FIUTS Staff
Era Schrepfer
Executive Director
Contact: era@fiuts.org
Era joined FIUTS in 2006, and brings many years of nonprofit and international experience to her role. Era has traveled extensively in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean and served with the US Peace Corps as a Community Agriculture Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. In addition to her role at FIUTS, she serves on the Board of Joyas Mestizas, and as a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Western Washington. Her interests include cross-cultural leadership development, team building, nonprofit strategy and planning, and the use of social media for social change.
Era is a Minnesota native who was raised in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington. Era lives in South Seattle and loves Latin music, new recipes, dark chocolate, and fiction from around the world.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Spanish
Favorite Place on Earth: Palenque, Mexico and Zagreb, Croatia
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Vietnam, Thailand, Tunisia
Favorite International Dish: Asopao de Pollo con Guandules and chocolate chip peanut butter cookies
JOSEF COLE
Manager of Student Programs
Contact: josef@fiuts.org
Josef is a graduate of the UW’s Evans School of Public Policy and the Jackson School of International Studies with an MPA and an MA in International Studies. He is a Washington native through and through and has lived all over the state.
Before his graduate studies, Josef graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BA in International Affairs, worked for UW Medicine and an immigration company, and did some traveling in South Asia and Latin America. His career goals are to work at the intersection of public policy and international relations, focusing on Latin America and mental healthcare, hopefully, at a think tank or nonprofit.
Outside of work, Josef is experiencing the pleasures of parenting while trying to save a little energy for exercising, reading, and playing video games.
Pronouns: he/him
Other Languages Spoken: Spanish
Favorite Place on Earth: The Himalayas
Next Place I’d Like to Go: Patagonia
Favorite International Dish: Mofongo or Tallarín Saltado
olena vlasova
Manager of Education Programs
Contact: olena@fiuts.org
Olena was born and raised in Ukraine. Her first trip abroad was to visit family in Germany at the age of 16, which awakened a great passion for international traveling and German language. Olena graduated from Central Ukrainian Pedagogical University with a MA in Teaching English and German languages and Translation. As a student, Olena traveled to Poland, Romania, the US, Germany, Slovenia, and Sweden for short-term study visits. Her favorite program was Hansen Summer Institute for Leadership and International Cooperation hosted by San Diego State University with participants from 20 countries. This program was the first time she met people from four different continents. Ever since then, Olena has become passionate about international education programs like this, having seen how impactful they can be. Breaking stereotypes and bringing people in this world closer through education has become Olena's mission and core belief.
Olena moved to Seattle with her husband Sergii and their daughter Kateryna in 2011, their son Andrew joined the family in 2014.
In her free time Olena loves dancing, playing catchball (like volleyball), reading, going for long walks with her family, playing board games and meeting friends.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Ukrainian, Russian, German, and Spanish
Favorite Place on Earth: Maui Island (Kihei), Kyiv (Ukraine), Paris (France)
Next Place I’d Like to Go: Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Greece, Bora Bora, Singapore
Favorite International Dish: Ukrainian dumplings (Varenyky)
Student Team
Aisha Nur
Database Assistant
Aisha is majoring in computer science at the University of Washington. Outside of school she enjoys playing video games, and watching K dramas.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Somali, Swahili, Arabic
Favorite Place on Earth: Saudi Arabia
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Somalia
Favorite International Dish: Shawarma Wrap
Jerry zhang
Events and Activities Assistant
Jerry is majoring in political science at the University of Washington. In his free time he enjoys traveling, cooking and watching movies.
Pronouns: he/him
Other Languages Spoken: Mandarin
Favorite Place on Earth: Prague
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Paris
Favorite International Dish: Soup Dumplings
Nadia Dayib
Database Assistant
Nadia is majoring in informatics at the University of Washington. In her free time she likes to cook and go on hikes.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Somali
Favorite Place on Earth: Istanbul, Turkey
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Seoul, South Korea
Favorite International Dish: Chicken Shawarma & Pho
Kashyap is an alumni from University of Washington masters in information management program. In his free time he likes to polish his leather shoes, and learn about psychology and philosophy.
Pronouns: he/him
Other Languages Spoken: Hindi, French (Intermediate)
Favorite Place on Earth: His kitchen with unlimited stash of Indian spices
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Belgium, land of Tintin
Favorite International Dish: Rumali Roti with Kathi Kebab
Yumi is an alumni from University of Washington masters in information management program.
srijami das
Database Assistant
Srijami is a graduate student in information management at the University of Washington. In her free time she likes reading, shopping and nature walks.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Bengali
Favorite Place on Earth: Alki Beach
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Boston
Favorite International Dish: Bibimbap
Shae McNeil
Events and Activities Assistant
Shae is majoring in public health at the University of Washington. In her free time she enjoys playing guitar and doing ceramics.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Spanish and Arabic
Favorite Place on Earth: Morroco
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Bali
Favorite International Dish: Tostones Plantain
CTANLI Gomane
Events and Activities Assistant
Ctanli is a graduate student in entrepreneurship at the University of Washington. In his free time he like playing soccer and volleyball.
Pronouns: him/him
Other Languages Spoken: Chichewa
Favorite Place on Earth: Lake Washington
Next Place I’d Like To Go: New York City
Favorite International Dish: Chicken Pho
Jaivardhan Singh Chauhan
Business Analyst Intern
Jai is an alumni from University of Washington masters in information management program. In his free time he likes to work with Machine Learning and AI.
Pronouns: he/him
Other Languages Spoken: Hindi,
Favorite Place on Earth: : Kabini, Nagarhole National Park
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Belgium, land of Tintin
Favorite International Dish: Laal maas
AN TRan
Events and Activities Assistant
An is majoring in marketing and information systems at the University of Washington. In her free time she enjoys reading and going to the gym.
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Vietnamese
Favorite Place on Earth: Anywhere with her family
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Vietnam or South Korea
Favorite International Dish: Bún bò Huế
Kacey is majoring in engineering at the University of Washington. In her free time she enjoys making ice cream, painting nails, running, baking
Pronouns: she/her
Other Languages Spoken: Learning Urdu, Gujarati, and Hindi.
Favorite Place on Earth: Donner Lake, California, or Gir National Park, India
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Osaka, Japan
Favorite International Dish: Dal Pakwan
ADRIAN Prevost
Database Assistant
Adrian is a graduate student in cybersecurity & networking at the University of Washington. He enjoys hands-on tech projects, concerts, and watching football and basketball and reading.
Pronouns: he/him
Other Languages Spoken: English and a little Spanish
Favorite Place on Earth: The Virgin Islands
Next Place I’d Like To Go: Japan
Favorite International Dish: Curry chicken with rice and peas
Sweta is an alumni from University of Washington masters in entrepreneurship from the Foster school.