Our Story

We are two long-time friends who have many years of research and varied attempts to move abroad under our belt. Though on a similar path, our journeys have taken very different twists and turns. And while our situations have changed over that time, so has the world.

Resident permits and work visas are much more open and accessible these days. We co-founded The Living Abroad Academy in 2023 to share valuable expat experiences—ours and others—as well as to connect our students with the experts they need to troubleshoot their international move.

We seek to streamline the process so that students can come to decisions faster and with more confidence. We want to help people determine if they are right for the expat lifestyle in general or for the country they’re interested in, and how to prepare themselves for the delights and challenges of a new international location.

If we can compress our many years from our international moves into a shorter timeframe for our students, we've been successful for them!

We know there are many reasons people wish to move abroad, from just wanting to be in an exciting new location, to needing access to cheaper living and healthcare costs, to being tired of politics and the atmosphere at home, and even just needing a fresh start altogether! We embrace and support everyone's goals and are ready to help with those in mind.

Meet our co-founders

Living Abroad Academy LLC

“Since my early 20s, I’ve been a nomad, always moving to explore new places. I’ve lived in 13 states and traveled to 43. In 2016 I was able to make the jump and begin exploring internationally as a newly minted empty nester and digital nomad. I’m literally able to choose where I live, and while that all sounds free and easy, there were still many complicating factors that kept me from choosing any one place.

Between periodic employment for others (as opposed to being self-employed), I’ve researched and lived in Vietnam, Thailand, Portugal, the UK, and The Netherlands. I received my residence permit for The Netherlands but ultimately decided not to live there long term for various reasons.

In 2023 I spent 7 months traveling throughout Western Europe while taking a sabbatical from work. In 2024 and 2025, I floated around Canada, Mexico, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Turkey. When in the states for family or work contract reasons, I'm usually in Illinois and Montana.”

Michelle Hippler

Co-founder, The Living Abroad Academy

Living Abroad Academy LLC

“Twenty-five years ago, I had fallen in love with an enchanting Spanish city by the sea while I was working with an international office branch–Barcelona. As a design leader in tech and marketing, there were many job options at that time, and I had been working to secure a role at that office. But then the economy crashed and any hopes for that ended.

Back then, if you were not quite affluent, the only paths to living abroad were either getting a work visa or marrying a local. Fast forward to now, and the times have changed! Thanks to the increased options available, my spouse and I are pleased to call a Barcelona area beach town our European home. Spain was the right choice after a 6-year process, during which we also considered Italy, France and Portugal.

The traditional expat experience doesn’t end when you get the initial visa and find a home. There are financial, paperwork, cultural, and professional challenges that continue to be part of the reality. It’s still quite rewarding for those who really want to do it!”

Jeffrey Jones

Co-founder, The Living Abroad Academy