Sherry L. Mueller - President
Sherry L. Mueller has provided leadership for the National Council for International Visitors (representing 90 community organizations and 80,000 volunteers across the United States) since 1996, first as executive director, then as president. Before coming to NCIV, she worked eighteen years for the Institute of International Education (IIE), first as a program officer and then as director of the Professional Exchange Programs staff. During this time she was also an adjunct professor at American University, pioneering the first course on public diplomacy at American University’s School of International Service (SIS). Prior to joining IIE, Sherry served as an Experiment Leader to the former Soviet Union, an English Language Officer for the U.S. Department of State, and a lecturer at the University of Rhode Island.
Sherry is an active volunteer and serves on the boards of various nonprofit organizations including: World Learning, Friendship Force International, the Coalition for American Leadership Abroad, the Public Diplomacy Council, the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center, and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy. She was the founding President of the American University School of International Service Alumni Chapter and is also a member of the SIS Dean’s Advisory Council. Sherry was instrumental in founding the Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy (CCD), an association of like-minded organizations that seeks to increase citizen diplomacy and expand resources and recognition for the international exchange field. Sherry also serves as a senior advisor to Business for Diplomatic Action and to Youth Leaders International.
In 2007 American University’s School of International Service presented Sherry with the Alumna of the Year Award at the German Embassy. She received the United States Information Agency's Award for Outstanding Service in 1996. Before in 1995, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the Lake Park High School Educational Foundation. In appreciation for her active role in alumni affairs at American University, Sherry received the Alumni Recognition Award in 1990.
Sherry has lived in Brazil, where she taught English; participated in an Experiment in International Living program in Germany; and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. In May 2001 she served as a speaker for the U.S. Department of State in Saudi Arabia, giving lectures and conducting workshops on leadership development for nonprofit organizations. She is widely published, and her book, Careers in International Education, Exchange, and Development, originally published in 1998, is currently being revised for re-publication with Georgetown University Press. She earned her MALD and Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Mark W. Rebstock - Director of Membership and Training
Mark Rebstock joined the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) in August 2005. His responsibilities include directing NCIV National and Regional Meetings and other training programs and membership services.
Prior to joining NCIV, Mr. Rebstock worked for five and a half years for the International Visitors Council of Greater Cincinnati, first as Assistant Executive Director and as Executive Director beginning in 2001. In that role, he was heavily involved in strategic planning, fundraising, new program development, marketing and in the strengthening of significant organizational alliances.
Before joining the IVC in Cincinnati, Mr. Rebstock served as Director of Education and Programming for the World Affairs Council of Greater Cincinnati, developing programs for high school students, college faculty, and the community. In that role, he developed and co-directed professional development programs for college and university faculty in Central America, Cuba, Turkey, Ireland, and Central Europe. He has also strengthened international programs for college and university students in work with the Associated Colleges of the Midwest based in Chicago, Illinois and for Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana.
He holds a Masters degree in International and Intercultural Management from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont and a BA in English Literature from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He is also a graduate of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Regional Leadership Forum and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Volunteer Leadership Development Program. Mr. Rebstock has served on the boards of the Center for Peace Education and Volunteer Cincinnati.
Stafford Kay - Director of ePrograms and Grants
Stafford Kay joined the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) as the Director of the Information Exchange and Management System (IEMS) in August 2002. He brings nearly three decades of experience in management, international exchanges, and teaching to the exciting work of integrating all of NCIV's partners into a Web-based information system for the International Visitor Leadership Program.
During the previous 21 years, Stafford Kay worked for the Phelps-Stokes Fund (PSF), one of the nation's oldest nonprofit organizations dedicated to minority education issues. For 16 of those years with PSF he was Director of the Washington Office and Director of International Exchange Programs. He was actively involved in administering numerous International Visitor Programs on topics ranging from foreign policy and education to the media and law. At PSF, he managed a staff of nine and an annual program budget of $2.5 million. He was also in charge of the Washington Office Staff Recruitment and Training for 14 years. Stafford received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Bowdoin College. At the University of Wisconsin, he earned a Masters of Science in History and Education and a Ph.D. with specialization in comparative education and African Studies.
Prior to joining PSF, Stafford lived in Africa and Australia as a university lecturer in African affairs and educational issues. He directed three training programs in Cameroon for African health workers. He spent seven years in Kenya and Australia training secondary school teachers and managing a residential college with 173 students and tutors. He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer secondary school teacher in Kenya.
