Chase Poffenberger ('88)

1. Please tell us a little about yourself! 

I am from Pennsylvania, but spent part of my childhood growing up in Taiwan. My major was Chinese Studies, with a focus on politics. I graduated in 1988.

2. Why did you decide to become a Chinese Studies major? How did it shape your experience at Wellesley? 

I was fascinated with China during my time living in Taiwan in the 1970s. My fcus on China led me to a career in international travel and education.

3. What are you doing now?

I am the Exec VP and co-owner of Academic Travel Abroad, an international travel and study abroad company. CET Academic Programs, founded at Wellesley, is our study abroad division.

4. How has your Wellesley experience and your major influenced your life/career after college? 

My experience in China as a study abroad student helped me land my first job. However, our business in China collapsed after Tiananmen Square in 1989. I shifted my focus on working on programs in France for the next five years. I went back to school to get an MBA and have led our sales and marketing teams ever since. So, although my career has not directly involved China the way I thought it would, I’ve enjoyed an exciting international career ever since.