the staff lead for five faculty-led group study abroad programs in France, Switzerland, and Italy. Before entering the international education field, Jocelyn gained valuable experience in healthcare as a Patient Care Technician at UNC Children's Hospital, where she developed a compassionate approach to supporting others during vulnerable times. Jocelyn is dedicated to positively impacting students' lives and looks forward to continuing this mission. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her dogs, traveling, visiting family in Wilmington, reading, and a good coffee shop.
Sharon Hudik
Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Study Abroad
Sharon Hudik, Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Study Abroad, has worked in the field of higher education for nearly 15 years, helping students and families navigate complex financial aid eligibility requirements and federal regulations. She holds a B.A. in Communication from Messiah College and a M.Ed. from North Carolina State University. During her undergraduate studies, Sharon studied abroad in Athens, Greece, experiencing transformative growth and increasing her global perspectives. She is passionate about helping students make their global opportunities become a reality by advising them on financial aid options and study abroad program affordability. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, outdoor adventuring, and trying new recipes.
Natasha Hulyayeva
Accounting Specialist
Natasha Hulyayeva serves as the Accounting Specialist for the Study Abroad office at UNC Chapel Hill. She earned her B.A. in Finance in Ukraine and for the past two decades held different accounting positions at Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Graduate School, and Durham Academy. Natasha is grateful to work at UNC Chapel Hill, as it gives her the opportunity to use her extensive knowledge of accounting programs and university policies and procedures for the benefit of the Study Abroad Office. In her free time, Natasha enjoys spending time with her husband and their two daughters, growing roses, and playing piano.
Jason Kinnear
Associate Dean of Study Abroad & Exchanges
Jason Kinnear, Associate Dean of Study Abroad & Exchanges, is a passionate higher education professional with extensive experience in study abroad and service-learning/community engagement. Originally from the town of Monett, MO, Jason obtained his B.A. in History from the Missouri University of Science & Technology (MST). During his time at MST he studied abroad in London, which remains one of the most amazing and defining experiences of his life. Jason went on to obtain an M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado and is working on a PhD at the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation at the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy. Working in international education for over 25 years, Jason previously held positions in international students & scholar services, study abroad, and service-learning at the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri prior to arriving at UNC. His work has focused on all aspects of study abroad program development and administration as well as community engagement/service-learning and internship programs. He has led multiple groups study abroad programs to Costa Rica, Ghana, South Africa, & Thailand. Jason is active in NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Forum on Education Abroad. Jason enjoys strong coffee, craft beer, cooking, British comedy and sci fi, music, and travel. He loves international education because he can experience all of those things and loves sharing opportunities with Carolina students, faculty, and staff.
Rachael Mathis
Program Director
Mallory Minnehan
Communications and Marketing Manager
Mallory leads the communications and marketing initiatives for the Study Abroad Office. Prior to joining UNC, Mallory worked in the Study Abroad Office at NC State, and the Center for Global Education at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University in Minnesota. As an undergraduate at NC State, her study abroad experiences to Peru, the Czech Republic and Spain opened her eyes to the world and ignited a passion for exploring other cultures. Her study abroad experiences led her to earn a Master's degree in Spanish and spend an additional year teaching English in Spain before starting her career in international education. She hopes that through her work, she will encourage more UNC students to take advantage of the wonderful study abroad opportunities offered at UNC. When she's not in the office, Mallory enjoys spending time with her husband, little ones, and their two dogs, exploring local trails, watching period dramas, and planning her next trip.
Sofia Mouritsen
Study Abroad Advisor
Sofia Mouritsen serves as the study abroad advisor for programs in Continental Europe (except France, Portugal, and Spain), Scandinavia, and the Middle East. During her time studying Political Science and International Relations at Gettysburg College, Sofia studied abroad in the fall of her Junior year in Geneva, Switzerland and in the spring in Amman, Jordan. Some of her favorite travels were across Europe and the Middle East, and she is excited to work with students of all backgrounds to figure out which experiences abroad might be right for them. As an advisor, Sofia is committed to helping make study abroad accessible for all students, particularly first-generation students and those from low-income or non-traditional family backgrounds. When she is not in the office, Sofia enjoys reading historical mysteries, biking around town, playing the trumpet, and trying to keep her dog from chewing up her frisbees in disc golf.
Ken Nesbett
Program Director for Africa, Asia, Canada, and domestic programs
Ken Nesbett serves as the Program Director for Africa, Asia, Canada, and domestic programs. He has a strong track record in study abroad project management and building partnerships focused on internationalizing the campus. Originally from Northeast Ohio, Ken obtained his B.A. in History and Integrated Social Studies Education from the University of Toledo. During his time at UT, he completed several global experiences in Asia, Europe, and North America. These opportunities remain some of most transformative experiences in his life. Ken went on to obtain an M.A.E. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to joining the team at UNC, Ken served as the Study Abroad Advisor at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for 12 years. Under his guidance, Kirkwood Study Abroad was nationally recognized as a Top Ten Provider of education abroad programming by Open Doors for Associates Degree institutions every year of his tenure, and was also recognized as a Top Producer for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. Ken is excited to join the Study Abroad Office at UNC where he hopes to continue to expand access and equity to global opportunities for all. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, hiking, traveling, and getting out into nature.
