Introducing the ELS University Relations Team
The ELS University Relations team is composed of leaders in the industry with broad and deep expertise in the academic-bound student market.
Theresa Pettersson
Vice President, University Relations
Having worked in both the academic and corporate international higher education sectors, Theresa comes to ELS with significant industry knowledge, expertise and perspective. Prior to ELS, she led international enrollment strategy, compliance, and partnerships at Merrimack College; and held position as the chief administrative and academic officer focused on pathway programs at Study Group. She also contributed in a number of roles to the success of the prestigious pre-matriculation programs at Northeastern University, including Global Pathways, American Classroom, and the U.S. Sino-Pathway program.
Jim Crawley
Director of University Recruitment and Outreach
Jim worked for three educational institutions before coming to ELS in 2016. Having started — and successfully grown — the international recruitment programs at two universities, he understands the planning and execution that go into international enrollment management plans. In addition, Jim has presented numerous sessions and workshops on strategies in international recruitment and admissions at state, regional, and national conferences.
Laura Squire
University Admission Services Manager
With diverse international experience living and working overseas first as program training coordinator for Peace Corps Panama, then moving into the private sector as project manager for a web development company, Laura is well-versed in leading bilingual, disparate groups in collaboration. Upon her return to the US, Laura moved into an admissions capacity with ELS, and initially worked directly with agents to counsel higher education bound students Laura ultimately moved into her current role as University Admission Services Manager where she oversees department operations.
Lindsey Lopez
Director of Higher Education Partnership Development
With over 16 years of cross-functional experience in international higher education, Lindsey leads strategic higher education recruitment initiatives in partnership with 650+ ELS partner universities and colleges with the ELS global recruitment team. Formerly a university ESL instructor and TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge ESOL examiner, Lindsey holds an MBA & MA and has taught and published extensively on international marketing and recruitment, market development, institutional internationalization, foreign government sponsorship enrollment, curriculum development, and ESL program instruction.
Mariamma Thomas (India Initiative)
General Manager – ELS India
Mariamma Thomas has over 22 years of experience in international education both in India and in the US. She started her career as a higher education counselor, guiding Indian students aspiring to study abroad. She worked at the Wayne State University Office of Graduate Admissions for eight years, serving the Carnegie Foundation Research I institution and its 8,500 graduate students in various capacities. In addition to enrollment management, she also specializes in international credential evaluation, counseling prospects and applicants on appropriate program research and selection, and the matriculation process. Her tenure as a Senior Evaluator at Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. in Tampa, Florida, a NACES member organization, has helped her gain a deep understanding of education systems around the world and in helping professionals and students get closer to their career goals. Mariamma joined ELS India in August 2014.
Marta Giri
Director of Brand Strategy & Marketing
Marta collaborates with our university partners to develop comprehensive international marketing campaigns to expand brand awareness, strengthen product positioning, and drive engagement and enrollments. Prior to ELS, she led the marketing communications team at Navitas North America, launched INTO University Partnerships’ U.S. efforts in digital marketing, and began her career in higher education at Emerson College in Boston, MA. As a former international student herself, Marta understands the importance of authentic, personal touchpoints across the student journey, and ensures that we execute our marketing plans with our students as our most important priority.
Miriam Perry Vega
Vice President, Consumer Sales and Shared Services
Miriam Perry Vega joined Berlitz Corporation May 2018 as the VP of Consumer Sales and Shared Services. Miriam has over 15 years’ experience in the private education global landscape. Her experience spans across Vocational Education, Language Training and Higher Education sectors specialized in building Consumer Operations across online, blended and face to face modalities, strategic planning, change management, business systems, business process engineering and performance management.
Prior to Berlitz, Miriam held numerous leadership roles with Apollo Education Group and Apollo Global Education in the US, Netherlands, Dubai, Chile, England and most recently in Australia.
