Alumni Spotlight

AUP Alumni in the Spotlight

The Alumni Affairs team is devoted to supporting and engaging with AUP’s vibrant community of alumni and former students who live and work all over the world. Whether it’s been a few weeks or a few years, the team is always delighted to hear from alumni and celebrate their personal and professional achievements.

AUP’s bimonthly newsletter, the Alumni Compass, shines a light on the remarkable accomplishments of alumni in an ongoing segment, the Alumni Spotlight. We are proud to share below the alumni that have appeared in the last two issues of the AUP Alumni Compass. Those interested in appearing in an upcoming Alumni Spotlight are encouraged to reach out to the Alumni Affairs team at alumniataup.edu.

Veronica Ayala ’18

Veronica Ayala has launched a project to educate men and women in Ecuador about feminism. She has just started the Instagram page Dama que se Respeta where she will be sharing feminist art, accepting art submissions and sharing her new podcast, which is also available on Spotify. She is accepting art submissions at a98355ataup.edu.

 

Sara E. Bernat ’12

Brand strategist Sara E. Bernat is pursuing a Ph.D. in the sociology of sustainable luxury and fashion, in tandem with brand strategy projects. Her article, “How Luxury Transformed from Opulence to Populace, and What it Means for Brands,” has been published in American Marketer.

 

Darcee Caron G’13

Darcee Caron, AUP’s Director of Experiential Learning, has taken AUP’s Global Professional Skills (GPS) Program online so that students can flourish and grow, even as they continue their semester from home. You can learn how her team is supporting the careers of students and alumni by exploring the AUP Career Center.

 

Sean Casey ’04

Sean Casey is fighting on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic in French Polynesia alongside the Minister of Health and the Emergency Operations Centre. He and his team have been involved in planning, health ops, logistics as well as community engagement to help the community weather the global health crisis.

 

Luca Ivicevic ’16

Luca Ivicevic recently appeared in Forbes’ 30 under 30 for his startup, Penta, which he started only months after graduating from AUP. Penta has become one of the most prominent digital banks in Europe. You can read the company’s profile here.

 
Elizabeth Karcher ’84

Elizabeth Karcher is the executive director at the President Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, D.C., a historical site that presents and explores past issues relating to the Wilson presidency. You can read about their current focus on African American history, women’s history, and Wilson’s international impact in Women’s Leadership magazine.

 

Ed Lange ’93

Ed Lange has captured the zeitgeist of the moment with his video conferencing tool, We2Video, that will reimagine your virtual meetings, presentations and events. You can learn more about his project here

 
Andre Lavergne ’14

Our congratulations to Andre Lavergne, whose interior design and branding work recently won Interior Design’s best Extra Large Office (2018) and the Arseg Trophy for Best Workplace (2019). He was also an honoree for Best Environmental Branding/Graphics (2019).

 

Jennifer Obayuwana ’03

Jennifer Obayuwana is the executive director of Polo, a luxury lifestyle store in Lagos, Nigeria, and is concurrently running her family’s business, a CAT Construction company. You can read about her business ventures on This Day Live

 

Sultan al Qassemi ’98

Sultan al Qassemi has transformed his highly successful in-person Cultural Majlis program to a full virtual platform attracting hundreds of participants from around the world.  Previous features have included cultural and intellectual leaders in the arts, technology and the global economy. Learn more about upcoming events by contacting infoatbarjeel.com.

 

Geir Stian Ulstein ’04

Geir Stian Ulstein is an author whose works on battling cancer and running marathons across Europe, originally penned in Norwegian, are now being translated into Czech and Danish. His book, Self Defence Against Cancer, is now available in English on Amazon. You can learn more on his website here.

 

Darius Yektai ’96

Darius Yektai was recently featured in The New York Times for his drive-by art show that turns lawns and garages into art galleries in the Hamptons. You can read about his social-distancing approach to art appreciation here.