ABOUT US

Nicole Eissa, Assistant Financial Officer

Prior to joining CDS, Nicole Eissa, a German native, worked in the hotel industry in Europe and America for more than 6 years. She took part in the CDS Career Training Program in 1991 for 18 months and began working at CDS in 1995. Nicole is the proud mother of a son and a daughter.

Megan Bah, Program Assistant, Accounting & integrationXchange

Megan Bah graduated from Rowan University in southern New Jersey in December of 2006 with a degree in Mathematics. Wanting to pursue a career outside of her small town in New Jersey, she moved up to Jersey City in November of 2007, which is when she joined CDS’s accounting department. Her time at CDS is also spent helping out the Internships Abroad program from time to time, which has helped her gain great insight into the exchange aspect of CDS. She is recently married and enjoys exploring New York City in her free time.

Melissa Graves, Program Officer, Alfa Fellowship Program

Having spent most of her youth between the U.S., Germany and Mexico, international travel came naturally to Melissa. She took advantage of as many exchange programs as possible, studying and interning in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. She earned a BA at UCLA in German and European Studies and an MA from Johns Hopkins University – SAIS in American Foreign Policy and International Economics, and taught current events and English at Tatar Institute for Promotion of Business (TISBI) in Kazan, Russia, for two years. Melissa joined CDS in August 2005.

Susana Lee, Assistant Program Officer, Alfa Fellowship Program

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Susana is no stranger to crossing cultures. As a student at New York University, she spent a semester abroad at La Pietra in Florence, Italy, and focused on global studies through her dual degree in Politics and Journalism. After graduating in 2007, she decided it was high-time for another cultural challenge. For one year, Susana studied, worked, and lived in Germany on the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. Susana was thrilled to join CDS in January 2009.

Anna Oberle, Senior Program Manager, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program

Anna F. Oberle was born in Munich and grew up in Tuebingen, an old university town about 30 miles south of Stuttgart, Germany. She studied at the Freie Universität Berlin from 1993 to 2000 and received Masters degree, majoring in History at the Friedrich Meinecke Institute and in North American Studies at the John F. Kennedy Institute. She joined CDS International in 2000 as the Program Assistant for the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX). In July 2003 she was promoted to Program Director of CBYX.

Will Maier, Program Officer, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals

Will, who is originally from Baltimore, MD, first became interested in international exchange while taking part in a brief high school exchange to Münster, Germany, where he made personal contacts that would ensure his return to Germany several times over the following years. He was able to travel to various places throughout the world while studying International Relations at Franklin College in Lugano, Switzerland, and spent summers studying German language and literature in Berlin. He moved to New York in June 2005, and was happy to join CDS in September of that year. In August 2006 he was promoted to Assistant Program Officer.

Anja Heinz, Program Assistant, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals

Anja grew up in a small town close to Hannover, Germany. Visiting her grandfather’s sister in Orlando, FL, when she was little inspired her to take advantage of every exchange program she could find. Anja participated in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals, which brought her to Riverside, CA, as well as to Washington, D.C. where she interned for Congresswoman Mary Bono with the Congressional Internship Program. After returning to Germany, Anja pursued a degree in European Studies at Magdeburg University and spent six months studying in Wroclaw, Poland. Her interest in intercultural exchange was solidified by internships at the Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Wroclaw, Poland, and at InWEnt: Capacity Building International in Bonn. Anja was happy to join the CDS team in October 2008.

Amanda Stibick, Program Assistant, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals

Amanda grew up in Las Vegas, NV and became interested in foreign languages and cultures when she visited Europe for the first time in 1999. From 2004-2005, she studied abroad with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (U.S.AC) in Lueneburg. Upon her return from Germany she decided to pursue a degree in German Studies which she obtained in 2006 when she graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). From 2006-2007 Amanda participated in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) which took her back to Germany for a year. After returning to the U.S., she started teaching German at UNLV, which she did for a year before joining the CDS team and moving to New York in June 2008.

Beth Uding, Assistant Program Officer, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program

Beth grew up singing French and German songs in a small, historic town in Missouri, proud of its European heritage. After visiting Germany for the first time as an Au Pair, she participated in Wayne State University’s Junior Year in Munich program in 2005-06 and graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis–St. Paul in May 2007 with a BA in German Studies and English. Before coming to CDS in fall 2007, Beth taught English at a grade school in Berlin on a short internship sponsored by the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation. She was promoted to Assistant Program Officer for CBYX in June 2008.

