Ariana McAuley is a global strategist, international education advocate, travel consultant, and cultural connector who founded Ariventures and Ariventures Abroad to expand access to global experiences for underrepresented communities. With over 40 countries stamped in her passport, she has lived and worked across the U.S., France, and the U.K., and is passionate about helping others find their place in the world, literally and figuratively.
As Executive Director of Ariventures Abroad, she leads efforts to remove barriers to study abroad for Black and minority graduate students through the ACM Fellowship, mentorship, workshops, and service-based retreats. She is also Founder and CEO of Ariventures Consulting, LLC. Ariana holds a BA in Political Science from East Carolina University and a master's in International Relations and Diplomacy from Schiller International University in France. Her leadership is grounded in resilience, equity, and a firm belief that travel is not a luxury, it's a tool for transformation.
Dr. Patsy Polston, PhD, MSPH, is honored to serve on the Board of Ariventures Abroad, where she brings a lifelong dedication to advancing global health, equity, and education. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her work bridges environmental science, health behavior, and global health policy.
Her academic path includes a PhD and MSPH in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Certificate in Global Health, all from UNC Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. A proud graduate of Tuskegee University, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective shaped by fellowships in Paris and postdoctoral research in Madagascar. Dr. Polston was also part of the inaugural selection committee for the Ambrose Conrad McAuley (ACM) Fellowship, where she helped shape the program's vision and impact.
Adame Frances is proud to serve on the Board of Ariventures Abroad, where he brings a deep belief in the transformative power of cultural exchange. His own international journey includes an extended period of study in France, an experience that shaped his worldview, fostered fluency in French, and reinforced his commitment to making global opportunities accessible to others, especially those who may not see themselves reflected in global spaces.
Adame works in Technology Governance, Risk, and Compliance, and is a co-founding member of Uncommonwealth Properties, LLC. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh's GSPIA, where he was recognized as a K. Leroy Irvis Fellow.
Hobinirina "Eva" Littell is a global citizen whose life and career reflect a deep commitment to cross-cultural understanding and international connection. Born in Madagascar and raised in Benin, Eva moved to France at age 17 to pursue higher education. She holds a BA in Foreign Languages and an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy, credentials that have shaped her career across Madagascar, France, England, and now the United States.
Her work as a travel advisor is rooted in a desire to make international experiences more accessible, meaningful, and transformative. Her lived experience, across continents and languages, makes her a powerful advocate for students seeking to expand their worldview and pursue life-changing opportunities abroad.
Rashida Elbourne brings a lifelong global lens to the Ariventures Abroad Board, shaped by her upbringing as a "military brat" across Japan, Panama, Germany, and the United States. A senior consultant at Deloitte specializing in strategy and operations in financial services, completed a dual Executive MBA through the EMBA-Global Program offered by Columbia Business School and London Business School.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Livingstone College, where she graduated summa cum laude and captained the women's basketball team, and a master's in Criminal Justice Management and Planning from Norfolk State University. A proud 2x HBCU alumna and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Rashida is passionate about mentoring the next generation of global changemakers.
Joy Donnelly is the founder of Joy Worldwide Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing scholarships for students seeking to study abroad. Her own path was shaped by a semester in Milan and an International MBA in Paris, experiences she credits with transforming her life and career.
Over the past decade she has built a career in the travel industry with Global Jet Black, StampedTribe, AuPairCare, and currently American Express Global Business Travel, where she received the 2024 CEO Purpose Award. In 2025 she was named a Top 50 Women in Travel in the Rising Female Leader category by WINiT from the Global Business Travel Association. As Strategic Advisor to Ariventures Abroad, Joy brings deep experience in global education, scholarships, and purpose-driven travel.
