The Grand Multiplier: Distance Learning Connects J-1 Trainee with American Students
Posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2014 at 6:08 pm.
The Grand Canyon digital studio connects people from all over the world.
Earlier this year, I met Gaby Olimon, a wildlife biologist and J-1 Trainee from Ensenada, Mexico, at Grand Canyon National Park. In addition to her on-the-ground training to run wildlife protection and educational programs at the park,Grand Canyon’s distance learning program allows Gaby to multiply her experience by connecting with classrooms around the United States. During the last academic year, the program reached 4,078 students from California to New Jersey in 26 different states. Read More ›
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Assistant Secretary Evan Ryan Meets with J-1 Interns and Trainees in New York City
Posted on Thursday, November 20th, 2014 at 4:30 pm.
A/S Ryan with J-1 interns and trainees inside the UN building in New York City
Earlier this fall, 15 J-1 interns and trainees gathered inside the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York City to meet with my boss, Assistant Secretary Evan Ryan. As Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, she oversees all U.S. exchange programs, and she has made it her goal to meet as many international exchange visitors as possible. Read More ›
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Tour of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Posted on Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 at 7:51 pm.
J-1 students inside a UW-Madison lecture hall
Are you a current or hopeful J-1 exchange visitor interested in attending a university in the United States, or even just visiting a campus? Many J-1 designated sponsors arrange campus visits to U.S. universities for exchange visitors on their programs. Whether or not you dream of studying here, your proximity to an American university campus offers a really fun opportunity. My colleague, Deb Shetler, took a campus tour in Madison, Wisconsin with a group of Summer Work Travel (SWT) students this summer doing just that.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
J-1 Connect
Posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 at 3:12 pm.
Irish J-1 alumni at the “J-1 Connect” event, hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland
J-1 exchanges have had a lasting influence on Irish society. As highlighted in my post in the State Department’s official blog, Irish officials estimate that some 150,000 Irish citizens have participated in J-1 programs since the Exchange Visitor Program officially began. The net result is a group of influential members of Irish society across a broad range of sectors, including government, academics, arts, culture, sports and business, that all have a very special connection to the United States. This is definitely something to celebrate so I am pleased to report we did just that.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Profile Highlights: J-1 Change Makers
Posted on Thursday, October 2nd, 2014 at 8:12 pm.It is always a privilege for me to meet young people on J-1 programs. So many J-1 exchange visitors truly exemplify the power of international exchange. As explained in my previous entry, I had the opportunity to meet seventy J-1 participants at a three-day Civic Leadership Summit hosted by a designated sponsor organization. The Summit gave participants new skills and ideas to return home with, and to use to make a positive impact. I was floored by the passion in these young people! I also felt inspired hearing that they will use their J-1 experience to improve the world around them. In this post, these remarkable young people speak for themselves and you will see the influence of people-to-people connections!
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Fostering Tomorrow’s Change Makers!
Posted on Thursday, September 25th, 2014 at 7:49 pm.As demonstrated throughout Route J-1, J-1 programs attract impressive and highly motivated youth who come to the United States to grow as individuals and to learn about American culture. I greatly enjoy getting to know these young people and it is a privilege for me to hear their stories, especially their career aspirations. So many leave their J-1 experiences ready to conquer the world! I had the opportunity to talk to about 70 such motivated J-1 interns, trainees, and Summer Work Travelers this summer when I was invited to take part in a three-day civic leadership summit hosted by a J-1 sponsor.
Read More ›
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants
INTELligent Diplomacy
Posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 at 7:49 pm.
DAS Lerner and Intel Trainees from China and the Philippines prepare materials for local classroom teachers.
What do you get when you cross semiconductor chips with American cultural diplomacy? Thirty engineers from China and the Philippines joining their American supervisors in some good old fashioned back to school volunteerism!
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Employee of the Quarter!
Posted on Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 at 1:19 pm.
Richmond with Sous Chef Jeffrey Place
I could not leave Sedona without introducing you to Richmond, a culinary intern from the Philippines who is training at Enchantment Resort. Much like Kosta Cvoro, the student I profiled in my last post, Richmond is excelling in his training at Enchantment. I know this because he was just awarded Employee of the Quarter! He was nominated by the resort’s executive chef, sous chef, and just about everybody he worked with, it seems. This young man has made quite an impression here!
Read More ›
Categories: Employers, J-1 Visa, Participants
Enchanted with Arizona
Posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 at 7:51 pm.
Robin Lerner and J-1 international students at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ
After a few stunning days at Grand Canyon National Park, I headed for Sedona, Arizona. It was so hard to leave the awesome beauty of Grand Canyon, so I was thankful to be heading nearby to Sedona to enjoy the spectacular red rocks before ending this leg of Route J-1.
View of Sedona’s famous red rocks.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Accolades on the Rim
Posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2014 at 7:49 pm.There are times when certain individuals capture your heart and inspire you. Two young J-1 Summer Work Travel (SWT) participants I recently met at Grand Canyon National Park showed me – in living color – what a can-do, entrepreneurial spirit really looks like, and how lucky we are that such motivated and impressive individuals regularly choose to take part in J-1 programs.
Eliada Miron, a SWT participant from Romania
Eliada Miron is an extraordinary young woman from Romania who spent this summer working in the reception department at the Yavapai Lodge.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
| About Rebecca Pasini Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange | |
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Rebecca A. Pasini joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges in July 2023. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister - Counselor, Ms. Pasini has been an American diplomat since 1997.
Ms. Pasini previously served as the Director of Public and Congressional Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs from 2021-2023. Other Washington assignments have included positions in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Office of Foreign Missions, and as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. She has also completed multiple overseas tours, including as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Consular Chief in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other tours included Mexico City and Kuwait.
A Maryland native, Ms. Pasini has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University, a master’s degree in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, and an undergraduate degree from Mary Washington College.
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