About Crossing Borders Education
Crossing Borders Education is a non-profit organization for cross-cultural education developed in response to the current world political situation. The main activities of the international organization include: inter-cultural and academic programs in Morocco, interactive materials, a feature documentary film, and an interactive website.
Crossing Borders Education works in collaboration with the Langcom Institute in Rabat, the Asociación de Programas Universitarios Norteamericanos en España (APUNE), the University Hassan II in Rabat, the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE), the Dutch Institue for higher education in Morocco (NIMAR), the Ecole Superieure Roi Fahd de Traduction in Tangier, and with NGOs such as the DARNA womens center in Tanger, the Masal youth project in Salé, the Chaouen Rural, the World Womens Banking (WWB), and the High Atlas Foundation (HAF).
Some of the American study abroad programs in Spain (organized by APUNE) that are participating in the Morocco Exchange programs of Crossing Borders Education: Arcadia, Boston College, Boston University, Central College, CIEE in Sevilla, IES in Granada, New York University, Syracuse University, University of California.
Key Staff
Managing Director
ARND WÄCHTER is the Founder and Managing Director. Arnd completed his MA and Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at London University. He has over twelve years experience of living abroad, and has taught Cross Cultural Education, World Religions and German for the past nine years in the UK, Japan, New Zealand and Spain. Arnd's fascination for foreign cultures and for the transformative power of journeys has led him to explore a wide range of travel destinations on six continents. In 2008/9 Arnd produced the feature-length documentary Crossing Borders. Currently he is facilitating faculty programs and academic study tours for American universities, is developing immersion programs for Spanish and Dutch institutions, and is running workshops on Cross Cultural Understanding.
Company Secretary
GEOFF HEWITT holds a business degree and a professional qualification in human resources. Geoff has over 25 Years general management and business experience covering many disciplines within various organizations. Geoff has worked extensively in the NGO, Charity and Co-Operative sectors and has been involved with Crossing Borders and Morocco Exchange since their initial conceptions. He is currently responsible for finance, personnel and compliance as well as being actively involved in the future direction and development of the companies.
Associate Director
ALLEN HOPPES, started traveling in his teens. He has visited over 30 countries in Africa, Europe, SE Asia, the South Pacific and North America. He has worked in conservation and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa. He speaks English, Spanish, French, rusty Bambara and is improving his Moroccan Arabic. He has lived in Spain for the past five years, originally as an English teacher and now organizing and facilitating Morocco Exchange programs. In his free time, he travels to World Music festivals. As Associate Director of Morocco Exchange, Allen maintains personal connections with colleagues and host families in Morocco and handles all program logistics. He also frequently facilitates groups as a Program Leader.
Development Coordinator EU
AMALIA HERENCIA GRILLO graduated in Fine Arts and English Philology at the University of Barcelona, Amalia has been developing her career as the Resident Director for an American Study Abroad program in Barcelona for the past 8 years, organizing the students' classes, logistics, trips and other activities during their stay in Barcelona. Lately, she has joined the Morocco Exchange team as Development Coordinator Europe. In addition Amalia also teaches English to adult classes. In her free time, she loves reading and developing other creative activities such as sewing and drawing.
Development Coordinator US
DARREN GROSCH served as a Peace Corps volunteer for over four years in Chad and Morocco and had colorful experiences such as milking camels in starlit dessert nights, teaching English in a Chadian village, and working at a Moroccan youth centre. Darren has over seven years of experience concentrating on development, organization, and assessment of community development projects. In addition he trained local community leaders who are serving culturally diverse populations in the US and abroad. Darren received his B.A. in Environmental Education from San Jose State University and speaks English, Moroccan Arabic and French. Darren joined the Morocco Exchange team in 2008 as a program leader until he returned to the US in August 2009. Currently he is involved with Crossing Borders Education as our Development Coordinator US and is pursuing his M.A. in International Education from Antioch University.
Program Leader
KATY ROSENBAUM's love of exploring cultures and language stemmed from an early age. While in college, she studied abroad with the School for International Training in Yunnan Province, China, and took a short trip to Cuba for a religion and politics class. After working with immigrants and refugees in Atlanta at a women's health clinic, Katy joined the Peace Corps Morocco as a Health volunteer, teaching lessons on hygiene, safe home birth practices, HIV/AIDS, and working with local associations. Katy is conversant in Spanish, French, and Tamazight Berber. In her free time, she enjoys dreaming of where to go next, foreign and indie movies, and experimenting with various artistic outlets to express herself.
Program Leader
COLLEEN DALEY is a former Morocco Exchange participant from 2005. It was on this trip, in the white and blue alleyways of Chefchaouen, that she fell in love with Morocco, and eventually joined Peace Corps Morocco as a Youth Development Volunteer. Before moving to this “cold country with a hot sun,” she received her BA in English and Faith, Peace, and Justice from Boston College in 2007. It was at BC that she developed a strong passion for social justice issues, languages, and religious and cross-cultural dialogue. After her Peace Corps service, Colleen worked as the administrative manager at The Nehemiah Project, a youth development agency that runs two group homes in Milwaukee, WI. Colleen eventually hopes to pursue a graduate degree in International Education or Non-Profit Management, as well as continue her studies of Arabic and Spanish. In her free time, Colleen hosts Couchsurfers, runs too much, and eats as much Mexican food as she can find.
