Study Abroad Workshops (EU, US, and UK)

Studying abroad helps us learn new languages, people, and cultures. It advances our careers and earns us new friends with diverse backgrounds. It ultimately challenges our assumptions and broadens our horizons.

But where to go, how to apply and how much will it cost? What realistic outcomes can we expect? What preparations are necessary? To help our BWB students start mapping out their futures in higher education, we organize Destination Workshops throughout the year so that the paths can be clearer. A special thank you to the following experts who will answer questions from our students this weekend:

Study in the EU - Mane NalbandyanI - E University, Spain

Mane Nalbandyan shared with us what it is like studying in Spain.  Mane is originally from Armenia when she started her career as a marketing and social media expert in a gaming company.  She has always been passionate about education and moved to the international education sector for the past 5 years.  She works as a Senior Regional Manager for the Asia Pacific region in IE University´s Global Markets team. Having international education and spending a year in IE University, she is now based in Madrid and heads IE´s international offices in Asia and Oceania in order to guide students through their educational journey. 

Study in the USA - Rita Chakravorty, MEd. - CollegeSmartboard, US

For more than 18 years, Ms. Chakravorty has guided students from across the globe to top American universities such as Stanford, Berkeley, Wharton, UPenn and beyond (click on the link for the full list in 2022 and 2023).  Guided by their unique methodology of Design Thinking, Ms.Chakravorty and her team facilitate the college admission application process by providing comprehensive and personalized services to students from 9th to12th grade, from time management to career guidance and beyond.  She has a background in educational  psychology and pedagogy and has spent many years teaching at college level, participated in instructional design and as a scorer /rater for ETS;  no wonder CollegeSmartboard's students get one of their top three choices. She is also a member of IECA and International ACAC and SACAC.  

Study in the UK - Haley Drogus, MPS - The University of Sheffield, UK

Haley started her career in the Fashion Industry in NYC where she designed and developed legwear for brands including GAP Inc and Marc Jacobs to name a few as well as worked in E-commerce and Digital Marketing for Donna Karan and Modcloth. In 2019 Haley decided to move back to Pittsburgh where she is originally from and was hired to recruit in the US for a University in the UK. After five and a half years, Haley has worked for three UK Universities, including her current role for over a year now as the in-country rep for The University of Sheffield. Haley loves working with students and helping to guide them through the application process and ensure that they are finding the University that is the best fit for them. 

We can't wait to learn from these global educators!