Joanna Curtis, Exchange Operations & Compliance Manager

Joanna Curtis grew up in central Florida, where her family’s frequent international houseguests piqued an interest in cultural difference and international education. A graduate of Swarthmore College (BA History, Music, and German Studies) and the London School of Economics (MSc International Relations), she has lived and studied in Germany, Austria, Italy, and the UK. Joanna has worked at CDS since 2004, serving on the Bosch Fellowship program staff and, in 2006, as Communications and Development Manager. Outside of the office, she enjoys opera, politics, languages, and travel.

Robert Fenstermacher, Executive Director

Rob is a true believer in the merits of study and work abroad programs. Rob’s interest in foreign exchange programs dates back to his AFS experience as a high school student in West Berlin, Germany in 1987. Since then, he has remained actively involved in German-American activities. While completing his Bachelor’s degree in History at Haverford College, Rob spent a semester abroad at the University of Heidelberg. Upon graduation, he began his studies in International Relations completing a year of independent study again at the University of Heidelberg. While completing his Masters in International Public Relations at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, Rob completed a year-long internship at the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Berlin. He also designed and coordinated a multimedia transatlantic seminar between the Monterey Institute and the University of Potsdam in Germany.

Rob began his career at CDS in September 1996 as Program Officer for Marketing and as coordinator for the Workforce Solutions program which focused on school-to-work transition strategies based on European practices. During 1999-2000, Rob was a Robert Bosch Foundation Fellow at the German Ministry of Education in Bonn, Germany and at DaimlerChrysler AG in Stuttgart, examining workforce training issues in Germany and Europe.

Rob became Executive Director at the beginning of 2003. Over his past 11 years at CDS, Rob has been responsible for the development and administration of a variety of exchange programs, the coordination of the organization’s marketing and PR efforts, as well as the planning and implementation of a number of international study tours between the United States and Europe for educators, policy makers, business and industry representatives focusing on vocational training and workforce development issues. Rob is a member of the American Council on Germany, the Körber Foundation’s U.S. Adivsory Council and sits on the Executive Committee of the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange. He feels privileged to work with such a committed and dedicated group of individuals that make up the CDS family!

Linda Boughton, Deputy Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer

Linda has 24 years experience in international educational exchange. A CDS officer for 17 years, she has also worked for the American-Scandinavian Foundation, completed a one-year internship in Great Britain, studied for one year in Germany, and participated in a study tour to Russia. At CDS, she has been involved in business development and administration, grants management, personnel and benefits management, financial controlling and reporting, strategic planning, and general management.

Linda holds a bachelors degree in International Studies from Juniata College. She has participated in numerous continuing education opportunities in grant writing, investment strategies, tax reporting, internal controls and financial management. Member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Chad Robertson, Communications Manager, External Relations Department

It was the electric atmosphere of Berlin that really sparked Chad’s interest in Germany. After visiting the city in 1999, he knew it was it and that he had to get back. A semester study abroad stint at the Humboldt Universität in 2002 only fanned the flames. After graduating from the University of Texas in 2003 with an English/German double major, he found himself back on German soil, this time at the universities in Dresden and Zittau with the Robert Bosch Tutor Program 2004/2005. When the work with the Bosch program was finished, he packed his bags and found a flat in Berlin where he taught English to make ends meet. Now that he’s back in the good ol’ U S of A, you can find him wearing burnt orange and rooting on the University of Texas to their latest national championship. Chad rang in the 2007 New Year by joining CDS.

Helkin von Schwaab, Information Systems Manager, External Relations Department

Born to an American mother and German father, Helkin started her transatlantic travels at an early age. Through studies, work, and adventure she’s traveled through Asia and Europe and lived in several German cities including Berlin, Munich, Göttingen, Cottbus, and Frankfurt am Main. While in Berlin in 2002, she worked for CDS International’s partner organization InWEnt to organize a parallel conference to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Back in the United States the following year, she hopped on a bike to peddle her way from Connecticut to the State of Washington to raise money for Habit for Humanity. After graduating from Yale University with a degree in Political Science and History in 2003, she traded in her bike for a plane ticket to Germany for a year on the Robert Bosch Tutor Program where she taught English at Brandenburg Technical University. In 2004, Helkin crossed the Atlantic once more to settle in New York City where she was glad join the CDS International team to help promote cross-cultural understanding through international training programs.

