Kristin has worked across international spaces for nearly fourteen years. Her experience spans language teaching abroad, international real estate development, cross-border business and foundation relations, and international higher education.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kristin embarked on her global journey in 2007, living and working first in Nicaragua and then Spain for nearly six years. Kristin is bilingual in Spanish, and holds Bachelor’s (Westminster College, PA, 2007) and Master’s (New York University, 2011) degrees in Spanish & Latin American Languages & Cultural Studies. In 2013, Kristin returned to the States from Spain, spending a year in Washington D.C. with an international business consulting firm before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 2014 - where she fell in love with the southwest United States. Kristin served on the Global Ties Arizona Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018.

With a passion for connecting people across languages and cultures, Kristin traveled to Berlin, Germany in 2016 to complete an international diplomacy certificate with the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy. Most recently, she was selected for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's inaugural class of the Next Gen Global Leaders Network, where she will join nearly 100 other young leaders across the nation in a year-long program of advocacy training, focusing on the local impact of international affairs, global development, and diplomacy.

Immediately prior to joining Global Ties Arizona, Kristin served as Program Manager for Strategic Global Initiatives at Northern Arizona University for nearly three years. In this role, Kristin directed partnerships with Mexico and Latin America, hosting visiting delegations and groups in Arizona, developing relationships with universities, governments, industry and other organizations abroad, and leading student recruitment and developing new programs.

Kristin enjoys travel (both globally and within the U.S.) and has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and Latin America. Though, she has many more places on her bucket list!

Sonal graduated from Gonzaga University (2019) with Bachelor’s Degrees in Spanish and International Studies, and a Minor in Dance. With a background in both Hindi and Spanish, along with her upbringing as a first-generation U.S. American, Sonal brings both linguistic and cultural diversity to Global Ties Arizona.

Previously, Sonal worked as a Youth Program Facilitator for World Learning, where she led young leaders from around the world (i.e. Iraq, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Guyana) in themes such as Peace-building, Community Resilience, and Conflict Resolution. In 2018, Sonal was invited by World Learning to take part in leading the 3-day Annual National Iraqi Young Leaders Conference in the Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq. Sonal is passionate about facilitating dialogue and fostering multi-cultural friendships. Relocating to Arizona from the Pacific Northwest, Sonal is excited to build a new and lasting network of connections, friends, family and colleagues in Arizona. She looks forward to calling Phoenix her new “home.”

Evan Nye is a graduate of Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University (2020) with Bachelor’s in Political Science and Sociology, and a Minor in Spanish Literature. Previously, Evan worked as Project Coordinator for Amigos de las Americas in Azuero, Panama collaborating with local stakeholders to promote youth empowerment, environmental conservation, and cross-cultural exchange.

In 2019, Evan interned in the office of the official trade representative for the City of Phoenix to Mexico. There he learned about the importance of facilitating international dialogue to address mutual challenges. Evan is excited to join the team at Global Ties Arizona and continue pursuing his passion to create a more globally connected world through international diplomacy and exchange.