As director of the International Business Institute (IBI), it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of the energy and innovation driving the Carson College’s panoply of international activities.
The IBI has had a very busy and productive year, beginning with the expansion of our study abroad programs, which have encouraged a larger number of students and faculty to travel to a wider range of destinations.
In 2024, the Carson College sent 186 undergraduate students to 17 countries and awarded $129,000 in study abroad scholarships.
Looking ahead, in 2025, our faculty have developed a diverse collection of programs to China, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to promoting our study abroad programs, we have been busy revitalizing our International Business Advisory Board. The board welcomed four new members this year, enhancing our ability to support top-tier international business programming for Carson students from across the WSU system.
Please join me in welcoming our new board members
Katie Elliott
Senior Sales Operations Manager, Dillanos Coffee Roasters
With 15 years in sales operations, Elliott has worked across diverse industries, including consumer goods, travel, and aerospace, where she gained invaluable international experience. Her decade-long tenure in aerospace involved working with global leaders like Airbus and Boeing, managing relationships in markets from China to South America. Her time managing global relationships and navigating supply chains sparked her interest in international business, prompting her to pursue an executive MBA at the Carson College. As a member of the advisory board, Elliott hopes to leverage her background to help students gain valuable global exposure and professional experience.
Paulina Gastelum
Chief Executive Officer, AGQ Labs USA
Originally from Mexico, Gastelum moved to the US at 19, learning English, earning a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Basin College and working in laboratories before earning an executive MBA from the Carson College. Her career accelerated as she combined her scientific background with business leadership skills she gained at WSU, eventually helping her become the CEO for AGQ Labs’ US operations. Through travel and collaboration, Gastelum has seen the transformative impact of cross-cultural experiences on business success. As a board member, she is committed to making international internships more accessible to students. She hopes to help build lasting connections between the Carson College and global companies, giving students more opportunities to gain the hands-on, international experience that will set them apart in their careers.
Jesse Quintanilla
Business Operations Director, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
As a first-generation college graduate and nontraditional student, Quintanilla understands the power of education to open doors. After earning his accounting degree from the Carson College, he built a career at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), where he led an international finance team before transitioning into a business director role. His work in international finance and business leadership showed him the value of understanding global markets, leading him to join the International Business Advisory Board. Quintanilla encourages students to embrace international experiences, whether through internships, study abroad, or career opportunities. He has firsthand knowledge of how businesses seek professionals with a global mindset and is passionate about helping students develop the skills needed to succeed in an interconnected world.
Laura Sadowski
Director of Development for Athletics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a background in civil engineering, Sadowski began working at Boeing in western Washington and continued to build an impressive career spanning telecommunications, cybersecurity, international business, and higher education. Having familiarity with WSU from her time living in the state, she chose to pursue an executive MBA at the Carson College mid-career, drawn to its well-established online program and strong faculty. Her time working in cybersecurity provided valuable experience working with international clients across the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia, solidifying her understanding of global business practices. Now serving as a director of development at RPI, she brings her expertise in higher education advancement to the Carson College’s International Business Board of Advisors. As a member of the board, she is excited to lend her expertise to fundraising efforts and mentorship opportunities that prepare students for leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.
In the past year, the board and its new members have worked to boost summer internship opportunities and improve undergraduate enrollment by growing scholarship funds available to students, among other initiatives.
In further support of our mission to advance international business education within the college, we are engaging faculty in a variety of forums including the Consortium for Undergraduate Business Education, the Academy of International Business, and Faculty Development in International Business programs in India, Ireland, and Morocco.
These developments support WSU’s land-grant mission and our Carson College mission to create insight and opportunity for Washington state and the world through the study of business and the power of our community.