Our Team
The UPCES Office is located on the 4th floor of the CERGE-EI building in Rooms 406, 406a, 406b, 407, 407a and 408. The offices are open from 09:00-18:00 Monday through Friday. Students may contact staff on the UPCES emergency phone after hours and on weekends, when necessary. The UPCES staff is available to students for any questions or assistance before, during, and after the semester.
Lindsay Allen, Director
Office of International Academic Programs
Room #407
Tel.: (+420) 224 005 133
E-mail: l
Originally from Minnesota, USA, Lindsay has spent much of her life living abroad, in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. She has worked in international education since 2008, and joined UPCES as Director in January 2022. Prior to working at UPCES, she was the head of study abroad at Yale-NUS College in Singapore for eight years. She earned her BA in Asian Studies at the University of Michigan, and has an MA in Translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, and has completed graduate coursework in International Education at SIT Graduate Institute. She is a regular presenter at international conferences and is interested in student mental health and cultural adjustment, orientation programming, and helping students make connections between study abroad experiences and career choices.
Favorites
Czech Food: Řizek (a schnitzel), or the sour cherry kolač (a pastry similar to a danish) from Kus Kolače
Hobby: Pilates, yoga, exploring Prague neighborhoods
Book: Havel: A Life, written by UPCES professor Michael Žantovsky, was a great way for me as a newcomer to learn about this hugely important figure in modern Czech history
Music: Khruangbin, Amadou & Mariam
Place in Prague: a good seat at a sidewalk cafe in the spring or fall, Sapa Vietnamese market
Anna Čudová, Administrative Director
Office of International Academic Programs
Room #406b
Tel.: (+420) 224 005 208
Email:
Anna comes from northern Bohemia near the German border. She was born during the communist "normalization" period, and the Velvet Revolution caught her in her first year of high school. As she was brought up in the spirit of not being able to make any free choice of school or profession, she enthusiastically took advantage of the new opportunities and went through various work experiences, including independent entrepreneurship. She spent a year in Germany and graduated with a bachelor's degree from the College of Business Ostrava, Inc.in Economics and Management.
Veronika Havlištová, Senior Program Manager
Office of International Academic Programs
Room #407a
Tel.: (+420) 224 005 134
Email:
Veronika was born in the western part of the Czech Republic, but grew up in Liberec, about an hour north from Prague, very close to the German and Polish border. She studied at an American high school in Belgium and worked as an au pair in Ithaca, New York, for a year and a half. Upon her return to the Czech Republic, she moved to Prague for university studies. During this time Veronika joined UPCES’s Czech-American Partner’s program in which she participated as a “buddy” for two semesters and then interned with UPCES for an additional two years. Since February 2018, she has been a full time employee. She loves working with students, helping them through hardships and adjustments, and just being there when they need someone to talk to. As someone who lived abroad for a while herself, Veronika enjoys the orientation period the most. Her favorite part is when everyone is getting to know one another, and spending time with students on trips and doing fun activities around Prague
Favorites
Czech Food: Koláče with poppy seeds and plums, or vepřové výpečky se špenátem (pork with spinach and potato dumplings)
Hobby: Baking, (solo) traveling, exploring cafés around the world, music and singing, reading
Artist: Queen, Kodaline, the Lumineers, and Lewis Capaldi
TV Show: Friends and Brooklyn 99
Place in Prague: Holešovice and Vinohrady – any café, restaurant, or bistro
Pavlína Venclová, Senior Program Manager
Office of International Academic Programs
Room #406b
Tel.: (+420) 224 005 260
Email:
Pavlína was born in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, a small town in eastern Bohemia. At the age of 18 she moved to Prague to study economics at Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. She earned a master's degree in Economics, Taxes and Law. During her university studies she spent a summer in Toronto, Canada, where she deepened her knowledge of English. She has worked for UPCES since 2009, and after returning from parental leave in 2023, she works part-time overseeing application processing, visas, and orientation support. She also keeps the UPCES study center stocked with plenty of coffee and healthy snacks!
Favorites:
Czech Food: Svíčková (sirloin, creamy vegetable sauce with dumplings)
Hobby: discovering new places in the Czech Republic and Europe, especially those with a good coffee and cafes
TV Show: Friends and Big Bang Theory
Place in Prague: Prague 2, Grébovka park
Kateřina Saidlová, Program Coordinator
Office of International Academic Programs
Room #408
Tel.: (+420) 224 005 181
Email:
Born and raised in Chomutov, a small Czech city near the German border, Kate moved to Prague after finishing her studies in the Netherlands, where she earned a research master's degree in Literary Studies at the University of Amsterdam. She is excited that she can now utilize her experience from her time abroad to support UPCES students. Kate joined the team in 2022 and, as a Program Coordinator, oversees academics, assists students with medical issues, and co-manages social media. In her free time, she likes to listen to podcasts, read books, or explore new places in Prague with her partner-in-crime, Adéla.
Favorites:
Czech Food: “Svíčková” - Beef in a cream sauce with dumplings
Artist: Muse or Taylor Swift
Movie: A tie between two trilogies: “Back to the Future” and “Lord of the Rings”
Place in Prague: Academia Books Café
Rita Rowand, U.S. Representative
Tel.: (+1) 540-935-9020
Email:
Rita Rowand is an experienced international educator. She was a global relations specialist at George Mason University for 12 years and also worked for Old Dominion University in Distance Education, and at Virginia Tech. As the U.S. Representative for UPCES, Rita is passionate about informing students about the opportunities to study in Prague. Rita is a Fulbright grant recipient and speaks fluent German.
Favorites
Hobbies: skiing, hiking, gardening, and traveling
Place in Prague: The Franz Kafka Museum
Artist: Jon Batiste
Movie: Out of Africa
Victoria Di Salvo, Outreach Coordinator
Tel.: (+1) 929-239-6035
Email:
Victoria grew up in New York but has lived, studied, and worked abroad in Italy, England, and Northern Ireland. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She later completed a Master of Arts degree in International Higher Education at Boston College. Since 2018, Victoria has been involved in International Education and has become passionate about advocating for and empowering students along their study abroad journey.
Favorites
Hobbies: reading, cycling, and visiting museums
Place in Prague: Spell café, Klementinum
Artist: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and One Direction
Movie: The Devil Wears Prada and the Harry Potter films
Adéla, Director of Office Mischief
Office of International Academic Programs
Rooms: all UPCES spaces on the 4th floor
A mischievous goof with a big heart, Adéla joined the UPCES team in the spring of 2023 after she moved to Prague to pursue a career and quickly became the most popular employee in the building. As UPCES’s Director of Office Mischief, her agenda consists of running away from her mom Kate, hanging out with her colleagues, and napping the day away. Most importantly, Adéla works closely with our students, offering emotional support and cuddles for everyone in need. And on special occasions, she also substitutes for an office shredder. In her free time, she likes to sleep some more, go on long walks by the river, and cause trouble.
Favorites:
Food: Almost everything, especially meat. Not a fan of rice and bananas
Toy: A pig plushie called Štefan
Song: “Careless Whisper” by George Michael
Place in Prague: Náplavka riverfront
