Since 2006, Nina has worked with funders, participants, and local professional resources and community organizations across the United States to create high-impact interactions for foreign and domestic audiences. She is driven by the transformational power of citizen diplomacy that leads to stronger international ties between people and nations. Before coming to WTCI in December 2022, Nina led the transition of the federal awards portfolio of Graduate School USA’s International Institute to American Councils for International Education. This involved integrating all programs, processes, and systems with the new organization. She also managed all aspects of grant capturing and administration for the organization. And she built collaborative relationships with program partners and domestic and international stakeholders. Prior to that, Nina shepherded the Graduate School USA’s International Institute, where she also led a cross-departmental effort to bridge the activities of domestic workforce development training with global engagement programs and initiatives. Nina’s career in global exchanges started at WTCI in 2006,. Under her leadership, the footprint of the exchange programs in Maryland broadened and deepened through attracting and managing new local and international professional exchange initiatives, academic enhancement programs, and international business networking receptions. Nina holds a master’s degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Towson University. She started her higher education at the American University in Bulgaria, where she studied economics and political science. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute and holds a certificate in International NGO Management through Cornell University. Fun fact: Nina is an avid supporter of heritage language learning and volunteers as the executive director of the Bulgarian Cultural Center of Baltimore.