Beyond the individualized support students receive from faculty in their seminars, Oxford Academia stands apart for the community we cultivate and the support every student receives during their experience. Our Residential Life team is much more robust than other summer study abroad programs because we recognize the importance of a supervised and structured learning and social environment. Deans, Student Deans, Junior Deans, and Health & Activity Coordinators reside in the dorms with students and focus solely on student life. They prioritize the well-being of each student from the moment they arrive, working proactively to ensure students are happy, comfortable, and safe while forming new friendships and making the most of their time on the program.

All Locations

Oxford

Paris

Tokyo

Yale

Ailbhe Ní Chroidheáin

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Junior Dean

Trinity College Dublin, B.B.S., Business Studies and German (in progress)

Currently an undergraduate student at Trinity College Dublin, studying Business and German, Ailbhe focuses on honing her leadership and organizational skills through active participation in the Trinity Entrepreneurial Society (TES) and by cultivating a dynamic approach to problem-solving. With a passion for mentorship and education, she also spent several years working as a music teacher and football coach for young children. After living and studying in Bavaria for the past year, she is experienced in the academic and personal growth that stems from studying and travelling abroad, particularly through the use of a second language. Ailbhe is fluent in English and proficient in German. This will be her third summer with Oxford Academia.

Amélie Marescaux

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Junior Dean

University of Oxford, B.A., Philosophy, Politics and Economics

While at Oxford, Amélie focused on diverse areas of philosophy and politics, such as international security, feminist theory, and EU politics. She then settled in Florence, Italy, to pursue a master’s, from which she will be graduating this June after finishing her research on prefigurative social movements. While at the School of Transnational Governance, she was a founding member of the student body’s feminist collective, which organises academic events and works with the school to reform its gender policies. Amélie had the opportunity to work for the European Institutions in Brussels, helping develop the EU’s security and defence partnerships around the world. She also spent time living on the shores of Lake Geneva, studying environmental politics at the Graduate Institute. Amélie is a native French speaker and is proficient in Italian and Spanish. Besides her studies, Amélie was a rower for Brasenose College’s First Boat, a sport she continues to practice now under Florence’s Ponte Vecchio.

Andrew Manzella

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Director

SUNY Buffalo State College, B.A., Journalism

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Andrew has traveled extensively in Costa Rica, where he first led a middle school service program in 2017. His background includes work as a community journalist in Western New York and as a feature writer for the Chautauqua Institution’s daily paper, where he covered the Music School Festival Orchestra, distinguished guest lecturers, and children’s literature. Andrew also served as the director of residence halls for Chautauqua’s summer arts intensive program after a tenure of almost 10 years. Before joining Oxford Academia full-time, he worked with sixth-grade students, tutoring math and leading extracurricular theater activities. Andrew currently directs Putney Student Travel programs in Costa Rica, Italy, and Ireland. He has also directed an Oxford Academia program in Siena. Outside of work, he enjoys foraging, birding, and exploring new ideas through a lens of lifelong learning.

Beatriz Ramirez Betances

Oxford Academia at Yale
Student Dean

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, /M.A./ABD, Comparative Literature
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, B.A. Comparative Literature and English

While pursuing her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Beatriz started her teaching career as a Spanish as a Second Language instructor, and as a teaching assistant in English writing and composition and American Studies classes. Later, Beatriz relocated to Puerto Rico, where she taught Spanish language and literature classes at the University of Puerto Rico. Then, she transitioned to high school, where she has 17 years of experience teaching English language arts and literature. She is also a freelance editor, translator, and writer, and she has 20 years of experience working freelance for peer-reviewed journals, magazines, and publishing companies. She has published in academic journals, such as Sargasso, newspapers such as Dialogo Digital and Claridad, and digital magazines such as Revista Cruce. She was the vice president of the Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico board from 2018 through 2022.

Brian Dukie

Oxford Academia at Tokyo
Assistant Director

University of Nevada, Las Vegas, B.A., Journalism and Media Studies

While studying journalism in college, Brian also pursued Japanese language studies. After graduating, he packed his bags and headed to Japan, eager to deepen his language skills, experience the culture firsthand, and explore the country’s world-renowned skiing and snowboarding. Brian currently teaches at Meijo University in Nagoya, assisting students who are preparing to study abroad. He also conducts workshops for inner-city high schools, sharing his passion for education with the next generation. During his time in Japan, Brian worked at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, managing hospitality programs across several stadiums. In the winter season, he combines his love for languages and the outdoors, working as an interpreter and concierge at a ski lodge in the Japanese Alps, helping international travelers feel at home. Outside of teaching, Brian works in social media and public relations for a telehealth company dedicated to combating the opioid epidemic. When he’s not in the classroom, on the slopes, or behind a computer, you’ll likely find him hiking mountains, playing ice hockey, or singing karaoke. This is Brian’s fifth summer teaching programs in Tokyo.

