Government Regulations Advisory Committee (GRAC)
The Region XI Government Regulations Advisory Committee (GRAC) is a sub-committee of the NAFSA Region XI Team that specializes in U.S. government laws, rules, and regulations (at the federal, state, and local level) as they pertain to international students and scholars enrolled, employed, or visiting educational institutions in the six New England states. GRAC works closely with the Regulatory Ombudspersons, the Knowledge Community for International Student and Scholar Services (KCISSS) Representative, and the Region XI Chair stream, who are all ex-officio members of the committee. Each GRAC member has specific expertise area(s) below and is available for questions you may have. Should you wish to contact GRAC members, the contact information is available through the NAFSA Membership Directory or via the GRAC members’ institutional website.
| Members | Position | Institution | Contact Information | Specialization* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elke Breker | Member | Director, Office of International Student & Scholar Services, Brown University | Contact Elke Breker | F / J stu / J sch / H / TN / O |
| Rajan Eapen | Member | International Scholar Adviser, Office of International Education, University of Vermont | Contact Rajan Eapen | J stu / J int / J sch / H / TN /O LPR / I-9s / MED |
| Kathy M. Foley | Secretary | Associate Dean & Director, International Student & Scholar Services, Middlebury College | Contact Kathy Foley | F / J stu / J sch |
| Shannon Gerber | SIW Coordinator Elect (2021) | SEVIS Data Specialist, Office of Global Services, Northeastern University | Contact Shannon Gerber | F |
| Elizabeth A. Goss, Esq. | GRAC Chair (2019-2020) | Founder, Goss Associates LLC | Contact Elizabeth Goss | H / TN / O / LPR / I-9s / Workforce Compliance / DACA |
| Mihwa Lee | Member | Senior Adviser, Office of International Students & Scholars, Yale University | Contact Mihwa Lee | F / J stu / J sch / H / I-9s / TN |
| Sal Mazzone | Member | Executive Director, International Students and Scholars Office, University of Massachusetts Lowell | Contact Sal | F / J stu / J int / J sch |
| Anthony Pawelski | Member | International Adviser, Partners Office for International Professionals and Students (PIPS), Partners HealthCare | J sch / H / TN / O / LPR / MED | |
| M. Andrea Popa | GRAC Chair Elect (2020-2021) | Director, International Student Affairs, Emerson College | Contact Andrea Popa | F / J stu / J sch / TN / H / I-9s |
| Kate Sacco | SIW Coordinator | Director, Office of International Student Services, Rhode Island School of Design | Contact Kate Sacco | F / J stu |
| Dawn Sedutto | Member | Director, International Student Services, Southern New Hampshire University | F / Taxes | |
| Susan Shea | Past SIW Coordinator (2019) | Associate Director, Office of Int'l Students & Scholars, Boston College, Thea Bowman House | Contact Susan Shea | F / J stu / J int / J sch |
| Specialists | Position | Institution | Contact Information | Specialization* |
| Jennifer O'Connor | K-12 Specialist | Director, International Student Programs, Lawrence Academy | Contact Jennifer O'Connor | K-12 / F |
| Ex-Officio Members | Position | Institution | Contact Information | Specialization* |
| Hanna Bliss | Regulatory Ombudsperson - Student Issues (2020-2022) | Director of International Student Engagement, Amherst College | Contact Hanna Bliss | F / J stu |
| Amanda Doran | Regulatory Ombudsperson - Scholar Issues (2017 - 2020) | Adviser to International Scholars, International Scholars Office, Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Contact Amanda Doran | J sch / H / TN / O / LPR |
| Ozan Say | Knowledge Community Representative ISSS (2019 - 2021) | Senior Adviser, Office of International Students and Scholars, Yale University | Contact Ozan Say | F / J stu / J sch / Taxes |
Specialization*
F: F Students and Dependents
J int: J Student Interns
LPR: Lawful Permanent Residents
TN: TN Status Under NAFTA
J stu: J Students and Dependents
H: H-1B Scholars/Employees and Dependents
MED: Medical Scholars and Dependents
J sch: J Scholars and Dependents
K-12: Kindergarten-12th Grade
O: O-1 Scholars and Dependents