Leah Tomlins - Program Officer,
Finance and Project Management
Leah Tomlins has more than 18 years of experience in office administration. Prior to joining NCIV in June of 2003, she worked as Assistant to the Deputy Director for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) from 1996 to 2001. While with AZA, Ms. Tomlins was responsible for office administration, some special events planning, managing development and marketing activities during a period of staff transition, and assisting the Deputy Director with activities related to government affairs and management of the Giant Panda Conservation Foundation. Among her achievements during the five years with AZA are management of the Conservation Endowment Fund, AZA’s annual appeal, during the summer of 2000; managing several large scale marketing promotions with nationally known companies such as Kraft Foods and Nickelodeon in 2000; and planning and coordinating a legislative conference in May 2001. Also in May 2001, she planned and coordinated a reception on Capitol Hill, featuring Jack Hanna, to promote awareness of the conservation and education roles of zoos and aquariums.
Ms. Tomlins worked as Coordinator for the Office of the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland from 1993 to 1995. There she was responsible for organizing Chancellor’s Council meetings, preparing all materials for meetings of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland, and coordinating all correspondence relating to Chancellor, the Board of Regents, and members of the Maryland General Assembly.
Ms. Tomlins has had a keen interest in science and conservation since pre-school, and has formally and informally studied many fields of science throughout her life. She is currently a volunteer environmental educator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, teaching environmental concepts and wildlife conservation to both children and adults. Ms. Tomlins’ passions are wildlife and habitat conservation and many fields of science ranging from basic biology to physics. Her hobbies include cooking, traveling the lesser known wilderness areas and back roads of the American Southwest, and reading mystery novels. She shares her home with her two children—a Manx named Chico and a domestic longhair named Addie.
Deborah Whang - Program Associate, Membership and Training
Deborah Whang joined the NCIV staff as a program assistant in January of 2007, and then as Program Associate for Membership and Training in May of 2007. After graduating from Pepperdine University,cum laude, with a B.A. in International Relations, she interned at Shared Hope International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking. There she developed a passion for anti-trafficking, as well as human rights and women's empowerment.
While in college, Ms. Whang was active in the campus chapter of International Justice Mission and served as president of Amnesty International. She also worked as a program coordinator at the Pepperdine Volunteer Center, and a research assistant at the International Studies and Languages Division,where she helped create a course centered on Islam in Asia.
Fluent in Korean and conversant in Spanish,Ms. Whang studied in Heidelberg, Germany, and has traveled extensively through Europe, Korea, and Mexico. Originally from Denver, Colorado,she enjoys hiking, running, and reading in her spare time.
Jason Yarashes - Program Associate, Communications
Jason Yarashes joined the NCIV staff in September 2007 as a Program Assistant, and then as Program Associate, Communications in December 2007. After graduating from the College of William and Mary in December 2005, he spent a year living and working abroad in the lovely pueblo of Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras., He gained unique perspectives on education, gender, and infrastructure issues facing Latin America by spending much of his time abroad teaching English and assisting local nonprofits such as the Habitat for Humanity affiliate.
Mr. Yarashes received his Bachelor of Arts in Government with a focus on political philosophy, international development, and Central America. He served his campus in leadership roles for the Student Mentorship Program, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, and the Global Village Project trip to Honduras. In addition, he participated in numerous fundraising efforts and philanthropic endeavors for the Hall in the Wall Gang Camps, Tsunami Relief Fund, and Habitat for Humanity.
Away from school and work, Mr. Yarashes has a passion for the outdoors. Whether it is camping, hiking, golf, tennis, or surfing, he is a lover of nature and all it has to offer. Fluent in Spanish and eager to expand his linguistic knowledge further, Mr. Yarashes is an avid traveler and has voyaged throughout Central America and Europe.
Matthew Kinshella- Program Assistant
In December of 2007 Matt Kinshella joined the NCIV staff as a program assistant. He graduated from the University of Redlands in spring 2007 and shortly afterward moved from southern California, his lifelong home. A summer internship opportunity brought Mr. Kinshella to Washington D.C. Having worked on both presidential and congressional campaigns, Mr. Kinshella shifted his focus to working with nonprofit organizations. This search, along with his strong personal interest in international relations, brought him to NCIV.
Mr. Kinshella received his Bachelor of Arts in Government, and studied subjects ranging from global political economy to constitutional law. During his junior year Mr. Kinshella spent a semester in Salzburg, Austria studying the European Union, art history, music, European literature, and German. His daily interactions with Austrians as well as citizens from countries throughout Europe sparked his interest in citizen diplomacy. Mr. Kinshella was a four year varsity letterman in baseball and an active member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.
In his spare time Mr. Kinshella coaches a youth baseball team based in Northwest Washington D.C. He also enjoys the study of art and history. He hopes to further his knowledge in both with future travels around the world.
NCIV Southern Regional Meeting - August 6-8, 2008 - 
