lunch networking

Jack Powers currently works as an advocate with Youth Justice Network, where he mentors gang-involved adolescents on and transitioning off of Rikers Island. His work in the community with YJN is focused on building opportunity for justice-involved youth living in Brooklyn’s underserved neighborhoods, including East New York, Brownsville, Canarsie, amongst others. In a volunteer capacity outside of YJN, 

Jack is the founder and director of an international nonprofit focusing on photography and computer literacy training for refugee youth in African and the Middle East. He holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Organizational Management from Columbia University and is currently an associate professor of the program.

Kerry O'brien joined the EA team in December 2016 and manages a portfolio of short-term study abroad programs in multiple countries. Prior to working at University Maryland, Kerry worked as an EducationUSA Adviser at the Fulbright Commission in Bogotá, Colombia. As an undergraduate, Kerry worked as a Peer Advisor at the Towson University Study Abroad Office and later gained experience working at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Institute of International Education, and teaching English as a foreign language in Barranquilla, Colombia. 

During her master's studies in nonprofit management, she participated in The New School’s International Field Program in Buenos Aires. Kerry believes it is important for education abroad opportunities to be accessible to all types of students.