Catalina Gardescu is an experienced Educational Marketing, Admissions, and Communications professional with over 20 years of expertise in international school advancement. She established and led the Admissions and External Relations Department at the American International School of Bucharest and later contributed to the growth of Copenhagen International School as Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Communications.
Catalina’s expertise encompasses admissions forecasting, parent engagement, communications, alumni and parent relations, fundraising, strategic marketing, and scholarship program development. She has played a pivotal role in shaping school budgets, designing marketing strategies, and leading fundraising initiatives to ensure sustainable growth and meaningful community engagement.
An active member of a global network of professionals, Catalina has shared best practices and insights in international school admissions and advancement. She has designed and led OpenApply Admissions Certification Courses in Shanghai, Singapore, and Sofia and was instrumental in founding the International Admissions Bulletin, now a leading publication in the field.
Catalina is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB), transitions-care, and fostering authentic connections within school communities. She currently leads Ideas Into Action, her own consultancy firm, and volunteers as Director of Communications for Safe Passage Across Networks. She is also embarking on a new academic journey, having been accepted into the Educational Leadership MBA program at Tampere University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
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