Melody Zhang

Department Administrator
melodyzh@unc.edu

Bio:

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.

Lauren Russell

General Advisor & Events Coordinator
larusse@unc.edu

Bio:

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!

Allison Burnett

President of the Study Abroad Peer Ambassadors & Peer Advisor
abroad@unc.edu

Bio:

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!

Elena Vierengel

Peer Advisor
abroad@unc.edu

Bio:

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.

Sofia Graham

Peer Advisor
abroad@unc.edu

Bio:

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.

Christine Trinidad

Senior Director for Programs and Advising
christjt@unc.edu

Bio:

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.

N. Nicole Cobb

Exchange Student Advisor
nncobb@unc.edu

Bio:

Nicole is the Exchange Student Advisor for both the Study Abroad Office (SAO) and International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS). In this position, she serves all non-degree incoming exchange students. 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.

Ken Nesbett

Program Director for Africa, Asia, Canada, and domestic programs
knesbett@unc.edu

Bio:

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.

Erin Villeneuve

Program Director
ekeeler@email.unc.edu

Bio:

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.

Sofia Mouritsen

Study Abroad Advisor
sofiae@unc.edu

Bio:

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.