Biography: Haley Thompson works with MSU exchange partners around the globe and manages all aspects of exchange and direct enroll programs for both inbound and outbound student mobility.
A Michigan native, Haley attended Saginaw Valley State University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in International Business and French. Throughout her time at SVSU, Haley worked as a study abroad peer advisor in the Office of International Programs. She also participated in study abroad program to Paris, France.
Haley also has a myriad of professional experience within the international education scope ranging from international student recruiting, advising and admissions with Indiana Institute of Technology to education abroad advising, marketing and program development with Illinois State University. Additionally, while at Illinois State, Haley participated in the NAFSA Academy and continued her education, earning a master of arts in Intercultural and Organizational Communication.
Haley is truly passionate about international higher education and enjoys guiding students through the education abroad process. As a first generation student herself, she believes experiences such as education abroad can have a transformative impact on a student’s life. She feels these experiences allow for meaningful engagement with a new community, an opportunity for self-reflection, personal growth and the development of skills related to managing challenges and ambiguity. She looks forward to supporting your education abroad endeavors.

Biography: Christine Trinidad provides leadership and direction for all functions related to enrollment management and student services. She is responsible for ongoing quality improvement of enrollment management systems, processes, policies and procedures; for ensuring that communication, promotion and outreach messaging is comprehensive, consistent and accurate; and for providing training for and oversight of all aspects of student advising.

Christine is a strong proponent of education abroad with over ten years of experience in higher education and the profession of international education. She has served in multiple capacities on the student services side of education abroad, including her current role, as well as an education abroad advisor at her previous position at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego in Political Science and Ethnic Studies and received her Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Postsecondary Leadership from San Diego State University. She spent a year at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies in the United Kingdom that inspired her to enter the profession of international education.

Since 2006, Christine has made it her professional goal to improve the student experience (from first point of contact to return) and has made it her personal mission to reach out diverse and underrepresented populations.

Biography: Elizabeth Wandschneider is the Senior Assistant Director for finances and operational management in the Office for Education Abroad. As such, she supervises the Business Manager and oversees financial transactions for the office, including program budgets, student financial transactions and the office’s operational budget. She also supervises the Office Manager and oversees the daily operational strategy to ensure the implementation of important initiatives and priorities. In partnership with the Office of International Health & Safety, she is responsible for the development and maintenance of EA-specific health, safety, security and risk management protocols, including student conduct issues.

Elizabeth has taught in five different universities and published on data collection issues around post-program student evaluations. She has presented at numerous regional and national/international conferences on topics ranging from group dynamics in study abroad programs to exchange agreements. In addition, Elizabeth is certified to administer both the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and the Beliefs, Events and Values Inventory (BEVI). Each fall semester, she offers a three-credit introductory course through the College of Arts and Letters on cultural difference and study abroad.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, Elizabeth's international experiences began as a high-school student in 1982, when she was awarded an all-expenses-paid month-long trip to Germany through a competitive worldwide competition organized by the PAD (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst). She received her PhD in German Language and Literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario in 1995. She moved to East Lansing in 2000 to work at MSU's Office of Study Abroad as a program coordinator and became a proud US citizen in 2016.