Home Office Staff

Sanjay started his professional life as a scientist, studying ecology in the framework of global change. After seeing what a mess professional scientists were making of their data, he shifted focus to data systems management. Through a career in consulting, the federal government, and now Semester at Sea, Sanjay has tried to to connect the data within an organization to the story the users are trying to tell. In his spare time, Sanjay is often just trying to keep up with the comings and goings of his two sons and wife, fitting in some biking, soccer and being outside in any way shape or form along the way.

JonEll Ashbrook started working at ISE in December 2019 and moved to Fort Collins from the Denver area in the summer of 2020. She has worked in finance for over sixteen years with experience that spans for-profit, government, and non-profit accounting. She leads ISE’s exceptional finance team in a fun, challenging environment to ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial information. JonEll loves to read, write, listen to music, and travel in her spare time when she’s not enjoying Fort Collins’ various breweries and restaurants while spending time with her family. She has two daughters that currently go to Colorado State University and three cats and a husband at home that keep her happily busy and inspired!

Danielle joined the ISE team in November of 2020. She is a dedicated Financial Aid Professional with 18 plus years of experience delivering outstanding service to students. Thrives in fast-paced and ever-changing business environments. She has extensive experience working with and technical knowledge of student financial aid programs. Danielle is a current member of NASFAA and continues to keep up on all federal regulation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, gardening and coaching baseball.

Melissa Bingler began her career at ISE in February 2013. She never sailed a full voyage, but has been on numerous partial voyages. Her daughter, Annie, sailed as a student in Fall 2014 and is trying to figure out how to get on another! Melissa truly enjoys meeting alumni of SAS and hearing their stories. It is the best part of her job. She lives on a small farm in Virginia with horses, chickens, dogs and cats. Her day starts early!

Brooke Buchan (she/her) manages the multimedia content and strategy behind Semester at Sea’s branding and video storytelling. She sailed as the shipboard videographer in Spring 2022, and previously worked in multimedia strategy and videography roles for different departments at Colorado State University. She is passionate about the experience Semester at Sea offers and crafting content to drive global brand awareness. You can most often find her traveling, cooking with friends, or photographing and filming creative projects in her free time.

Mia Čančarević is originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Prior to joining the ISE team in 2023, she worked at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. In her most recent role, Mia served as the Director of International Student Recruitment where she was responsible for international student recruitment, marketing, and communication. She also served on the board of the Study Florida state consortium. Mia is skilled in linguistics and is fluent in several languages. In her spare time she is engaged in the archaeology field; she has excavated on seven separate missions in N. Macedonia, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and Belize. Mia loves to travel; she has travelled to over 25 countries.

Lisa has been with ISE for almost five years. Prior to working here she had not heard of Semester at Sea before. She sailed on the Fall 2016 voyage and was excited to join the team after sailing. Being part of a team that creates these life changing voyages is inspiring. Lisa works with students to help them prepare for a journey of a lifetime. She knows what it takes to prepare for one of these voyages. There are always a lot of questions that come up and that’s where she can help. When not working with students she spends her time daydreaming about her next travel adventure.

Libby has been a part of the Semester at Sea team since January 2023. She manages course registration, class scheduling, and academic policies for all voyages. Libby also assists with the development of academic field work on each voyage, including initial program design, implementation, and evaluation.

Libby has worked in the field of International Education since 2003 in study abroad management, international student immigration and support, and campus internationalization efforts.

During personal time, Libby loves to spend time with her husband and two daughters, is an avid reader, and tries to be outdoors as much as possible; camping, biking, coaching youth rec. soccer or walking her dogs.

Lianne Dauplaise has been with ISE since November 2021. She moved to Colorado from Massachusetts after falling in love with the Front Range during a summer road trip. Prior to joining the ISE team, she spent her summers working at the Colorado State University Mountain Campus. Between the Mountain Campus and ISE she has found a love and passion for supporting hands-on and experiential learning opportunities. Lianne is so happy to work with ISE and to support its mission! While in her free time she will take any opportunity to head into the mountains, whether it’s snowboarding, hiking, climbing or just putting up a hammock by the river, her favorite activity is spending time with the dogs in her life.

