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Meet the Admissions Staff

SLU-Madrid's Office of Admissions staff works to ensure you receive the support you need during the application process. Your application reflects who you are, so we do more than read your application — we get to know you and what you want to contribute to our campus community. Once you're admitted, we are your guides on your college journey. 

Heidi Buffington

Director of Admissions
heidi.buffington@slu.edu  
Ext. 206

I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and studied abroad in Spain when I was a junior at the College of Wooster. After graduating with a degree in biology and Spanish, I returned to Spain to pursue a Master of Arts in international studies. My first job at SLU-Madrid was as the U.S. study abroad coordinator in 2004, but I have since served as an international admissions counselor and graduate admissions coordinator for students from the U.S. and Western Europe. I have been the director of admissions since 2016 and truly enjoy helping students experience life-changing international study experiences like I had.

Degrees

• B.A., Biology and Spanish, The College of Wooster
• M.A., International Studies, Escuela Diplomática de Madrid (Spain)

Mónica Chiclana

Admissions Counselor
Recruitment areas: International schools in Madrid, Southern Spain, Central and South America
monica.chiclana@slu.edu  
Ext. 210

I joined the SLU-Madrid admissions team in 2010, but I am also a SLU-Madrid and SLU-St. Louis graduate! In addition to working with students from international high schools in Spain and students from Central and South America, I coordinate the alumni association.

Degrees

• B.S., Business Administration/Marketing, ¶¶Òõpro
• M.A., Communication and Protocol, GADE Business School (Spain)

Cat Gaa

Admissions Communications Coordinator
catherine.gaa@slu.edu 

I call Chicago home, but a summer study abroad program in Valladolid, Spain, during college led me abroad shortly after graduation. I joined the SLU-Madrid admissions team in 2016 as an admissions counselor for our graduate and undergraduate programs. I am the communications coordinator and community manager for Raftr, our admitted-student app. I love the challenge of conveying how special our student body and faculty are through email, the web and other media.

Degrees

• B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, International Studies; University of Iowa
• M.A., Public Relations, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain)

Kevin Kucholtz

Admissions Assistant
kevin.kucholtz@slu.edu
Ext. 258

A Texan at heart, I moved to Madrid in 2017 after completing my B.A. in Economics. Before joining SLU-Madrid in 2022, I worked as an English as a Second Language teacher and for an EdTech company specializing in continuing education.

Degree

• B.A., Economics, University of Dallas

Keira Maaked

Admissions Counselor
Recruitment areas: Middle East and Africa
keira.maaked@slu.edu 
Ext. 270

I am from Spain and have been a member of the SLU-Madrid staff since 2001. I am the key point of contact for students, high schools and universities in the Middle East and Africa and speak French, Arabic, Spanish, English and even a little Polish. 

Degree

• Escuela Superior de Traducción e Interpretación, Universidad de Granada (Spain)

Emir Parrotta

Study Abroad Counselor
emir.parrotta@slu.edu
Ext. 271

Originally from Washington, D.C., I have called Madrid home since 2012. After earning my B.A. in English Literature from McGill University in Montreal, I moved to Madrid, where I have taught English at various schools, such as the British Council, and also organized English teaching programs as CIEE's Teach in Spain coordinator. I joined the admissions team at SLU-Madrid in July 2019 and am the point of contact for all study abroad students.   

Degree

• B.A., English Literature, McGill University

Emily Pyle

Admissions Counselor
Recruitment areas: Western Europe, the UK, Asia and Pacific, graduate programs
emily.pyle@slu.edu 
Ext. 220

I am a San Diego native. After completing my B.A. in History with a minor in English literature, I moved to Cádiz in 2012 to gain international exposure and to teach English. I joined the admissions staff in 2018 and work with students from Europe, the U.K., Asia, and the Pacific, as well as coordinate admissions for our two graduate programs. 

Degree

• B.A., History, University of California, San Diego

Diego Rodríguez-Vila

Admissions Counselor
Recruitment areas: Schools in Madrid, Northern Spain, Central and Eastern Europe
diego.rodriguezvila@slu.edu 
Ext. 275

I was born in Valladolid but moved to Madrid when I was nine. I have studied at six universities — including SLU — and have worked in college recruiting for Spanish and American universities for 15 years. 

Degrees

• B.A., Advertising, University of Colorado at Boulder
• Licenciado en Comunicación Audiovisual, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (Spain)
• Master in Business Administration, ESADE (Spain)

U.S.-Based Admissions Staff

Michaela Rogan

Admissions Counselor
Recruitment areas: Western U.S., Southern U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico
michaela.rogan@slu.edu
221 N. Grand Blvd. 
DuBourg Hall, 117 
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St. Louis, MO 63108
P: (+1) 314 977 3416

Born and raised in St. Louis, I grew up going to SLU basketball games with my dad. Wanting to go to college a bit farther from home, I studied Spanish education at the University of Dayton, where a spark to travel and experience life abroad was ignited. I spent a semester studying in Costa Rica while living with a host family during college. Determined to live in Spain, I became an au pair in Granada before receiving a Fulbright grant to assist in English classes at a higher education institute in Mendoza, Argentina. These experiences developed my passion for international education, and I am honored to assist prospective students in the United States and Canada to pursue their own experience abroad at the one-of-a-kind ¶¶Òõpro — Madrid Campus.

Degree

• B.S., Foreign Language Education, concentration in Spanish; University of Dayton

Kate Pitman

Assistant Director of Enrollment, North America
Recruitment areas: Northeast U.S., Midwest U.S., Eastern U.S.
kate.pitman@slu.edu
221 N. Grand Blvd. 
DuBourg Hall, 117 
St. Louis, MO 63103

I am a native St. Louisan, though the world has been my classroom after studying abroad twice! My undergraduate studies in history were done at James Madison University. While there, I spent a semester in London. I went on to do an M.F.A. at the University of South Florida and studied abroad in Paris. I am an avid traveler and have worked in international education for the last 18 years. These experiences pushed me to advocate for international education and the importance of leaving one's comfort zone! SLU–Madrid is a special place. American education while being a student in the international and exciting city of Madrid!

Degrees

• B.A., History, James Madison University
• M.F.A, Fine Arts, University of South Florida