Cindy Schaarschmidt currently serves as Executive Director of International Education at Pierce College District, a multi-campus community college in Washington State. In this role, she leads global learning initiatives, oversees international student services, and manages international partnerships. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at the University of Washington Tacoma, including Executive Director of the Office of Global Affairs, where she expanded study abroad, international partnerships, and campus-wide global engagement efforts. Schaarschmidt holds a Master of Arts in American Studies and Media Communications from Leipzig University in Germany and studied abroad in the United Kingdom and Russia. She has taught at universities in both the United States and Germany and brings experience in curriculum development and language instruction. Beyond her institutional work, she has served as President of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors and currently serves as Board President of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma. She is a 2024–25 AIEA Presidential Fellow and an active member of AIEA, NAFSA, AIRC, and the Fulbright Association. Fluent in English and German, with working proficiency in Spanish and French, she is deeply committed to inclusive and transformative international education.
