Nicole Ripley is Senior Program Officer, Leadership and Exchange Programs at The Asia Foundation, where she designs, implements, and oversees leadership training programs dedicated to advancing emerging leaders and changemakers. She previously served as Director of Education at a regional theatre in Chicago, designing participatory programs for over 10,000 students a year, and as a teaching artist with youth and communities throughout Chicago and in northern Thailand. She is an experienced facilitator and adept in building cross-cultural partnerships with a range of partners, including US Embassies, civic institutions, community stakeholders, and youth in the US and across Asia. Nicole holds a BS in Communications (Theatre) from Northwestern University and an MA in Global Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Nicole is on the Education Committee of World Affairs and the National Advisory Committee for Teaching Artists Guild. She is passionate about amplifying youth voices, global equity, women’s empowerment, and cultivating leadership. She is also a proud mother.