Ilyena Kozain was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany, and has been living in New Hampshire for the past four years working as the Director of Financial Aid at Proctor Academy. She is deeply passionate about eliminating the oppression of women and girls worldwide, and about bridging cultural barriers to create a more inclusive global community. Previously, she has led language and cultural immersion programs in Guatemala and China. Ilyena is a former Union Minerva fellow, and spent her postgraduate year at the Engeye Health Clinic in Uganda with a focus on entrepreneurial approaches to solving social problems. She is an avid traveler and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, eating well, and adventuring in the great outdoors with her dog, Nova.