Gretchen Cook-Anderson
Gretchen Cook-Anderson is a nationally recognized leader in international education and former Director of Diversity Recruiting & Advising at IES Abroad, where she led groundbreaking efforts to expand access to study abroad for more than 10,000 students of color and thousands of other underrepresented students. A 1988–89 alumna of the IES Abroad Nagoya Program and graduate of Spelman College, Gretchen’s study abroad experience in Japan profoundly shaped her global perspective and future career. Nearly 20 years later, after attending IES Abroad’s 60th Anniversary Alumni Dinner, she returned to the organization in a leadership role she called “fate,” dedicated to supporting students who, in her words, were a reflection of herself at that age. Fluent in Japanese and passionate about equity and global learning, Gretchen is a recipient of Diversity Abroad’s Excellence in Diversifying International Education Award. She continues her work in the study abroad field, and we’re lucky to call her an alum and a colleague!
“I understand the power and breadth of exploring the unfamiliar, enjoying a meal of food I’ve never had with people whose history and daily rituals differ from my own, and letting go of what I thought I knew about a place and its people to learn and grow in mind-expanding ways. For more than 30 years I’ve had a professional’s front-row seat to observing how travel changes people and, in my work, support college students and young professionals’ pursuit of study and career exploration abroad.”Gretchen Cook-Anderson