About ACEI
The Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (ACEI) was incorporated in the State of California in 1994. ACEI is a Charter and Endorsed Member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), a not-for-profit professional association that approves and endorses private credential evaluation services in the U.S.
OUR MISSION
Commitment to Global Exchange
ACEI is dedicated to advancing international academic exchange and fostering global understanding through the dissemination of knowledge on world educational systems and the evaluation of international academic credentials. To support this mission, we continuously embrace innovations in digital technology and artificial intelligence, enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of our evaluation services. By combining cutting-edge tools with deep expertise, we ensure our reports meet the evolving needs of educational institutions, licensing boards, employers, government agencies, and individuals worldwide.
Trusted Partnerships in the U.S.
ACEI collaborates with U.S. colleges and universities, state professional licensing boards, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Immigration Division), and human resource departments across diverse industries to provide precise evaluation and verification of international academic credentials.
Global Reach and Professional Development
Beyond the U.S., ACEI serves higher education institutions, government agencies, and multinational corporations seeking reliable insight into international education systems, credentials, and evaluation methodologies. Our organization is also deeply committed to training and professional development—supporting practitioners at universities, licensing and examining boards, and agencies engaged in recruitment, advising, and placement of international students. We provide expertise on world education systems, credential evaluation standards, diploma mills, and document fraud detection to strengthen global academic and professional integrity.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Expertise and Global Perspective
With more than one hundred years of combined experience in international education and an in-depth understanding of the U.S. education system, ACEI’s credential evaluators and executive team bring unmatched expertise to every project. Our team’s diverse backgrounds, multilingual capabilities, and overseas experiences enrich our work and strengthen our role in international academic exchange. We actively engage in the activities of leading organizations in the field, ensuring our practices remain globally informed and relevant.
Commitment to Standards and Best Practices
All U.S. educational equivalencies recommended in ACEI evaluation reports are determined in accordance with established guidelines and reflect the informed judgments of highly qualified evaluators. As a Charter and Endorsed Member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), ACEI adheres to the Association’s Standards and Best Practices, which define quality benchmarks for the evaluation of international academic credentials. For more details, please visit www.aice-eval.org.
Integrity and Rigorous Review
Before being issued, every ACEI evaluation report undergoes a thorough review for accuracy and consistency by our Evaluation Review Committee, comprised of senior evaluators. While ACEI reports are advisory and not legally binding on any institution, agency, or third party, they are trusted for their precision, integrity, and consistency in supporting academic, professional, and immigration-related decisions.
Our Executive Team
Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert, President & Chief Executive Officer
Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI). Since establishing ACEI in 1994, she has led the organization’s growth into a globally recognized authority in international credential evaluation, higher education policy, and comparative education research. A published author and sought-after speaker on global education systems, Jasmin advises universities, government agencies, and international organizations on emerging markets, credential evaluation standards, and global admissions pathways. She has chaired and served on committees for leading professional associations including NAFSA: Association of International Educators, AACRAO, and AICE. Jasmin currently serves as: Chair, International Education Standards Council (IESC) — overseeing country profiles and credential recommendations for AACRAO’s Electronic Database on Global Education (EDGE) President, Board of Directors — Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) — a U.S.-based non-profit professional association for credential evaluation service providers. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of San Diego and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Jasmin’s leadership and contributions have been recognized with national honors, including: 2023 AACRAO Award for Excellence in International Education 2024 Inductee, TAICEP Hall of Acclaim Her work continues to shape the standards, integrity, and future direction of international credential evaluation in the United States and abroad. For a detailed description of Jasmin’s contributions in international education click below.
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technical Officer
Since the founding of Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI) in 1994, Alan Saidi has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s growth, technology, and innovation. With a background in Electronics Engineering, Alan bridges the worlds of education and technology, driving ACEI’s mission through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and cutting-edge digital transformation. As Chief Technical Officer, Alan oversees the design, innovation, and continuous improvement of ACEI’s website and software platforms, leading initiatives that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility. He spearheads the development of digital tools and cloud-based systems for the digitization, storage, and secure management of credential data, ensuring ACEI’s evaluators and clients benefit from real-time access to global education databases and streamlined workflows. Under Alan’s leadership, ACEI has advanced its reputation as a pioneer in credential evaluation technology, integrating automation, data analytics, and system optimization to support consistent and reliable educational equivalency reporting. Alan is also a regular speaker at international conferences and webinars, sharing his expertise on foreign education systems and credential evaluation standards. He contributes frequently to the ACEI-Global.blog and has authored updates for respected publications, including the NAFSA Online Guide to Education Systems Around the World.
Nora S. Khacheturians, In Memorium... Executive Director
Nora S. Khacheturians is the Executive Director of the Evaluation and Translation Departments of Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI). Prior to joining ACEI, Nora served as Director of University Placement at ELS Language Centers (USA) from 1982 to 2006. She was the founder and President of EDWAM Services Institute and the Director of AFME/ADMIDEAST in Tehran, Iran. Nora holds business degrees from Switzerland and the United Kingdom. She has worked closely with U.S. admissions officers and international student advisers in their efforts to effectively recruit and admit foreign students candidates to their institutions. She brings to ACEI a rich global history with extensive experience in international education, student counseling and placement. Nora is a frequent contributor to ACEI-Global.blog, and oversees training and professional development of ACEI’s international credential evaluation team.
Yolinisse Moreno Vice, President of Marketing & Communication
Yolinisse Moreno is the Vice-President of Marketing and Communications for Academic Credential Evaluation Institution, Inc. (ACEI). She has been part of the ACEI team since 2010. Yolinisse is responsible for ACEI’s marketing, branding, media and public relations, campaign promotion, market research, crisis communication, and marketing-related customer relationship and engagement activities, which are all essential to enhancing the organization's brand reputation and community support. She works closely with ACEI’s consultants and senior evaluators and client support team. Yolinisse holds a BS in Business Administration with an option in Marketing Management from California State University, Los Angeles.
Andrew Popelka, Associate Director of Client Services
Andrew Popelka serves as Associate Director of Client Services at the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (ACEI). Based in the Greater Chicagoland Area, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. With extensive experience in international education services, Andrew leads ACEI’s outreach and partnership initiatives, engaging with schools, universities, professional licensing boards, employers, and other organizations across the U.S. to expand awareness of ACEI’s mission and build lasting institutional relationships. Through his leadership in client development and engagement, Andrew advances ACEI’s commitment to fostering access, transparency, and collaboration in international education.
OUR RESOURCES
At ACEI, we bring together knowledge, technology, and research to strengthen the quality and reliability of our credential evaluation services. These resources are the foundation of our work and a reflection of our commitment to excellence:
Extensive Library
Our comprehensive library combines historical archives with the latest global education data. It includes hundreds of thousands of international credentials, institutional catalogs, and course syllabi—continuously updated to reflect changes in world education systems. With access to leading digital platforms, our team works with the most authoritative and up-to-date information available.
Advanced Technology
ACEI’s proprietary International Database of Educational Systems (IDES) provides evaluators with instant access to verified information on educational structures, credentials, and institutional status worldwide. We also subscribe to trusted industry resources, such as AACRAO EDGE, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and confidence in every report.
Ongoing Research & Thought Leadership
ACEI’s experts contribute to the field of international education through publications sponsored by AACRAO, NAFSA, and AICE—works that are widely recognized and referenced by credentialing professionals around the globe.
