Kayla Soltis-Katella

GEO Assistant Director

919-684-2174
kayla.soltis-katella@duke.edu

Kayla Soltis-Katella had never left the United States until she spent part of her junior year abroad in Angers, France, and it changed her life! She packed up and moved to Paris to teach, work, study, and live for two years. Upon her return, she spent over a decade in secondary education, sharing her passion for French and travel with students. She holds a B.A. in Art History and French from Allegheny College, an M.A. in French Language and Civilization from New York University, and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Mississippi. Kayla is passionate about ensuring that all students have an international experience and is excited to work with Duke students to make studying away possible for them. She joined the GEO in 2023.

In her free time, Kayla enjoys painting, baking, watching sports (especially Pittsburgh sports), and having lively discussions with her husband about who is the better cat parent to their two tail-less torties.

Primary Responsibilities: Primary administrator for The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (ICCS) in Rome (semester). Program management for Duke in France/EDUCO (semester), Duke in Bologna (summer), and Duke in Rome (summer).

Professional Interests: French language & culture, language acquisition, educational technology, program development & management, leveraging study abroad experiences to meet future career goals, student wellness while abroad, & advocating for First Gen & Low SES students