About Us

Vision

Our vision is a Cal Lutheran learning community that fosters global leadership through academic intercultural experiences around the world.

Mission

In support of Cal Lutheran's mission to "educate leaders for a global society," the Office of Education Abroad (OEA) coordinates accessible, inspiring, and safe intercultural experiences that advance evolving knowledges of self, others, and the world; intersubjective skills; inclusive attitudes; and democratic values.

Core Values

• Care: We aim to foster relationships of care and reciprocity within our office and among all of our partnerships on and off campus.
• Diversity: We embrace pluralism and respect differences of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion, spirituality, physical or mental ability, culture, ethnic origin, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, age, and socioeconomic or class status.
• Equity: We seek access for every student to the resources they individually need to participate in and learn from intercultural experiences.
• Sustainability: We seek environmental justice through programs that minimize adverse effects on the planetary ecosystem and educate students about ethical stewardship of resources.
• Wellness: We commit ourselves to the highest standards of health, safety, and risk management to ensure our travelers flourish holistically.

Our Team

Matthew Yates, Ph.D.

 Director
 matthewyates@callutheran.edu

Matt started as Director of the Office of Education Abroad at Cal Lutheran in July 2021. He previously served as Director of Education Abroad at the University of Connecticut and, before that, as Assistant Director of Education Abroad at Kansas State University. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in History from The Ohio State University and B.A. in History and International Studies from Indiana University Bloomington.

Azar Amir-Mokri

 Assistant Director
 aam@callutheran.edu

Azar joined the Office of Education Abroad at Cal Lutheran in October 2022. She has gained experience in the field of education abroad at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration in Austria, where she was able to assist with the expansion and management of a trans-national master program offered by the Community of European Management Schools, a consortium of then 13 leading European Business Schools. In her second position in the field of education abroad, at FH Kufstein, University of Applied Sciences (Austria). Azar supported the university in the development and rapid expansion of study abroad programs. Azar has earned her M.A. from The Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration in Commerce and International Trade.