Our Team
The Office of Global Health and Safety (OGHS) at Duke University is dedicated to providing comprehensive support to students, faculty, and staff who are participating in off-campus programs and experiences. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable team is deeply committed to ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of everyone involved in these important educational opportunities.
Amanda Kelso, Ed.D.
Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Division of Experiential Education
Executive Director of the Global Education Office
Amanda Kelso is Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Executive Director of the Global Education Office. In an international education career spanning three decades, Kelso has extensive experience in education abroad program development and operations, crisis and risk management, and student advising. Kelso has held leadership positions in professional organizations, including NAFSA, at the state, regional, and national levels. As an undergraduate, Kelso spent her junior year studying at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, and later returned to Spain to direct a study abroad program. She has a B.A. and M.A. in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a graduate certificate in technology and communication from UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism, and a doctorate in higher education administration from North Carolina State University.
Anna Hayes
Director of Global Health & Safety, Office of Global Health and Safety
Anna Hayes (she/her/hers) joined OUE’s Division of Experiential Education as the Director of Global Health and Safety in the Office of Global Health and Safety (OGHS) in 2022. Anna previously served as the associate director of global programs at Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC, where she was the lead operations officer for faculty-led and exchange programs. Prior to UNC, Anna was assistant director in NC State’s Study Abroad Office, where she oversaw risk assessment strategy, the development of health and safety resources, and pre-departure health and safety trainings for both global program students and program leaders. Anna holds degrees from UNC-Greensboro and NC State and expects to earn her PhD in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development from NC State in 2023. Anna is an active leader, trainer, and mentor in the field of international education.
Anna and her husband Adam live in Raleigh with their four cats and four chickens. She enjoys spending time with her five niblings, reading and watching movies, traveling, and taking long afternoon naps.
Jordan Viars-Whisinnand
Assistant Director of Global Health & Safety, Office of Global Health and Safety
Jordan Viars-Whisinnand (he/him) joined OUE’s Division of Experiential Education as the Assistant Director of Global Health and Safety in the Office of Global Health and Safety (OGHS) in 2022. Jordan has extensive experience in student well-being, staff training, and emergency response. Prior to his work with OUE-Experiential Education, Jordan was a Residence Coordinator at Duke Housing and Residence Life. He supported students in Few, Keohane, and Wannamaker Quads. Previously, Jordan worked in student affairs at the University of Pikeville in Eastern Kentucky. Jordan holds a B.S. degree in psychology from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and a M.Ed. in Counselor Education-Student Affairs from Clemson University.
Jordan and his partner Cody live in Raleigh with their pups, Izzy and Rizzo. They enjoy spending time with friends, watching college football during the autumn months, and bonding over their shared passion for cooking.
Susan E. Pratt
Program Consultant, Embedded Course Travel
Susan E. Pratt is the Program Director of Duke Immerse and consults on program management for embedded course travel. Susan has been involved in the experiential education field for over 25 years, working in international program offices at Tulane University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. From 2009-2022, she was an Assistant Director at Duke’s Global Education Office (GEO) where she focused on program development and management.
Susan spent her junior year abroad at Marburg University in Hessen, Germany, and worked for ten years as assistant/main registrar at Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany, and Dunedin, FL. Susan holds a B.A. in history from Connecticut College and an M.Sc. in international education from Florida State University.
Deirdre Scanlon
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, Experiential Education
Deirdre Scanlon is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for OUE’s Division of Experiential Education. Deirdre’s passion for experiential education began with her own semester study abroad in Galway, Ireland. This transformative experience led to Deirdre’s desire to promote programs and opportunities that will help students gain independence, intercultural competency, and new perspectives, in addition to their academic and experiential learning.
Prior to joining Duke’s Division of Experiential Education, Deirdre held roles in communications strategy development and implementation for a public engagement consulting firm, social media management for a boxing gym, and marketing and registration for a university pre-K-12 summer academic enrichment program. She is always seeking out innovative ways to reach people and constantly working to ensure her communications represent and reach diverse audiences.
Deirdre holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from UNC-Wilmington and a B.A. in English from the University of Lynchburg. In her free time, she enjoys getting lost in novels, creating pieces of art, and going on adventures both big and small.
