Senior Spotlight: Meet Alexandra Lopez Yakimenko, Senior Credential Analyst

At The Evaluation Company, every credential evaluation represents an important next step for an applicant. Our Senior Spotlight series introduces the experienced team members who help make that work possible.

Meet Alexandra Lopez Yakimenko

Alexandra Lopez Yakimenko is a Senior Credential Analyst at The Evaluation Company, bringing more than a decade of experience in credential evaluation and a career shaped by languages and global cultures.

She earned a degree in foreign languages from the University of Havana, where she majored in German. She later worked in travel, tourism, and aviation, industries that kept her connected to languages, international communities, and cross-cultural communication. In 2014, she began working in credential evaluations at Josef Silny & Associates, where she found a field that brought those interests together before joining The Evaluation Company.

A Journey Around the World

“What initially attracted me to credential evaluation was the opportunity to explore my interest in foreign cultures through a different lens: international education,” Alexandra says. “In many ways, this field feels like a journey around the world.”

Since then, she has helped internationally educated applicants communicate the value of their academic achievements to schools, employers, licensing boards, and other organizations in the United States.

Finding the Story Behind the Documents

Some cases are relatively straightforward. Others involve older documents, unfamiliar qualifications, limited reference information, or education systems that have changed significantly over time. Those are often the ones Alexandra finds most interesting.

She reviews documents closely, compares multiple sources, and considers the historical, political, and social circumstances that may have influenced a credential. Whenever possible, she conducts research in the original language, which allows her to work directly with source material and identify distinctions that might be lost in translation.

Each case comes down to a few questions. What did this qualification represent when it was awarded? Where did it fit within the country’s education system? What opportunities did it provide to the person who earned it?

A Reminder of Why the Work Matters

Alexandra’s own experience of moving to the United States shapes how she approaches each file.

“I came to this country in search of a better life and new opportunities,” she says. “I understand how important it is to have your education and hard work recognized.”

One case has stayed with her. An internationally educated nurse needed an evaluation for submission to a Board of Nursing, and obtaining the required academic records from her home country took time. Alexandra helped her understand the requirements and guided her through a process that initially felt overwhelming. Several weeks after the evaluation was completed, a flower arrangement and a handwritten postcard arrived.

“I had never met her in person, and I wasn’t expecting anything in return, so it was a complete surprise,” Alexandra recalls.

Curiosity Beyond Credential Evaluation

Outside of TEC, Alexandra enjoys spending time with her family, taking walks, and gardening. She is especially interested in preparing recipes from different countries and learning about the traditions connected to them, and she grows herbs and spices in her garden to use in the kitchen. Germany had been high on her travel list for years because of her academic background, and being able to visit after moving to the United States gave her the chance to hear the language in everyday life.

A Few Quick Highlights

Coffee or tea to start the workday: Always coffee to start the day, but I also enjoy a cup of good-quality black tea in the afternoon. I drink it without sugar, so I really appreciate its natural flavor, especially when it is paired with a piece of 85% dark chocolate.

Favorite place you have traveled: Italy

A word your teammates might use to describe you: Always willing to help.

Hidden talent: Cooking

Book, movie, podcast, or activity you often recommend to others: Spending more time outdoors.

Favorite sports team: Inter Miami FC