Amanda (she/ella) began working for ISE in 2023. Amanda is responsible for working collaboratively with the Vice President of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and operations to plan and execute Semester at Sea’s co-curricular program. Amanda supports the voyage on-ship team to enhance the residential and co-curricular experience while coordinating the selection, orientation, and training of future voyage teams, including overseeing community standards for each voyage. Amanda sailed in Spring 2022 as a Resident Director. Prior to her involvement with Semester at Sea, Amanda worked as an Administrator at California State University, Fullerton. Amanda and her partner, Henoc, love to travel the world, kayak on the Mississippi River in their backyard, and watch too much of “The Real Housewives.”

Koty Erdmann started at ISE in late 2015. After serving three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia and attending graduate school in Vermont, Koty merged a love of geography, cultures, and spreadsheets(!) into a position with the Field Programs department. When not making arrangements with tour operators, building out Field Programs in the registration portal, or chatting with prospective voyagers to help them decide what to see and do in country, Koty bounces between a variety of different hobbies. These have included experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, volunteering doing trail work or eco restoration activities, authentic relating, archery, ‘trying’ to read for pleasure, and learning to play the mandolin.

Whitney (she/her) is a two-time alumna of Semester at Sea, having sailed on the Spring 2006 Voyage as a student & the Spring 2015 Voyage in a staff role as the Advancement Coordinator. Following the Spring 2015 Voyage, Whitney began working for the organization as the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement and then transitioned in 2018 to be the Director of Lifelong Learning. Whitney is passionate about the mission of the program and believes that Lifelong Learners are a critical part of the inter-generational shipboard community. Originally from Santa Barbara, California, she now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Tracey Hammond has been with ISE since September 2021. She enjoys chatting with students, parents, and anyone who needs a live advisor through the SAS Chat on our website as well as helping out wherever needed. Tracey has a passion for creating and editing training documents and loves to help others navigate through new systems. Outside of the office, Tracey enjoys reading, playing games on her phone and has read and watched “Lord of the Rings” multiple times. She has two kids in college and a “Covid” puppy, Kaya, who was adopted through a rescue organization in Colorado. Kaya helped her family by keeping them entertained with her puppy antics during the pandemic and they can’t imagine their lives life without her.

Admissions Region: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska,  New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas,  Wisconsin, Wyoming, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
*EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, PACIFIC ISLANDS

TJ embarked on his journey with SAS in 2017, sailing on the Fall 2017 voyage as a student. Having had a truly memorable experience on the ship, he returned to ISE in 2023 to join the Enrollment team. Having embarked on various international adventures and experiential learning, TJ is passionate about building strong relationships with institutional partners and supporting students in their study abroad journey. In his free time TJ enjoys working out, playing video games, watching football (Go Chargers!), working on his travel blog, and spending quality time with his family and friends.

Before joining ISE, Blair spent eight years working in higher education philanthropy at the University of Houston, and more recently at South Texas College of Law Houston. Prior to her time in higher education, Blair worked for the Houston Golf Association, utilizing her golf background as she was a member of the women’s golf team at the University of Oregon. In her free time, Blair and her husband enjoy traveling, hiking, skiing, playing golf, wine tasting and eating all the delicious food Texas has to offer.

Maria (she/her) has been fascinated by Semester at Sea since several of her former colleagues participated in the Spring 2022 Voyage. She has held various roles throughout her career in higher education, most notably in international enrollment management. Maria is passionate about using technology to guide and support students in their study abroad journey. She currently serves as the Upstate New York Representative in her local NAFSA region, and was selected as the NAFSA Region X Rising Professional in 2021. In her personal life, Maria is a dog-mom, a language nerd, and an avid traveler.

Brenda Legard has been with ISE since March 2007 fulfilling various roles in the finance department through her 15 year ISE career. Brenda is a nerdy accountant that loves to dive deep into data research to solve a difficult reconciliation. Brenda enjoys the great outdoors and her hobbies include hiking, gardening, home improvement projects, spending time with her grown children and of course traveling!

Kate Lilly has been a part of the Semester at Sea team since 2019. Her connection and love for the program started back on the Spring 2007 voyage. Her experience as a student sparked her career in international education and she returned as a staff member in the Field Office on the Spring 2018 voyage. Kate is passionate about helping students access transformative experiences through travel, and enjoys photography, and hiking with her dog Dax in Colorado!

