Rachel Birkley

Rachel Birkley, Associate Director, Education Abroad, graduated from North Central College in 2018 with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Spanish.  During her time as an undergraduate student, she studied abroad in Seville, Spain for a semester.  Upon graduation, she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright grant and served as an English Teaching Assistant in Logroño, Spain.  After a year of teaching and living abroad, Rachel returned to North Central College for graduate school and became the Graduate Assistant for Education Abroad in 2019.  In her second year of the Higher Education Leadership graduate program, she transitioned into a full-time position in Education Abroad. 

To this position, Rachel brings her own experience of studying and living abroad, learning and speaking a second language (Spanish), and applying her leadership skills in a variety of contexts.  She manages the office of Education Abroad (EA), a unit housed within the Center for Global Education (CGE), which supports North Central College students and their participation in 38 education abroad programs in 21+ countries, preparing students to be curious, engaged, ethical, and purposeful citizens and leaders in local, national and global contexts.