Andie Beer

Associate Director
ambeer@cougarnet.uh.edu

Andie leads Learning Abroad, oversees the office's strategic goals and planning, and helps develop our faculty-led programs and our university and provider partnerships.

Andie joined the team in July of 2022. She earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Houston. Her research focuses on global competency development for students, faculty and staff. She also has an M.Ed. in Student Development and Leadership, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. Her study abroad to Greece and London, sparked her love for international education and cultural studies. When not working or in school, she enjoys traveling, hiking, watching Dallas Stars hockey with her husband, and playing with her two dogs,  Sam and Moody.

Adrian Carruthers

Learning Abroad Senior Advisor
acarruth@central.uh.edu

Adrian advises for Incoming and Outgoing Reciprocal Exchange programs (REEPs).

Adrian Carruthers joined the Learning Abroad team in July 2021. Adrian has a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with minors in Spanish and Business Administration from Baylor University. As an undergraduate student he spent a semester abroad in Seville, Spain at Universidad Pablo de Olavide. He is fluent in Spanish and prior to joining Learning Abroad he spent two years living and working in international education in Puerto Rico. In addition, he has also travelled in Western Europe, the Caribbean, Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, South Korea and Morocco. In his free time, Adrian enjoys baking, reading, and planning his next local or global adventure.

Carlos Romero

Learning Abroad Advisor
cromero9@central.uh.edu

Carlos advises students from the following colleges: Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CLASS), Arts, Education, and Public Affairs.

Carlos joined the Learning Abroad team in June 2023. Carlos has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in History from Texas A&M University where he also began his career as an Academic Advisor. As a student, his first study abroad experience consisted of a week-long field trip to Costa Rica as well as a full semester in Italy, which gave him the opportunity to travel across western Europe. As a staff member at Texas A&M, Carlos had the opportunity to lead learning abroad programs to Portugal and Panama. Carlos is also fluent in Spanish and he is from the south Texas border town of Zapata, Texas. When Carlos is not at work, he enjoys watching and playing all types of sports, his favorites being soccer, American football, and baseball, traveling and gaming on his PS5.

Lauren Fedele Bobbitt

Learning Abroad Advisor
lfedele@central.uh.edu

Lauren advises students from the following colleges: Architecture, Business, Engineering, Global Hospitality & Leadership, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Nursing, Medicine, Law, and Social Work.

Lauren joined the Learning Abroad team in November 2023. Lauren has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Urban Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of Texas in Austin. As an undergraduate student, Lauren studied abroad in Santander, Spain for a summer. Since then, Lauren has worked at Texas Southern University as an Admissions Coordinator and for a study abroad provider called WorldStrides. She has led learning abroad programs to Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador. In her free time she enjoys traveling, gardening, hiking, and playing with her two dogs, Sunny and Georgie.

Ciara Plummer

Administrative Assistant
csplumme@central.uh.edu

Ciara joined the Learning Abroad team in March 2023. Ciara has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Multi-platform Journalism. Although Ciara was unable to study abroad during her undergraduate experience, she has had opportunities to travel recreationally to many places within the United States, as well as internationally to Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Mexico. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with family and friends, going to the movies (especially anything Disney, Marvel or DCU related), dancing, trying new and interesting foods, and cuddling with her dogs, Tipper and Chloe.

Niamh Cosette Gerdes

Graduate Assistant
ncgerdes@CougarNet.uh.edu

Niamh joined the Learning Abroad team in December 2024. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Policy and hopes to work around the world. Niamh holds a dual Bachelor's degree in International Studies and International Development with minors in Finance, Economics and Honors. She was unable to study abroad as an undergraduate student but has lived in France for one year to learn French following her undergraduate graduation. She greatly enjoys traveling around the world and learning about various cultures. In her free time, she enjoys art museums, learning new topics, and spending time with her loved ones.

Kimberly Nguyen

Passport Facility Manager
knguy273@Central.uh.edu

Kimberly joined the Learning Abroad team in August 2023. Kimberly has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Human Resources and Management from the University of New Mexico. She has had the opportunity to travel to Canada, Mexico, and around the Caribbean. Next on her bucket list is to travel somewhere in Europe. Kimberley is fluent in both English and Vietnamese. In her free time, Kimberly likes to cook, garden, walk her dog Apollo, spend time with her family and friends, and watch Disney movies with her kids.