Executive Bios
Erik Presley, President
Erik, as a founder of ELI 360 and previous Director of Marketing for an international software company, has experience in cross-culture business with travels to Europe, Asia and Latin America. As Director of Marketing he was a key factor in the launch of a multi-million dollar software initiative within the gasoline retail industry with clients like ConocoPhillips. He recently opened ELI 360’s Southeast Asia office to help better serve families in Asia as a component of a larger vision for the company.
Ted Presley, Founder, VP of International Development
Ted, as a founder of ELI 360 and previous university lecturer of anthropology and international studies, has conducted international education workshops at universities and government offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Beijing, and Jakarta. At a private US university, he was Executive Director of an international center overseeing study abroad programs in Europe and Latin America as well as international student affairs. He has traveled and given lectures in numerous countries around the world.
Ellen Presley, Vice President of Operations
Ellen, as a founder of ELI 360 and previous university lecturer of German, has counseled students from various countries, assisting them in cultural adaptation, in developing a better sense of their own abilities and in reaching their educational and professional goals. She has developed an innovative model for international student care at US universities. She has traveled to over 60 countries and demonstrated a unique talent for bridging cultures.
Paul Boesen, Business Development Advisor
Paul has worked with international students as a university administrator and as the owner and director of English Now!, an English language school in the Washington, DC area with which ELI360 offers FirstDays USA language and cultural orientation programs. Paul has extensive experience in the development and administration of undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by American universities overseas. Prior to moving into university administration, Paul worked in the investment banking and private equity areas of the Goldman Sachs Group as well as for the World Economic Forum. Paul has lived and worked in China, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, and Switzerland, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan (BA Economics, MA Asian Studies) and Harvard Law School.
Steven Gist, Director of Global Markets
Steven has worked in various areas of international education including study abroad, foreign language education, international student recruiting and cross-cultural training in both the public and private sectors for more than ten years. He holds an MA in International Education from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont where much of his research focused on the process that families go through in choosing an educational institution outside of their home country. Steven has lived and worked in several countries around the world including China, Belgium, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.
Management
Bowen Shen, Market Manager – China Office
After graduating with an undergraduate degree in communication from Harbin Institute of Technology, Bowen spent several years working for multinational corporations in China. In 2006 he traveled to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in communication, which he completed with honors. During his time in the U.S., Bowen worked with the international office at his host university as a translator and international education consultant, and played a pivotal role in the university’s marketing and international student recruiting efforts in China. Before joining ELI 360 in 2010, Bowen worked in the study abroad industry in China for several years and assisted many Chinese students in finding life-changing opportunities for education abroad.
Qing Gao, Operations Manager – China Office
Qing was born and raised in Beijing China. There, she was an obstetric nurse in a major hospital for 5 years and a lab technician in Institute of Basic Medical Sciences for 3 years. She has lived in the U.S. since 1989 and served international students attending U.S. universities in Michigan, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas.
Heidi Carmichael, Student Services – Career Coach
Heidi’s passion is to help individuals realize their full professional potential. She has lived and worked in Europe, South America and the U.S. Her career path has moved from management positions in major retailers such as the international power house “The GAP” to consulting at TDM & Associates where she has helped manage corporate human resource needs. Her experience as a Career Management Specialist led her to initiate a new career coaching division at TDM & Associates as a means of fulfilling her personal avocation to help professionals implement an effective job search. She heads up ELI 360’s student service division, Career Coaching. With her oversight and expertise we are here to help you reach your greatest potential after university studies!
