Kelley Engelbrecht is a creative and professional writer living in Columbus, Ohio. Kelley credits her time at MUDEC as the impetus for her global curiosity. A founding board member, she also chairs the Marketing and Branding Committee, aligning her passions of study abroad and thoughtful creative. Kelley's first experience at MUDEC was as a student in 2006. She returned as a Student Activities Coordinator from 2009-2011 after spending a year in La Rochelle, France. Her favorite Luxembourgish word is gromperkichelcher - partly because of how it sounds, but mostly because it translates to deliciously crispy potato fritters.

Lee Ernst graduated from Miami University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and also holds a MPA from DePaul University in Public Service Management. Lee studied at MUDEC during the fall of 2001 and has deep gratitude for her experience and the program. She has fond memories of her host family and the beautiful country of Luxembourg.

Lee is a Consultant at Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates (JGA), a philanthropic consulting firm located just south of Indianapolis, IN. Prior to her tenure at JGA, Lee worked in advancement for the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the University of Chicago.

She is an active volunteer in the field of philanthropy as a mentor and committee member with the Association of Fundraising Professionals and member of The Oaks Academy Task Force. She has also served as an Annual Fellow with the Development Leadership Consortium.

Lee lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two children.

Eric Steva, originally from Columbus OH, studied at the Miami University European Center in the Spring of 1988, during his Junior year. He graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the School of Architecture. While at MUDEC he studied Geography under Dr. Howell Lloyd, tried to learn the German language and took Dr. Emile Haag’s history class, which has instilled a life long interest in the European theater of World War II.

He has been a registered architect since 1996 and has specialized in educational design, specifically public education buildings in Ohio and Kentucky since 2000. He was the architect for the first LEED Platinum school in Ohio, the London Middle School in 2011. He is active with his professional organization, the American Institute of Architects.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, a MUDEC Merger, have lived in Lexington KY since 2013. Their time together in Luxembourg has instilled in them a passion to travel and explore new counties and cultures on a regular basis. Both have returned to Luxembourg numerous times, Eric for pleasure and Elizabeth as a musician at the Echternach Music Festival.

Isaac Reynolds graduated from Miami University with a BA in Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs in 2009. As a sophomore, Isaac spent the 2006-2007 academic year at MUDEC, where he interned with the US Embassy in Luxembourg’s Foreign Commercial Service, instructed a beginner’s French class, studied opera at the Esch-sur-Alzette Conservatory of Music, and received the Ruth and Lee Dutton Annual Scholarship.

After an extended period abroad in the Sultanate of Oman, engaged closely with the country’s education and human capital consulting industries, Isaac returned to the US to complete his MBA in Strategy and Marketing at The Ohio State University. Isaac is now an Associate under US Wealth Management with JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Pam Archer spent her junior year at MUDEC and after graduation in 1982 returned to Luxembourg as the Student Activities Coordinator. She was fortunate to live with the same host family she lived with as a student. Upon coming back to the States, Pam began a 27-year career in banking and insurance. In 1999 she started the first-ever Luxembourg Alumni Club which has hosted many events for central Ohio alumni. Pam organized sixty Class Captains to promote MUDEC’s 50th anniversary in October 2018 where more than 700 alumni gathered to celebrate this milestone. In 2018 she received the A.K. Morris Award for her service to Miami’s alumni family and the Alumni Association.

Pam is now retired and is a full-time volunteer. Her passion is teaching people how to cook healthy and on a budget. She and her husband, Mark Quinlan, enjoying traveling, gardening, going to jazz concerts and winetasting.

Asha Augustine grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Miami University in 2007 with a B.S. in Business, with her major in accountancy and minor in international business. She studied at MUDEC as a junior in the spring semester of 2006.

Asha and her husband, Paul Gibson, both work in finance for Apple and moved to London from California in February 2020. Inspired by her time studying abroad and the influence it later had on her professional career, Asha and Paul established the Al Bright Diversity and Inclusion MUDEC scholarship to give underrepresented students with a financial need the opportunity to study abroad in Luxembourg. The scholarship is the first fund in MUDEC’s 50-plus year history specifically to support students of color.

