Region XII Northern District Team
Becky Alvarez
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Santa Rosa Junior College
Conference Logistics Chair (2025 Conference), Region XII Northern California District
Becky Alvarez is the International Student Advisor and Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) at Santa Rosa Junior College. She recently celebrated a decade of service as a DSO, marking ten years of dedication to supporting international students. Becky began her career working with both F-1 and...
Kevyn Anne Lacson
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Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Workshops & Resources Coordinator, Region XII Northern California District
Kevyn recently completed her Masters in International Education Management and Public Administration in Social Change at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Her passion for global education began during her two years teaching English in Spain, where she witnessed the...
Brenna Lewalani Barrett
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University of San Diego
Secretary, Region XII Northern District
Brenna is a globally minded behavioral science enthusiast who has traveled to 29 countries, many of them solo, and earned her Master’s in Applied Psychology in Melbourne, Australia. Her firsthand experience navigating life as an international student fuels her passion for creating inclusive...
Indy Benipal
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University of California, Davis
Conference Logistics Chair (2026 Conference), Region XII Northern California District
Indy Benipal is the Delegations and Travel Coordinator for Global Affairs at UC Davis. She came to UC Davis with a variety of experiences and a passion for global engagement. With a B.A. in Global Engagement and Leadership from California State University- Sacramento, Indy was able to create a...
Vera Bell
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University of California, Davis
Communications & Marketing Representative, Region XII Northern District Team
Vera earned their Bachelor's degree in English in 2020 prior to joining the Global Learning Hub at UC Davis as an Enrollment and Operations Officer in November of 2022. However, Vera considers themselves to be more of a storyteller than a scholar or professional, one interested in how we can turn...
Sarah Brockmeyer
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Santa Clara University
Past Chair, Region XII Northern California District
Sarah Brockmeyer manages the Center for Global Law & Policy at Santa Clara University School of Law. In this role, she oversees the law school’s global initiatives, including the world’s largest JD study abroad program, robust international visiting student and scholar programs, international law...
Jessica Fareri
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University of California Davis
Present Chair, Region XII Northern California District
Jess Fareri currently serves as the Chair of the NAFSA Region XII Northern District, having first joined the team in January 2023 as Conference Logistics Chair. She brings a strong commitment to international education and cross-cultural engagement through her work at UC Davis’s Global Learning Hub...
Alexandro Gonzalez-Calvillo
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Stanford University
2026 Conference Registrar, Region XII Northern California District
Alexandro Gonzalez-Calvillo currently works as an international student immigration advisor (DSO/ARO) at Stanford University. He previously worked as a senior international student advisor (DSO) at Arizona State University. His experience in international education and student services spans over 6+...
Alex Hovan
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University of California, Davis
Conference Content Chair (2026 conference), Region XII Northern California District
Alex Hovan is a coordinator of International and Academic English Programs in the UC Davis Division of Global Affairs. He stepped into this role in 2025 after spending five years supporting international students and scholars through UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. Alex’s path into...
Catherine (Katie) Eagan
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Las Positas College
TLS Knowledge Community Representative, Region XII Northern California District
Katie is a passionate educator and global citizen dedicated to fostering meaningful international engagement both at home and abroad. A seasoned equity leader and expert in post-secondary curriculum design and assessment, she brings a strategic and inclusive lens to all aspects of education. She...
Erin Kelly-Weber
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San José State University
Member At Large, Region XII Northern California District
Erin Kelly-Weber is a Senior Program Specialist in the Study Abroad and Away office at San Jose State University, where she supports faculty, international partners and students in developing short-term study abroad programs. Previously, she supported international high school students on the J-1...
Randeep Kullar
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Loyola Marymount University
Sponsorship Representative, Region XII Northern California District
Randeep is a dedicated higher education professional with a dual passion for career development and international education. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Study Abroad at Loyola Marymount University, where she supports students in expanding their academic, personal, and...
Lauren Lewis
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Institute of International Education (IIE)
2025 Conference Content Chair, Region XII Northern California District
Lauren works at the Institute of International Education (IIE) for the KAUST Gifted Scholarship Program (KGSP). She is an Advising Manager based in San Francisco, working with Foundation Year and Undergraduate Advisors and their students across the U.S. Lauren joined the KGSP in 2017, graduated from...
Christy Li
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University of San Francisco
ISSS Representative, Region XII Northern California District
Christy Li is an International Student Advisor (DSO) at the University of San Francisco, where she advises and implements programs for international students. She is a former international student and holds a Master’s degree in International and Multicultural Education. Outside of work, Christy...
Alice Michel
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University of California, Santa Cruz
IEL Representative, Region XII Northern California District
Alice is the Executive Director of Global Mobility at UC Santa Cruz, overseeing both inbound and outbound mobility for the campus. She has been at UC Santa Cruz for about 15 years and in the field for over 20 years, serving in a variety of roles including advisor, teacher, and administrator. In her...
Julie Moreira
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San Jose City College
Community College Representative, Region XII Northern California District
Julie Moreira is currently the International Student Program Supervisor at San Jose City College. Prior to her current role, she was the Senior Coordinator for ISSS at California State University, East Bay. Julie has been in the field of International Education for the past 13 years advising F-1 and...
Ximena Ospina
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Diversity Abroad
Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EAKC), Region XII Northern California District
Ximena is a passionate advocate for transformative, equitable, and mindful global education. With a rich background in justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (JEDI), she brings deep experience from both social change organizations and higher education institutions. She believes that...
Nushi Safinya
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Member at Large, Region XII Northern California District
Nushi is a retired faculty member and director of over 44 years. Even in her retirement, she still works diligently to help first-generation Latina high school women receive scholarships for university studies, and to recognize and reward women of color returning to complete their higher education...
Susan Sermeno
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Treasurer, Region XII Northern California District
Susan had the pleasure of filling all the positions at the international student office at John F. Kennedy University for twenty-two years. The positions she held included international student advisor, PDSO, and international admissions manager. She was the lifeline for international students from...
Lena Zadorozhna
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University of California Davis
2025 Conference Registrar, Region XII Northern California District
Lena Zadorozhna (she/her/hers) is an International Student Advisor (DSO/ARO) at the Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS), University of California, Davis. Lena has been working in the field of international education for over nine years now, following five years working in a...