Our Team
Champions of International Education for Student-Athletes
Annika Wachtman
Head of Programs, Beyond Sports
Annika serves as the Head of Programs for Beyond Sports––the parent organization of Student-Athletes Abroad. Her connection to the mission is personal: she first experienced Beyond Sports as a program participant. She knows firsthand how powerful the combination of sports and travel can be for building cross-cultural bridges and inspiring personal growth. A former collegiate basketball standout at Capital University, Annika served on the program’s leadership council for three years and was a 3X Academic All-Conference honoree. Now based in Central Ohio, Annika stays close to her roots as an active athlete and youth sports advocate.
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Based in USA
Kris Brackmann
Director of Programs, Student-Athletes Abroad
Kris is the Director of Programs for Student-Athletes Abroad, overseeing enrollment, partnerships, and program operations for SAA. A graduate from Claremont McKenna College, she had a solid career as a basketball player, earning multiple Athlete of the Year accolades, four league championships, and four NCAA DIII appearances. She has extensive experience consulting international and national sports organizations (clubs, leagues, federations, tech/service providers), making her a key mentor for future sports-industry professionals. Since moving to Spain in 2017, she has been competing on the national stage in beach volleyball. Kris loves being able to stay connected to student-athletes and introduce them to new cultures through SAA.
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Silvia Betancourt
Costa Rica Director
Silvia is the Director of all Costa Rica programming. Silvia is one of Costa Rica's most accomplished athletes having played Division I soccer and basketball in the United States. She received all-conference honors on the field and in the classroom. Silvia has represented her country on both the Costa Rica National Soccer and Basketball Teams. Prior to joining our organization, she directed programs for Special Olympics of Costa Rica and continues to manage the Beyond Sports - Special Olympics partnership as a member of Special Olympics' Board of Directors.
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Based in Costa Rica
Kayla Roling
Enrollment Coordinator
Kayla is an Enrollment Coordinator. She is a former collegiate basketball player from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she was a Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete. After college, Kayla was a graduate assistant with Gonzaga University Women's Basketball team for two years while earning her Master's in Sport and Athletic Administration. Her coaching career then took her to Puget Sound and Pepperdine University, where she served as an assistant coach in the women's basketball programs.​
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Based in USA