Hi, I’m Dr. Key
I was the girl who moved around a lot, spending years adapting to new homes and adjusting myself to fit in. Little did I know these experiences would help me in my international travels and career. Now, I help others thrive in new environments and achieve success through deeper understanding.
Hi, I’m Dr. Key
I was the girl who moved around a lot, spending years adapting to new homes and adjusting myself to fit in. Little did I know these experiences would help me in my international travels and career. Now, I help others thrive in new environments and achieve success through deeper understanding.
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to teenage parents. Growing up, I moved between different family members’ homes, constantly changing schools and adjusting to new environments.
At 18, I stumbled upon the study abroad office at my college, where I found myself helping international students adjust to life in the U.S. I realized that their struggles to fit in were not so different from my own growing up. By the age of 32, I had studied abroad in Japan, worked in China, and completed a doctorate in higher education management with a specialization in international education. I also started my own company, URep Abroad LLC, to promote cross-cultural understanding and inspire others to join the international education field.
Now, more than twenty years after my first visit to that study abroad office, I teach others what sparked my journey: the importance of understanding cultures to thrive in new spaces.
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to teenage parents. Growing up, I moved between different family members’ homes, constantly changing schools and adjusting to new environments.
At 18, I stumbled upon the study abroad office at my college, where I found myself helping international students adjust to life in the U.S. I realized that their struggles to fit in were not so different from my own growing up. By the age of 32, I had studied abroad in Japan, worked in China, and completed a doctorate in higher education management with a specialization in international education. I also started my own company, URep Abroad LLC, to promote cross-cultural understanding and inspire others to join the international education field.
Now, more than twenty years after my first visit to that study abroad office, I teach others what sparked my journey: the importance of understanding cultures to thrive in new spaces.
When I’m not working, I’m a wife and a proud cat mom. I love sharing my travel experiences to show others that the world isn’t such a scary place and that each cultural interaction is key to bringing people closer together.
These days, you can find me at home making social media content, binge-watching anime and K-dramas, and inspiring people to get out there and explore the world.
When I’m not working, I’m a wife and a proud cat mom. I love sharing my travel experiences to show others that the world isn’t such a scary place and that each cultural interaction is key to bringing people closer together.
These days, you can find me at home making social media content, binge-watching anime and K-dramas, and inspiring people to get out there and explore the world.
Dr. Key is an intercultural consultant, cross-cultural trainer, program developer, and content creator. She teaches and develops resources on intercultural communication and cultural competency through her company, URep Abroad.
She is based in Los Angeles, California, where she runs URep Abroad programs and records her content from her home studio.
URep Abroad (urepabroad.com) is Dr. Key’s company to help leaders, educators, and students prepare for international engagement through training, events, lectures, and collaborations.
Dr. Key shares free cross-cultural resources on social media. You can find her as @urepdrkey on YouTube, TikTok, and Substack, and as @urepabroad on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and LinkedIn. She has an audience reach of over 10,000 across these platforms.
