Hi! I am Annie Cruz-Porter, PhD. I've been where you are - whether you're a parent/guardian or even a young person trying to figure out the best path forward or an adult looking for a place where you can actually thrive.
As someone who immigrated from the US to the UK (Master's at Royal Holloway, PhD at Sheffield, now proudly dual citizenship), I've navigated the whole gauntlet: admissions, visas, healthcare, housing, the works. As a researcher specializing in community economic development planning and data-informed decision-making - and as a parent of a trans teenager - I'm here to help LGBTQ+ young adults and their families cut through uncertainty and find real, workable international education options.
Not the sanitized version. The truth.
What I bring to this work:
My day job is analyzing how systems work - and whether they actually deliver what they promise. I have led state and national level projects examining how education, industry, workforce development, and career pathways intersect. My research on industry trends and skills alignment gives me a distinct lens for evaluating international education options— I analyze programs based on outcomes and fit, not just rankings or perceived reputation. That means I know how to look at an education system and ask the questions that matter: Where does this credential actually lead? What does the job market look like on the other side? Can you afford to live there while you study? What does the career market look like in that country or location after you settle somewhere?
I apply the same rigorous, evidence-based approach to international education and relocation that I bring to my research. No wishful thinking. No glossy marketing. Just clear-eyed analysis of what works, what doesn't, and what's realistic for your situation. I believe there is usually a workable solution.
What drives me:
That moment when a family realizes this is actually possible - that there's a path that makes financial sense, leads somewhere real, and puts their kid in a place where they can be fully themselves. That's why I do this work.
I'm based near Chicago and spend my days as a senior researcher at a major university. Plan Ze is where that research brain meets the parent and human heart.
While my expertise centers on LGBTQ+ families navigating safety and inclusion alongside education decisions, I work with any family or individual seeking honest, research-informed guidance on international workforce pathways.
Credentials
PhD (Urban Planning), University of Sheffield, UK
MA (Geography Research), Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Senior researcher at a major U.S. research university specializing in community economic development and data-informed decision-making
Expertise in workforce development, career pathways, and how education systems connect to labor market outcomes
Research background in economic resilience and industry, occupational, and knowledge cluster analysis across European and U.S. contexts
Dual U.S.-UK citizen with firsthand experience navigating international admissions, visas, disability assessments, healthcare for queer youth, housing, and settlement
Parent who has navigated international education decisions for their own family
