IES Global Leadership
Motivated by our mission to educate students to become global leaders, our staff leads by example. From a highly-experienced executive team to our Center Directors on-site in our global destinations, we set the standard for what it means to be a global leader. Meet some of our key leadership team from our U.S. headquarters and Centers abroad.
Executive Team
Gregory D. Hess
President & CEO
Gregory D. Hess, Ph.D., is President and CEO of IES Global. Having joined IES Abroad in 2020, Greg is an extremely well-rounded leader, and brings a wealth of expertise and experience across higher education, liberal arts, and business.
Michael Adewumi
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost
Dr. Michael Adewumi is the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost at IES Abroad. In this role, he provides leadership and oversight for all academic affairs at IES Abroad. Before joining IES Abroad, Michael served as the Vice Provost for Global Programs and the Senior International Officer at Penn State University.
Richard Bartecki
Executive Vice President for Marketing & College Relations
Rich Bartecki is the Executive Vice President for Marketing and College Relations, where he directs global enrollment management, college relations, advising, and marketing efforts.
Jody Madler
Executive Director of Advancement & Alumni Engagement
Jody Madler, Executive Director of Advancement, has been with IES Abroad since 2017. In this role, she provides leadership and strategic vision for the charitable fundraising and alumni engagement work of IES Abroad.
William Martens
Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer
Bill Martens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, has been with IES Abroad since 1999. Bill has work in the accounting and finance field for more than twenty-five years, previously working as a Finance Consultant with Ernst & Young in the health care and not-for-profit sectors.
Amber Mercier
Vice President of Strategy, New Business Initiatives & Analytics
Amber joined the President’s Office as the organization’s first Chief of Staff, and now oversees the development and implementation business lines, such as IES Internships (2013) and SAF (2015).
Brittani Smit
Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism
Dr. Brittani Smit has extensive experience in developing and delivering high impact international education experiences in South Africa, having served as the Resident Director for South Africa programs for Arcadia University’s College of Global Studies.
Elsa Wehage
Chief of Staff & Events Manager
Elsa has extensive experience in fostering relationships and facilitating collaboration across teams. She supports the President in managing strategic issues and acts as liaison for the Board of Directors and the organization.
Board of Directors
- President Emerita and Trustee Professor of Legal Studies Emerita, Claremont McKenna College
- Managing Director, TRIAD Capital Management
- Retired Operating Division President, Kraft Foods
- President, University of Missouri System
- Chancellor, University of Missouri-Columbia
- CEO, Lever for Change
- Senior Advisor, Collaborative Philanthropy and Fellows, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- President Emeritus and University Professor, University of Richmond
- CEO, Rewards Network
- Managing Director & Head of Pricoa Capital Group
- Managing Director & Partner, Prudential Capital Partners
- IES Abroad Vienna 1968-69
- Managing Director, Golden Seeds
- Former Partner, Charterhouse Equity Partners
- President and CEO, IES Global
- Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
- Co-Founder & Former CEO, ZS Associates
- Adjunct Faculty, London School of Business
- Managing Partner, Asian Century Quest
- Trustee Emerita, Wheaton College MA
- Senior Portfolio Manager and Domestic Director of Research at Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Columbia Threadneedle Investments
- Clinical Associate Professor of Marketing, Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
- Director of International Education and Stanley D. and Nikki Waxberg Professor of Politics and Law, Washington and Lee University
- Professor of Nursing and Global Health & Adjunct Professor of Policy and Governance, University of Washington
- President, Wofford College
- IES Abroad Durham 1973
- Retired Director & Senior Credit Consultant, Moody's Analytics
- IES Abroad Vienna 1979
- Trustee, College of Wooster, Diamond Hill Funds, and Frost Valley YMCA
- Founder, Higher Education Advisors LLC
- Chairman and CEO, Asco Pompe S.r.l.
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