Evan Kerrigan, Information Systems Coordinator, External Relations Department

Originally from a sleepy hamlet outside of Philadelphia, Evan first embarked on his exploration of the world through a high school exchange program that carried him to France. He received a BA in both Politics and French from New York University, and spent a year studying abroad in Paris, attending classes at the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). Lured back to New York by the necessity of graduation—and by the promise of a bagel with lox and cream cheese—he joined CDS International in May 2006. He currently resides in Brooklyn and enjoys web development, running marathons, and traveling.

Emily Wiechers, Events and Development Coordinator, External Relations Department

Emily was raised on the lake overlooking Canada on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan. Growing up on an international border facilitated her early interest in foreign cultures and thirst for exploration. Emily has traveled, studied and worked throughout Europe, most recently on the program StudentServices International in Germany through CDS. She is a graduate of the California State University Global Business Management program and enjoys travel, surfing, cooking, and creating photomontages.

Roxana Pleacoff, Senior Program Manager, International Partnership Programs

Roxana joined CDS in early 2000. Originally from Romania, she has lived in Germany and is now an American citizen. Roxana has a BA in Philosophy and English from York College, CUNY (City University of New York). Before coming to CDS, she was an elementary school teacher. In addition to English and German, Roxana speaks Romanian and French. Outside of her work at CDS, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Annika Rigole, Program Officer, International Partnership Programs

At the age of six, Annika moved to the United States from Belgium. Growing up between two cultures, she became fascinated by languages and different ways of life at an early age. While a college undergraduate, Annika spent a year studying at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen, Germany. In 2004, she graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BS in Mathematics and Economics. Subsequently, Annika completed ten months of team-based community service with the AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps. Annika was glad to join the CDS team in Winter 2005.

Greta Daniels, Assistant Program Officer, International Partnership Programs

It’s difficult to say from whence Greta’s interest in foreign cultures originally sprung, but it can probably be attributed to a mix of her great-grandmother’s chicken paprikash, Russian fairytales, and her multi-cultural neighborhood. Originally from New Jersey, Greta moved to New York in 2001 to pursue her degree in Russian at New York University. During her undergraduate program, Greta completed an intensive language program at the Center for Language and Culture in St. Petersburg, Russia. After returning to the States, she became the first participant in the Russian department’s combined BA/MA program which allowed her to complete her Masters in Russian & Slavic Studies at NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science in 2006. Aside from reading a copious amount of 19th Century Russian novels, Greta occupied her collegiate time competing with NYU’s Varsity Fencing Team. She was delighted to join the CDS Team in January 2007.

Dilek Goenuel, Program Assistant, International Partnership Programs

Dilek has studied Social Sciences with a major in Politics at the Georg-August-University in Goettingen, Germany. She was born and raised in Berlin and is Turkish by origin. Growing up biculturally she is thrilled to be learning about different countries and cultures. Dilek worked at the German-American Fulbright Commission before she joined the CDS staff in April 2008.

Katherine Sandiford, Assistant Program Officer, International Partnership Programs

Katy was born and raised near Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. She became interested in studying French from an early age because her parents often hosted francophone friends through Friendship Force, a social exchange organization. Katy majored in French at Georgetown and after a summer in Belgium and a brief tour in Tours, she was finally able to achieve her dream of studying abroad in Paris during her junior year. After graduation she worked at Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., where she organized professional exchange programs in conjunction with the Department of State. Following her wedding in August of 2005, she spent a year in Charlottesville, VA, where she worked at a local winery and continued developing her interest in wine. Katy moved to New York in September of 2006 and to her delight began working at CDS International shortly thereafter.

Katerina Holubova, Program Officer, Internships Abroad

Katerina is from Prague, Czech Republic, but has lived in the U.S. since 1986 and in New York City since 1989. She received her BA in German Language and Literature from Hunter College in 2001. Her interest in international exchange and foreign language studies have led her to CDS International, where she began working as a Program Assistant in the Fall of 2002. Katerina enjoys visiting galleries and NYC nightlife.

