Melissa Torres

Melissa Torres is the President and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad, bringing over two decades of experience in higher education, international program development, and strategic leadership. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President for Academic Programs at IES Abroad, where she oversaw 36 international centers across Asia, Europe, and Latin America and played a pivotal role in shaping academic excellence across the organization.

Melissa’s career spans a dynamic blend of campus-based and organizational leadership. She has led international initiatives at Brown University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The Ohio State University, and has also worked in the private sector as a change management consultant for Accenture. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Institutional Relations at Global Vision International, where she partnered with colleges and universities to design innovative, service-learning experiences.

A long-standing advocate for access, quality, and global engagement in education abroad, Melissa’s work is grounded in equity and informed by a deep understanding of today’s global challenges, from climate change to geopolitical instability. Under her leadership, The Forum continues to drive innovation, research, and strategic partnerships, including ongoing collaboration with IES Abroad. She has contributed extensively to the field through service and scholarship. 

She holds a B.A. in International Studies from Stonehill College and a Master’s in Global Education from The Ohio State University. A fluent Spanish speaker, Melissa has also studied French, Irish Gaelic, and Portuguese.