ACIS Team Spotlight: Meet Veronica!
Tell us about yourself. What’s your role at ACIS?
Hi! My name is Veronica, and I am an International Program Manager at ACIS. In my role, I work with group leaders – both new and experienced – to plan educational journeys abroad. I support group leaders throughout the trip-planning process, from tailoring their itinerary and recruiting travelers to preparing groups for departure and welcoming them home.
I started at ACIS on the Traveler Support team, working directly with travelers and their families. After getting to connect with participants and see the impact of an ACIS trip, I jumped at the opportunity to play a more hands-on role with our trips by supporting the wonderful group leaders who bring them to life.
Tell us about your travel history and why you believe travel changes lives
Growing up, I was lucky enough to have parents that loved travel and were willing to plan trips for a family of 5. Trips with my family gave me the chance to fall in love with travel, then studying abroad during school gave me the chance to be changed by it. My program in Granada, Spain completely immersed me in Spanish culture, fostering an incredible growth of confidence and self-understanding, and even informing my career choices!
How do you work with teachers? How do you help ensure they have the best trip possible?
My top priority in working with teachers is mutual understanding. I want to understand a group leader’s needs and goals for their trip, and I want them to understand the reasons behind my suggestions throughout the planning process. Clear communication is the key to planning the best trip possible. If something isn’t working for them, I want to know! If something isn’t possible for us, I will tell them! (But most of the time, we are pretty good at making the impossible possible😉)
What’s a planning tip you always give to teachers?
Pick a destination that you’re passionate about! The trip will be all the more special for students if their leader is invested in the content. Your enthusiasm will get them engaged—this is where travel begins to change lives.
What’s a travel tip you would give?
I believe that open-mindedness and flexibility are the most important things to take with you when you travel (second only to your passport!). Traveling means leaving your comfort zone, and no matter how much planning and preparing you do, you can always be faced with the unexpected. I encourage travelers to remind themselves that they’ll get the most out of this experience if they approach every encounter with an open mind and a flexible attitude.
Anything else you want to share?
Leaders, students and families—you’re doing an awesome thing! Get excited, and ask us any question, big or small. We’re here for you!
Sarah Bichsel
