Alexander Castilla, Ph.D.

Executive Director of IECS
Alexander Castilla, the Executive Director of IECS, holds a Ph.D. and Masters of Philosophy in International and Comparative Education from the Department of International and Transcultural Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to that, he graduated with a Masters degree in Public Diplomacy from New York University.

He has over ten years of experience in the field of education and has worked as a professor at the Institute for the International Education of Students in Barcelona and as a guest researcher within the Institute of Government and Public Policies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has also worked as an educational consultant with the Municipal Institute of Education in Barcelona, elementary school teacher in the United States and ESL teacher for immigrants and refugees new to the US. He has published his research on immigration in Europe and presented his work at Harvard, Columbia University and the Washington Consortium for Comparative and International Education.

Dr. Castilla also holds a professional teaching certificate in International Education from the United Nations. Furthermore, his previous internship training with the United States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, International Visitor Program has allowed him to gain expertise and a holistic understanding about the benefits of intercultural competence, studying abroad and public diplomacy. Learning about other cultures and comparative educational systems is at the core of Dr. Castilla´s work as an educator and he has participated in community service and educational related projects in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and New York City.

The value of studying abroad has a series of lifelong benefits that I hope your child has the opportunity to experience as he or she takes the important decision to pursue an undergraduate degree in the United States. In my own case, the combination of my professional and academic experiences has given me the privilege to meet and work with a diverse array of people through my work in Europe, the Americas, West Asia and North Africa. I am confident that Ivy Educational Systems will contribute to and enrich the social and intellectual development of students. Meeting the challenges of today’s generation of young students requires expertise, experience and knowledge about both the host country’s and the United States´ educational systems. It is also important to understand each student's needs and objectives. Our eductional consultants carry out these objectives by providing first-rate, one-on-one services that prepares each student for college placement. Let's look at it another way, considering that, according to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), the average student-to-counselor ratio at U.S. high schools is 315:1, working one-on-one with students does make a REAL difference, as the students get ready to go to university. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with your child to help prepare them for college admissions and maximize their chance for success! All the best, Alexander Castilla, Ph.D.