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 program compliance and operations and special programs administration, including oversight of compliance and SEVIS processes. Serves as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). |
| 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: | Senior Regional Director, Placement Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees student placement and host family recruitment in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, RI, SC, SD, VT, WV, WI |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5169 |
| Email: | abyrnes@aifs.org |
| Name: | Anna Canzoneri |
| Title: | Regional Director, Support Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees on-program student support and case coordination in: AK, AL, AR, HI, IA, ID, LA, MD, MS, NE, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5119 |
| Email: | acanzoneri@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 and Operations Coordinator |
| Responsibilites: | Responsible for host family vetting, compliance tracking, flight coordination, and operations support |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5121 |
| STurner@Aifs.org |
| Name: | Brittany Longo |
| Title: | Regional Director |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees student placement and host family recruitment in: AL, AK, AR, HI, ID, IA, LA, MD, MS, NE, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5446 |
| Email: | blongo@aifs.org |
AYA National Meeting
Athens, Greece
November 12 – 16, 2026