Admissions Region: Hawaii, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo, California 

Amy embarked on her journey with SAS in 2018, sailing on the Spring and Fall 2019 voyages as the Assistant Director of Field Programs. Having had the best experience on the ship, she returned to ISE in 2021 to join the Enrollment team. Amy’s love for international adventures and experiential learning has taken her around the world, from facilitating service-learning programs in Tanzania, England, the Galapagos, and Alaska; working at international events like the World’s Fair and U.S. Open; leading wine tours on the California Central Coast; and making magic at the Walt Disney World resort. While not working, Amy enjoys hiking, singing, tennis, line dancing, spending time in nature, and snuggling cats. And traveling of course!

Admissions Region: Alaska, Arizona, **California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,  Oregon,  Utah,  Washington
*CANADA, LATIN AMERICA  **except: San Diego and San Luis Obispo

Marin (she/her) first learned about SAS while completing her degree at Colorado State University and was immediately intrigued. While she was unable to sail as a student, she did complete a study abroad program in New Zealand and experienced firsthand (though on a smaller scale) the value of immersive international study. She has been with ISE since 2023, but prior to ISE, Marin worked in International Admissions for a local Florida college. She has worked a handful of other unique jobs including working at both Disney World and Universal Studios, working on a dude ranch in Colorado, and guiding wine tours in Washington State. In her free time, Marin enjoys visiting her family in the Seattle area, eating her way through Central Florida with her husband, and loves spending time with their two rescue cats!

Bernie McCabe embarked on his journey as a global citizen during his Spring 2010 Voyage aboard the MV Explorer as a student. This transformative experience set him on a lifelong path of learning and cultural exploration. Bernie furthered his personal and professional growth with a year in Beijing and two years in Prague, immersing himself in diverse environments. Bernie, who joined ISE in 2013 within the Advancement department, is eager to reunite with the SAS Advancement team after more than ten years. He is excited to reconnect with the SAS community and contribute to its continued success. Outside of work, Bernie indulges his passions for art and literature, always engrossed in multiple books and working on new painting projects.

Sydney McKim (she/her) joined ISE in November of 2023. Over the past few years, Sydney has worked for various nonprofits, contributing both to fundraising initiatives and working directly with clients in need. Sydney is thrilled to direct her passion for positive change toward higher education. Drawing inspiration from her own transformative experience studying abroad in Denmark, she is dedicated to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to study abroad. Sydney holds certificates in Fundraising Copywriting and Digital Fundraising from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy. Outside of work, Sydney finds joy in exploration—whether discovering new places, hiking scenic trails with her two dogs, or kayaking in the great outdoors.

Jennie Lee Montgomery joined the ISE in October 2022. With a background in marketing for colleges and student living communities, she is excited to continue working in higher education with a one-of-a-kind experience like Semester at Sea! Professionally, Jennie has a passion for capturing meaningful experiences and sharing these stories through creative content on social media. When she’s not creating behind the screen, she’s cheering on the Clemson Tigers, traveling to NYC to catch a Broadway musical, or finding the best matcha latte in a new city. She also enjoys playing competitive tennis, slowly learning new instruments, and spending time with her mini-golden doodle named Bear!

Vera Nicholas sailed as a Lifelong Learner on the Fall 2022 Voyage. She loved the experience so much that she interviewed with ISE while on the MV World Odyssey and took up her new position as Lifelong Learner Coordinator soon after her return home. After 30+ years as a career diplomat living and working in many parts of the world, she’s found her true unofficial ambassador dream job helping to make Semester at Sea a reality for future Lifelong Learners. Outside the office, Vera’s other passions include hosting live music house concerts, horseback riding, equestrian and country real estate, and sharing her Pearls ‘n Spurs Luxury Guest Ranch as an Airbnb property. When she can’t be somewhere on the ocean exploring this beautiful world, remote glamping adventures on horseback feed her soul.

Hannah’s first experience with ISE was sailing as the Faculty-led Programs Coordinator on the spring and fall 2019 voyages. She specializes in experiential science education and feels forever inspired by the learning opportunities and communities the Semester at Sea program creates. Hannah is originally from Millbrook, New York, and now lives with her husband and cat in Central Florida. She has worked previously in curriculum development, education, and community engagement with The Nature Conservancy and Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment Department. Hannah was thrilled to re-join the ISE Academic Team part-time in 2022, and then full-time as Academic Programs Coordinator in 2023.

Candace Patrick (she/her) began her career at ISE in summer 2010. After having sailed as a student on the Spring 2007 Voyage, coming to work for Semester at Sea has been a full-circle experience! She has presented at several conferences including NAFSA regional conferences and Diversity Abroad. Candace also founded and served as 4-year chair for ISE’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is HubSpot certified in Email Marketing, Marketing Software, and Sales Software. Outside of the office, Candace enjoys binging her favorite TV shows, writing, producing indie films, and fighting with her cat for the most comfortable seat in her apartment. The cat usually wins.

