CIEE Support Structure

Your Local Coordinator - In the first case, you should always contact your CIEE Local Coordinator with any questions or concerns. Your Local Coordinator will contact you with their contact information prior to your arrival.

The Support Team

In cooperation with your CIEE Local Coordinator, the CIEE Support Team works from the Portland Main Office to assist with student concerns during the program year.

The Support Team staff maintains close communication with your Local Coordinator to receive regular updates on your adjustment throughout the year. While the Local Coordinator is the first source of assistance locally, the support team is always available as a resource for you, your host family, and your host high school. The support team is trained and experienced in managing conflict, assisting with cultural adjustment issues, and providing support for emergency situations. Our staff is knowledgeable and experienced, and will be more than happy to answer questions, provide assistance, or discuss your concerns.

Support Team Contact Information

The support team can be reached by calling 1-800-448-9944. Office hours are between 9am-5pm EST. Staff are also available 24-hours per day, seven days per week for emergency support through our after-hours emergency call system, which can be reached by dialing the above number and following the prompts for emergency service.

Who Should I Contact on the Support Team?
Scroll down through this page for information about our Support Team members and look for the program/organization you identify with to find out whom you should contact.

Meet the Support Team

Laragh Kavanaugh
Manager Support Department

Laragh has a degree in Human Development and Psychology and has extensive experience living and working internationally while directing high school and college programs in Ghana and India.

Carissa Hoitenga
Support Coordinator

Carissa has a degree in Sociology and a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. Prior to coming to CIEE, she taught university level ESL courses while completing her Master�s degree. She has drawn on her own experiences of living and studying in Spain and Puerto Rico in her work with international students.

Carissa supports students from the following agencies abroad:

Ecuador - Fundacion Cultural Apex
Germany - Xplore (new)
South Korea - Hankyoreh
Mexico - Language Education Ventures Inc
Mexico - Ultrex
Costa Rica - Independent Candidate

Simeon Rangelov
Support Coordinator

Simeon is from Bulgaria and his passion for travel and exploring different cultures brought him to CIEE. He previously participated on a CIEE Internship program in the U.S., and he has prior experience working for a multinational company, where he assisted exchange students from around the world.

Simeon supports students from the following agencies abroad:

Bulgaria - Integral
Czech Republic - Student Agency
Lithuania - Lithuanians' World Center
Slovakia - D&D Team
Serbia - Independent Candidate
Serbia/Montenegro - ASMYLE
Eurasia - Future Leaders Exchange Program

Grants Programs:

CBYX- Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange - Germany

Raquel Burgos
Support Coordinator

Raquel is from Southern Spain and her CIEE travels began as Intern in 2006, she has been involved with CIEE ever since. After receiving her degree in Business Administration at the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville, she returned to the U.S. in 2009 working in various CIEE roles and eventually found her new home in Support.

Raquel supports students from the following agencies abroad:

Spain - Foreign Study League
Spain - Spain Foundation w/FSL
Spain - Get Ready

Peter Robbins
Support Coordinator

Peter has used his fluency in Mandarin Chinese to lead educational travel programs for high school students throughout China and to work as an interpreter for journalists at the Beijing Olympics. He recently spent a year teaching English to kindergartners in Taiwan. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and ultimate frisbee.

Peter supports students from the following agencies abroad:

China - Raising Culture
China - Beijing IELTS School
China - Dipont
China - C-Time Culture
South Korea - Aim High Education
South Korea - Joongang Education
Denmark - Independent Candidate
Germany - Congress Bundestag/Experiment

Whitney Rosenberg
Support Coordinator

Whitney has a bachelor?s degree in English Literature and study abroad experience in England. She recently moved home from China after living there for six years while teaching English to all age levels.

Whitney supports students from the following agencies abroad:

Australia - Student Exchange Australia
China - China Educational Star
China - Each Future China
Vietnam - Alpine Vietnam
Vietnam - IDC Vietnam
Muslim pop countries - Youth Exchange & Study

Alan Boyd
Support Coordinator

After graduating with a Russian Literature and International Relations degree from the University of Kansas in 2005, Alan started traveling around the globe. Alan participated in a? CIEE study abroad program in St. Petersburg, Russia and then eventually found his way to Istanbul, Turkey where he lived for five years.? While there, he worked as an English teacher in a private school and helped to prepare university students for the TOEFL exam. In his free time Alan enjoys playing the drums and learning new languages.? He is fluent in Turkish and Russian.

Alan supports students from the following agencies abroad:

Germany - Travelworks

Willaine Cabal
Support Coordinator

Willaine was born and raised both in Manila, Philippines and San Diego, California where she got a degree in International Studies and a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. In college, she studied abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain and lived with a host family. From 2007 to 2009 she lived in Seoul, South Korea working as an English teacher as well as coordinating the English language program at Yonsei University. Willaine also enjoyed teaching English as a second language to international students in Los Angeles and San Diego prior to coming to CIEE. In her spare time, she enjoys appreciating different works of art, reading, working out, and traveling.

Willaine supports students from the following agencies abroad:

South Korea - Int'l Ed & Cultural Exchange Programs
Thailand - Overseas Ed

Jake Acker
Support Coordinator

Jake is extremely passionate about international education, having earned his bachelor?s degree in International Affairs and having studied abroad in Italy while in college. He also has done extensive volunteer work counseling high school students on mental health issues. Jake draws on his own experiences of living abroad and counseling high school students to help ensure that CIEE participants have a successful program!

Jake supports students from the following agencies abroad:

Brazil - Cultural Global
Brazil - English Learning Center
Brazil - Student Travel Bureau
Brazil - Via Mundo
France - ESFA France
France - Horizons Du Monde
Italy - YOUABROAD/Expanding Horizons
Macedonia - Petar Gavriolovski
Poland - Almatur
Poland - Business Travel Club
Russia - Star Travel
Sweden - STS High Schoolv

CIEE Support team phone:
1-800-448-9944

CIEE Office hours:
9am - 5pm EST

CIEE Emergency Support:
Staff are also available 24-hours per day, seven days per week for emergency support
1-800-448-9944

U.S. Department of State:
1-866-283-9090 or jvisas@state.gov.