Erin Wolf appointed to Princeton position in international travel and safety

Erin Wolf, whose career focuses on international risk analysis in higher education, has been appointed the inaugural associate director of international travel and safety at Princeton University, effective Nov. 13.

“The University’s international activity is growing rapidly and becoming more complex," said Provost Deborah Prentice. "Our faculty, students and staff are increasingly engaged abroad, conducting research, teaching and taking courses, working and serving in developing countries, and partnering with local scholars, communities and universities. We are committed to supporting our students' and scholars' activities abroad, and Erin’s appointment is central to this effort.”

In her role, Wolf will provide strategic and operational leadership on matters of health, safety and security overseas for students, faculty and staff.  She will also develop and enhance travel safety preparedness programs and serve as a planning and response resource on matters of travel safety and security.

“We are very pleased to welcome Erin Wolf to campus,” said Anastasia Vrachnos, vice provost for international affairs and operations, to whom Wolf will report. "Her experience abroad, her depth of knowledge in safety and security, and her expertise in preparedness and response distinguished Erin in a very crowded field of applicants. These qualities will be key assets for our students and scholars who are increasingly engaged in research and scholarly activity abroad."

Wolf comes to Princeton from the University of Texas System, where she has been an international risk and insurance analyst since 2015. Among her responsibilities was collaborating with each of UT's 14 institutions to develop and coordinate system-wide policies and procedures relating to international travel.

Previously, she was an international risk analyst at the University of Texas at Austin for five years, where she was the on-call first responder and crisis manager for all international emergencies involving students.   She has spoken at numerous conferences on topics of international travel safety, security and risk assessment.    

From 2006 to 2009, Wolf served with the Peace Corps in Zambia. She was the primary liaison between Peace Corps Zambia headquarters and volunteers and oversaw the emergency action plan ensuring that volunteers could be reached in an emergency. During her first two-year term, she trained volunteer teachers at rural village schools outside of the Zambian government's education system.

“As Princeton increases its global mobility, a strategic approach and enhanced resources to mitigate risks to traveler health, safety and security is essential. I am incredibly excited for this opportunity to play a role in supporting safe and successful Princeton experiences abroad,” Wolf said.

Wolf earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Stephen F. Austin State University, with a minor in Spanish. She has a master's degree in interpersonal communication from the University of Texas at Austin.