Prior to the pandemic and its impact on AFS-USA's financial well-being, there were fifteen or more AFS-USA staff focused exclusively on sending recruitment for core/flagship programs. This number included the Study Abroad Specialists, the Study Abroad Field Specialists, the Scholarships/ Faces of America team, and the Visas & Compliance team.
Today, this department consists of three people – Caitlin Schneider, Justin DeAndrade, and Adriana Miladinovic. The nature of their work has changed significantly in 2020; not only have they had to take on and learn new processes, but they have also had to figure out alternative ways to provide information to applicants, parents, and volunteers in a manner that consumes less time than a phone call but efficiently provides the answers that are being sought.
While the Study Abroad team is working hard to provide good service and advice to everyone, they are relying on the help of volunteers now more than ever. This includes helping answer a parent/guardian’s questions, motivating students to complete their applications, or, of extreme importance, conducting student interviews. The role of the volunteer in the sending process is central to helping AFS-USA ensure that programs will be able to rebound.
Study Abroad Team
studyabroad@afsusa.org
If you have questions regarding travel and logistics, please reach out to:
Travel and Logistics Coordination (TLC) Team
AFS.Sending.Travel@afsusa.org