Catherine Milligan

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Student Dean

Wake Forest, M.A., English
Davidson College, B.A., English, International Concentration in Latin American Studies

At Davidson College, Catherine studied English literature, Spanish, and Latin American culture while also playing Division I volleyball. Her undergraduate experiences in England and Mexico made her eager to travel further abroad, so she moved to Japan, where she worked for two years with the Tokachi Board of Education, teaching English in several schools in the Hokkaido prefecture. Returning to North Carolina, Catherine attended Wake Forest University as Graduate Fellow for the English M.A. program. She then moved to New York City with her husband and began a long career of teaching English and Art History courses for grades 7-12. She has served in various advisory and educational consulting roles in Manhattan, and edited five books for young adults and children. In 2022, Catherine completed an action research study for the International Boys School Coalition, followed by a series of presentations about the value of video feedback for middle school students. Her current research focuses on relational learning, extrinsic and intrinsic motivators, and the concept of play in pedagogy, literature, and art. She has continued to travel extensively, as a leader of international study tours, for professional conferences, and to carry on her studies in other cultures. Catherine has two children, ages 21 and 16, and she enjoys her ongoing connections to countless students she has known through teaching, tutoring, service work, and summer programs. She has previously served as Student Dean for Oxford Academia.

Daniel Singh Guzman

Oxford Academia at Paris
Assistant Director

LUISS University, M.A., Diplomacy and International Relations (in progress)
Binghamton University, B.A., Political Science and English Literature

Daniel studied Political Science and English Literature at Binghamton University, with a focus on international politics and European refugee policy. During his undergraduate studies, he spent a formative year in Madrid and later worked with the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, supporting asylum seekers from Syria, Egypt, and Eritrea in navigating the UK legal system. Raised between Spain and the United States, with strong roots in the Canary Islands, Daniel developed an early sensitivity to cultural nuance and cross-cultural exchange—an outlook that continues to inform his academic and professional work. After graduating, he returned to Madrid to teach English and history at a bilingual secondary school, where he also coached students in Model United Nations, fostering engagement with diplomacy, global affairs, and human rights. Daniel is currently based in Rome, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations at LUISS University. Alongside his graduate studies, he designs and leads experiential education programs across Europe and North Africa, with a focus on art and architectural history, post-colonial perspectives, contemporary politics, and language immersion. His recent work includes leading multi-country programs across Switzerland, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, as well as directing language and cultural initiatives in Spain and Morocco. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian, and with working proficiency in French and Arabic, Daniel brings an interdisciplinary and globally attuned perspective to his work

Gena Oppenheim

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Junior Dean

Gettysburg College, M.A., American History;NYU Tisch School of the Arts, M.F.A., Musical Theater Writing;
Barnard College, B.A., American Studies

Gena is an educator at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, where she has taught Theater, Film, and Interdisciplinary Studies for over ten years. In addition to teaching, she has written and directed more than ten mainstage productions at Saint Ann’s. Gena is also a senior education fellow for the Hamilton Education Program at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and hosts their weekly Book Breaks program. She holds a bachelor’s in American Studies from Barnard College, an M.F.A. in Musical Theater Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and an MA in American History from Gettysburg College.

Janet Sebastian-Coleman

Oxford Academia at Paris
Junior Dean

University of Virginia, Ph.D., (in progress)
Reed College, B.A., History, Minor in French

While at Reed College, Janet focused on the history of colonial soldiers during the First World War and studied Francophone literature. She studied abroad in Paris. After graduating, she taught English in Martinique (French West Indies) for one year. Janet then served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo for two years, where she supported community gardens and taught nutritional science, agriculture, and English. Janet is now a doctoral student at the University of Virginia, where she studies the modern French colonial empire, as well as African and Caribbean history. She spends her free time volunteering as an English tutor, hiking, painting, and relaxing with her dog, Zorro. Janet is fluent in French, proficient in Kabiye, and currently studying Spanish and Arabic. This fall, Janet will return to the University of Virginia to continue her research on food systems in eighteenth-century West Africa.

