Tai Mesches (tai@viaprograms.org)
Program Director
Tai is a half-Chinese, and half-Belarusian from New York City, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and with over 6+ years of experience abroad in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. He is an innovative, passionate, and creative international educator dedicated to empowering participants through experiential learning, creative self-reflection, cross-cultural community building, and dialogue facilitation. Tai specializes in designing programs focused on the US-East Asian relationship, with a variety of unique workshops, activities, dialogue, and reflection that will not only challenge your way of thinking, but will also engage you in your own self growth and character development. Tai is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management at School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont. Come prepared to go on a new adventure, make life-long connections, and embrace making change not only in your own life, but also in the world!
Program Director
Tai is a half-Chinese, and half-Belarusian from New York City, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and with over 6+ years of experience abroad in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. He is an innovative, passionate, and creative international educator dedicated to empowering participants through experiential learning, creative self-reflection, cross-cultural community building, and dialogue facilitation. Tai specializes in designing programs focused on the US-East Asian relationship, with a variety of unique workshops, activities, dialogue, and reflection that will not only challenge your way of thinking, but will also engage you in your own self growth and character development. Tai is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management at School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont. Come prepared to go on a new adventure, make life-long connections, and embrace making change not only in your own life, but also in the world!
Amy Luo ([email protected])
Assistant Director
Amy is a passionate program designer of experiential learning, committed to empowering youth from different cultures and backgrounds through education. Since she was a small child, Amy has always wanted to be an educator. Early on, she discovered her talent for languages and passion for learning about the history and culture behind the words. She spent a year teaching Chinese to specialists at the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu and students from all over the world. Her work introduced her to new people and cultures, and when she began teaching foreigners about her own language and culture she became fascinated by the range of perspectives and insights teaching brought to her life. She is currently pursing her master’s degree of International Education at SIT Graduate Institute
Assistant Director
Amy is a passionate program designer of experiential learning, committed to empowering youth from different cultures and backgrounds through education. Since she was a small child, Amy has always wanted to be an educator. Early on, she discovered her talent for languages and passion for learning about the history and culture behind the words. She spent a year teaching Chinese to specialists at the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu and students from all over the world. Her work introduced her to new people and cultures, and when she began teaching foreigners about her own language and culture she became fascinated by the range of perspectives and insights teaching brought to her life. She is currently pursing her master’s degree of International Education at SIT Graduate Institute
Christy Inhulsen ([email protected])
Cross-Cultural & Leadership Programs Director
Christy has been involved with a number of VIA programs including Exploring Social Innovation, American Language and Culture and the Social Enterprise Lab. Before coming to VIA, she studied Training Design and Community Development at the School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont. She has taught English in the Czech Republic, Japan and Thailand. She also served in Peace Corps in Thailand and taught at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
She is enthusiastic to be directing the Global Leadership and Engagement program where she can continue her passion of addressing social justice issues, collaborating with passionate individuals and working toward sustainable solutions for a more vibrant global society.
Cross-Cultural & Leadership Programs Director
Christy has been involved with a number of VIA programs including Exploring Social Innovation, American Language and Culture and the Social Enterprise Lab. Before coming to VIA, she studied Training Design and Community Development at the School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont. She has taught English in the Czech Republic, Japan and Thailand. She also served in Peace Corps in Thailand and taught at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
She is enthusiastic to be directing the Global Leadership and Engagement program where she can continue her passion of addressing social justice issues, collaborating with passionate individuals and working toward sustainable solutions for a more vibrant global society.
Melissa Golden ([email protected])
Operations Director
Melissa participated in the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Programme from 2007 to 2012. She worked in a small town in Hokkaido, northern Japan, as the only foreign English teacher at five elementary schools and two junior high schools. Melissa also participated in many projects with other JET participants; including coordinating and directing four English musical productions and training new JETs at annual orientations. She discovered a great satisfaction and purpose in working to foster cross-cultural understanding and competence in both her Japanese students and JET colleagues. She also greatly enjoyed using theater as a creative space to facilitate cross-cultural learning. After finishing the JET Programme, Melissa earned her M.A. in International Education Management from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She is utilizing both her experience working in cross-cultural situations and knowledge and skills developed through her graduate degree program to further sustainable program development for VIA.
Operations Director
Melissa participated in the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Programme from 2007 to 2012. She worked in a small town in Hokkaido, northern Japan, as the only foreign English teacher at five elementary schools and two junior high schools. Melissa also participated in many projects with other JET participants; including coordinating and directing four English musical productions and training new JETs at annual orientations. She discovered a great satisfaction and purpose in working to foster cross-cultural understanding and competence in both her Japanese students and JET colleagues. She also greatly enjoyed using theater as a creative space to facilitate cross-cultural learning. After finishing the JET Programme, Melissa earned her M.A. in International Education Management from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She is utilizing both her experience working in cross-cultural situations and knowledge and skills developed through her graduate degree program to further sustainable program development for VIA.