Resources
National Office Staff Directory
AYA National Office Staff Directory
| Name: | Michele Kabel |
| Title: | Executive Director Responsible Officer (RO) |
| Responsibilities: | Directs AYA program; stategic planning; partner relations. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5096 |
| Email: | mkabel@aifs.org |
| Name: | Lisa Schacter |
| Title: | Deputy Director Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) |
| Responsibilities: | Assists director in general program oversight and staff developmement; accounting and billing; AYA National Meeting. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5070 |
| Email: | lschacter@aifs.org |
| Name: | Ashleigh Caws |
| Title: | Director of Operations and Special Programs Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees operations and grant programs administration; oversight of compliance and SEVIS. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5063 |
| Email: | acaws@aifs.org |
| Name: | Virginia George |
| Title: | Director of Student Services Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees Student Services department and Regional Director team; responsible for training content, planning and executing student orientations and field staff training. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5097 |
| Email: | vclark@aifs.org |
| Name: | Ashley Byrnes |
| Title: | Regional Director, Placement Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees student placement and host family recruitment in: CO, CT, DE, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, PA, RI, SC, SD, VT, VA |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5169 |
| Email: | abyrnes@aifs.org |
| Name: | Lily Schwoerer |
| Title: | Regional Director, Placement Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees student placement and host family recruitment in: AL, AK, AZ, AR, FL, id, IL, LA, MS, NM, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5660 |
| Email: | alschwoerer@aifs.org |
| Name: | Anna Canzoneri |
| Title: | Regional Director, Support Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees on-program student support in: AK, AL, AR, GA, HI, IA, ID, LA, MD, MS, NC, NE, NM, NV, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA, WY |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5119 |
| Email: | acanzoneri@aifs.org |
| Name: | Inara Laganovska |
| Title: | Regional Director, Support Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees on-program student support in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NH, NJ,NY, OH, OK, RI, SD, UT,VA, VT, WI, WV |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5085 |
| Email: | ilaganovska@aifs.org |
| Name: | Lily Earle-Hecht |
| Title: | Regional Director, Placement Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees student placement and host family recruitment in AL, AK, CA, FL, HI, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MT, NE, NM, OH, OK, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5041 |
| Email: | learlehecht@aifs.org |
| Name: | Molly Mazabras |
| Title: | Program Assistant, Field Staff & Placement |
| Responsibilities: | Responsible for reviewing and processing student applications; host family vetting; LC hiring and benefits, placement and administrative support to operations and student services teams. |
| Phone: | 203-399-5133 |
| Email: | mmazabras@aifs.org |
| Name: | Melissa Jackson |
| Title: | Field Developer |
| Responsibilites: | Responsible for the hiring, engagement and development of field staff. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5442 |
| mjackson@aifs.org |
| Name: | Samantha Turner |
| Title: | Compliance & Operations Assistant |
| Responsibilites: | Responsible for processing host family vetting materials and ensuring program compliance according to Department of State regulations. Assist with processing of student applications. |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5121 |
| STurner@Aifs.org |
AYA National Meeting
Lake Como, Italy, November 6th - 10th, 2025
