As an Associate Vice President for Academic Programs, Dr. Brittani Smit provides strategic leadership and academic oversight for a portfolio of Clusters, including the Global South, and leads key academic initiatives to strengthen program quality. Dr. Smit completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. During her junior year, she studied abroad in Rome, Italy and Cape Town, South Africa. She returned to South Africa to complete Master’s and PhD degrees in English Literature at the University of Cape Town.
She has extensive experience developing and delivering high impact international education experiences, having served as the Resident Director for South Africa programs for Arcadia University’s College of Global Studies, as well as Student Life Manager & Academic Coordinator for the CIEE Global Institute in Cape Town. In prior leadership roles at IES Abroad, Dr. Smit has led strategic initiatives related to organizational development, staff support, student success, and strategic planning, contributing to more cohesive systems and an enhanced experience for both students and colleagues.