Maya Sosa

Maya Sosa (Central) has a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience and currently serves as director of graduate education at Minnesota State University Moorhead, where she oversees graduate programs serving over 1,000 students. A Fulbright scholar and recipient of over 10 merit-based awards, Maya brings years of experience in federally funded research, multilateral diplomacy, and people-centered policy reform. During her decade-long tenure in institutional partnerships, she expanded international partner participation by 66%. Maya is committed to mentorship and educational access as drivers of economic growth, community connection, and lasting change. As a Fellow, she aims to connect exchange alumni across the Central region through entrepreneurship, professional development, civic engagement, and community-building programming.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Fulbright Student Program, U.S

Dr. Roxie Hentz

Dr. Roxie Hentz (Great Lakes) is a 2011 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program alumna with over 30 years of experience in education, spanning roles as a state education consultant, teacher leader, mentor, and adjunct professor. She is based in Wisconsin and is the retired founding executive director of CEOs of Tomorrow, where she led local, national, and global youth entrepreneurship initiatives focused on social impact and financial wellness. A nationally recognized leader and ATHENA Leadership Award recipient – honored for excellence in leadership, community impact, and mentorship – she remains deeply committed to advancing global learning, entrepreneurship, and people-to-people diplomacy. As a Fellow, she aims to strengthen regional partnerships, re-engage alumni who have not participated recently, and foster greater professional networking and collaboration across the Great Lakes region.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program, South Africa

Cristi Marchetti

Cristi Marchetti (Mid-Atlantic) is an education leader, strategist, and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience spanning classroom teaching, instructional leadership, and global education partnership work. A Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching recipient, she conducted research on community-centered schools in Northern Ireland and has since built an extensive record of service with education entities. She is based in New York and is completing an Ed.M. in Education Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where her work bridges learning design, strategic partnerships, and innovation. As a Fellow, she aims to expand entrepreneurship pathways, elevate alumni stories of career success and leadership, and launch a speaker series.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program, U.K.

Faria Tavacoli

Faria Tavacoli (Mountain West) is a Nevada resident, student, and health worker committed to improving youth health outcomes. A U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program alumna, she applies her exchange experience to leadership in Nevada through community engagement, volunteerism, and youth mentorship with UNLVolunteers and other initiatives. Faria is a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public health and neuroscience and a minor in creative writing.  As a Fellow, she aims to strengthen regional alumni connections, build leadership and civic engagement skills, and create tools that support long-term engagement.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Youth Ambassadors Program, Brazil

Nathaniel Sandoval

Nathaniel Sandoval (Northeast) is an international education and community engagement professional based in Providence, Rhode Island, with experience in fostering cross-cultural understanding, youth development, and economic mobility. Nathaniel graduated from the University of Rhode Island, where he studied political science and minored in business. As a Gilman Scholar and Fulbright alumnus, Nathaniel represented the United States abroad while developing leadership, public service, and global engagement skills. Nathaniel’s work in education, small business, and exchange programs reflects a strong dedication to helping the next generation turn their lived experiences into local and global impact. As a Fellow, he aims to strengthen the regional alumni network, collaborate across regions, and mentor emerging alumni leaders.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, Spain and Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program, Panama

Richard "Robot" Steighner

Richard "Robot" Steighner (Pacific) is an internationally renowned beatboxer, music producer, and alumnus of the American Music Abroad and Arts Envoy exchanges. Currently based in California, he has visited over 70 countries as a musician and co-founded a non-profit to create cross-cultural collaborations. Richard "Robot" has toured with the Backstreet Boys, co-developed the U.S. Department of State’s lyrics-based English language teaching platform Wordplay, created music studios in Australia and Nigeria, and produced a children's show based on beatboxing. With collaborations in over a dozen languages, hundreds of recordings, and award-winning performances, Richard "Robot" Steighner is a driving force in global arts programming. As a Fellow, he aims to build the cross-program alumni community and elevate  public awareness of exchange programs.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): American Music Abroad; Ethiopia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Tunisia, Azerbaijan

Ryan Greenstein

Ryan Greenstein (Southeast) resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as the director of advocacy and public policy for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. Ryan participated in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Program in Morocco in 2012 and hosted Professional Fellowship Program (PFP) visitors from Shanghai and Mongolia in 2024 and 2025, including a reciprocal exchange visit to Mongolia in 2024. He previously spent approximately ten years in Washington, D.C., serving in legislative affairs and policy leadership roles focused on legal and public health issues. As a Fellow, he aims to host virtual and in-person events across the Southeast, strengthen regional alumni connections, and help identify future Fellows.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): National Security Language Initiative for Youth, Morrocco and Professional Fellows Program, Mongolia

Morgan Moore

Morgan Moore (Southwest) is a Dallas-based community impact professional. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and an alumna of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. During her Peace Corps service, she advanced English-language learning and strengthened U.S. community engagement by delivering certificates to participants who completed a six-week English course for 15 youth and adults, and by partnering with local youth and municipal leaders to plant 200 trees. Morgan’s career experience spans both the public and private sectors, with a focus on social responsibility and advancing community-centered impact through corporate and nonprofit partnerships. As a Fellow, she aims to foster cross-regional collaboration among Fellows and elevate the impact of Southwest alumni through featured stories and social media engagement. 

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Peace Corps, Paraguay

Courtney Blankenship

Courtney Blankenship (Washington, D.C.) is a program associate at the National Center for State Courts, supporting rule of law initiatives across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. She also serves as vice president of communications for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP). A Peace Corps Morocco alumna and Critical Language Scholar in Arabic, she has leveraged her exchange and language experience in her work at the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain. Courtney holds an M.A. in International Relations from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication from Pittsburg State University. As a Fellow, she leverages her professional and alumni networks to elevate the impact of exchange programs, strengthen alumni engagement through strategic local partnerships and the State Department’s exchange alumni platform, and foster a connected, collaborative alumni community in Washington, D.C.

Exchange Alumni Program(s): Peace Corps, Morocco and Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes, Oman

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