Staff
Dr. Raymond Giles, EdD has a doctorate in international education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the International Education Resource Center. Prior to working with study abroad programs in the Dominican Republic, he worked at the New York City Department of Education as an administrator in Community School District 6 in the Bronx and later as Director of Program Planning Development and Evaluation. He resigned from the board of education in 1990 to start a new career as an educational entrepreneur in the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Giles served as a consultant to the Maiden form Foundation and Director the Centro de Aprendizaje an Education Technical Assistance Center sponsored by an association of U.S. industries operating in the la Romana Free Trade Zone. He also directed the research and grant-writing processes in collaboration with the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and He helped to get a planning grant from the VERIZON International Foundation to support our program during a year.
He has served as contractor and consultant to a host of diverse companies, institutions, and consortiums; writing grants, an academic advisor, securing funding, and managing programs to open opportunities for more U.S. students to study overseas.
Mrs. Kenia Avila has worked with IERC since 1992. She has experience working with various Dominican and American universities and institutions including CUNY, SUNY, CIEE, Dillard University, Medgar Evers College, North Carolina Central University, University Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña, UNAPEC, and the New York ADIEP Inc. For the past ten years she has been the Country Director for Study Abroad Program sponsored by the International Education Resource Center (IERC). In 1996 she help establish a University to University agreement between UNAPEC and Medgar Evers CUNY to help forster the development of international studies between the US and the Dominican Republic. She has run several international programs in collaboration with CUNY and SUNY universities.
She is responsible for all in-country program planning. She manages all housing issues, excursions, orientation, internship placement, and all other general student services. Has a bachelor’s degree from UCE Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic and currently runs operations for the Caribbean Reseach Center in Medgar Evers CUNY University..
Blanca Bobadilla has worked as the Administrative Assistant for the IERC program for more than 10 years. She has a degree in Law from the University (PUCMM). Currently working on her masters degree. As a staff assistant she is responsible for all general student services including traveling tips, shopping, adjustment & health issues, schedule changes or additions, activities, customs, your home stay, and university classes.
