The impact of American Councils is reflected in its global community of over 100,000 alumni. These distinguished individuals, including national leaders, ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, and CEOs, demonstrate the organization's commitment to enhancing cross-cultural collaboration in our diverse and interconnected world.
Among these dedicated alumni are those who have forged careers in international education at American Councils. Transitioning from participants to leaders within the organization, they exemplify the profound, lasting impact of exchange programs. Notably, over 20% of our staff within our network of 730+ employees across 33 countries are alumni of programs administered by American Councils.
In celebration of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to highlight the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide, American Councils' 50 Alumni for 50 Years team reached out to our colleagues around the world. The organization is proud to spotlight a handful of the incredible staff members who are also alumni of American Councils' administered programs, showcasing their journeys and contributions to international education.
Bujinlkham “Bunny” Altangerel, Mongolia
Bujinlkham “Bunny” Altangerel’s 10 months in the United States had a profound impact on her personal development and maturity. Bunny left her home in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to participate in the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. Living in the United States provided Bunny with valuable lessons on American culture, diversity, and personal growth.
“Moving abroad alone was challenging yet empowering, teaching me resilience and adaptability. This experience has shaped me into a more open-minded person, prepared me for adulthood, and set me on a path to becoming a global citizen,” she reflects.
During her time in the U.S., Bunny’s perspective on human connection and psychology was also transformed. "Meeting people from all walks of life sparked a true passion for psychology. My host mom, who became one of my closest friends, played a huge role in this discovery. Our conversations made me realize that I am someone who thrives on connecting with and supporting people. Listening to others and caring for their mental well-being genuinely excites me and feels like my calling. Experiencing such diversity, different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures strengthened my desire to understand the human mind and explore the field of psychology.”
Bunny carries this newfound passion for connecting with others and understanding the intricacies of the human experience with her today in her professional work. Currently, she serves as the FLEX Alumni Coordinator for the American Councils Mongolia office. She finds deep fulfillment in her role, which allows her to give back to the community that gave her so much. “The greatest reward of working in international education is sharing the opportunities of U.S. government exchange programs with my community,” she says. “I’m proud to connect people from diverse backgrounds and believe that providing opportunities to learn from one another is not only impactful, but essential.”
“FLEX opened doors for me—not only by enabling me to study in the U.S. but also by giving me a place in this exceptional organization, where I continue to develop professionally and contribute meaningfully surrounded by supportive and brilliant colleagues," Bunny concludes. "The program didn’t end when I came back. As our slogan says, “Once FLEX, Forever FLEX”—being a FLEX alum means the beginning of many exciting journeys and opportunities."
Marko Delic, Montenegro
Marko Delic, a 2011 alumnus of the American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE), dedicated his career to impact learners and institutions globally. As American Councils' Montenegro Alumni Coordinator, Marko impacts his home country and beyond by encouraging the next generation of global leaders to succeed.
Marko shares that his exchange year opened many socio-economic opportunities for him, providing ample opportunities for employment as he got older. “I also got to pursue a career in education, motivated by the opportunity to support communities internationally,” Marko reflects.
He appreciated that he gets to facilitate cultural exchange through his work at American Councils, sharing that “books cannot teach culture, but people can.” Through his work with the Montenegrin alumni community, Marko better understands other people’s experiences. “Through American Councils, I get to learn about others, empower them in their work in international education on many topics, while also addressing individuality in every person that I get a chance to work with or mentor through my role.”
Inna Nikbahtshoyeva, Turkmenistan
Inna Nikbahtshoyeva, as an alumna of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), experienced the powerful impact of cultural exchange. Leaving Turkmenistan to study in the United States allowed Inna to see the world from a new perspective, deepening her appreciation for diversity and different cultures. “It showed me how meaningful it is to foster understanding and collaboration between people from different cultures, and that has become a core value in both my personal and professional life.”
Upon returning to Turkmenistan, Inna remained actively involved in USG alumni engagement. She received the “Alumnus of the Year” award from the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan for her contributions to women’s empowerment initiatives. Currently, Inna works as a program officer for the C5+O.N.E. (Opening Networks through English) program, an English language training program. This program engages entry and mid-level employees in the government, civil society, and private sector from all five Central Asian countries, focusing on the fields of energy and the environment.
