Mirela Mazalu is the Secretary General of EucA where her main responsibilities focus on (1) research in European project consortia on students affairs development, soft skills learning and assessment in residential settings, quality mobility, youth employability, active citizenship, (2) designing international co-curricular activities for students, and (3) designing professional development events for student affairs professionals in Europe. She joined EucA in 2010 and
serves in her current capacity since 2017.

Maria del Pilar Murguia was born in Bolivia and raised across Italy and Colombia! Her multicultural life experience allowed her to learn firsthand the challenges that living in different countries entails!  With a business background, Pilar started working in International Higher education since June 2003 at John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. The focus of her work at JCU was and is to establish and maintain an environment that supports learning, encourages a strong sense of community, and promotes student development through active engagement in university life. 

Pilar currently directly supervises the areas of Athletics, Outdoor Education Programs, Performing Arts, Student Activities and Trips, and Student Leadership Programs (OL, OSA, Student Clubs). She is part of the board of the Crisis Management Team of her University, as well as the University strategic planning committee.

Pilar is a certified Student Leadership Challenge practitioner, and her continued interest in intercultural leadership makes her curious about all new trends in the field. She is an active member AACUPI, NASPA, EUCA among other associations.

Dr. Janelle Nicole Rahyns is a global higher education leader with more than two decades of experience advancing student development, international engagement, and organizational impact across universities and professional associations worldwide. She currently serves as Senior Director of Global Impact at NASPA, where she leads the association’s global strategy, oversees international partnerships, and drives cross‑functional initiatives that strengthen professional learning, staff development, and global program delivery.

A scholar‑practitioner with deep expertise in international and comparative education, Dr. Rahyns has shaped global learning ecosystems across more than 50 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and the Americas. Her leadership portfolio includes executive oversight of global conferences, intercultural learning programs, virtual education platforms, and multi‑country academic initiatives.

Prior to her senior leadership roles at NASPA, Dr. Rahyns served as Vice Rector and Assistant Dean at Yale‑NUS College in Singapore, where she provided institutional leadership for academic advising, student development, diversity and inclusion, crisis response, and residential education. She has also held multiple roles with Semester at Sea and UCLA Residential Life, contributing to research, assessment, student conduct, leadership development, and global experiential learning.

Dr. Rahyns holds a Ph.D. in Social Sciences and Comparative Education from the University of California, Los Angeles; an M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education from the University of Florida; and a B.A. in Political Science. She is an IASAS Global Expert and has served as a delegate and program lead for numerous international summits and conferences.

Across her career, Dr. Rahyns has been recognized for her strategic vision, global perspective, and ability to build inclusive, high‑impact learning communities. She continues to champion international collaboration, leadership development, and transformative educational experiences for students and professionals around the world.