Staff Spotlight: Silvia Quiros Valverde

Title:
Study Abroad Administrative Assistant
I am an Administrator with more than 10 years of experience, born in Costa Rica. I really like to taste different food, drinks, dances and indeed cultures.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory is San Miguel de Allende Mexico. Because I went with my mom and sister, walk all day through the beautiful streets, ate local food delicious, enjoy Mexican music, bought gracious souvenirs and drink great tequila. We had a great time and pictures to remember for the rest of our lives.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have grown significantly in my current company, by interacting with different people from different countries. It has help improve my verbal skills, learn new cultures and open my horizons professionally.
My perspective of study abroad experiences has changed since I work here because I have learned that the program transcends in the students' lives and it does make a positive impact to their learning process.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

The best history I ever heard is one student asked her homestay family to handwrite a Costa Rican phrase "Pura Vida" and she went into a tattoo shop to have it in her arm forever. It has been the best story because you realized how the study abroad experience for a student is possible thanks to many people.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I will choose a program in Barcelona, because I had always dreamed of visiting all the Spanish towns possible and taste their local gastronomy. Visit museums, parks, castles, among many others. And learn about art, design, fashion, arquitecture and Catalan, and travel all over the country in train.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

My company is unique because we offer a personalized service, since the student enrolls in the program. We have a wide range of courses offered all of them competency based.
I am especially proud because we keep small groups in order for students to take the most out of our coalified and warm faculty members.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe the biggest factor is having a great customer service, always responding emails, calls and meetings on time and keeping great relations with all the teams involved partners, agencies, universities, homestay families, faculty and staff.
We are a team of universities all around the world and we keep on innovating of the reasons it is successful.