Jeremy Bass

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Student Dean

Warren Wilson College, M.F.A., Program for Writers
Mannes College of Music, M.M.
Northwestern University, B.M.

Jeremy is a musician, poet, and private tutor based in Woodstock, NY. He studied creative writing and guitar performance at Northwestern University, later pursuing advanced classical and flamenco guitar studies in Italy and Spain, where he also taught English as a Foreign Language. After a brief detour as a sommelier in NYC, Jeremy earned a Master of Music in Classical Guitar at the Mannes College of Music (The New School) and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the M.F.A. Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. At the same time, he established a private tutoring practice in New York City (now worldwide thanks to Zoom), helping students manage their schoolwork while becoming thriving, independent learners (yes—he also tutors the SAT/ACT and has helped numerous students with the dreaded college application essays). His poems and criticism have been published in The Nation, New England Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, and other publications. This year, he released his fifth solo album and first fingerstyle guitar release, Cabin Songs, on Adhyaropa Records. This is Jeremy’s fourth year with Oxford Academia.

Josh Harkins

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Director

Middlebury College, B.A., International Politics and Economics

Originally from the Washington, D.C., suburbs, Josh sparked his world-traveling spirit as a participant on an Oxford Academia program in high school. In college, he studied abroad in Paris and traveled across Western Europe and the Caucasus. Combining his passions for French and sports, he worked as an interpreter at the Paris 2024 Olympics for USA Basketball. Josh has led Oxford Academia programs in Oxford and Paris and directs both of those programs from the Vermont office. Josh is fluent in French, conversational in Italian, and is learning Spanish and Russian. A national champion in quadball and an avid cruciverbalist, Josh can be found singing improvised songs as he enjoys the great outdoors in all seasons.

Lauren Foster

Oxford Academia at Paris
Assistant Director

University of Pennsylvania, M.S., Education
Bates College, B.A., Psychology; Women and Gender Studies; Math

While at Bates, Lauren focused on Psychology and Women and Gender Studies while also earning a minor in Math. She also studied abroad in Perugia, Italy. After college, she worked as a teaching fellow at a boarding school while completing her master’s degree in Education through the University of Pennsylvania. Lauren has worked in education since graduating, serving in a variety of schools and roles. She now works as a high school learning specialist and math teacher, helping students build their executive functioning skills. This fall, Lauren will continue this work in addition to coaching the school’s field hockey team.

Miriam Yampuler

Oxford Academia at Yale
Program Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin, B.S., Public Health, B.A. Economics of Globalization

At the University of Texas at Austin, Miriam pursues interdisciplinary studies, combining her passions for public health and economics. As part of these studies, she has traveled to Panama, Costa Rica, Israel, and Jordan. During the summer, Miriam has facilitated programs in Costa Rica, gaining insights into community healthcare needs and the importance of governmental differences in healthcare delivery. She has also worked as a Legislative Policy Analyst, leveraging her experiences at the Texas House of Representatives. Miriam is fluent in Spanish and Hebrew. This fall, she will continue her academic journey, pursuing further studies in global health policy, with a focus on addressing healthcare disparities and promoting equitable access to healthcare worldwide.

Morgan Hogue

Oxford Academia at Yale
Director

Universidad de Alcalá, M.A., Bilingual Education
Boston University, B.A., Health Sciences

Upon earning a B.S. in Health Sciences at Boston University, Morgan became interested in gaining experience in the education field, and completed a teaching internship as a Science Teaching Assistant, in San Francisco for the Aim High program. Afterward, having studied Spanish for 10 years, she furthered her teaching experience in Madrid, Spain, teaching English in a bilingual high school, which then encouraged her to complete a master’s program at Universidad de Alcalá, in Bilingual Education. She has been living in Madrid for the past eight years working as an educator in bilingual high schools. Apart from education, speaking Spanish, and her life in Madrid, she is also passionate about literature and writing, and is in two book clubs. She has previously worked for Putney’s Pre-College Barcelona program.