Susanne Awiszus, Program Assistant, Internships Abroad

Originally from Berlin, Susanne participated in a variety of international exchanges to Ireland, England, and the U.S. during her high school years that included one semester in Columbus, Ohio. Her interest in foreign languages and cultures was fueled by her university studies in English/North American and Spanish/Latin American Culture, Literature and Linguistics. She graduated with an MA from Humboldt University in Berlin, after having spent time studying abroad at the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain and at the University of Havana, Cuba. Before moving to New York City to join CDS in September 2008, she interned in public relations and cultural management at the World Peace Service and at the Ibero-American Institute in Berlin. Susanne is excited to be living in a similarly vibrant and multicultural city as her city of origin, and to share her international experience with CDS staff and participants.

Marie Kratzmann, Program Assistant, Internships Abroad

Marie enjoys living abroad, learning foreign languages and immersing in other cultures. Originally from Germany, she spent several years of her childhood in Toulouse, France and a year as a high school exchange student in Michigan in 1998. In 2007, she earned a Master of Arts degree in applied cultural sciences from Leuphana University in Lueneburg, Germany. During her studies she interned in Toronto, Canada, and Cantabria, Spain. After earning her degree, Marie came to New York to intern at the State of Bavaria U.S. Office. Marie joined CDS in the summer of 2008 and is thrilled to be able to share her international experience and enthusiasm for internships abroad.

Elise Serbaroli, Program Assistant, Internships Abroad

Born in Munich, Germany to somewhat American parents, Elise grew up in New York under the impression that living abroad was something everyone did. Eventually she realized that was not always the case but didn’t let that stop her from venturing out. After graduating from Barnard College in 2006 with a BA in Psychology and Human Rights, she moved to Madrid for two years, teaching English, learning Spanish, enjoying tapas and siestas, and traveling throughout Europe and a bit through Africa and Central America. She’s excited to be at CDS, because she enjoys helping Americans go abroad to experience cultures outside their own. Elise enjoys activities that bring people together, particularly live music, basketball, and capoeira.

Matthias Neureither, Program Officer, Professional Development Program

Matthias earned a Masters degree in Art History from the Universität Heidelberg with a thesis on car design. Before he came to New York in April 2000 and joined CDS International, he worked for the famous Prinzhorn Collection and Spektrum, one of the largest scientific publishing houses in Germany. His hobbies include classical music and vintage cars.

Morgan Pearlman, Program Officer, Professional Development Program

Originally from Westfield, New Jersey, Morgan has always been greatly interested in studying foreign languages and various cultures. She was able to further explore both these interests in 2005 when she studied at the Humboldt Universität in Berlin. Morgan graduated from Skidmore College the following spring and holds a BA in German and Psychology. She is very excited to have recently joined the CDS team and to have just moved to Brooklyn.

Sara DeLano, Assistant Program Officer, Professional Development Program

Originally from Michigan, Sara first gained an appreciation for international exchange in high school when she participated in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange in Bonn, Germany. She then earned a degree from the University of Michigan with majors in German and Political Science. Immediately after graduating, Sara joined Teach For America and taught 1st grade in Brooklyn, New York, for two years. Sara was excited to join the CDS team in July of 2007. In her free time she enjoys going on road trips, visiting wineries, and cycling.

Nina Herzog, Program Assistant, Professional Development Program

Nina grew up in a small village in Bavaria, about 30 miles northeast of Nuremberg. She inherited her interest in foreign cultures and languages from her parents who took her traveling all over Asia and the U.S. from the age of 3. She earned her degree in English and American Studies from Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen. Nina was excited to join the CDS team in September 2008 and she is thrilled to live in Manhattan.

Andrea Kahn, Program Assistant, Professional Development Program

Andrea has always entertained a fascination with foreign languages and cultures that she indulged while studying abroad at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg, Germany, and traveling around Europe between classes. The following year, she completed her undergraduate studies at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a dual degree in Music and German. Originally from New Jersey, Andrea made the move across the Hudson to join the CDS team in September 2008. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys playing the piano, dabbling in foreign languages, and exploring Brooklyn.

Bryant Prichett, Program Assistant, Professional Development Program

Bryant Pritchett joined CDS in August of 2008, following a year of service of with AmeriCorps where he served in the South Bronx with City Year New York. Before coming to New York City, Bryant attended North Georgia College & State University, one of six senior military colleges in the United States. While a student, he first participated in an international exchange as a student in London the summer after his freshman year. To cap his undergraduate experience, Bryant went abroad his senior year to intern at the U.S. Embassy Berlin in the Exchanges and Program section. Bryant is excited to begin his career in the international exchange field at CDS International!

