Leadership and Governance

Who We Are

Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) is the only professional association dedicated to advancing internationalization at community, technical and vocational colleges. Through its network of member colleges and global partners, CCID promotes collaboration, capacity-building, and innovation in international education.

CCID staff have more than 40 years of experience in international higher education.

CCID is led by an Executive Director and governed by a Board of Directors that include community college presidents and chancellors representing three different countries. These college leaders champion internationalization and global learning on their campuses and within higher education.

The Board of Directors provides guidance on CCID’s mission, purpose and strategic planning while acting as a steward of the organization’s finances and resources.

The designated Senior International Officers of each Board Member college, including up to three SIO at-large members, comprise the SIO Council. The SIO Council is an important body of educators and leaders that engages in planning, implementing and evaluating all activities, projects and programs by CCID.

Staff

Board of Directors

SIO Council

Partners

Members

CCID Staff

Karen McBride, Ed.D.
Executive Director

Karen is a career international higher education professional with more than 20 years of experience cultivating international academic opportunities for American college students and visiting students and scholars from abroad. She began her career as a study abroad advisor for Academic Programs International, later managing study abroad programs and international partnerships at San Jose State University and the University of Dayton. During the pandemic, she founded her own company, Bound International, to accelerate virtual exchange training and sustainability education and awareness into study abroad programs. She began her tenure as CCID’s Executive Director in 2023, bringing her expertise to the community college sector via an organization that is its pre-eminent champion. Her role is to provide leadership on daily operations and future initiatives for the organization. Karen earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin, having studied abroad in Costa Rica, Scotland and Ireland, earned her master’s degree at Queen’s University of Belfast in the U.K. and earned her doctorate in Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Antigua, West Indies) and Fulbright Specialist to Thailand.

Silvia Gitte, M.A.
Manager, Marketing and Outreach

Silvia is a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in partnership development, sales, communication strategy, international outreach, and nonprofit leadership. Silvia is known for building meaningful connections, elevating organizational visibility, and creating opportunities that empower students and institutions worldwide. Her strengths include relationship-building, cultural diplomacy, creative strategy, and a strong commitment to mission-driven work. Born in the Dominican Republic and formerly an international student in the United States, Silvia brings a deeply personal understanding of the power of global learning and the importance of access for all students. She joined CCID in 2021 and focuses on the organization’s strategic communications, event experiences, national conference programming, membership engagement, and global partnership initiatives. She has played a central role in elevating CCID’s visibility, strengthening institutional relationships, and expanding opportunities for international education professionals and students alike via multiple successful professional development programs and scholarship initiatives. Silvia holds a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College in Boston and a bachelor’s degree in Commercial and Advertising Art from Universidad APEC in Santo Domingo, DR.

CCID Board of Directors

CCID’s Board of Directors represent the highest-level of leadership at community, technical and vocational colleges. Board Members are champions of global education and provide governance for CCID, ensuring that the organization continues to embody its values and deliver impact on behalf of its members.

Chairman of the Board, Somebody Somethingorother

Chair of the Board

Dr. Joianne Smith
President, Oakton College
Des Plaines, IL, USA

"Global education is essential in preparing students to live and work in an increasingly interconnected world. CCID advances that effort by bringing educators together to listen and learn from one another."