Education and Training Committee

Alexander Parini, International Relations Lecturer, University of Economics and Finance

Alexander Parini is an academic, writer, and international relations specialist based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He serves as a lecturer and senior international relations officer at the University of Economics and Finance. In addition, he provides freelance advising to students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in the United States, offering guidance on university selection, application strategy, essay development, and scholarship opportunities.

Alexander is an active member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and the Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City Branch). He is currently Co-Chair of AmCham Vietnam’s Education and Training Committee.

He is also the editor-in-chief of My Asia Connections, an internationally minded blog focused on promoting a greater understanding of the Asia-Pacific. Alexander holds master’s degrees from SOAS University of London and Peking University, and a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University.

Michael Alpaugh, Specialist, U.S. Dept. of State English Language Fellowship Program

Michael Alpaugh has over 18 years of experience in international education and holds an M.A. in TEFL/TESOL from the University of Birmingham, UK. He has worked as an IELTS expert with the British Council, US Recruitment Manager for East Asia at INTO University Partnerships, Dean of English for Academic Purposes at Broward College Vietnam, and Associate Academic Director at Keiser University Vietnam. He recently completed a three-year Fellowship with the U.S. Consulate American Center, the Vietnamese People’s Security Academy, the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS), and the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. He is currently a Specialist with the U.S. Dept. of State English Language Fellowship Program.

Catriona Moran, Head of School, South Saigon International School

Dr. Moran is an Irish national with over 35 years of experience in education and leadership, 30 years of which have been in international schools in Japan, Taiwan, and now Vietnam. She currently serves as Head of School at Saigon South International School, HCMC. Catriona holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego in the U.S.

Trained as an elementary teacher, Catriona has served as an elementary principal in two international schools and deputy head of a school in Asia for two decades. In 2013, she was named the “National Distinguished Principal of the Year” by the National Association of Elementary Principals and the U.S. State Department for her work at Taipei American School. She serves on the EARCOS Board of Directors, on the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) Board of Trustees, and as Chair of the Saigon International Network of Schools in HCMC.

Her areas of interest include school improvement, leadership, governance, staff professional development, assessment, program and policy development, and child protection and safeguarding.

Marco Longmore, Head of School, at the International School of HCMC

Marco leads ISHCMC and is a key member of the Saigon International School Heads Association. Under his leadership at ISHCMC, the school has seen tremendous new projects, renovations of the campus, investments into the orchestra, debate clubs, STEM and robotics, and new sports programs. In addition, Marco is well known throughout the Education sector in Asia and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the AmCham Education committee.

Vice Chair

Timothy Nelson, Principal of American Program and Academic Director, Pennsylvania American International School (PennSchool)

Tim Nelson is an educational leader based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, currently serving as Academic Director and American Program Principal at the Pennsylvania American School System (PennSchool). In this role, he oversees academic programming and school improvement initiatives within a bilingual education model designed to expand access to high-quality international education for Vietnamese students. He also serves as Deputy Head of the Cognia Accreditation Council for RT Holdings, where he supports accreditation systems and quality assurance processes across a network of ten campuses.

Tim holds a Master of Education in STEM Leadership and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at Liberty University. He also holds a Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) from Harvard University and an International Educational Leadership Certification from the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE). Trained as a high school physics teacher, he has taught mathematics and computer science courses and maintains a strong interest in instructional innovation and emerging learning models.

Having lived and worked in Vietnam for over a decade, Tim’s professional work focuses on strengthening locally accessible international education pathways and supporting long-term educational development within Vietnam’s growing bilingual school sector. He has participated in international accreditation review visits as a Cognia Engagement Review Team Member, contributing to school evaluation and continuous improvement efforts.

His professional interests include the future of education, artificial intelligence in learning environments, student grouping methodologies, teacher retention and leadership development, and expanding access and affordability in international education.

Dr. Chandra McGowan, Head of School & Secondary Principal, Canadian International School Vietnam

Dr. Chandra McGowan is a dedicated and accomplished educational leader with extensive experience in international education. As the Co-Secretary of the Education and Training Committee and the Head of School & Secondary Principal at the Canadian International School Vietnam, Dr. McGowan plays a pivotal role in shaping educational excellence and fostering student success.

