Academic Travel Abroad Staff

David Parry – Chairman

Dave proves that there is no cure for the itch to travel the world. His most memorable moments include sneaking into Russia twice; standing in Wyoming’s South Pass where so many pioneers crossed; criss-crossing Russia and China in the bad old days… Read more >

Kate Simpson – President

Kate, daughter of an American diplomat, lived most of her youth in France where she was born. Fluent in French, Kate settled on a more “exotic” language in college, where she fell in love with Mandarin and all things Chinese. Kate has lived and studied in Australia, Algeria, Ireland and Taiwan... Read more >

Chase Poffenberger – Executive Vice President

Chase is a veteran of Academic Travel, beginning work as a China Program Designer just three short months before the Tienanmen Square massacre in Beijing that redirected her job, and her life! She has since worn many hats during her tenure… Read more >

Sarah Saleh – Vice President of Finance & Administration

Sarah came to ATA from an unlikely field of study: classical music. A French horn player who received a Bachelor of Music, she got the travel bug on orchestra tours in Europe, and spent a year in Florence, Italy, before joining ATA over twenty years ago… Read more >

Mark Lenhart – Executive Director of CET Academic Programs

Mark’s association with the organization dates back to 1987, when he traveled to Beijing as a CET student for his junior year. Mark has worked as a Resident Director in both Beijing (1991-92) and Harbin (1990-91)… Read more >

Dawn M. Davis – Director of Professionals Abroad

Professionals Abroad develops and manages professional exchanges for many of the top US and International associations. The goal of these programs is to provide an opportunity for professionals to experience their field in a culture far different… Read more >

Emilia Pawlowski – Direct Marketing Manager

Emilia began her career at Academic Travel Abroad in 2006 as the Direct Marketing Manager. She is responsible for overseeing the direct mail and web marketing in addition to analyzing and forecasting travel trends. Originally from western Pennsylvania… Read more >

Janet Varn – Senior Program Manager

Janet’s career in program design began at the Smithsonian Institution where she created tours across North America, and traveled with Smithsonian study tours throughout Asia, Russia, and throughout Europe. It is the western U.S., though, that keeps calling her back… Read more >

Emma Impavido – Senior Program Manager

Emma Impavido was born in the UK. She spent 3 years as a child in Paris and was bitten by the travel bug at an early age. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and spent extended periods in Venice, Milan, and the south of France…. Read more >

Chris Roper – Senior Program Manager

Chris’s fascination with Asia began as a child when, at the age of 5, he accompanied his family on a 6-month tour of the region during which he skateboarded through the botanical gardens of Jakarta and learned to eat Chinese food with a pair of pint-sized chopsticks… Read more >

Edward Yan – Program Manager

Ed hails from Cleveland, Ohio as an offspring of two natives of Guangdong, China; he remembers a childhood that involved being packed into a car for road trips to the Chinatowns of Toronto, New York City and Chicago. His first realization of the concept of… Read more >

CC McCarthy - Assistant Director, Client Services

CC, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, grew up traveling around the U.S. with her family. After traveling to Australia with friends at 16, she fell in love with travel and knew that she just had to see all that the world had to offer… Read more >

Wade Jennings – Graphic Designer

Wade was born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and spent most of his childhood exploring the many miles of beaches and surfing the waves at Assateague Island’s National Seashore. He studied creative writing, and classical guitar at Salisbury University… Read more >

MaryBeth Mullen - Director of Client Services

MaryBeth joined ATA in late April 2012 as Director of Client Services. MaryBeth spent the last 36 years working at the Smithsonian Institution in various capacities, from Regional Events Coordinator at Smithsonian Resident Associates to Senior Program Manager supervising a team of program managers, to her current position as Director of Marketing of Smithsonian Journeys… Read more >

To learn more about our CET staff – Click here >