Alyx Raffo, Senior Program Coordinator, Faculty-Led Programs

Alyx graduated from Western New England University with a degree in Psychology. She embarked on her first international adventure at the age of 10 when she traveled to Australia and New Zealand with her family. Catching the travel bug at  a young age motivated Alyx to join a summer trip with her middle school to Denmark just two years later. It was this experience, and her amazing host family, that solidified her need to see the world! Her early travels had left her intrigued by the land down under and inspired her to return for an unforgettable semester at Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia. Aside from Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark, Alyx has traveled extensively throughout Europe and to South Africa. In her free time Alyx enjoys anything that gets her outdoors and visiting friends and family throughout the Northeast!

In addition to her personal travels, Alyx has previously led faculty-led programs to Poland, Germany, England, Ireland, and Denmark. Alyx will travel with your group during your entire time on-site and will be there to support you in every way possible to ensure your program abroad is a safe, meaningful and positive one.

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 and professional work experience, the OPC will help create a program environment that is safe and culturally engaging.

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 can provide 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!