Elena is a recent double Northeastern graduate, holding a Dual BA in Political Science & International Affairs, and a MA in Political Science.

During her Master's degree, she did her Co-op at WorldBoston on the Citizen Diplomacy team and particularly enjoyed connecting with many international visitors, as an international citizen from Monaco herself. She returned to WorldBoston in July 2024 after graduating, as the Citizen Diplomacy Associate.
Outside of work, Elena enjoys teaching yoga and boxing classes, reading books from all genres, and biking around Boston all year-long.

Heather joined the WorldBoston team in January 2025 as the Finance and Operations Manager.

Recently, Heather has worked as a Finance Manager at a local women-owned technology firm.  She has over 20 years of experience in financial services at companies such as Putnam Investments, BNY Mellon, and MFS Investment Management in roles that spanned from International Client Service to Information Systems.  Heather previously worked as a Program Coordinator for a non-profit that installed solar powered computer labs in primary schools in Tanzania and Kenya. 

Heather has volunteered for her local public school and youth soccer. In her spare time, she likes to knit, read, and play board games with her family.

Heather holds a B.A. from Boston University in Political Science and an M.B.A. from Boston University.  She speaks French and is learning Portuguese and Spanish. 

Justin has been the Director of Citizen Diplomacy Programs since January 2026, managing WorldBoston’s Custom Visitor Programs portfolio. Justin has been associated with WorldBoston since May 2024, working on implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Cultural Enrichment Program.

Justin possesses years of experience in political communications, nonprofit management, and community engagement. His graduate studies focused on improving the State Department’s humanitarian response to migration with Mexico, which included meetings with American and Mexican government officials in December 2023. He served as an Advocacy Associate for Boston Climate Action Network, promoting climate justice policies and co-hosting sustainability events. Additionally, he served as the Communications Director for Massachusetts State Representative Kevin G. Honan, focusing on political communications and legislative research.

Justin holds a B.A. from Boston University in Political Science and Spanish and an M.A. from the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies - Boston University in Latin American Studies. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Harrison joined the WorldBoston team in February 2024 as the Community Engagement Manager. He was promoted to the role of Manager of Global Engagement Programs and Operations in May 2024, and became Director of Global Engagement Programs and Operations in June of 2025

Gene comes to WorldBoston (WB) through Empower Success Corps (ESC), a Boston based nonprofit, where he is a Fellow within ESC's Fellowship program. As a Fellow, Gene works closely with mission-driven organizations to achieve strategic financial, operational and fundraising outcomes. 

Sarah joined the WorldBoston team in January 2016, overseeing WorldBoston Citizen Diplomacy programs, including the International Visitors Leadership Program, and became President & COO in November of 2025.

Sarah worked and studied in the United Kingdom and Morocco for five years. In London, Sarah spent three years running child protection projects for vulnerable children and their families in Morocco with the Moroccan Children’s Trust (MCT), and also working in management and operations with its sister organization, Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Sarah then joined the MCT team in southern Morocco as its sole delegate responsible for in-country coordination and development of its child protection and international volunteering projects.

Sarah holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in International Relations, and an M.A. from Queen Mary, University of London in International Development. She speaks French and intermediate Standard and Moroccan Arabic.

She also completed a nine-month course in executive nonprofit management and received certification from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. 

Joe Haynes combines institutional knowledge, fiscal discipline, and global acumen ideally suited to lead WorldBoston. A nine-year WB director and long-time partner to its IVLP and Global Engagement programs, he understands the organization’s people, systems, and stakeholders—enabling a smooth transition and immediate continuity with staff, funders, and program partners.

Joe previously founded and served as CEO of a Boston-based government-relations and strategic advisory firm with an international focus. He led business development, executed municipal, state, federal and international-facing work, and built enduring client relationships—experience directly relevant to WorldBoston’s growth and revenue diversification agenda.

Substantively, Joe is deeply versed in geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, and international economic affairs. He has served clients from six continents, designing market-entry and growth strategies for multinationals seeking to access or expand in the United States and advising U.S. companies on overseas expansion, partnerships, and public-affairs execution. His international work includes organizing inbound and outbound delegations and facilitating exchanges in Brazil, Poland, Cuba, and the United Kingdom, among others—experience that maps directly to WorldBoston’s mission.