Naheem Watson

Oxford Academia at Yale
Program Assistant

Yale University, B.A., Cognitive Science

While at Yale, Naheem focused on human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence, while also working as a student hospitality manager. He has spent two summers as an assistant program manager, helping students apply to high schools and colleges, as well as matching them with internships in their creative areas. In addition to his cognitive science studies, Naheem studied international policy and the Korean language, leading him to spend two summers in South Korea. During these summers, he researched language learning technology and learned more about the Korean language and culture. Naheem recently completed his bachelor’s degree and plans to apply for a PhD in human-computer interaction in the near future. He is proficient in Korean and Spanish. Besides travel and education, he loves creative nonfiction writing and hopes to write a lot more after graduation.

Rianna Cranberg

Oxford Academia at Yale
Director

American University, B.A., Political Science

While at American University, Rianna concentrated in comparative politics, with an interest in postcolonialism and migration. In her junior year, she studied cultural integration and migration in Denmark for a semester. In the last several years, Rianna has worked to increase vaccine access in communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID, and researched policy on community violence intervention programs. She is passionate about the intersection of art, storytelling, and social justice, and loves to write and paint. Rianna now works in the D.C. community and is exploring what makes the city its own, as well as the systems that have built it. For the past several summers she has worked with Putney Student Travel’s academic programs.

Schuyler Hedstrom

Oxford Academia at Tokyo
Director

Dartmouth College, B.A., English and Drama

While at Dartmouth, Schuyler spent two semesters abroad, studying Spanish art history in Barcelona and drama with coaches from the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. He moved to Madrid in 2002 and started his own company, teaching Theatre in English to Spaniards of all ages. A Vermont native, Schuyler enjoys cooking, swimming, and yoga. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. This is Schuyler’s 22nd summer with Putney Student Travel. He has led Exploration, Service, and Pre-College programs. He is excited to return to Tokyo this summer, having directed Tokyo programs in 2019 and 2024. Schuyler is fluent in Spanish, and proficient in Italian and Japanese.

Tom Kane

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Director

American Conservatory Theater, M.F.A., Acting
Northwestern University, B.S., Performance Studies

Tom is the head of the arts division at Middlesex School, a boarding school in Concord, Massachusetts, where he teaches theater. A graduate of Northwestern University and the American Conservatory Theater, Tom enjoys working with high school students and using theater as a lens to examine the bigger world. When not creating imaginative worlds, Tom enjoys traveling in the actual world. He has led and directed programs with high school students in Oxford, London, Beijing, Paris, Florence, Berlin, Prague, and Vermont. Tom has headed academic programs in Oxford for Putney Student Travel for over twenty-five years and has served as the director of Oxford Academia since its founding.

Vittoria Baglieri

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Assistant Director

University of Oxford, M.Phil., Comparative Social Policy (in progress)
Bocconi University (Milan), B.Sc., International Politics and Government

Throughout her academic and professional experiences in the EU and the UK, Vittoria has been driven by a keen interest in housing affordability and the role of policy-making. She is currently a PhD student in Social Policy at the University of Oxford, researching housing policies in Latin America. Vittoria completed a bachelor’s degree at Bocconi University (Milan), spending one semester at Yale-NUS College (Singapore), and an MPhil in Comparative Social Policy at the University of Oxford. She has contributed to multiple research projects in both Italy and the UK. Vittoria is also an enthusiastic member of the University of Oxford Salsa Team and, over the years, has become an expert on the town’s dancing scene. She is fluent in Portuguese and a native speaker of Italian and Spanish. This will be her fifth summer with Oxford Academia.

Will Jennings

Oxford Academia at Oxford
Faculty Dean

Columbia University, M.A., Education
University of the South, B.A., English and Education

While at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, Will studied English and education, reading any and all contemporary fiction and classic literature he could find. After student teaching and graduating, he taught English and Latin in Nashville and his home city of Little Rock, Arkansas, at all levels, seeing as much live music as he could and living and studying throughout Italy in the summer. He was voted Faculty of the Year in 2006 and received the same award this year at a different school. In 2011, Will was hired as a consultant and teacher through the nationwide KIPP school network, which serves the most economically challenged areas in the country. Following that, he earned his master’s degree in education at Columbia University, conducted research at the United Nations International School, and later served as Dean of Studies at Sacred Heart. That same summer, he helped lead his first summer program in England and has loved it ever since. Will has returned to The Winston School in Dallas to continue his 25+ year career in education. There, he serves on its leadership team as Director of Student Affairs and College Admissions. Will is fluent in Latin and Greek (which might come in handy deciphering interesting grave markers and early writings).

Next Steps

Questions? Call us at (802) 387-5526 or click below to request more info. Ready to join us? Start your application today!