Carmen is the Director of Semester and Exchange Programs at Elon University, where she leads a team committed to expanding access to immersive, transformative global experiences. A dedicated international educator, she brings deep experience in program management, policy development, and student advising, with a strong focus on fostering intercultural awareness throughout students' global journeys. Carmen’s own international journey began as a first-generation college student studying abroad in London—an experience that ignited a lifelong curiosity about people and cultures and ultimately shaped her career path. She remains deeply inspired by the transformative potential of education abroad and is passionate about building inclusive, globally-minded communities.Carmen holds a Ph.D. in Planning, Governance, and Globalization from Virginia Tech, where her research examined intercultural learning within short-term faculty-led programs.