Christopher Ballard is a startup investor, operator, and advisor. He was an early team member at Uber where he held multiple positions, from launching new markets globally to managing operations for the Southwestern United States and Hawaii. Prior to Uber, Christopher worked in renewable energies and healthcare real estate.

Inspired by his time studying abroad at MUDEC, he established a scholarship for business majors to study abroad in Luxembourg, for which he was named Miami University's "Young Philanthropist of the Year."

Christopher and his wife reside in Austin, Texas.

Marienne Bolton, originally from Dayton, Ohio, got her first passport at 16 and went to live with a family in her hometown’s sister city of Augsburg, Germany, during summer break. With her eye to getting back to Europe, she selected Miami University and achieved a goal of studying at the Miami University European Center in the Fall of 1985, during her Junior year. As a graduate of the 1987 class, Marienne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications, and minor degree in Film Studies. While Marienne studied German all through high school and at Miami’s Oxford campus, she took her one and only semester of French at the Avenue Monterey MUDEC center. During class trips in the Fall of 1985, she and her MUDEC classmates experienced the wrapping of Paris’ Pont Neuf Bridge by famed artist Christo and a nuclear disarmament rally with over 100,000 marchers in the streets of London.

After living and working in London and Chicago, Marienne returned Ohio and settled in the northern suburban Cincinnati area in the town of Lebanon, Ohio. While Marienne began her career in multimedia production, she quickly evolved into working in computer and software technology. Her roles have included working for global organizations managing and leading large technology implementations for both the private and public sector organizations including many State and Federal government organizations.

With a commitment to continuous learning Marienne is always traveling and seeking to experience many cultures and customs the world over. From Mumbai to Edinburg, from Portland to Boston, she has found her way back to Luxembourg for the 40th and 50th Anniversary MUDEC celebrations. Hopefully during her next visit to Luxembourg, she is hoping to research her Luxembourg ancestry. Marienne’s love of music, film, art, and yoga keeps her moving when she’s not out on her next road trip or world adventure.

Maggie Clemons graduated from Miami University in 2003 with a bachelor's in mass communication and journalism and also holds a master's in library and information science from Dominican University in River Forest, IL. She studied at MUDEC fall semester 2001.

Maggie is a dedicated public librarian with experience in a variety of leadership positions. She currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Chicago Public Library's Department of Library Operations and Patron Experience where she oversees staffing, operations and public service delivery across 76 library branches, 3 regional hubs, and a 750,000-square-foot central facility, as well as strategic planning for new libraries and renovations of existing facilities. In her role she has led an unprecedented implementation of an additional day of service at all libraries, expanding library access across Chicago.

Maggie is a 2022 fellow of the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago.

Daniel DiVencenzo is a 2018 graduate of Miami University where he earned his degree in Finance. Daniel studied at MUDEC as a sophomore in the Spring of 2016.

The summer after his junior year, Daniel returned Luxembourg to reconnect with lifelong friends he made during his studies–he looks forward to returning for years to come. His MUDEC experience also inspired him to study abroad for a second time, this time during his senior year, in Perugia, Italy.

Upon graduation, Daniel moved to New York City to start his career with J.P. Morgan Chase as a real estate banking analyst. Shortly after moving to New York, Daniel joined the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce where he enjoys giving back and connecting with the Luxembourgish community.

Kathy Woeber Gardner spent her junior year at MUDEC and graduated from Miami in 1984. She has co-organized many of her MUDEC class reunions and attended the MUDEC 45th and 50th Anniversary Reunions in Luxembourg.

Kathy is a native of Pittsburgh and grew up in Cincinnati. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where her favorite class was International Business Transactions. She worked as a lawyer in Brussels, Belgium (because it was close to Luxembourg), was an associate at Mayer Brown in Chicago, a partner at Orrick in San Francisco and, in 2009, founded Montgomery Pacific, a boutique international corporate law firm based in San Francisco, which is thriving.

Kathy met her husband, John Gardner, at MUDEC and they have two teenagers who share their parents' love of travel.

Carlo Krieger grew up on a farm outside of Mertert, Luxembourg, a small village on the banks of the Moselle River.

He began his studies at the University of Vienna, went on to Miami to receive a B.A. in social anthropology in 1981 and continued his studies at the University of Chicago as a Fulbright grantee, before receiving his Ph.D. in Vienna, Austria. He has been close to MUDEC ever since, even teaching one semester next to his job as a civil servant.

