Melissa Torres Headshot

Melissa Torres

Former Employee & Industry Partner

Melissa Torres served as Vice President for Academic Programs at IES Abroad, where she oversaw programs in 36 international education centers and played a key role in shaping academic excellence across the organization. With a rich background at institutions like Brown University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The Ohio State University, she brought deep campus-based insight to her work. Today, she serves as President and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad, where she continues to advance the field through innovation, research, and strategic collaboration—including ongoing partnerships with IES Abroad. Her leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to access, quality, and global engagement in education abroad.

“Leading The Forum enables me to see the breadth and depth of study abroad opportunities available to today’s students. We are all living through a challenging period in history, and the realities of climate change, global conflicts, and the changing geopolitical landscape affect all of us. It can be far too tempting to withdraw and stay safely within our own social media bubbles. Study abroad helps students understand that the world is complex, sometimes contradictory, and often beautiful!

Being a part of the IES Abroad community has opened doors for me, and more importantly, has led to lifelong friendships with colleagues I treasure.”
Melissa Torres