About Us
About COWA
Founded in 2015, Connecting Worlds Abroad (COWA) provides affordable, high-quality study abroad and internship programs in Seville, Spain. We believe that every college student should have the oppotunity to study abroad before graduating, regardless of academic background or financial circumstance.
Through close collaboration with U.S universities and Spanish institutions, COWA offers flexible programs designed to support students’ academic, linguistic and professional goals.
Our Mission & Values
Our missing is to create meaningful, immersive study abroad experiences that promote acedemic success, cultural understanding, and personal growth. We strive to help students gain confidence in the Spanish language while fully engaging with life in Spain – both inside and outside the classroom.
- Accessibility: Every student can succeed abroad with the right support.
- Immersion: Language and cultural learning extend beyond the classroom.
- Community: Local engagement strengthens academic and personal growth.
- Global Citizenship: International experience fosters awareness, adaptability, and independence.
Our Facilities
COWA’s headquarters are located at Avenida de la Borbolla, 41, in Sevilla, directly across from the iconic Parque de Maria Luisa and within walking distance of the Universidad de Sevilla and EUSA campuses.
Our space includes:
- Four fully equipped smart classrooms
- Offices for visiting faculty, interns, and fellows
- A large indoor student and event space for academic and cultural activities
- Secure storage for students’ personal items
*All classrooms, offices and study spaces at COWA headquarters use DucFit, a patented air filtering system by CleanAir that eliminates more than 99.9% of viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces*
(For more information about how COWA is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, please refer to our COVID-19 webpage)
Academic Partnerships
COWA partners with the Universidad de Sevilla and Campus Universitaria EUSA, allowing students to take courses alongside Spanish and international peers in active university settings. Advanced students may enroll at one or both institutions, ensuring academic rigor while maintaining strong on-site support.
Policies and Procedures
Carlos Valencia
DirectorAbout Carlos
A Spanish native originating from Oviedo, Spain, Carlos spent nearly 20 years in the US, where he studied at UNC-Asheville receiveing a Bachelors of Science and continued his studies at UNC-Chappell Hill receiving a PhD in 19th-century Spanish Literature. Carlos taught at University of Richmond as a Spanish and Humanities Professor for nearly 10 years.
In 2015, he moved back to Seville, serving as director of the UNC in Seville study abroad program and shortly afterwards he founded COWA. Among Carlos’s professional interests are the application of new technology to Spanish language instruction and the incorporation of volunteer work into curriculums as a sociolinguistic and cultural learning tool.
Rocío Rodríguez
Housing CoordinatorAbout Rocio
A Carmona, Seville native, Rocio studied Law at the University of Seville before branching off into the Hospitality Industry. She has spent the last 10 years managing a small boutique hotel in Carmona.
Rocio has been working with COWA since the very beginning in 2015, where she is responsible for the search and placements of student in host families.
Rachel Linville
Faculty and Academic CoordinatorAbout Rachel
Rachel earned her BA and MA at UNC-Chapel Hill in Romance languages before studying at the University of Maryland where she received her PhD in Spanish Language and Literature. Her teaching career began in 1998 during her master’s studies. During her graduate studies, she worked as an assistant to the study abroad program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Before moving to Spain, Rachel taught at SUNY-Brockport and created its study abroad program with the Universidad de Granada’s Centro de Lenguas Modernas. She later served as Director of Programs in Spain, advising students on course offerings as well as other programs in Spain.
Rachel joined COWA in 2025 as Faculty and Academic Coordinator where she teaches and organizes student academics.
Priyanka Vakil
Director of Program Operations & Global InternshipsAbout Priyanka
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Priyanka immigrated to the United States and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, before relocating to Sevilla in 2022. She brings more than 10 years of international experience across management consulting, international development, nonprofit organizations, the public sector, and higher education.
A proud Tar Heel alumna (UNC-Chapel Hill ’13) and SAS Sevilla alumna (Spring 2012), Priyanka’s own study abroad experience helped shape her professional path and lasting interest in international education. Her career has included supporting capacity-building initiatives in the judicial sector, advising clients including the U.S. Department of State, and helping organizations strengthen their operations, grow strategically, and expand their reach.
Priyanka holds a BA in Hispanic Linguistics and a BS in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as an MA in International Relations from American University’s School of International Service.
She joined COWA in 2024 as Director of Global Internships and now serves as Director of Program Operations, where she leads program operations and strategic initiatives to strengthen the organization’s programs, partnerships, and internal systems.
Julio Barneto
Faculty, Guide & Volunteer CoordinatorAbout Julio
Born and raised in Sevilla, Julio graduated from the University of Seville in 2017 with a degree in Art History, specialising in Sevilla and its traditions. He continued his studies and received his Master’s in Architecture and Historical Heritage; Teaching Spanish as a Second Language at the Univeristy of Pablo de Olavide and teaching for High School students at Distancia de Madrid. His career started as a tour guide in Sevilla and has been in the industry ever since.
Julio joined COWA in 2019 with over 3 years of experience working as a tour guide in various parts of Spain. He now leads the guided visits and trips for our students.
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