During the last decades he has been posted to several countries representing Luxembourg and currently serves in Brazil. In all his posts he hosted MU study tours, student groups and professors, including the Glee club. He also participated in the Winter College in Pasadena. He also tries to remain active in academic research and conferences.

Kevin Kushman is Chairman of Blue Pillar, Inc., a venture-funded, digital energy management software company. Kevin has a 17-year track record in energy technology executive management, investing and integration, project development and corporate finance.

Kevin was the co-founder and managing director of CleanBridge Energy Partners, an energy asset development company. Prior to CleanBridge, Kevin was CFO of ZeroPoint Clean Tech, Inc., a renewable fuels technology company, and previously, CFO of Current Group, a privately-held, Smart Grid communications technology and services company, whose investors included Google, Goldman Sachs, Hearst Corporation and General Electric.

Kevin held several management positions at Cinergy Corp. (now Duke Energy) from 1997-2004, most recently as co-founder and Managing Director of Cinergy Ventures, Cinergy’s $180 million corporate venture investment fund.

Kevin holds an MBA from Xavier University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio (1991). Kevin is a proud alum of the Miami University Dolibois European Center, having attended the Center in 1989-90.

Georges Lentz graduated from Miami University with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1974. Since that time, he has been actively involved in numerous facets of the business world. Between 1999 and 2007, Georges returned to Miami’s Dolibois European Center as an instructor, where he taught business-related courses to Miami students. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Bofferding, the National Brewery of Luxembourg.

Tim Miller spent his junior year at the Miami University European Center and graduated from Miami University in 1984. Returning to Luxembourg many times over the years, he has maintained many of the friendships he formed as a student, and has enjoyed forming new MUDEC connections in Luxembourg and in the States. Tim's passion for the program extended to his daughter, Sara, who attended MUDEC exactly 30 years later as a non-Miami student.

He has been a market maker on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange since 1985 where he has traded in a variety of commodity futures and options pits, and is currently trading Live Cattle Options. As a Senior Trader at SMW Trading Company, he was responsible for the training and development of over one-hundred floor traders over a twenty year period. Tim currently resides in Kenilworth, Illinois.

Tom Orlando grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He studied at MUDEC in 1985-86, and graduated from Miami in 1988 with a B.S. in Business Administration (accounting major). Following Miami, Tom moved to Chicago and worked as a CPA for Price Waterhouse for three years. He then entered law school at the University of Illinois, graduating in 1994.

From 1994 to 2001, he served as a lawyer at Clausen Miller in Chicago. In 2001, he founded his current firm with four others from Clausen Miller. At that time, they started with 10 attorneys total. The firm now has over 50 attorneys in four offices (Chicago, NY, San Fran and Orange County, CA) and specializes in insurance litigation.

Tom currently serves on the Board and as Treasurer of Rush Hour Concerts, a small not-for-profit whose mission is to make world class classical music free for all. He is also on the President’s Council of the Chicago Opera Theater, and is a Governing Member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Tom was instrumental in launching the Dr. Emile Haag Alumni Scholarship along with his MUDEC classmates, Bill Hemmer and Doug Feick in 2008. He has been an active member of the MUDEC alumni community, attending the 35th Luxembourg Anniversary. Last November Tom joined Dr. Haag and his students on their Poland study tour.

Robert Peiffer is a risk management and project management professional with more than 30 years of experience in the financial services and consulting industries. His background includes senior roles in internal audit, financial reporting, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, operational risk management, and banking operations. He has extensive global experience, having lived and worked in Washington DC, New York, London, Budapest, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, in both regional and global roles. He has traveled extensively for business and pleasure. He’s currently a Senior Vice President, Program Management Executive at Bank of America and lives in New Jersey.

Robert earned a Bachelor's of Science in Business from Miami University and in 1987 attended the first summer program in Luxembourg for the Farmer School of Business. He went on to receive a Master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Robert also serves as a Board Director and Audit Committee Chair for the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET). ACET is an economic policy institute supporting Africa’s long-term growth through transformation.

