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 Programming where he acts as the primary contact for faculty development,
contracting, and oversees the program development team as well as the outbound student
exchanges..
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Phone: (813) 974-3104
Chris Haynes, Education Abroad Advisor
Mr. Haynes joined the Education Abroad office in 2014 after working as an Advisor
for the Institute for Study Abroad-Butler University (IFSA). While at IFSA he oversaw
programs in England, Australia and New Zealand. He completed his MA here at USF in
Global Sustainability and concentrated in Sustainable Tourism. At USF Chris oversees
the Education Abroad Gateway Office located in center campus. Chris and his dedicated
team are here to help students find a study abroad program that compliments their
academic degree and helps students navigate the application and pre-departure process.
The Gateway Office is also “home base” for our GloBull Ambassador program which helps
both recruit the next wave of study abroad participants and also helps returned students
readjust to life back in the states.
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Phone: (813) 974-5474
Katie Pazda, Curriculum Integration Administrator
Ms. Pazda joined the Education Abroad office in 2017 after working with first year
seminar programs in USF Undergraduate Studies and as a study abroad advisor at the
University of Tampa. She completed her MA in International Affairs, specializing in
International Education and studied abroad herself in Japan, Senegal, and Israel.
Katie first served as a Program Manager and now presently works with the Academic
Services team on curriculum integration and supporting USF’s School of Record relationships.
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Phone: (813) 974-9024
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.
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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 Specialist
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. Laura does all the fiscal process behind each education
abroad program.
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Corella Edwards, Enrollment Management Specialist
Corella is a proud graduate of The University of South Florida, earning both her Bachelor’s
and Master’s from USF. Corella has a background in Child Welfare Dependency Case Management,
Teaching, and Registration & Enrollment for a Drop Out Prevention Program for young
adults obtaining credits towards the completion of their High School Diploma.
As the Enrollment Management Specialist, Corella processes and maintains all student and course registrations for Education Abroad programs, as well as supports the School of Record relationships.
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Phone: (813) 974-1205
Trang Ly, Enrollment Specialist
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Preston Drane, International Risk and Security Coordinator
Mr. Drane is a proud USF alumnus and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International
Studies. During his time an undergrad, he participated in the London and Paris study
abroad program. Since his first experience traveling abroad, Preston has traveled
to various countries in the Caribbean, Europe and South America. Prior to joining
the Education Abroad office in 2013, he interned for a former U.S. Department of State
Regional Security Officer.
Mr. Drane participates in first responder 24/7 coverage for all incidents abroad,
monitors global events for all USF travelers and oversees the enrollment of the international
health and evacuation insurance for all USF travelers.
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Phone: (813) 974-0402
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 and Database Coordinator supporting the Terra
Dotta Study Abroad application for the Education Abroad Office..
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Phone: (813) 974-3933
Wendy Baker, Campus Director
Ms. Baker is responsible for USF World operations on the St. Petersburg campus including
the promotion of education abroad and exchange programs, support for international
students and scholars, and programming that advances the internationalization of the
university.
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.
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Phone: 727-873-4270
Phal Patel, Fiscal & Business Analyst
Email: Send A Message
Phone: 941-359-4266