Bryn Mawr College International Forum

Alice Lesnick is Term Professor of Education and Chair, Bryn Mawr/Haverford Education Department; Associate Dean for Global Engagement; and Co-Director of Lagim Tehi Tuma (LTT), an undergraduate summer program and praxis hub based in Dalun, Ghana and the Philadelphia metro area. As Associate Dean for Global Engagement (a role she inaugurated in 2016), Alice has guided a network of committees concerned with the institution’s global engagement, including grants and/or funding programs for students, faculty, and staff. She collaborated to create and steward institutional partnerships and to build College’s travel preparedness infrastructure, including the Travel Registry and Travel Safety Council. As a faculty member, Alice has taught a wide range of courses and since 2006 has served as Chair of the Education Department. Her current research, forthcoming in a book to be published by Lever Press, amplifies the wisdom of care work using an innovative research methodology of deep listening and co-writing. Peer-reviewed articles written with collaborators on dimensions of her pedagogical approach are forthcoming in the Journal of Interactive Pedagogy and Technology and the International Journal of Students as Partners. A 2021 recipient of the McPherson Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service to the Community, Alice co-founded and convenes the Workplace Advisors Program for conflict resolution at the College and serves as founding member of CARLA – the coalition for anti-racist literacy at Bryn Mawr. Alice holds a B.A. in English from Yale College; an M.A. in Liberal Education from St. John’s College, Santa Fe; and a Ph.D. in Reading/Writing/Literacy with a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

With a career spanning three continents in over forty years, Pilar Cabeza de Vaca 1975 is a change agent, teacher, team builder and leader in international education. She serves as partner at Educators Collaborative, an international search, transition and strategy firm. Previously, as head of The Madeira School, an all girls’ 9-12 boarding/day school, Pilar restructured the academic program, enhanced the internship program and promoted interdisciplinary learning. Pilar’s career in administration took off when she was appointed Director General of the largest private school in Ecuador, the American School of Quito, also her alma mater. Her career then led her to Paris, as Head of the American School of Paris, becoming the first Hispanic woman to serve in the European circuit. Pilar also served as the Executive Director of the European Council of International Schools, a membership organization providing professional development for schools spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.

Pilar has led accreditation teams in Latin America, Europe, and US, with schools running from 62 to 5,000 students.  She was elected worldwide to serve on the International Baccalaureate Council of Heads, and she chaired regional boards in Europe and Latin America. Pilar earned her M.A. in Instructional Leadership at the University of Alabama, in addition to her degree in French Literature from Bryn Mawr. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, and with reading knowledge of Russian, Pilar has a unique insight and views on diversity, as well as a deep appreciation of the importance of inclusion in today’s society.

As a cultural worker, Ntshadi Mofokeng weaves together her movement organizing ethos and arts practices. She works as a producer, writer and curator contributing to the proliferation of narratives about and experiences of contemporary dance from Africa. After graduating with a BA in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College, she earned her organizing stripes in a social movement fighting for equality in the South African education system before recently shifting into the performing arts. She is currently pursuing an MA in Arts Politics at New York University.

Jennifer works within the Career and Civic Engagement Center, partnering with hiring employers and programs focused on recruiting students for internships and entry level jobs. She also works closely with the Summer Internship Funding Program that supports students' internship experiences during the summer. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience in the field working with selective liberal arts institutions. She has previously worked at Princeton University and Columbia University in the City of New York. Jennifer received her undergraduate degrees in Psychology & Sociology at Saint Louis University. She holds a Master’s Degree in Higher and Post-Secondary Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Read more about Jennifer here.

Tracy has more than 20 years of experience in the field of international education, developing and managing programs for universities, government, and non-profit organizations. Tracy has served as the Director of Global Education at Bryn Mawr College since 2020, where her role includes overseeing the College's study abroad program, international exchange agreements and partnerships, and collaborating on global education strategy for campus.  Prior to Bryn Mawr, Tracy created study abroad and international internship programs for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of California Berkeley and The George Washington University. She has also led programming for international high school students and faculty scholars through organizations such as the Japanese Embassy, Fulbright, and Sister City exchange. Tracy holds a B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and an M.A. in International Communication from American University's School of International Service. She studied abroad in Switzerland, Japan, and Russia, and spent three years teaching and leading internationalization efforts for the Board of Education in Mie, Japan. Read more about Tracy here.