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: | Inara Laganovska |
| Title: | Regional Director, Support Specialist |
| Responsibilities: | Oversees on-program student support and case coordination in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, Nv, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, RI, SC, SD, UT, VT, WV, WI |
| Phone: | (203) 399-5085 |
| Email: | ilaganovska@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: | Regional Director, Placement Specialist |
| Responsibilites: | 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) 399-5121 |
| STurner@Aifs.org |
AYA National Meeting
Athens, Greece
November 12 – 16, 2026
