Facilitators

Stephanie Sanders is an Academic Exchange Specialist in the Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), at the U.S. Department of State, where she works closely with cooperating partner World Learning on the planning and implementation of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD).

Prior to joining ECA, Stephanie was Associate Director of Programs at the Mansfield Foundation, where she managed the ECA-funded Mansfield Fellowship Program and the Government of Japan-sponsored U.S.-Japan Network for the Future program. As a Research and Program Associate at CULCON, she oversaw monitoring and evaluation for the U.S. Embassy Tokyo-funded TeamUp Campaign. At the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC, she provided research support on U.S.-Japan trade issues.

Stephanie spent four years teaching English at rural public schools in South Korea and Japan, is an alumna of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, and served on the board of the DC chapter of the JET Alumni Association (JETAADC). She holds an MA in International Education from George Washington University and a BA in East Asian Studies from Smith College.

Simon "Si" Norton is a global educator, facilitator, and trainer with 34 years of experience directing global education programs and leading effective teams. Si has successfully facilitated more than 1,500 experiential programs and workshops with adults and youth from over 175 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Si has a Master's degree in Global Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree in World Issues from the School for International Training. 

Michelle Bolourchi is a Program Manager on the Global UGRAD team at World Learning, a role she has held since April 2022. Prior to joining World Learning, she supported the Fulbright Scholar Program, conducting outreach to U.S. faculty, staff, and professionals. Michelle brings a deeply international perspective to her work, having studied and worked in Germany, South Africa, and India. During her six years in India, she worked with IIE recruiting students for New York University Abu Dhabi. Michelle holds a bachelor's degree in International Studies and German, a master's degree in Global Studies from Germany and South Africa, and an MPhil in Sociology of Education from India. 

Amy Broome joined World Learning and the Global UGRAD team in March 2021 and currently serves as a Senior Program Officer. She currently lives in Austin, Texas but grew up in Vermont. Amy has a master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied Arabic and Hebrew. Her bachelor's degree is in international relations from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. 

She is very much inspired to work with World Learning because of her study abroad experiences in Beijing and Cairo and her Fulbright scholarship to Muscat, Oman. Amy’s background is in managing international exchange programs in the United States, both for high school students and J-1 work programs.

Melanie Winters is a Program Officer on the Global UGRAD team and joined World Learning in March 2023. Originally from a small town outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, her passion for travel started at a young age as she watched her grandparents travel the world. Melanie was an exchange student in Germany in high school and at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland during her undergraduate program. 

She has a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs and has spent most of her educational and professional career focused in the international education field. She is passionate about cultural exchange. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, camping, kayaking, playing board games, going to concerts, and spending time outdoors with her husband and dogs, Liebe and Chip.