About Us
Mission & Staff
USF Education Abroad Mission Statement
The Education Abroad Office promotes global competency by supporting and creating high-impact, innovative, and accessible international experiences for students.
Amanda Maurer, Director of Education Abroad
Ms. Maurer came to USF in 2008 from the Columbia University School of Law, where she
held the position of Senior Director of International Programs for thirteen years.
She also worked with an NGO that developed conferences and programs in the USSR and
PRC. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Russian language and literature
from FSU. Her study abroad experiences were in former Yugoslavia and the USSR.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: (813) 974-4126
Jim Pulos, Associate Director of Education Abroad
Mr. Pulos is the primary contact for Education Abroad student advising or issues with
various university offices (Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid, etc.). He coordinates
student course registration, course approval, grades, and all payments of program
fees. He also serves as the liaison between students and Education Abroad faculty
directors and between non-USF students and their universities' respective offices.
He is also responsible for the Italian and Greek semester programs, internships in
Dublin, and selected summer Education Abroad programs.
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Phone: (813) 974-4043
Rene Sanchez, Assistant Director of Education Abroad
Mr. Sanchez joined the Education Abroad Office in the fall of 2001. He is a USF graduate,
with a Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology and a minor in International Studies. He
completed his Master of Education with a focus on Instructional Technology and Curriculum
Design. His passion for international education led him to complete study abroad programs
in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, Peru, and the United Kingdom; later leading
programs to the United Kingdom and France. He currently serves the office as the Assistant
Director for Operations where he acts as the primary contact for faculty development,
contracting, virtual global exchange, and oversees the program development and exchanges
team.
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Phone: (813) 974-3104
Nancy Di Bella, Education Abroad Program Manager
Ms. Di Bella is a Program Manager for USF programs in Latin America, the Caribbean,
and the Iberian Peninsula. She also oversees student travel through affiliate programing
with the GREEN Program, and CISAbroad. Born and raised in Venezuela, she grew up bicultural
and bilingual completing a Bachelor’s degree in Venezuela and a Master’s at USF. Since
2005 she led many Education Abroad programs to Costa Rica and Ecuador as faculty before
joining the Education Abroad Office in 2014. She has seen students’ experiences abroad
from many angles yet she never ceases to be amazed by its transformative power.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: (813) 974-1969
Elena Efremova, Education Abroad Program Manager
Elena Efremova is a Program Manager overseeing faculty-led programs in non-Mediterranean
Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. Elena also works with students
going on affiliate programs through SIT and Barcelona SAE.
Born and raised in Russia, she completed her undergraduate exchange program at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania and received a Master’s degree in International Economics back in her home town of Vladivostok, Russia. Since 2004, Elena managed cultural exchanges and partnership projects between Russia and the United States at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow before moving to Tampa and joining the Education Abroad Office in 2018.
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Phone: (813) 974-6789
Lauren Strange, Student Programs Coordinator
Lauren Strange serves as the advisor to incoming exchange students, students attending
non – affiliate programs and AIFS, CIEE, and TEAN affiliate programs. She comes to
USF from the University of Florida where she spent four and half years as a study
abroad advisor. Lauren also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic
and has a master’s degree in Intercultural Relations.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: (813) 974-6148
Shari Gray, Fiscal Business Manager
Shari is a proud USF alumnus with a BA in Finance and a BS in Accounting. She came
to work for USF with over 25 years of accounting management in private industry. Her
primary responsibility is the fiscal management of our Education Abroad programs.
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Laura Ferraz, Fiscal Business Analyst (USF World)
Laura graduated from USF with a Bachelor of Science in General Business Administration
and is currently an MBA student at USF. She has worked in USF’s Travel Department
before coming to Education Abroad. Born in Argentina, raised in Uruguay, and she
is a proud US citizen since 2015.
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Em Maxwell, Fiscal Business Specialist
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C. J. Edwards, Enrollment Management Specialist
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Trang Ly, Enrollment Specialist
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Gary Bellamy, Web and Database Coordinator
Mr. Bellamy has over 20 years experience in Data Analysis, Telecommunications and IT in the private sector. A U.S. Patent holder and experience with ITIL and Lean/Six Sigma methodologies. Gary is the Web, Database and Reporting Coordinator supporting the Education Abroad Office.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: (813) 974-3933
Wendy Baker, Campus Director
Wendy Baker is responsible for leading global engagement for USF World at the St.
Petersburg campus. She is serves on the Education Abroad leadership team, oversees
the Education Abroad Advisory Council, and co-leads the Virtual Global Exchange (VGE)
initative with Mr. Sanchez.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: 727-873-4851
Joseph Kenny, Program Manager
Mr. Kenny is responsible for promoting and marketing education abroad programming
across USF, the registration of student-related travel, and providing supporting services
for outgoing and incoming exchange students at the St. Petersburg campus.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: 727-873-4270
Phal Patel, Fiscal & Business Analyst (USF World)
Phal is a Fiscal & Business Analyst for USF Education Abroad programs. Born and raised
in India, she is bilingual and graduated with a Bachelors and Masters in Clinical
Psychology from India and MBA in Management from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut.
Though she never had an opportunity to participate in a study abroad experience, she has a passion for traveling and has traveled extensively within the United States and internationally. She believes that traveling enhances one’s outlook and appreciation of different cultures.
Email: Send A Message
Phone: 941-359-4266