Dr. Chandra holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in International Education and a Master of Arts in Education from George Mason University. Her academic foundation is complemented by a Bachelor of Arts and Education in Mathematics and History from Wilmington College of Ohio. To further enhance her leadership capabilities, Dr. McGowan earned a Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) from Harvard University.

In addition to her academic credentials, Dr. McGowan actively contributes to global educational standards as a Council of International Schools (CIS) Accreditation Evaluator, supporting schools in achieving and maintaining high-quality learning environments.

With a strong commitment to student achievement, teacher development, and educational innovation, Dr. McGowan brings strategic vision and collaborative leadership to her role. Her dedication to fostering inclusive, engaging, and future-focused learning environments continues to impact the educational community in Vietnam.

Willem Smit, Lead Faculty for Business and Executive Education, Fulbright University Vietnam

Dr. Willem Smit is an expert in strategic decision-making, particularly in the areas of digitalization, entrepreneurship and internationalization. He earned his doctorate (Management) from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Prior to joining Fulbright and the YSEALI Academy, he was at IMD in Lausanne (Switzerland); SMU and NUS in Singapore, MIT Sloan in Cambridge, MA (USA), and Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), where he designed and delivered undergraduate, MBA and executive development programs in marketing strategy, international marketing, brand management, and data analytics.

Willem has published his studies in the Harvard Business Review, the Journal of Management Studies, the Journal of Business Venturing, and the Financial Times, among others. His work has also received media attention in publications such as the Times, Bloomberg, and Newsweek. In collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, he publishes studies and policy briefs on start-up digitalization, national digitalization strategies, and digital Global Value Chain connectedness.

At Fulbright, Willem leads Executive Education programs, and teaches business courses in various programs. His marketing strategy course have been taught in four different schools: Asia School of Business (Malaysia), University of Basel (Switzerland), ESMT (Berlin), and Fulbright University (Vietnam). The Learning-by-Doing pedagogy of the course has students join teams with participating companies. More than 125 companies have thus far participated with the Digital In Action program: www.digitalinaction.org

In an effort to put policy recommendations from his studies into action, and to support workforce transformation strategies of the country, Willem joins the AMCHAM’s Education & Training Committee for advocacy work on  Vietnam’s workforce transformation.

Taskforce

Dr. Teresa Atwa, Vice President International Services Europe/Asia | Cognia

Dr. Teresa Atwa has over two decades of educational experience as a middle and high school teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent for K through 12 schools. She previously held positions in an advisory role and adjunct professorship in the Masters and Doctorate programs for Educators at Acacia University, USA. Dr. Atwa has provided professional development and educational support in the United States, China, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, among other countries. She advocates the importance of professional development by empowering teachers and administrators to continue their growth and expand their knowledge by sharing her experience and expertise in Professional Learning communities. Dr. Atwa holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a Master’s in Secondary Education, and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Business Management. Dr. Atwa is the Vice President International Services, Cognia, supporting institutions in their journey toward continuous improvement.

Robert T. Connolly, EdD, General Director, Crossroads Vietnam Co, Ltd

Robert (Bob) Connolly’s credentials include an EdD in Leadership, an MBA in International Business and Finance, and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska (USA), Dr. Connolly moved to Vietnam in 2004. As General Director of Crossroads Vietnam, he offers consulting, workshops, and coaching to help companies develop the Leadership, Skills, and Culture needed to grow their business. He is also an adjunct lecturer teaching MBA Leadership courses at several universities.

He has worked in several industries including Mortgage Banking, Electronics Manufacturing, and Education. At various times, he has been responsible for project management, financial modeling, business unit reviews and budgeting, consulting, international business and market development.

While completing his Doctorate of Education in Leadership, the basis of his research was the study of the barriers to innovation. He continues to pursue research and activities to better understand how Vietnamese business leaders overcome barriers to changes required to compete internationally.