Meet the Discovery Abroad Programs Staff

Juliet Jones

Director of Development

Juliet’s enthusiasm for cultural exchange began at age 16 when she spent a high school year abroad in France. An interest in languages led her to complete her undergraduate degree in French and her M.A. in Applied Linguistics. She went on to teach Rhetoric and English as a Second Language at the University of Illinois before joining CCI in early 2001. Currently Juliet works on developing new programs to add to CCI’s growing range of travel opportunities. Her love of international travel is matched by a strong interest in volunteering, and during recent trips to Costa Rica and Australia she gave her time to wildlife conservation projects. During off hours you’ll often find her running or biking along Chicago’s beautiful lakefront trail.

Jessica Burns

Travel Abroad Student Services Director

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy with a minor in Anthropology. During her college years, she studied and traveled abroad in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Upon completing her university studies, Jessica headed to Africa to serve with the Peace Corps in the West African country Cote D’Ivoire, where she helped educate villagers about health issues and learned to speak French with a charming African accent. Jessica’s enthusiasm for cultural exchange is infectious, and she loves to explore new places vicariously through the many participants who travel on our programs. Jessica’s also our resident “green thumb” and tends to the many plants around the office, which is rapidly beginning to resemble a jungle under her care!

Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Leahy

Travel Abroad Coordinator

With degrees in International Politics and Spanish, Lizzy works hard to foster ideas of global citizenship, connecting cultures and protecting our environment. As Travel Abroad Coordinator, Lizzy builds community relationships on both the local and national level and spreads the word about CCI’s Programs Abroad at conferences and study abroad fairs around the country. Her enthusiasm stems from her many experiences working and traveling internationally, from teaching impoverished children in Ecuador, to traveling around Central and South America and working with recent immigrants in Chicago. In her spare time Lizzy volunteers for Chicago Fair Trade, a non-profit working to increase support for fair trade through advocacy and education. She also enjoys running, reading and playing in the great outdoors.

Amy Neal

Travel Abroad Coordinator

The first time Amy stepped foot in another country, she was hooked. Her love for international travel and multicultural education began when she traveled to England at age 18. Since then, she has gone back to England and has been to Ireland, Nicaragua, Panama, and almost Mexico once when she got lost on the highway near San Diego, CA. In addition to traveling, and her degrees in Spanish and Sociology, Amy lived in Costa Rica for a total of 2 years, studying, working and making lasting friendships. As the newest member of the Travel Abroad team, Amy is committed to inspiring and helping people to experience their own adventures abroad. Painting, sewing and being with friends take up much of her spare time, and making the 3 mile trek on foot to work in the morning and then again in the evening is her way of keeping a green heart!

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