Victoria Nirean
Credit Team Assistant
Victoria serves as the Credit Team Assistant at the Study Abroad Office. Her academic journey began with the completion of her bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During her undergraduate years, Victoria participated in a study abroad program in Morocco, which significantly influenced her perspectives and deepened her global awareness. Subsequently, she pursued her passion for international studies by obtaining a master's degree from North Carolina State University. During her time at NC State, Victoria served as a program facilitator for the Global Engagement Office. Additionally, she provided valuable assistance for short-term educational programs originating from Japan, China, and South Korea. Away from her professional pursuits, Victoria has an interest in traveling and discovering diverse cuisines. This passion reflects her enthusiasm for embracing new cultural experiences and aligns seamlessly with her commitment to promoting global engagement.
Lauren Russell
General Advisor & Events Coordinator
Lauren Russell is the General Advisor and Events Coordinator for the Study Abroad Office. She facilitates students’ understanding of study abroad through advising and coordinating events.
While earning degrees from Michigan State University in Spanish and World Politics, she spent a semester abroad at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Prior to arriving at UNC, Lauren has previously held various student services positions at the Office for Education Abroad at Michigan State, College Year in Athens, and Aerospace Engineering at University of Michigan.
When not at work, you can find Lauren working her way through her “to be read” list, checking out coffee shops, and adventuring with her dog, Sprout!
Christine Trinidad
Senior Director for Programs and Advising
Christine J. Trinidad is a strong proponent of education abroad with over fifteen years of experience in higher education and the profession of international education. She has served in multiple capacities on the student services side of education abroad and has held multiple positions, first at UC San Diego as peer advisor, office manager, and study abroad advisor, then to provider education abroad advisor at St. Edwards University, and finally at Michigan State University as Assistant Director for Education Abroad Support services. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego in Political Science and Ethnic Studies and received her Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Postsecondary Leadership from San Diego State University. She spent a year at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies in the United Kingdom that inspired her to enter the profession of international education.
Since 2006, Christine has made it her professional goal to improve the student experience (from first point of contact to return) and has made it her personal mission to reach out to diverse and underrepresented populations.Elena Vierengel
Peer Advisor
Elena works as a Peer Advisor for the Study Abroad Office. She is currently a sophomore on the pre-business track at UNC. In the Fall of 2022, Elena studied in Granada, Spain as a part of the Carolina Global Launch cohort. After such an incredible first semester abroad, she loves to answer questions and share her experience with students interested in studying abroad. In her free time, Elena enjoys running, cooking, and curating Spotify playlists.
Erin Villeneuve
Program Director
Erin Villeneuve is the Program Director for Scandinavia, Continental Europe (except France, Spain and Portugal) and the Middle East. She has over a decade of experience working in international and U.S. higher education. Prior to joining UNC, Erin worked in the Cultural Missions in the Embassies of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC. She earned her Master's degree in Global Affairs from George Mason University and her international experiences abroad range from a semester abroad in Prague and a graduate seminar in Tbilisi, Georgia, to a student ambassador in Australia and a service project in Cote d’Ivoire. In addition to being a travel enthusiast, Erin is an avid horseback rider, baker, wife and mother of a baby boy and two rescue dogs.
Sophia Werner
Peer Advisor
Sophia Werner works as a Peer Advisor for Study Abroad. She is a senior at UNC, majoring in Asian Studies and minoring in Information Systems at the School of Information Systems. She transferred to UNC from Durham Tech in Fall 2022. In 2023, Sophia participated in CET's Summer in Taiwan, where she studied Chinese at National Taiwan University. After participating in the program, Sophia returned to UNC, became a Study Abroad Peer Ambassador, and helped students interested in studying abroad in East Asia (Japan and Taiwan) and co-hosted a study abroad panel for transfer students, sharing her experience as a transfer student wanting to study abroad. She enjoys talking to students about tips for traveling within another country and fun places to see and do outside of taking classes. In her free time, Sophia enjoys studying Chinese with friends, collecting vinyl and books in other languages, and visiting art museums when she goes out of town.
Melody Zhang
Department Administrator
Melody serves as Department Administrator for the Study Abroad Office at UNC Chapel Hill. Prior to this role, she was an HR Officer at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China. She earned her B.A in English and Applied Linguistics, during which she studied in the exchange program at the University of Nottingham’s UK campus. After that eye-opening experience, she decided to return to the UK to obtain her M.Sc. in Human Resource Management at the University of Warwick. She highly commends study abroad to everyone when they have the chance, as it can change the way they interpret the world. When Melody’s not working, you will find her practicing ballet, crocheting, enjoying nature, or spending time with her pet hedgehog.