European Commission Accredited Organization • European Solidarity Corps & Erasmus+ • British Council Partner
About Us

Our Team

People are the ones who bring an organization to life, and the AIST Team consists of the Board of Directors, the Teaching Staff, the Project Team, the Front Office, our International Colleagues, and fixed-term volunteers. It is our great pleasure to introduce them below.

Minodora Barbul

Minodora Barbul

President of AIST & Founder

“The Solution Finder” – Educational Management & Strategic Vision

Minodora Barbul is the President of the American International School of Transylvania. She loves working with people from whom she can learn, who excel at what they do, and who inspire those around them by their own example. Twelve years ago, entrusted by UACE leadership to develop educational projects supporting the community, she discovered she could go beyond an academic career and revolutionize how education is delivered from the earliest ages. With the support of UACE—who understood that education is the only guarantee of an optimistic future—she realized she could manage the kind of education she wished for as a mother. Her colleagues call her “the solution finder”. She takes great pride in the team she has consolidated: people of outstanding professional and human quality who share her vision of education.

Mihai Gherasim

Mihai Gherasim

Member of the Board of Directors

“Problem Solver” – Educational, Logistical, Administrative & Legal Balance

Mihai Gherasim is a member of our Association’s Board of Directors and a reliable colleague and friend. He combines pragmatic thinking with a big heart, ensuring smooth communication with partners in the public education sector—being a teacher himself who understands the system’s priorities and needs from the inside. His role in the association is essential: Mihai is a natural “problem solver” who ensures our activities run safely and smoothly from an educational, logistical, administrative, legal, and IT perspective. A member of AIST since its founding, Mihai is a pillar of balance, and we are proud he chose to build with us a relaxed, professional environment where education is done with joy.

Onoriu Dan

Onoriu Dan

Board Member & National and International Projects Coordinator

onoriu.dan@aist.ro

Pathfinder for European projects and AIST volunteering programs

Onoriu Dan is the person the whole city knows—and who knows everyone in return. With extensive experience in the NGO sector and public administration in Baia Mare, Onoriu has worked closely with local youth his entire career and chose to be a trailblazer alongside AIST. He coordinates our national and international projects, helping—through the volunteers he recruits—to replicate the best-practice models of our teaching staff for children and young people from all backgrounds. His ambitious initiatives are embraced by our association, as Onoriu is a Board Member who deeply embodies our motto of being “The Open Gate to the World!”.

Roxana Modoc

Roxana Modoc

Communications & Parent Relations Officer

The fundamental strength of the organization: warm and professional communication

Roxana Modoc is the welcoming presence and the warm, professional voice greeting everyone who crosses our threshold. She is recognized by colleagues as holding the organization’s fundamental superpower: communication. Through her dedication, everyone stays effectively informed about external developments, and parents receive the best solutions for their children. Proving that “good things come in small packages”, Roxana’s kindness toward colleagues, proactive attitude, maturity, and sense of responsibility make her an essential member in maintaining the balance and harmony of the AIST team.

Raluca Conțiu

Raluca Conțiu

Psychologist & International Volunteers Coordinator

ralu.contiu@aist.ro

Intercultural dialogue, mentoring, and community volunteer support

Raluca Conțiu is the free spirit of the association—known fondly in local communities where she accompanies our international volunteers. A psychologist by training, “Ralu”, as we call her, is the caring mentor to all volunteers who join us, always attentive to the needs of those around her and ready with a creative solution in situations ranging from logistics to semantics. Her openness to multiculturalism and exceptional mastery of intercultural dialogue make her the ideal person to coordinate the young people volunteering in our organization.

Larisa Bozga

Larisa Bozga

German Language Teacher

Creative and interactive methods for discovering the German language through play

Larisa Bozga is a remarkable blend of intelligence, dedication, and grace. Previously a teacher in the public school system, Larisa chose to join the AIST team to give children the opportunity to learn German through play. Ambitious, fair, and deeply responsible in everything she undertakes, she constantly brings creative ideas and novel methods tailored to every child’s age so that each student falls in love with learning German.

Cristina Hogye

Cristina Hogye

English Language Teacher

Educational technology, team games, and primary-to-high-school teaching expertise

Cristina Hogye is a teacher by vocation, a fountain of creative ideas, a constant support, and a wonderful friend to her colleagues. Her passion for technology blends seamlessly with colorful flashcards, interactive worksheets, and team games, making her a well-rounded professional we are proud of. Understanding the education system both as a parent and as an experienced educator across primary to high school levels, Cristina is driven by continuous self-improvement—truly a model teacher.

Georgi Peter

Georgi Peter

Language Teacher & Educational Counselor

Exceptional start in multilingualism and non-formal education mentoring

Georgi Peter is the “good fairy” to the children she works with. Organized and big-hearted, she gives young learners an exceptional start in discovering multilingualism. Georgi pours her heart into her teaching, which shines through in the joy of her classes and the enthusiasm of her students. As an educational counselor, Georgi also guides our international volunteer teams in aligning with AIST’s high standards for non-formal education.

European Solidarity Corps & Erasmus+

Our International Colleagues

To meet some of our many international colleagues, who proudly celebrated their identity with their home countries’ flags painted on their faces, we invite you to watch the following video:

European Solidarity Corps & Erasmus+

Co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+

American International School of Transylvania LogoEuropean Solidarity Corps LogoCo-funded by the European Union