Students of Service Expands Staff with the Hiring of Marisa Calder

Students of Service (SOS) started as a meager idea from a teacher wanting to help students see the world but has grown into a nonprofit endeavor that has taken more than 600 travelers abroad to over 16 countries (and counting) in under ten years. As the organization steps into 2023, they will be doing it with more (wo)man power in their leadership. SOS is proud to announce the hiring of their first full-time team member, Marisa Calder, as the Director of Operations.


Calder is a Trinity University alumna who joins SOS with more than ten years of experience in the education, nonprofit, and government sectors. In her spare time, she had been volunteering with the organization since June 2021. When the opportunity presented itself, Amir Samandi, Executive Director of SOS, knew he had the perfect person in mind. Samandi shares, “Through Marisa’s volunteerism, experience, and commitment to the organization, I knew that she would be a great fit for our team. There is so much that was accomplished this past year thanks to Marisa’s leadership. We are thrilled she has accepted this role!”

As the Director of Operations, some of the major responsibilities that Calder has in addition to developing organizational systems is program management, overseeing scholarships, and cultivating new partnerships. Calder is no stranger to how study abroad programs and international travel can change a student’s life. As a high school student, Calder participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange program in Hungary. When in college, she was selected to be a part of the U.S. State Department Critical Language Program in China. Calder shares, “I want students from all walks of life to experience the cultures, traditions, and exchanges that have helped me become the leader I am today. My life has been richer because of the experiences I have had while studying abroad. San Antonio students deserve that opportunity as well.”

To connect with SOS’s new Director of Operations, Marisa Calder, reach out to her at marisa@sossanantonio.org.

Students of Service is a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization that works to develop young leaders who have a global perspective to solve local problems. To learn more about SOS and how you can help local students become global citizens, visit www.sossanantonio.org.

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