Beth Pfohl spent the fall semester of her senior year in Luxembourg where she had the opportunity to lead the Student Faculty Council during the MUDEC 50th Anniversary celebrations. She additionally had the honor of receiving the 2019 President's Distinguished Service Award for her work while in Luxembourg. Following her time abroad, she returned to Oxford where she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in strategic communication and theatre.

Following graduation, Beth moved to Orlando, Florida, where she currently works as character performer at Walt Disney World, a dream that she has held since she was a little girl.

In her free time, Beth enjoys cooking, working to improve her Luxembourgish, traveling, and performing in musicals. She credits her time spent at MUDEC for greatly expanding her global perspective and for setting her off on a new career path that she hopes will take her to all corners of the world.

Mike Ryan attended MUDEC from fall 1985 through spring 1986. He graduated from Miami University in 1987 with a BS in Business Administration and received his MBA from Michigan State University in 2001. Mike has been an enthusiastic supporter of the MUDEC program both as a student and alumnus. In addition, he is actively involved in Citizens Climate Lobby, a grass roots organization working to develop bipartisan policy solutions to climate change. Mike lives in Chicago and works in marketing and sales in the telecommunications industry.

Nick Sabato credits MUDEC as one of the most transformative experiences in his life. A native of Cincinnati, Nick cherished his Fall Semester of 2004 in Luxembourg and returned to Oxford to serve as a Student Assistant in the Luxembourg office. He graduated with a BS in Psychology in 2006 and has since gone on to receive his MA from American University in International Relations and held multiple positions in the federal and nonprofit sectors, devoting his career to international development and higher education.

He currently serves as Director of the Education for Humanity initiative at Arizona State University, overseeing education projects for refugee and displaced learners around the world. After his inaugural international experience in Luxembourg, he has had the opportunity to travel to over 40 countries on 5 continents, including long-term travel stints working at a pub in London and circumnavigating the globe prior to graduate studies. Nick and his wife, Caitlin (also a Miami graduate), currently reside in Arizona with their two daughters, Emerson (2013) and Nora (2016).

Katina Janas Tullis grew up on the west side of Cleveland and got her first taste of European living as an AFS exchange student to France in high school. She graduated from Miami in 1991 with a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Economics and International Business. She made Luxembourg her home the first semester of her senior year and thoroughly enjoyed her studies at MUDEC, local life, and European travels, including a trip to Germany on Reunification Day.

After graduating, Katina worked as a Compensation Consultant for Towers Perrin for four years before continuing to the University of South Carolina where she earned an International MBA, gaining valuable experience through a 6-month internship at Merck in Paris, France. She worked in consumer products brand management and marketing for 15 years including positions at Campbell Soup Company in New Jersey and Quaker Oats/Pepsico in Chicago. Her passion for international marketing and culture led her to Storck, a German candy company with U.S. headquarters in Chicago, where she eventually became responsible for all of U.S. marketing, working closely with colleagues in Germany.

Katina and her husband, Brian, have twin boys. Katina was President of the Double Take Mothers of Twins club for three years and has been an active volunteer with her children’s school PTAs. She and her family now live in Carmel, Indiana.

Carli Williams is a global and online learning designer and strategist. She currently works with Generation, a global non-profit organization that provides training for adults to move into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. Previously, she has lived and worked in Luxembourg and Italy with study abroad organizations including MUDEC, CIEE (Rome), and the University of Notre Dame Rome Global Gateway. Carli has a B.S. in Marketing from Miami University and a M.Ed. in International Higher Education from Loyola University of Chicago.

Carli has a strong connection to MUDEC, both as a student (2013) and professionally, as the Student Activities Coordinator (2015-2016) and Coordinator of Communications & Student Engagement (2017-2019). As a student, she conducted a 2 year research project on MUDEC students’ experiences of culture shock and reverse culture shock, served on the Student Faculty Council, and received the Ruth and Lee Dutton Scholarship. In her professional role she kicked off the first Summer Internship Program, connecting MUDEC students with professional experiences. One of her favorite parts of Luxembourg is exploring the beautiful Mullerthal region in the north of the country, something she enjoyed sharing with students on Discovery Tours.

She and her husband moved back to the US last year and currently live in Cary, North Carolina. They enjoy exploring their new home through hikes, festivals, and short trips and travel as often as they can.