Margaret Clark, Coordinator, Special Projects

Margaret was born and raised in Normal, IL, but soon realized there was more world to explore on the other side of the corn fields. As a freshman in high school she had the opportunity to attend the International School of Kenya, in Nairobi where she first gained her interest in international education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in German Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MA in International Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. As an undergraduate, Margaret completed her junior year in Freiburg at the Albert-Ludwigs Universität. During her master’s studies, she completed two internships in Germany; the first at the Economic Policy Division of the U.S. Embassy in Bonn as a part of the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program ,and the second at the Bundestag Internship Program. In 1998, she joined the CDS team. In her free time Margaret enjoys reading and cooking.

Jacqueline von Saldern, European Representative

Jacqueline has a German-American background, was born and raised in New York, and dedicated most of her professional career to transatlantic relations. She has senior level experience managing international exchange programs focused on international career training for young professionals. After completing her Masters in Art History and American Studies in Bonn and Munich Jacqueline joined the Robert Bosch Foundation in 1987. Over ten years she managed the Bosch Fellowship Program thus cooperating closely with CDS the program’s representative in the U.S.A. In 1998 she became Associate Director of the American Academy in Berlin helping launch this new institution during its founding year. From 2000 on she started her own business as non-profit consultant for international communications. Commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin she played a major role in establishing the New Traditions Network in its initial phase. As interim manager of the Tönissteiner Kreis, one of the leading German professional exchange networks she oversaw its reorientation and re-design helping develop a new profile and structured program within the international non-profit community. Most recently Jacqueline consulted the Hertie School of Governance, a new professional school for public policy procuring quality internships for graduate students in international organizations.

Based in Berlin as consultant she started working for CDS in 2004 helping identify internships in Germany for the Summer Internship Program (SIP). In September 2005 she was then appointed European Representative. In this function she assists the New York team develop new projects in Europe, coordinate ongoing European programs, expand its partner network and represent CDS at events, conferences, network meetings and alumni reunions.

Emily Schmidt, Washington, D.C. Representative

Emily’s experience with international exchange includes a high school year in France, two years of academic study in Germany, and travels in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in French Studies and German Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in International Industrial Management from the University of Esslingen. Emily began her career at CDS International as an Assistant Program Officer for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange and subsequently spent many years in marketing, strategic planning, and human resources roles for companies including Deloitte & Touche and Société Générale. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and travel.

Peggy Wunderwald-Jensen, Midwest Representative

Peggy was born and raised in Saxony in the Eastern part of a divided Germany. Her childhood dreams to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris were dashed at the wall and so it was only natural that she wanted to “catch up” and see the world when she started college in 1989. She earned her undergraduate degree in Foreign Language Teaching and her graduate degree in European Studies, both at the University of Leipzig. During that time, she studied in France, Italy, Belgium and Canada, and also completed an internship with the DAAD in Bonn and the Representation of Saxony to the European Union in Brussels. It was also in the ’90s that she discovered her enthusiasm to teach German as a Foreign Language. This became her primary career path both in Germany where she taught at the Herder Institute in Leipzig and after she moved to the U.S. in 2000. Peggy joined CDS in 2002 as Midwest Representative. Based in Ann Arbor, she is primarily responsible for the partnership program between CDS and the University of Michigan’s German Department. She also assists the New York team to spread the word about CDS, develop and expand its partner network with the academic and business community in the Midwest, and represent CDS at conferences, study and work abroad fairs, network meetings and alumni reunions.

Nicole Sisco, Program Officer, Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program

When Nicole was 10, her parents took her on a trip from Virginia to Germany. From that point on, she became fascinated with different languages and cultures. After a variety of international exchanges throughout high school, she finally had the chance to spend an extended time abroad in Germany at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich during her junior year of college. After completing her BA in German Studies at the University of Mary Washington in 2002, Nicole moved to Berlin where she worked for the Institute for the International Education of Students as well as the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation. After completing her MA in Intercultural Communication from the University of Sheffield in England in 2007, Nicole headed back to North America to intern at the Canadian Council for Refugees in Montréal. She joined the CDS staff in December 2007.

Susana Lee, Assistant Program Officer, Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Susana is no stranger to crossing cultures. As a student at New York University, she spent a semester abroad at La Pietra in Florence, Italy, and focused on global studies through her dual degree in Politics and Journalism. After graduating in 2007, she decided it was high-time for another cultural challenge. For one year, Susana studied, worked, and lived in Germany on the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. Susana was thrilled to join CDS in January 2009.