About the founders

Mark S. Lazar

Mark S. Lazar is a senior international education and non-profit leader, with experience in organizational direction, strategic planning, program design and management, relationship management, business development, financial/budget management and global operations. He worked at the Institute of International Education (IIE) for over 20 years, rising to the level of Vice President and Chief of Client Engagement. During his time at IIE, he implemented successful new education and scholarship programs with the U.S. State Department, NYU, GE, Alcoa, Rockefeller Foundation, Schwarzman Scholars Program and many others. Mark is also experienced at leading large international teams and managing operations in locations across the globe.

Prior to IIE, Mark worked at the Soros Foundations and the Central European University, developing educational programs in Central and Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union. He holds Master's degrees from NYU and Columbia University and a Bachelor's from University of Wisconsin, Madison

Ellen McKey

Ellen McKey has played senior leadership roles in academic and experiential exchange management,winning and overseeing large U.S. and foreign government contracts and designing, operationalizing and scaling new programs and services. Her portfolio has included the J. William Fulbright Foreign Student Program and the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP), as well as highly customized foundation and privately sponsored programs. Her non-profit leadership experience includes strategic planning and implementation, risk management, innovating program delivery through new technologies, staff development and optimization and regulatory compliance (incl. OMB Uniform Guidance, J-1/2 visa sponsorship, GDPR).

Ellen served as Vice President of Student Exchanges and Chief of Innovation and Knowledge Management at the Institute of International Education (IIE), and before that, she oversaw academic fellowships at the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF). She has a Ph.D. and M.A. in German Literature from Rutgers University, and a B.A. from Wellesley College. She is also a productivity consultant for small non-profit organizations and a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizational Professionals (NAPO).