Program Leader
RACHEL MARKOWTZ has loved Morocco since she studied abroad in Rabat in 2006. As a McDermott Scholar at the University of Texas at Dallas, Rachel studied political science and played Ultimate Frisbee whenever possible. Some of her favorite experiences included mentoring refugee families, living in DC while working for Congress as an Archer Fellow, and facilitating an international law academy each summer. Rachel then came back to Morocco on a Fulbright Fellowship after completing her undergraduate degree in 2008. As a Fulbrighter, Rachel studied conflict resolution and Arabic and spent her time surfing, climbing the highest mountain in North Africa, and drinking tea in the Sahara. Her Fulbright ended in 2009, and since then Rachel has been working as a consultant for a development agency, teaching English and putting together a volunteer program to teach youth about conflict management through Ultimate Frisbee workshops. She plans to stay in Morocco for as long as it takes to fully realise her Ultimate program, and she dreams of continuing this project after graduate school someday.
Program Leader
DENA THOMAS studied graphic design and sculpture in University. In 2008, Dena received a Bachelor of Fine Art with an emphasis in Sculpture from Fort Hays State University. Two months after she received her degree she left to serve in Peace Corps Morocco in the Small Business Development sector, where she worked at a Handicap Association in Tinghir, Morocco. The association helped train the students in a number of different handicrafts which were then sold though there show room, craft fairs, and other festivals. While working with the Handicap Association Dena learned tamazight the indigenous people of Morocco’s language and explore the many different customs and regions of Morocco. She is interested in educating and sharing with others about the realities of Morocco and the Muslim world. Having lived in Morocco for two years, working with the people and becoming intimately aware of its people, has given Dena priceless insight and personal knowledge of the numerous cultural differences and similarities. In her free time, she enjoys finding new challenges, learning women’s handicrafts in Morocco, and making books.
Program Leader
ANNA DYER spent two short weeks in 2004 exploring three Muslim countries: Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Beguiled by a world so unlike what she was accustomed to, she sought a way to immerse herself in the culture and better understand these members of the global community. She went back to school to earn a Bachelors of Science degree at Portland State University and, days after graduation, moved to Morocco as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Anna spent two years in a small village near Tata living among the Amazigh (Berbers), integrating into desert life, learning the local language, Tashlheit, and discovering the country. As a program leader Anna is happy to share her experiences and ever-changing insights with students on Morocco programs.
Program Leader
ALICIA RUNDQUIST. B.S. in Biology - Taylor University. Even though her previous interest was in the sciences, Alicia developed a new passion for communicating with people - specifically relating to cultural issues - after a two year service with Peace Corps Morocco. Graduating early from college, she moved to Morocco and spent some time in a rural village, learning to understand a new way of life, other languages, and how she fits into the grand scheme of things. Apart from always trying to experience new things, Alicia also loves curling up with coffee and a book, stargazing, expanding her music collection, and any physical challenge - from backpacking to yoga.
Program Leader
SARAH MOORMANN was born and raised in Seattle Washington. She attended Seattle University and holds a BS in nursing. After college she joined the Peace Corps and spent two years living and working in rural Morocco. During her Peace Corps service she focused on small scale health education such as teaching maternal and child health classes to Berber women and preventative health measures to elementary school children. Sarah loves to travel and has spent time in Latin America, Europe and Africa. She is also an avid reader, loves biking, cooking and cats. Sarah is especially interested in women’s health and hopes to pursue a career in nurse midwifery someday.
Program Leader
LINDSEY LUDWIG holds a B.A. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Illinois and a M.A. in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University. Lindsey Ludwig loves drinking coffee; she learned to perfect the latte while spending her Junior year in Australia. After studying primates in Nicaragua, she soon joined the ranks of Peace Corps Morocco. There, in the Middle Atlas Mountains, she managed to branch out to mint tea. She also learned the true meaning of culture shock, kindness of strangers and unforgettable memories. After 27 months of speaking Moroccan Arabic, teaching environmental education and empowering women, she joined the Morocco Exchange team as a program leader.
Program Leader
KATHERINE MCCONNELL , Newhouse School of Public Communications, B.A. Mass Communications, Syracuse University. Kate thrives on travel to exotic places, from Mexico to Maui, Belfast to France. Inspired by her work with Green Team Advertising, she was possessed to give sustainable development work a stab and get down and dirty in the Peace Corps. She served two years as an environment volunteer in the middle of nowhere, Morocco, drinking mint tea, speaking in Berber tongues, and establishing income generating crafts projects with the women in Toubkal National Park. In her spare time, she waxes poetic, rides bikes, and talks to strangers.
Advisory Board
KATHRYN MILLER is an Assistant Professor for the History Department of Stanford University. She received her Doctorate in History from Yale University in 1998. Her teaching experience includes courses in religion, medieval cultures, Islamic Law, and Mediterranean routes. She has published numerous articles on Muslim History in Spain and continues to study the historical relationship between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
DWIGHT F. REYNOLDS is professor of Arabic language & literature in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Over the past twenty years he has conducted fieldwork on musical, folk, and literary traditions of the Middle East in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. Recent publications include
WILFORD H. WELCH, former US diplomat, chairman Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation. Wilford received his BA from Yale University, a Law Degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and a PMD degree from the Harvard Business School. For over forty years Wilford's professional career has been devoted to understanding and interpreting global trends. This includes six years as a U.S. diplomat in Asia. He currently serves on the board of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs where he serves as board liaison to The Center for International Conflict Resolution. He is on the board of the World Affairs Council and a member of the Explorers Club.
ALI AZERIAH is professor of English and Head of the English Department of L'Ecole Superior du Traduction in Tangier, Morocco. Professor Azeriah will assist in program development and provide students with an introduction to cultural diversity in Morocco.
ALMUDENA ARIZA is an adjunct history professor for both New York University and Syracuse University in their study abroad programs in Madrid, Spain.
REINHARD HAUSER, Ph.D., is a psychologist and psychotherapist in private practice in Zurich, Switzerland and international trainer and founder of process work training programs.