Staff Spotlight: Maura McCarthy
Maura McCarthy is an international programs coordinator in Study Abroad, a unit of the Office of Global Engagement, a role in which she serves both faculty and students. McCarthy received the Office of Global Engagement’s Outstanding Service Award in 2017 for going above and beyond expectations in providing support to students on the study abroad programs she oversees.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Growing up a military brat, I was lucky enough to go to high school in Japan. Longing to find a way back, I returned to the country to teach English in a rural area for 2 years after undergrad at Carolina (Global Studies & Anthropology). I started a Masters in International Education program at Carolina just 2 weeks after returning to the U.S., and briefly worked at the medical school as a course coordinator for OBGYN before coming to NC State Global.
How long have you been with NC State and the Office of Global Engagement?
18 months
Tell us what you do in a few sentences.
I manage study abroad programs for the College of Education, College of Design, and College of Sciences and will soon be advising those students on semester programs. I also manage relationships with exchange partners in Asia and advise students interested in studying in those regions. Finally, I direct the incoming exchange study abroad program for NC State (with the help of my trusty graduate assistant)!
What’s your favorite thing about your work?
Meeting students after they have returned to the U.S. and seeing how much they’ve grown from their international experience. Also, foreign snacks in the break room.