“Being able to contribute to these efforts on a local level while being part of a larger global movement gives me a real sense of pride in what we’re accomplishing together.”
Gerda Metsma, Estonia
Gerda Metsma, a FLEX program alumna from Estonia, spent an exchange year in the United States in 2017. Today, Gerda continues to promote American Councils' vision of creating a more connected world, serving as the FLEX Program Coordinator for the American Councils office in Tallinn.
“My exchange program helped me immerse myself in American culture and way of life. This experience helped me understand different perspectives and respect them from a young age. I have made lifelong connections with my host family, local coordinator, and friends, creating a global support network.”
In 2022, Gerda participated in Global Village, a special leadership experience exclusively for exchange program alumni. Through Global Village, Gerda relocated to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for a month to collaborate on team projects, learn about leadership and entrepreneurship, and share cultures.
Gerda worked as a FLEX Alumni Coordinator for two years in Tartu, Estonia. She acted as a mentor for the Eurasia FLEX-Ability Workshop in Tbilisi, Georgia. Gerda has also worked as a Program Assistant for the Open World program, administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership.
Sefeda Lazaj, Albania
Sefeda Lazaj left her home in Albania to participate in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program as a high school student. This experience equipped Sefeda with a myriad of skills, including cross-cultural communication, leadership, adaptability, and community engagement.
“My YES experience helped me truly understand the importance of inclusivity, mutual respect, and the power of empowering others to become active global citizens,” Sefeda shared.
After completing her academic year with the YES program, Sefeda returned to Albania with a desire to make a difference in her community. Inspired by lessons learned during her year with YES, Sefeda began a career with American Councils as the YES Alumni Coordinator for the office in Tirana, playing a critical role in connecting Albanian alumni from all backgrounds.
“What drew me to pursue a career in international education with American Councils is its dedication to promoting cross-cultural understanding, advancing global citizenship, and creating opportunities for personal and professional growth,” Sefeda shares. “Having benefited from the YES program, I witnessed firsthand the impact of cultural exchange.”
Karina Vintere, Latvia
For Karina Vintere, her exchange year with the FLEX program was transformative in shaping her character and inspiring her professional and academic path. At 16, Karina bravely left Latvia to spend an academic year in the United States. Exposure to a class on U.S. government inspired her to launch civic education and leadership initiatives in her local community upon returning to Latvia. Her leadership in Latvia led to her nomination to volunteer with the European Commission to promote political engagement among Latvian youth.
Karina currently works as a program officer for American Councils' Secondary Schools and Alumni Programs department, collaborating with colleagues across the world to support and expand exchange programs for high schoolers.
She shares that the greatest benefit of working with American Councils is the opportunity to contribute to the personal and professional growth of participants and alumni. “These transformative experiences, much like those that once opened my own path to success, empower future alumni generations to make a meaningful impact in their home countries and around the world.”
Christina Wilson, United States/Senegal
Christina Wilson, American Councils' Country Representative for Senegal, fell in love with West Africa through the African Flagship Language Initiative (AFLI). While spending a year in Senegal in 2016, Christina became fluent in French and learned several local languages. These language skills and the experience of being immersed in a different culture have greatly aided Christina in her professional roles.
Her experience abroad also helped Christina expand her worldview, making her more adaptable and open-minded. “I truly believe, thanks to my own international exchange experience, that there is no better way for an individual to gain a greater understanding of other cultures, develop open-mindedness, maturity, and simply become a more well-rounded, understanding human being, than to participate in an international exchange program which allows them to not only visit but truly integrate into another culture.”
As the Country Director for American Councils' office in Dakar, Christina oversees a portfolio of programs including the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program and YES Abroad. Her office brings U.S. students to Senegal through the YES Abroad program, providing high schoolers with a similar experience to what Christina had with AFLI.
When asked why she is proud to work at American Councils, Christina shared: “International exchange fosters mutual respect and understanding, it creates connections that last a lifetime, and helps us all to learn from each other, creating a stronger, more interconnected world.”
These alumni stories exemplify the incredible impact of American Councils' exchange programs on individual lives and communities worldwide. As we celebrate International Education Week, we recognize and honor the contributions of these leaders in promoting cross-cultural understanding and global citizenship.