Since 1972, IIE DC has administered the IVLP for more than 20,000 participants.
Working closely with the U.S. Department of State, we develop highly enriching programs that address the interests of the international participants, facilitate conversation around key global and domestic issues, demonstrate the diversity of the United States and address U.S. foreign policy goals.
Programs are designed as an opportunity for participants to expand their professional knowledge base, as well as develop leadership skills through interactive workshops, speaking engagements, casual and formal events, and cultural activities.
We conduct intensive research to identify key interlocutors in Washington, DC and across the country, ensuring that the meetings are at the appropriate professional level and will prove mutually beneficial for both the international and American participants.
Though meetings during the program are relatively brief, oftentimes they spark longer term linkages that develop into international partnerships. We engage international alumni, encouraging them to remain connected to the people they meet throughout the program and to share their IVLP experience upon returning home.
We also manage logistics, from hotel arrangements and flight reservations to ground transportation, ensuring a smooth and worry-free travel experience.
Project themes have included:
- Agriculture
- Arts and Culture
- Counter-Terrorism, Emergency Management, and Law Enforcement
- Democracy and Human Rights
- Education, University Administration, and Literacy
- Energy Resources and the Environment
- Freedom of Information
- Interfaith Dialogue and Conflict Resolution
- International Crime
- Journalism, including New Media
- Rule of Law
- Science and Technology
- Tolerance and Diversity
- Trade, Development, Small-Business Management and Social Entrepreneurship
- U.S. Foreign Policy
- U.S. Government, Federalism, and Government Transparency
- Youth Leadership and Activism
- Women’s Issues, including Gender-Based Violence and Economic Empowerment
Follow our projects on Twitter: @IVLPIIEDC
Professional meetings in the Washington, DC metropolitan area are designed as mutual exchanges and opportunities to network and spark conversation. Experts may be asked to provide an overview of their work, introduce international participants to their organizations and professional perspectives, and to engage in an exchange of ideas, both now and in the future.
Our Washington, DC network includes experts from:
- Federal and local government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Congressional offices, including House and Senate Committees.
- Academia from local universities.
- Think tank experts that offer a wide range of political and nonpartisan research.
- Nongovernmental organizations and foundations, particularly those with international reach.
- Professional associations and trade groups.
- Grassroots advocacy organizations.
- Private corporations.
- Cultural institutions, ranging from The Kennedy Center to smaller, local arts organizations.
To meet with international visitors in Washington, DC, please contact Pavel Tojsl.
Nancy Overholt, Director, International Visitor Leadership Programs
noverholt@iie.org
Ms. Overholt has over 30 years of experience in international programs, including strategic planning; management; proposal development; training program research, analysis and development; budget and finance; and international outreach.
Eurica Huggins-Axum, Senior Assistant Director
ehuggins@iie.org
Ms. Huggins-Axum is experienced in the management and administration of federal government international educational and cultural exchange programs. Ms. Huggins-Axum has more than 20 years of expertise in the design and management of short-term travel/study programs for mid-career professionals from all regions of the world. Her topical specialties include anti-corruption and accountability in government, environmental issues, women’s issues, the arts and grassroots activism. She has experience in community activism and grassroots organizations as well as the arts. She also has extensive academic and professional experience in Africa and the Caribbean.
Usha Balakrishnan, Assistant Director and Team Leader
ubalakrishnan@iie.org
Ms. Balakrishnan is experienced in the management and administration of federal government-funded exchanges, training and economic development programs both in the United States and globally. Ms. Balakrishnan also has extensive field experience in Asia having worked in the Cultural Affairs Office at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi as Senior Cultural and Program Advisor. Presently, as Assistant Director and Team Leader, Ms. Balakrishnan works with the Division Director and other division management staff to establish program priorities, monitors business processes and contractual compliance, and manages divisional workflow. She works on diplomatically sensitive, high value and complex IVLP projects.
Joan Tolson, Assistant Director and Arrivals Coordinator
jtolson@iie.org
As Assistant Director, Ms. Tolson works with the Division Director and other division management staff to establish priorities, identifies procedures and manages divisional workflow. She works with Program Managers, Coordinators and Associates working on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and on other assigned projects. As the Arrivals Coordinator, she schedules and assigns short-term international visitors on grants from the U.S. Department of State to the appropriate programmers, maintaining a balance between programmers’ schedules and the proposed visitor load.
Jennifer Assily, Program Associate
jassily@iie.org
Ms. Assily began working at IIE in April 2012 as a Seasonal Program Associate. In October 2012, she joined the permanent staff of the International Visitor Leadership Programs Division as a Program Associate. Her fresh perspective of the IVLP has allowed her to successfully update training and compliance materials. Professionally, she is interested in women’s issues and LGBT rights, religion and interfaith dialogue, global health and education. Ms. Assily’s regional interests include Western Europe and the Middle East.
Stephanie Blochinger, Program Associate
sblochinger@iie.org
Ms. Blochinger joined IIE as an intern in 2012 and is currently a Program Associate for the IVLP. She provides administrative, logistical and financial support for her programs. Additionally, she supports the IVLP division with writing projects including newsletter and blog submissions as well as assisting with proposals. Her professional interests include international exchanges as a means for development and impact evaluation of exchange programs. She recently earned a M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Steven Daters, Program Associate
sdaters@iie.org
Mr. Daters began working on the International Visitor Leadership Program during2011 as a Seasonal Program Associate. He transitioned the role of permanent Program Associate on the program in April 2012. Mr. Daters provides diverse administrative, logistical and financial support for his programs. Additionally, he is responsible for reconciling travel statements and is a division trainer for one of IIE’s financial reporting systems. His professional interests include U.S. national security policy as it relates to U.S. / Eurasian affairs and has extensive experience abroad in both eastern and western Europe. He is presently pursing a degree in public policy and national security policy at George Mason University.
