Aubrey Van Allen | Student Affairs Advisor

I’m Aubrey Van Allen- an open-hearted, curious soul who’s always been drawn to connection, whether that’s through travel, teaching, or simply sharing stories and bonding with others. I grew up in Connecticut and attended school in New York City, where I first fell in love with big ideas, creative energy, and the diverse mix of people from all walks of life.

After graduating, I began my journey in the hospitality industry in Los Angeles, working at luxury hotels and learning how to create meaningful, personalized experiences for guests. However, I always felt a quiet pull toward something more, something that would allow me to connect more deeply with others and with the world around me.

That calling led me to education and global travel. I’ve lived, worked, and studied abroad in places like Vietnam, Australia, and South Africa, and those experiences completely shifted the way I see the world. I’ve spent years working as a full-time substitute teacher in both Los Angeles and Connecticut, where I discovered just how much I love being in the classroom, creating a safe, joyful space for students to grow and feel seen.

More recently, I’ve spent the last few years both teaching abroad myself and working in the TEFL industry, helping others take their own leaps in life, because I know just how transformative those leaps can be. It means a lot to me to be a guide, a mentor, and a bridge between cultures. At the heart of everything I do, I lead with warmth, empathy, and a genuine love for people’s stories - because those are the things that have shaped my journey, too. 

I was born and raised in CT and went to school in NYC.

My first real travel abroad experience (besides family vacations growing up) was to Australia to study abroad when I was 21. I knew from the moment I arrived that I was changed. I felt myself settle into who I was, like everything clicked into place. Running off to the beach after school, exploring the cities, hearing new voices and seeing new sights every week, camping in the outback, booking last-minute flights and feeling complete freedom - for me personally, that was the start of it all. 

Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Vietnam, Thailand, UAE, South Africa, Australia.  

Studied abroad in Australia for 6 months, taught in HCMC, Vietnam for 6 months, and lived in South Africa

My cross-country road trips around the US have genuinely been some of my best memories. Also, my sister and I’s first trip to Vietnam was when we took a motorbike tour through the mountains of Ninh Binh. 

Vietnamese - Bún Nem and Phở, Mexican food, specifically from taco trucks in Southern California.

I am helping people do something really big that can change how they see the world and themselves, it’s meaningful work, I get to listen to / guide/ cheer people on who may feel unsure, it combines all of my favorite things ( travel, teaching, connection, purpose)  and lastly it feels like it’s not just a job - it’s my story coming full circle.