Heather Rahimi
Fostering global awareness through international education.
ABOUT ME
My name is Heather Rahimi and, although I was born and raised in Northern California, I consider myself to be a global citizen. Growing up in a multicultural household (Iranian & American) instilled a sense of curiosity in me from birth. I wanted to learn about my own heritage, participate in my friends’ traditions, taste food from around the world, and explore the relationship between language and culture. This curiosity inspired me to study Spanish and Anthropology as an undergraduate student and later led me to pursue a master’s degree in International Education Management.
​
The first time I began to envision my future in the field was while studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The experience was nothing short of amazing. In six months I explored four countries, ate locro with a gaucho, exchanged stories with fellow travelers, and developed a passion for cross-cultural interaction. Not only did my time abroad allow me to develop and acknowledge my identity, it also enabled me to see through others' eyes and experience a world I never knew existed.
Since receiving my Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology and Spanish I have worked in a myriad of environments and positions. Each position taught me new skills and left me with a better understanding of my desired future. Nevertheless, the breaks between jobs are what truly illuminate my passion for international education. After nearly every major career change, I find myself traveling across the world in search of global experiences ranging from learning about Bedouin traditions in Petra to being a volunteer archaeologist in Peru. Immersing myself in other cultures leaves me with more compassion, patience, and respect for diverse perspectives. We live in a dynamic world where cross-cultural interactions are a daily, if not hourly, occurrence. I hold a firm conviction that these values can be taught to future generations of diverse leaders who can build their own toolkit of global perspectives to help create a more accepting and innovative global community.
EXPERIENCE
Communications Manager & Student Programs Coordinator
Stanford Center on China's Economy & Institutions
Stanford,CA
​
-
Develop and implement a communication strategy and deliverables for launch of the center
-
Build, maintain, and spearhead new content creation for Drupal website to make it the go-to online resource for the center
-
Coordinate over 40 annual virtual and hybrid events
-
Manage annual summer internship program bringing 25+ students to Stanford's campus or China
-
Support visiting students and scholars during their appointment and J-1 visa application process at Stanford
Program Development Manager
WorldStrides ISA Custom Programs
Austin, TX
​
-
Develop over 80 international custom program proposals for higher education institutions across the United States to convert sales in to over $200,000 in revenue in an 11-month sales period.
-
Manage client relations across multiple domestic and international stakeholders to facilitate intercultural communication and project success.
-
Develop and implement proposals, budgets, and contracts while managing faculty and university expectations
Incoming Student Coordinator
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Monterey, CA
​
​
-
Assist in incoming student communication tracking through Salesforce to increase student yield by 10%
-
Develop, market, and run events to engage early-arriving incoming students
-
Create and implement social media plan using Hootsuite, Facebook, and Instagram to build a virtual community
for admitted students
EDUCATION
MA International Education Management
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
2016 - 2017
​
Featured Courses:
-
International Education Program Design & Assessment
-
Marketing & Recruiting for International Education
-
Principles and Practices of International Education
-
Staff Management in International Contexts
-
Intercultural Competence Courses: Trust Across Cultures, Biculturalism & Multiculturalism, Intercultural Group Dynamics
BA Anthropology,
BA Spanish
​
Northern Arizona University
2009 - 2013
​
Double majored in Anthropology and Spanish to develop a holistic perspective and understanding of how culture influences everyday life and every action made in our globalized world.
​
Favorite moment: Mapping and surveying an archaeological site on the Hopi Reservation.
Semester Exchange Student
Direct Enroll
​
Universidad de Palermo
2011
​
Lived for 6 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina as an exchange student. Studied at la Universidad de Palermo alongside native Spanish speakers. All subject matter was conducted in Spanish.
Favorite moment: Being mistaken as una porteña (person from Buenos Aires) while traveling in Santiago, Chile.
FEATURED PROJECTS
Countries I have visited
LET'S CONNECT
 La BocaBuenos Aires, Argentina |  Machu PicchuAguas Calientes, Peru |
|---|---|
 Al-Aqsa MosqueJerusalem, Israel |  ManarolaCinque Terre, Italy |
 Temple in PetraPetra, Jordan |  Perito Moreno GlacierEl Calafate, Argentina |
 John Lennon WallPrague, Czech Republic |  ViennaVienna, Austria |
 AmsterdamAmsterdam, Netherlands |  ColloseumRome, Italy |
 Coastal TrailMonterey, California |  Golden Gate BridgeSan Francisco, California |
 DoorLucerne, Switzerland |
Experiences Abroad
Countries Visited
"Our destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -Henry Miller