Jennie Dunham, Lead Program Manager
jdunham@iie.org
Ms. Dunham is a Lead Program Manager in the International Visitor Leadership Programs Division, facilitating short-term programs for international professionals from all over the world. Her professional expertise includes U.S. foreign policy, U.S. politics, and empowerment of women, and her regional expertise includes countries throughout Europe. Ms. Dunham contributes to the division by designing and facilitating sessions on best practices in project management, as well as training new Program Managers.
Alexander (Sasha) Gorev, Lead Program Manager
agorev@iie.org
As a Lead Program Manager, Mr. Gorev designs and administers short-term programs for international professionals participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). His professional expertise includes U.S. foreign policy, national security, counterterrorism, criminal justice and law enforcement, as well as state and local government. His regional expertise includes countries of the former U.S.S.R and Eastern Europe. For his contribution to the success of IVLP, Mr. Gorev was nominated finalist for the National Council of International Visitors (NCIV) Excellence in Programming Award in 2011 and 2012.
Rebecca Heller, Manager, Program Finance and Administration
rheller@iie.org
Ms. Heller began working in the Professional and Global Exchanges Division at the Institute of International Education as an intern in the fall of 2005. During her first two and a half years at IIE she has worked with the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in positions of progressive financial responsibility as a Program Associate, a Senior Program Associate and a Program and Finance Coordinator. She now works as the International Visitor Leadership Programs Division’s Finance and Administrative Manager.
Andrew Keller, Program Manager
akeller@iie.org
Mr. Keller began working for the Institute of International Education in 2008. As a Program Manager, Andrew is responsible for the design and implementation of projects for the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). In addition to his programming responsibilities, Mr. Keller also serves as Co-Technology Lead and is managing the implementation of IIE’s Customer Relationship Management system for the IVLP division. Mr. Keller’s professional interests include foreign policy, conflict management, social entrepreneurship, energy policy, journalism, music and the arts.
Daniel Labarca, Senior Program Coordinator
dlabarca@iie.org
Mr. Labarca joined IIE in 2011. In addition to his program responsibilities, he administrates the IIE IVLP website. Prior to joining IIE, Mr. Labarca served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in northwest Cambodia near the Thai border. He also has several years of experience in academic programming at the Making Waves Education Program, a nonprofit organization in the California Bay Area that works closely with students and families from an urban, low-income community. Mr. Labarca holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. He is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Khmer and Tagalog.
Tamika Martinez, Program Associate
tmartinez@iie.org
Ms. Martinez joined IIE in January 2012. She began working as an intern for the IVLP, then briefly as Seasonal Program Associate, and became a permanent Program Associate in July 2012. She provides financial, logistical and administrative support on the IVLP. Additionally, she oversees the program’s 90-day review process and quarterly reconciliation audits. Ms. Martinez’s professional interests include human rights and social justice issues, Dominican-Haitian relations, the rule of law, religious issues and humanitarian aid. Her regional interests include Latin America and West Africa.
Robert Means, Senior Program Manager
rmeans@iie.org
Mr. Means is a skilled program planner, designer, and implementer with over 25 years of experience working with the International Visitor Leadership Program. His wide range of knowledge of U.S. institutions, society, history and geography, in combination with his experience as both programmer and English Language Officer, enable him to design high-quality visitor programs on a wide range of topics.
Jorge (J.D.) Nomdedeu, Program Coordinator
jnomdedeu@iie.org
Mr. Nomdedeu has over 10 years of experience contributing to nonprofit organizations of different interests working and volunteering in Spain and the United States. He has extensive experience in student exchange programs in which he participated himself, and has contributed to the International Visitor Leadership Program as a programmer for one of the Council of International Visitors (CIV), as well as two National Program Agencies over a period of three years. His CIV experience has allowed him to effectively manage and analyze the CIV Utilization Reports for IIE.
Monica Stassen, Senior Program Manager
mstassen@iie.org
Ms. Stassen first began working on the IVLP 15 years ago. Having lived abroad for over 12 years and speaking four languages, Monica brings to her projects a global perspective and a deep conviction about the power of public diplomacy and international exchange. In addition to her experience administering both government and corporate-sponsored international education programs, Monica spent three years working in the academic publishing field in Europe where her focus was international sales and e-commerce. Monica’s regional expertise includes Europe and South and East Asia.
Pavel Tojsl, Lead Program Manager
ptojsl@iie.org
Mr. Tojsl has been with the Professional Exchanges Division since August 2005. As a Senior Program Manager, Mr. Tojsl facilitates short-term programs for international professionals. Mr. Tojsl previously worked for the Ecolinks, Egypt Development Training and Start Egypt Development Program Divisions at IIE beginning in September 2000. His regional expertise includes Europe, Eurasia and North Africa. Mr. Tojsl holds M.Sc. degree in Environmental Protection and Geology from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from Georgetown University (1999).
Emily Volpe, Senior Program Manager
evolpe@iie.org
Ms. Volpe has been with the International Visitor Leadership Program at IIE since May 2005. As a Program Manager, Emily designs and coordinates short-term professional development programs for international professionals. Her professional interests include international security, Middle Eastern studies, economic development, youth leadership development as well as topics dealing with higher education. Emily also spearheads social media and new technology initiatives for the IVLP at IIE in Washington, including the @IVLPIIEDC Twitter.