HIGH SCHOOL in the USA
Cultural Exchange program
OVER 100 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE
working directly with thousands of international students
Based in Nashville, TN, Global Educational Concepts, Inc. (GEC) proudly sponsors the High School in the USA program as part of the U.S. Department of State’s cultural exchange initiatives. At GEC, we are deeply committed to the principles of public diplomacy and recognize the invaluable opportunities these exchanges offer to participants, host families, and local coordinators alike.
Our mission is to deliver exceptional service and support to the young people who join our programs, ensuring they have enriching and successful experiences while strictly adhering to all regulatory requirements. Through our efforts, we help foster global connections and cultural understanding, with our program participants thriving in communities across the United States.
We INVEST in building people.
We INSPIRE people to achieve their goals in life.
We positively IMPACT the world.
As a proud member of the Southwestern Family of Companies, established in 1855, our mission is to empower purpose-driven individuals to create principle-guided businesses that make a global impact.
We invest in people who are motivated to build their skills and character, supporting them in reaching their life goals. Our ultimate aim is to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities we serve around the world.
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TEAM
MEET
T HE
ELLEN HOGGARD
President
Ellen Hoggard has over 35 years of expertise in international educational exchange. Her journey began with transformative high school exchange programs in England at 14 and Romania at 16, which inspired her to major in International Relations at Duke University. Ellen's dedication to fostering global connections, particularly at the high school level, earned her the Award for Distinguished Service from Sister Cities International and the Exemplary Leadership Award...
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Ellen Hoggard has over 35 years of expertise in international educational exchange. Her journey began with transformative high school exchange programs in England at 14 and Romania at 16, which inspired her to major in International Relations at Duke University. Ellen's dedication to fostering global connections, particularly at the high school level, earned her the Award for Distinguished Service from Sister Cities International and the Exemplary Leadership Award from the Alliance for International Exchange, where she served as Treasurer and held four consecutive board positions.
In the 1990s, Ellen pioneered long-term high school exchanges between the USA and the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. She represented the U.S. youth exchange field at the 1996 EU-USA Summit sponsored by the Department of State. Ellen has held leadership roles with AFS, Amideast, Sister Cities International, OPEN DOOR Student Exchange, AYUSA, and more, serving as President or Managing Director in her most recent roles.
HEATHER WELLS
Senior Field of Operations
Heather has over 14 years of experience in student exchange, working with Ayusa and the STS Foundation. She started as a Cluster Leader for 12 years and then became a Regional Manager. Her work in student exchange has enriched her life, even allowing her to homeschool her daughter with the influence of diverse cultures.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Heather thrives on lifelong learning.
Heather has over 14 years of experience in student exchange, working with Ayusa and the STS Foundation. She started as a Cluster Leader for 12 years and then became a Regional Manager. Her work in student exchange has enriched her life, even allowing her to homeschool her daughter with the influence of diverse cultures.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Heather thrives on lifelong learning. She finds great joy in connecting with people globally and watching their growth during their exchange experiences. Beyond her roles, Heather manages the CRM system and aids in developing training for local coordinators. She also engages with the YES and FLEX Grant programs.
Looking forward, Heather is eager to support the Southern Region's growth by building strong relationships between coordinators, host families, and exchange students.
CATHY GALLI-VANEVELD
Program Support Manager
Cathy has dedicated over 14 years to fostering student exchange programs. She spent more than a decade with AYUSA as the Regional Manager for the West and Northwest regions and later served as the Regional Director for the Pan Atlantic Foundation for a year and a half. Throughout her career, Cathy has positively impacted thousands of students and families, facilitating transformative international exchange experiences.
Cathy has dedicated over 14 years to fostering student exchange programs. She spent more than a decade with AYUSA as the Regional Manager for the West and Northwest regions and later served as the Regional Director for the Pan Atlantic Foundation for a year and a half. Throughout her career, Cathy has positively impacted thousands of students and families, facilitating transformative international exchange experiences.
Her passion lies in ensuring life-changing experiences for both students and host families. In 2022, Cathy became the Program Support Manager for High School in the USA, where she significantly enhances the exchange process by guiding participants through challenges to successful outcomes. Cathy also plays a crucial role in strengthening ties with Overseas Partners and supporting students’ natural parents.
Beyond her professional duties, Cathy has personally hosted six academic students and welcomed over ten others for shorter stays, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to student exchange.
MARILUZ ROTH
Regional Manager
MariLuz has 15 years of experience working in the education field and 2 more working with exchange students. She started as a developmental therapist then received her doctorate and specialized in differential diagnosis, helping the field differentiate differences from disability. Through a NYSDOE grant she tackled disproportionality in special education by creating and implementing a more robust system in NY schools that can address a broader audience of diverse needs.
MariLuz has 15 years of experience working in the education field and 2 more working with exchange students. She started as a developmental therapist then received her doctorate and specialized in differential diagnosis, helping the field differentiate differences from disability. Through a NYSDOE grant she tackled disproportionality in special education by creating and implementing a more robust system in NY schools that can address a broader audience of diverse needs.
Her work in student exchange has enriched her life so much so that she has made a permanent career switch to work full time with exchange students. She used to be an international Spanish dancer and loves having the opportunity to travel again for work. Beyond her role as a Regional Manager at HSUSA, MariLuz is a stay at home mom to identical twin daughters.
Moving forward, she hopes to spread a deep understanding and love to others about how important student exchange is. She believes that fostering the relationships between our future leaders, the students affected by exchange, will lead to world peace.
SUZANNE SEVLIE
Regional Manager
Suzanne embarked on her student exchange journey nearly 15 years ago as a host family with YFU, USA. Since then, her family has hosted two full-year students and several short-term students.
Her dedication to the program grew, leading her to volunteer as a Local Coordinator, LC Trainer, and Host-Family orientation facilitator. Suzanne later took on the role of Field Director at Youth For Understanding, USA, where she managed the Minnesota and Dakota regions.
Suzanne embarked on her student exchange journey nearly 15 years ago as a host family with YFU, USA. Since then, her family has hosted two full-year students and several short-term students. Her dedication to the program grew, leading her to volunteer as a Local Coordinator, LC Trainer, and Host-Family orientation facilitator. Suzanne later took on the role of Field Director at Youth For Understanding, USA, where she managed the Minnesota and Dakota regions. More recently, she served as Region Director at PAX - Program of Academic Exchange, overseeing the western United States.
Before her work in student exchange, Suzanne had a background in education working within the K-12 school system. Outside of her professional life, she is committed to community service, volunteering with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Minnesota Deaf/Blind Association.
Passionate about student exchange, Suzanne firmly believes in cultural understanding through the J1 program. Seeing her three children thrive with host siblings inspires her to advocate for these opportunities. She focuses on connecting, supporting, and fostering meaningful relationships between host families and students.
STEPHANIE BATES
Executive Assistant
Stephanie is the Executive Assistant for HSUSA. She brings with her a background in education and a love for helping students. Previously, she was an elementary school teacher for about 13 years. During that time, she received her master's degree in education and had the opportunity to work abroad to teach in the United Arab Emirates near Abu Dhabi for 2 years.
About 6 years ago she started working with high school exchange students as a local coordinator and now works for HSUSA full time. While working in high school exchange Stephanie has placed or helped place more than 100+ students. She has also hosted 5 students who were from Spain, Egypt Italy, Czech Republic and Thailand. Helping students fulfill their dream of studying abroad and building bridges culturally worldwide is her passion!
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