Embedded in Boston’s corporate, civic, and higher-education ecosystem, Joe is a well- networked convener who converts relationships into sponsorships, partnerships, and visibility. As CEO, he will strengthen and expand partnerships with business, civic, and academic communities, build a broader regional membership base across eastern Massachusetts, increase visibility of WorldBoston’s international visitor programs and global engagement initiatives, elevate Boston’s role as a hub of global dialogue and diplomacy, and grow and diversify revenue streams.

Joe’s proven track record and experience in strategic leadership, partnership development, civic engagement as well as his global mindset position him to lead WorldBoston into its next chapter.

Jess is a third-year student at Northeastern University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in international affairs and environmental studies, as well as two minors in sociology and cultural anthropology. They spent their first semester of college studying in Madrid, Spain and exploring the city’s many unique neighborhoods. They are passionate about the nonprofit sector, which they first joined as an intern at the New England Aquarium in the conservation education and volunteer programming departments last spring. Now, they will be continuing this work at WorldBoston as they dive into both the organizational and personal aspects of the field of foreign affairs.

Roberto Carmona immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 2020 and learned English in a span of 1 year. His passion for international relations and diplomacy was sparked after competing in the 2022 Academic WorldQuest Competition, a journey that later led him to intern with the World Affairs Council of Miami in 2025. Now a first-year at Harvard College, and intern at WorldBoston, Roberto is pursuing a concentration in Government with a secondary in Arabic with the goal of becoming a key contributor to the future of democratization in his home country.

Cody Damon brings more than a decade of experience as a citizen diplomat, strategic advisor, and former collegiate athlete and coach to his role as the Inaugural Sports Envoy for WorldBoston. A long-time partner to the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), Cody has spent ten years facilitating high-level exchanges that connect global leaders with Boston’s professional and civic ecosystems. His deep institutional history with WorldBoston provides the strategic continuity essential for architecting the organization’s first dedicated Sports Diplomacy program.

Cody’s expertise in the international arena is rooted in a rigorous academic and athletic foundation. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts and the American University of Paris, he furthered his specialization by studying Europe’s Soft Power Rise at Oxford University, providing him with a nuanced understanding of how nations project influence through culture and sport. Cody also holds a Sports Philanthropy Certificate from The George Washington University School of Business. This academic background, paired with his experience as a collegiate baseball player and coach, allows him to navigate both the embassy and the dugout with equal fluency.

Professionally, Cody has been a pioneer in sports organizational growth, serving as the first Director of Program Development for Boston College Softball. In this role, he bridge-built between athletic excellence and institutional strategy—a precursor to his current work orchestrating partnerships between Greater Boston’s robust professional sports ecosystem and the region’s world-class D1 athletic programs. As a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO of a Boston-based sports marketing agency, WIN | WIN, Cody also brings a wealth of experience in media and global engagement, helping organizations leverage "Sideline Statecraft" to navigate 21st-century diplomacy.

As the creator and host of the Sidelines to Headlines podcast, Cody provides a platform for analyzing the rising stature of sports in international relations. His work is strategically timed as Boston approaches a historic era of international competition, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sail Boston, and the 130th Boston Marathon.

Embedded in the city’s corporate, civic, and higher-education ecosystems, Cody is a well-networked convener dedicated to ensuring the "City of Champions" remains a primary driver of international cooperation. His unique blend of athletic experience, strategic advisory, and international relations expertise positions him to lead WorldBoston’s sports initiatives into a new era of global influence.

Leonard Tshitenge brings a wealth of experience as WorldBoston’s Inaugural Africa Envoy, supporting WorldBoston’s growing engagement with African leaders, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and institutions.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, having grown up in Gabon, and now based in Boston, Leonard brings over three decades of cross-continental experience. He is deeply familiar with Francophone African markets and broader regional dynamics. Leonard maintains active liaisons across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Madagascar, Cape Verde, Zambia, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Leonard is actively engaged within Massachusetts’ African diaspora and business communities, where he is recognized for bridging economic, cultural, and civic initiatives. He is a U.S.–Africa market advisor and founder of Consciously Exposed Consulting, working at the intersection of economic development, cultural intelligence, and international business strategy. He also advises international entrepreneurs from Japan, Europe, and across Africa entering the U.S. market through the Massachusetts innovation ecosystem.

As Africa Envoy, Leonard will support WorldBoston in strengthening Africa-focused programming and engagement. Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and plays an increasingly important role in global trade, energy transition, agriculture, and technology development. As international economic corridors evolve, deeper engagement between Massachusetts and African markets presents meaningful opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth.