Rachel Anderholder
Executive Director
rachel@carpemundi.org
Rachel transitioned to the Executive Director of Carpe Mundi in March, 2018, after serving as the Associate Director for two years. She has been involved with Carpe Mundi off and on since its inception in 2012, as a graduate student intern and as a volunteer. As the Associate Director, Rachel helped establish the PDXchange program, mentoring PDXchange cohorts in Portland and traveling with a group in 2017. In the Executive Director role, Rachel finds excitement in creating deeper relationships with the community and envisions how Carpe Mundi will continue to grow sustainably into the future. Rachel is passionate about all things education, but particularly experiential education – making learning relevant and transformational for students. Through working and volunteering with various schools and educational nonprofits throughout North and South America, Rachel has experienced firsthand the benefits of making learning an interaction, rather than a transaction.
Rachel has lived in and traveled to over 20 countries and 40 states. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Rachel is excited to have a permanent home in Portland, although a piece of her heart will always be in Latin America. She holds a B.A. in Communications and Spanish from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA and an M.A. in International Development and Service from Concordia University in Portland.
GRACE HOWARD
Community Outreach & Recruitment Specialist
grace@carpemundi.org
Grace grew up in St. Helens, Oregon, where she became involved in community development and public services and wanted to increase accessibility in her community. Grace earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science at Portland State University. Grace began her position as Carpe Mundi’s Community Relations and Enrollment Specialist in 2023, but her journey with Carpe Mundi did not begin there. Grace is a Carpe Mundi alumnus and traveled to India in the spring of 2020. Since her travels, she has spent time as a Carpe Mundi summer intern for two summers and volunteered off and on in her free time. In Grace’s new role, she strives to connect the Carpe Mundi alumni community and inspire prospective students to seize a world of opportunity through experiential international education. Grace is passionate about equity in education and believes experiential education and travel should be accessible to all students.
Andrew Neal
Program Director
andrew@carpemundi.org
Andrew grew up in the Portland area and went to college at University of Puget Sound where he got his B.A. in International Political Economy. His interest in traveling and learning about other cultures grew from living in Puerto Rico as a child, and after college he spent 8 months traveling across Mexico, volunteering and learning Spanish. Afterwards he returned to Portland and started working with WorldOregon coordinating international youth exchange programs from around the world. Most recently Andrew worked with Metropolitan Family Service managing the Parklane Elementary SUN Community School. He is passionate about social justice and enjoys sharing his love of learning, the outdoors, and traveling.
Bitsy Bond-Perez
Recruitment and Communications Intern
Intern@carpemundi.org
Bitsy was born into a Mexican American household with a mother from Gresham, Oregon and a father from Tulancingo, Hidalgo. Growing up she always dreamed of going to Mexico some day and in the summer of 2023 she got to visit for the first time. She became hooked on traveling and went back to Mexico as soon as she could. In February 2024 she got the opportunity to travel to India and Nepal through the Carpe Mundi scholarship. The combination of experiences in Mexico, India and Nepal sparked a new interest within her. Bitsy wants to travel for work and work towards her bachelor’s degree in International studies. Right now though, she is working on finishing up her associates of general studies so she can transfer to Portland State University and pursue her dreams! Outside of work and school business she likes to spend her time as an animal and environmental activist, and enjoys spending time with her cat Gigi.