ABOUT US
Educational Experiences Abroad (EEAbroad) is a niche, educational travel company focused on Positive Social Impact. More than cultures, we bring people together, creating connections that inspire intentional travel and mindful global citizens.
We specialize in transformative in-person and virtual experiences to Cuba and beyond. By providing immersive study abroad and tailored faculty-led programs for students, custom cultural travel for small groups, and virtual global learning, EEAbroad promotes sustainable, mindful travel with an international network of global educators, local guides, and community partners.
Promoting Positive Social Impact is an essential component of EEAbroad. Through strong partnerships that facilitate community exchanges between travelers and locals, we strive to bring intention and meaning to each moment and to provide space for reflection, discussion, education, and growth.
These core values impact the design of each in-person and virtual program. As a result, every EEAbroad experience is unique.
Our educational travel experiences are custom designed, because one size does not fit all. We create tailored programs for universities, high schools, students, and small travel groups.
virtual learning
Experiential learning needs innovation now more than ever. And virtual learning isn’t just a substitute but also a welcome addition to our program offerings. See how our innovative virtual learning modules help empower students, internationalize course curriculums, and create better-prepared travelers from the other side of the computer screen.
faculty-led
Looking for a faculty-led student travel program? From the ground up, EEAbroad customizes every one of these programs to fit a specific class curriculum and instructor objectives. Whether exploring a particular theme or taking in the bigger picture, we are not the typical travel service provider. For high school teachers and college faculty who want to inspire profound understanding in their students through a fully tailored, sustainable travel program.
study abroad
Studying abroad isn’t just an experience — it’s an interactive exchange that transcends cultures and sparks personal learning by opening minds to new possibilities. Whether students want to learn Spanish in Cuba or continue their advanced studies of the language, every program allows them to grow their skills while living and breathing the country’s culture. As a result, EEAbroad’s study abroad programs bring international travel and experiential education together, unlike any other.
cultural travel
Experiential education isn’t just for students — it’s a lifelong journey. Continue expanding your horizons by joining EEAbroad on a custom cultural travel experience or a specific theme that feeds your passion. So much more than just another vacation, these experiences are for people who want to embark on transformative travel to Cuba while breaking down cross-cultural differences and inspire a new age of travel.
Our roots
A desire to immerse people in Cuban culture and all of its complexities, plus a natural-born case of the travel bug. That is what conceived EEAbroad (OK…and a whole lot more). Claire Kelly, EEAbroad Founder and Director, often says her love for travel and adventure is in her blood since her parents met on a year-long expedition around the world. As for her deep interest in Cuba, she tells people that “Cuba found me.”
Claire spent her 20s traveling, working, and studying internationally in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. After this, Claire worked with one of the leading U.S. travel operators to Cuba, becoming a Cuba expert and experiencing the island on a more intimate level. The rest is history.
Claire founded EEAbroad in 2015 in an effort to facilitate custom, off-the-beaten-track, and impactful experiences for curious, mindful travelers. With the help of past EEAbroad contributors, Gisella Casanovas, Alejandro Murillo, and Berit Engstrom, this small team was instrumental in turning EEAbroad from a dream into a niche, educational travel company driven to make a Positive Social Impact.
OUR TEAM & COMMUNITY
Our team encompasses a tight-knit group and a broad community of travel specialists, expert educators, local guides, community partners, and like-minded travelers who aim to make a Positive Social Impact in the locations we operate. Without this goal, we would only be another typical travel service provider, but we are so much more. Our day-to-day team includes:
CLAIRE KELLY • FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Claire’s parents met on a year-long expedition around the world, so she often says that her travel bug is genetic. Since graduating from Gettysburg College, she has independently traveled to over 30 countries. In Argentina, she worked for a local television production company and in Spain, she completed her M.A. in Spanish linguistics (Middlebury College). Over the past six years, Claire has coordinated the cultural travel of more than 2,500 participants to Cuba. When she isn’t in the office or on the road attending to present and designing future programs, she’s out on the water in her kayak or hiking in New England with her dog, Ceiba.
JAIMIE SPETSERIS • PROJECT MANAGER AND CONTENT WRITER
While earning a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Georgia, Jaimie spent a summer studying abroad in Spain and traveling around Europe which sparked her love for cultural exchange. Since then, Jaimie has worked in a variety of fields including communications, administration, and education. Her pursuits abroad range from teaching English in Bogotá, Colombia to working at a law firm in Queenstown, New Zealand to leading international student trips throughout Latin America and the South Pacific. When Jaimie isn’t on an international adventure, she enjoys quality time with friends and family at home in Atlanta as well as being outdoors – mountain biking, paddling, or hiking.
DOLIS ALFONSO GARCIA • COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
Born in Matanzas, Cuba in 1996, Dolis firmly believes she's part of the last romantic generation of Cubans. By the age of 19, she had backpacked solo through three provinces of the island. Dolis studied Communications and Marketing at the University of Havana and upon completion of her degree, she decided to stay in the capital although her heart will always be back in Matanzas Bay. Dolis claims she has always felt an internal pull between the academic world and the practical, fast-paced reality we all live in – she discovered that the perfect answer to this is creating communications strategy and educational content for EEAbroad as well as running in-country programs, so she can share her love and deep knowledge of Cuba. Dolis won't rest until she visits every mile of the island. One day, she also hopes to travel around Latin America, too.
CLAUDIO PELAEZ SORDO • LEAD MEDIA CONSULTANT
Claudio grew up traveling all over Cuba, which influenced his adventurous spirit and passion for photography and audiovisual production. Since graduating from the University of Havana with a focus in journalism, he has participated in prestigious Cuban film festivals and published his photojournalism in prominent local and foreign magazines. By documenting the reality that surrounds him, Claudio aims to create an audiovisual memory of his country with each image serving as part of a historical archive. A lover of cycling and fitness, this Cuban is a self-proclaimed dreamer for which there are no limits or borders.
our blog
Let’s Collaborate!
Want to be a part of the EEAbroad community or work together and create the trip of a lifetime? We want to hear from you! Sign up to receive updates from our team, reach out to us with questions, and start a conversation about traveling to Cuba and beyond!
Are you interested in joining the EEAbroad team? We’re always looking for the next local guide, international educator, or in-country expert.
Follow our journey • @eeabroad
It’s not easy choosing what to do in Havana when on a trip to Cuba. That’s why we compiled unique bucket list ideas to help out fellow travelers.