Stephanie LaCava, On-site Program Coordinator
Stephanie graduated from Miami University with a dual degree in International Studies and East Asian Languages/Cultures. During her junior year, she studied in Osaka, Japan at Kansai Gaidai University and fell in love. After graduating, she taught English in Japan through the JET Program where she lived on Okinoerabu, a small island near Okinawa. During her year teaching abroad, she learned Eisa, a traditional island dance, and how to scuba dive! In addition to Japan, she’s traveled to the Republic of Korea, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, France, and Spain. Currently, she’s working on completing her Masters of Education in College Student Personnel at Ohio University, where she also works as a graduate assistant for their Office of Global Opportunities. When she’s not working or studying, she enjoys cooking, spending time with friends and family, and planning her next trip abroad! Stephanie will travel with your group during your entire time in Japan and will be there to support you in every way possible to ensure your program abroad is a safe, meaningful and positive experience!
What’s an OPC?
As part of your customized faculty-led program abroad, you will be led and supported by a CISabroad On-Site Program Coordinator (OPC). OPCs are experienced and well trained staff members, there to ensure the schedule goes according to plan. Each OPC attends an extensive training program that involves a range of modules – risk management, emergency response, safety, logistics’, cultural awareness, communication, culture shock, budgeting, social media, La Vida Local and customer service.
The primary role of the OPC is to facilitate the in-country implementation of the assigned customized program, by providing safety / emergency response and logistical support. During the program, the OPC is responsible for managing the day-to-day logistics of the assigned customized program and providing in-country support to both the faculty and students. Using personal travel experience, professional work experience (and where possible language knowledge), the OPC will help create a program environment that is safe and culturally engaging. The CISabroad OPC may or may not be an in country local. The majority of CISabroad OPCs are expats from the US, who have travelled, lived, volunteered, or worked abroad in the program destination.
The OPC is not a registered tour guide nor expected to provide tours of sites visited during the program. If the program is one that requires specific guided tours of various sites, these will be provided separately. The OPC provides a general neighborhood walking tour to help the group identify the nearest bank/ATM, pharmacy, laundry-mat, grocery store and other similar conveniences.
The OPC’s role allows Faculty to focus on the academic objectives and the students to make the most of their time overseas!