ICEF USA Programme

Blerina Polovina is an accomplished international education leader, currently serving as Director of International Admissions and Business Development at Webster University, USA. With a strategic focus on global enrollment growth and partnership development, she brings over 15 years of experience in international student recruitment, admissions management, visa compliance, and credential evaluation. Blerina is a trusted advisor and active member of global organizations such as NAFSA and AACRAO, contributing to thought leadership and policy development in the field. She also leads training initiatives for international education agents worldwide, advancing best practices in U.S. admissions and regulatory compliance.

Dr. Roger Brindley previously served as the Vice Provost for Global Programmes at Penn State until 2024, where he oversaw a substantial team of professionals managing education abroad programmes, advising international students and scholars, and fostering global partnerships. His strategic approach played a pivotal role in advancing Penn State’s comprehensive international strategy and securing funding for critical international initiatives. Before joining Penn State, Roger held the position of Vice President of USF World at the University of South Florida (USF). During his tenure, he managed global engagement and international student success initiatives, including an eight-year partnership with Sannam S4. In this role, Roger oversaw thousands of students from diverse backgrounds, facilitating academic experiences abroad for both students and faculty. With a 24-year academic career at USF, Roger received prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and the USF President's Award for Faculty Excellence. His commitment to higher education is further exemplified by serving as Interim Dean of the College of Education, as well as holding positions as Vice Provost and Associate Vice President before assuming the role of Vice President for USF World from 2013 to 2020. Roger's contributions to higher education extend beyond his administrative roles. He is recognised for his impactful articles in North American and European publications and has served as an editor for three international journals. Roger was the Executive Chair for the Commission on International Initiatives at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) from 2015-2017, and has been a featured speaker at numerous international conferences, showcasing his leadership in the field.

Mark co-founded iae GLOBAL in 2006 with OJ Kim, growing it into a leading international education consultancy. In 2014, iae HOLDINGS was formed through private equity investment. Mark served as CCBO and Board Member until 2020, and Senior Strategic Advisor until 2022. With a 44-year career in education, he taught in Australia and Japan, founded Technos Language and Commerce College in Sydney, and contributed to Australia's private education sector. He held leadership roles including Chair of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training and ISEAA, and served on various government advisory panels. Internationally, he was a Board Member of AIRC and is currently on the ICEF Advisory Board. He is currently the SVP of Hti EDU.

Gabriela Ardito is Founder & CEO at VCE INTERNATIONAL and also the current the president of ARSAA Argentine Study Abroad Association. Passionate about progress, development and constant evolution, Gabriela started up as a very young ESL tutor to then be able to found her own language school, become a university lecturer & researcher and create her own Language Travel & HE consultancy business. Gabriela holds a Bachelor's in English Language, a Bachelor´s in Tourism & Hospitality, a PhD in Modern Languages, and has been involved in International Education for three decades - not only through her work as an agent but also in the Higher Education sector as Head of the Student Mobility Department at Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires and - most recently - as member of the ISEP Study Abroad Council of Advisors. Gabriela sometimes finds it hard to strike a balance between career and family life. However, that has not deterred her from engaging in diverse education industry collaborative projects and events with the aim of exploring new destinations for Latin-American students, working towards the growth of Argentina as a study abroad market and generating worldwide academic opportunities with the firm belief in international education as a transformative, life-changing means to foster understanding and promote cooperation among the peoples of all nations.

Sara Schmitt is Chief Operating Officer and Cofounder at Adro – better banking for international students and workers coming to the US. Sara is also an active graduate-level educator and mentor, and teaches project management and system analysis and design at Yeshiva University and Baruch College in NYC.

Veronica Mashek is a Senior International Recruiter and Partnership Manager with over 15 years of experience in international education. As the sole international recruiter at Concordia University, St. Paul, she has spent the past four years building and strengthening global partnerships that support the university’s strategic growth and cross-cultural engagement. Her passion for creating inclusive opportunities for international students is matched by her commitment to understanding the evolving landscape of global education. Veronica continues to serve as a leader on campus by finding innovative ways to eliminate barriers and increase international enrollment and partnership development.

Joel Pilco, Ed.D., is a higher education administrator with 24 years of experience in strategic enrollment management, student services, and international programs. Having lived in Japan, Mexico, China, Kenya, and Bolivia, he offers a strong multicultural perspective. Dr. Pilco is fluent in Spanish, conversational in Japanese and Portuguese, and dedicated to supporting historically marginalized students. He has served as Dean of Admissions, Dean of Education, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services, and Director of ESL Programs. Dr. Pilco holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management, a master’s in international business, and additional degrees in business administration.

Vanessa Goulding serves as the Business Development Manager for ICEF's USA and Canada team, working with new and existing customers in effectively using agents to maximize international student recruitment. Having worked in the secondary education space for the past 7 years, Vanessa brings a practiced expertise in international recruitment, case development, implementation for an admission cycle and strategic client support. She previously held a position at a private secondary boarding school in Canada, where she was the international admissions officer overseeing hundreds of international students and providing immigration advice to best serve those students. She is a student market development specialist that looks at global and economic trends and develops an international strategy to increase international enrollments.