Alex Ryan ( He/Him/His) served as Treasurer for Colorado State University’s chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery his senior year. He also helped his team make it to the national semi-finals in the Winward Artificial Intelligence competition the same year. After graduating from CSU in 2016, Alex dabbled in various tech and alternative energy roles. Alex started his career at ISE in the summer of 2022 and is excited to be working in higher education. He maintains multiple side projects for free Computer Science education and White Hat global security efforts. He is an avid snowboarder, hacky sack enthusiast, and Minecrafter. When he’s not talking to machines he’s trying to keep up with his two little kiddos (also future White Hat Computer Scientists).

Kayla began working with ISE/Semester at Sea in April 2023 and is thrilled to have joined such a life-changing organization. She’s incredibly passionate about international education and cultural exchange and couldn’t be happier helping students from across the globe embark on this transformative journey. Although Kayla has yet to be on the ship, she studied abroad in Antibes, France as well as lived and worked as an English Teaching Assistant in Metz, France. She is eager to travel to as many countries as possible and is honored to help make this dream a reality for voyagers too! In her free time Kayla enjoys all the outdoor adventures Colorado has to offer, singing, playing the piano, doing yoga, and snuggling with her cat and dog.

Jodi Reesman is a 17-year study abroad professional. She has advised students, managed study programs, developed international relationships, and directed scholarship monies. In 2016, she joined ISE as Director of Academic Administration. Now, she serves colleagues across the organization from within the HR team. Motivated by efficiency and driven by data, Jodi builds systems. Fulfilled by connection, she is people minded. Together, the two comprise her profession and passion. As an undergraduate – inspired by her German exchange experience in high school – Jodi studied abroad at the University of South Australia. She has independently backpacked overseas and served as a volunteer abroad. Jodi remains an avid traveler and continues to be equally terrible at packing and unpacking her bags.

Carlos sailed with Semester at Sea during the Fall 2019 voyage and current advisor with the Student Support Service department. During his voyage, Carlos was selected as an Inclusive Engagement Scholar and member of the Impact Cohort. It is with this experience and his extensive experience working with undergraduate students, Carlos is passionate to ensure students can receive the opportunity to participate in Semester at Sea. Outside of work, you can find Carlos actively following the NBA, taking a hike, or hanging out with his cat.

Admissions Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, 
* AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST, ASIA

Christine began her career at Semester at Sea | ISE in the fall of 2023. After spending a semester abroad in Meknes, Morocco she knew that she wanted to help students go on these life-changing experiences. Previous to joining SAS, she was Assistant Director of Education Abroad at Temple University, responsible for overseeing an inclusive and holistic approach to pre-departure advising. She has spent the last 8 years in a variety of positions at both providers and universities helping to prepare students for their study abroad experiences. Christine will be based in the northeast region engaging with university partners and students to share the incredible journey that is Semester at SEA.

Kelly joined the team at Semester at Sea in April 2024. She began her career working in international education at Texas A&M University, then spent five years at the University of Florida’s business school. During her tenure at UF, Kelly oversaw the core Europe programs, exchange programs, two student organizations, and she directed on-site activities in London in the summer of 2022.

As a dual U.S./U.K. citizen, Kelly’s love for all things international has been lifelong. She studied abroad in Spain and later interned there with the State Department. She also taught English in Italy and was part of a research group program to Tanzania. In her spare time, Kelly is a group fitness enthusiast! She enjoys outdoor activities, dogs, crafting, reading, breweries, friends, and watching British TV and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Jessica’s (she/her) love for Semester at Sea began while sailing as a student on the Fall 2013 50th Anniversary Voyage. Following the voyage, she knew she wanted to work for ISE and provide life-changing experiences for voyagers. Jessica started her career with ISE in April 2016 as an Administrative Assistant and transitioned into HR in October 2016. She has been working as the primary contact for faculty and staff in their voyage preparations ever since. Though she is a Southern California native, she loves the mountains and all the outdoor activity options Colorado has to offer. In her free time, Jessica enjoys trying new restaurants, reading, traveling, hiking, watching cooking shows, boxing/kickboxing and relaxing at one of the many breweries in Fort Collins.