Bill Anthony, Director

Bill is a graduate of Colby College (BA) and The Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD) and was a Senior Lecturer in Northwestern's Department of German from 1986-1997 where he taught German language and literature, served as the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, co-produced documentary videos in Germany and Switzerland and chaired the Council on Language Instruction. In 1995, he was named a Charles Deering McCormick University Distinguished Lecturer. As the founding director of Northwestern's Study Abroad Office (1997), Bill takes great pride in being part of a small team of dedicated study abroad professionals. He has served a leadership role on the Standards Committee for the Forum on Education Abroad since its formation in 2002 and was elected to two terms on the Forum Council. Bill has played an active role in the Forum’s development of the Standards and a Code of Ethics for the study abroad field.

Alicia Stanley, Associate Director

Alicia graduated with a M.A./M.S. in International Public Service Management from DePaul University and a B.A. in French from Rice University and spent several years studying and working in France. Prior to joining Northwestern in 2008, she worked in Chicago for DePaul’s Study Abroad Program, IES Abroad, and the French Technology Press Office. Alicia oversees academic policies and procedures, chairs the Study Abroad Advisory Committee, manages the office's budget, and coordinates the team's efforts to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. In addition, she advises students who are interested in studying abroad in China, Czech Republic, Japan, Russia, Singapore,  South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, and is currently serving as interim adviser for Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan as well as the Northwestern Barcelona Summer program and the Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona.  She also manages requests from those seeking to apply to unaffiliated programs. Alicia is currently a member of the Forum on Education Abroad's 2013 Conference Committee, IES Abroad's Academic Council, IFSA-Butler's National Advisors Council Executive Committee, and AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers).

Julie Anne Friend, Associate Director for International Safety and Security

Julie Anne Friend is the associate director for international safety and security at Northwestern University (NU), where she is charged with developing a comprehensive, institutional-wide approach to education abroad risk management. Although relatively new to Northwestern, Julie has focused on improving study abroad program leader training as well as education abroad crisis management and response protocols for over 15 years. Her scholarship and advocacy related to institutional travel policies and U.S. State Department Travel Warnings has contributed to the development of standards in the field. Julie recently concluded a three-year term as chair of the Education Abroad Knowledge Community’s Subcommittee on Health and Safety for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, but remains one of three higher education representatives appointed to the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Executive Board. She writes regularly for NAFSA’s International Educator on topics related to risk and insurance, and recently led a team of college and university legal, risk and security professionals on a site assessment to three Israeli institutions. As a result of her subject-matter expertise and leadership, Julie speaks frequently at a variety of organizational, institutional and U.S. Department of State/OSAC-sponsored events. Julie has traveled in over 25 countries and lived in both France and Zambia. She has a Juris Doctor in Law and a Master of Arts in English from Michigan State University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from Syracuse University. Julie is also a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan.

Francesca Miroballi, Study Abroad Adviser & Coordinator of campus outreach

Francesca received her B.A. in French and Communication from Elmhurst College and spent part of her undergraduate studies in Nantes, France and Italy (Florence and Milan).  Before joining Northwestern, Francesca worked for the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad).  She advises for programs in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Cameroon, France, Germany, Italy, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Senegal, and Switzerland.  In addition, she is currently serving as interim adviser for Spain. She also manages major events - including Northwestern's annual Study Abroad Fair, pre-departure orientations and reentry events - in collaboration with various offices on campus and partner organizations.

Emily Heppard, Study Abroad Adviser

Emily graduated from Bradley University with a B.A. in Religious Studies and Art History, and studied abroad in Vienna, Austria and Dublin, Ireland while a student there. Emily advises for programs in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In addition, she is currently serving as interim adviser for the Americas. She is also responsible for managing study abroad data and the office's social media. Emily has worked at Northwestern since 2008, in both Human Resources and the Office for Research. She was also a student in the School of Continuing Studies, where she completed certificate programs in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations and Museum Studies.

SARA Mcguinn, program assistant

A proud alumna of Northwestern, Sara studied abroad for a full year in Seville, Spain as an undergraduate at NU and received her BA in Spanish. After completing her MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston, she tutored Spanish and taught English as a second language (ESL) for several years before returning to Northwestern, this time as a staff member. Sara manages the front desk of the Study Abroad Office and assists both advisers and students with a variety of administrative tasks. When not at work, she loves spending time with her husband and kids: playing games, listening to live music, watching sports, and reading.

Krista Buda, Assistant Director of Study Abroad Financial Services

Krista completed her Master of Science in Education degree in Higher Education Administration & Policy at Northwestern.  She received her B.A. in Linguistics and German Language & Literature from Haverford College and spent her junior year on the IES Abroad program in Freiburg, Germany.  Krista oversees study abroad billing and financial aid, and counsels students and families about the financial considerations of studying abroad.  As an Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid at 1801 Hinman Avenue, Krista is a member of both the Study Abroad and Financial Aid teams.  Prior to working in financial aid, Krista also worked in the NU Study Abroad Office and in banking and financial services.

Madison Berry

Madison is a School of Communications junior who plans on double majoring in radio/television/film and psychology. Having long fostered a love of all things British, she hopes to study abroad and one day live in England, Scotland, or Wales. In her spare time, Madison enjoys watching movies and television shows, horseback riding and working with NU student-run film and theatre endeavors.

KAITLYN CHRISWELL

Kaitlyn is a Weinberg junior majoring in Spanish and Political Science. She studied abroad for two glorious quarters in Madrid, where she discovered her enthusiasm for tapas, fútbol, and corridas (bullfights). In her free time she is an active member of the Mock Trial team, spends most of her time outdoors, and loves being a Peer Adviser to the incoming freshmen.

Thu Dang

Thu is a Florida native and currently a senior in Weinberg. She is planning on double majoring in economics and international studies. Thu wants to study abroad in either Vietnam or Australia because she loved visiting Vietnam when she was younger with her family and she has always wanted to go to Australia. When she is not working at the Study Abroad office or doing schoolwork, she enjoys swimming, practicing yoga, and playing the piano. 

Steve Yanni

Steve is a Weinberg senior studying sociology and Spanish. He joined the Study Abroad Office team in 2009 as a freshman with an interest in studying abroad himself and has since spent a semester in Madrid, Spain. He enjoys helping his peers with the study abroad application process and helping out at SAO events across campus. Steve is a Philadelphia-area native and avid Yankees fan. Outside of the classroom and the office, he is the president of Northwestern's mock trial team and enjoys singing and playing bass guitar.