Community and Associate Colleges
Jackie Boboye, EdD is a professor/counselor, international students’ advisor and multicultural club advisor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Boboye has a BA in sociology/social work, an MA in education with an emphasis in counseling from California State University, San Bernardino. She received a doctorate degree in education with emphasis in the educational leadership and management from Capella University. Boboye is an active community organizer, international consultant, mentor, and volunteer at Grace International Educational Consulting (GIEC) a non-profit organization where she facilitates free workshops, seminars and trainings to prepare students for academic and career success.
Jeanna Cata has worked in international education for almost eight years. While she has only ever worked for Iowa Western Community College, she has done so in three roles (support, adviser, and now coordinator), and is now officially a one-person office. In her current role, she processes international student admissions and serves as the school immigration adviser. Just prior to this employment, she served as an Americorps Member for a refugee resettlement agency, specializing in education and employment. She earned her BA in anthropology from the University of NE-Lincoln. As a DIP mentor, she is excited to share her knowledge and resources.
Marieta Chemishanova has over 15 years of experience in higher education, nine of which are in the field of international education. She serves as the director of International Student Services at Valencia College as well as the principal designated school official (PDSO) and Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO). Originally from Bulgaria, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English from her home country and came to the United States as an F-1 international student. She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership studies: college student development from Oklahoma State University and is graduating with her EdD in educational leadership–higher education at University of Central Florida in May 2018.
Leeza Fernand is an associate director for international education and sponsored programs at Northern Virginia Community College. Ms. Fernand leads the Community College Initiative Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and works on a variety of visitor programs, including the Humphrey Community College Residency Program. Ms. Fernand holds an MBA in international business and is currently working on a graduate certificate in international education leadership. Having spent the past decade in the field, she has a great passion for community colleges and equitable access to education abroad. Originally from Belarus, she has lived and worked in Argentina and Spain; she is also fluent in Russian and Spanish.
Virginia Guneyli is a program manager for global studies/international student support services at St. Charles Community College (SCC) in Cottleville, Missouri. She possesses a MA in English from University of Missouri (2002). After graduating, she taught at SCC, the University of Missouri St. Louis, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the American School Foundation. She co-founded Study Abroad Dublin (a dual-credit full-semester program at IT Tallaght) and created and implemented the Diversity Certificate of Specialization. Virginia connects faculty members, administrators, and staff to provide students with global education, and she’s an integral leader of total internationalization efforts at St. Charles Community College.
Venita Ross is the international admissions adviser at Salt Lake Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah in management and finance and a master’s degree in business administration from Westminster College. She has transitioned from the financial industry to international education and discovered her passion working with international students. She has journeyed this course as an international student from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and thus far found this opportunity to lend her experiences to new students for the last three years very rewarding. As a 2016 Diversity Impact Program alumnus, she is excited to share these opportunities with the 2018 cohort.
JoYin Tang is the supervisor of international student services (ISS) and adjunct faculty (Chinese) at Columbus State Community College. She also served as NAFSA Region VI’s community college representative. JoYin joined the ISS team in 2015 and has 15 years of higher education experience in both public and private universities, including int’l student recruitment/admission, student services, immigration advising, and cultural programming. JoYin is originally from Taipei, Taiwan. She holds a BS degree in curriculum and instruction and a MS degree in educational leadership and policy analysis from University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Stacye Fraser Thompson serves as the coordinator for international student services at Jefferson State Community College. After working in international education for over 22 years in immigration, admissions, and community outreach, she is working to develop sustainable international education programs in the community colleges system and advocating the development of study abroad access for first generation students. She has served on the NAFSA Region VII team and more recently as the KC for International Education Leadership and Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship. She is a former participant in the Diversity Impact Program. She currently serves as chair for Study Alabama.
Private Institutions
Parker Emerson is the associate director of the Yale Office of International Students and Scholars overseeing visa processes and services to international faculty, students, scholars and their family members. Prior to joining Yale, Parker was a leading member of the Harvard International Office for nearly 20 years working with all non-immigrant visas and developing programs to support an international population of more than 8,000. Parker has also been an active NAFSA member for over 25 years as well as an adjunct faculty member of Lesley University, teaching in the master’s degree program on intercultural relations.
Sandy Soohoo-Refaei is the director, Office of Global Studies at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. She has been an international educator and an active NAFSA member leader for over 30 years, working with both education abroad and international student and scholar services. During her service as NAFSA’s vice president for professional development and engagement in 2015, Sandy supported the creation of the Diversity Impact Program and had the honor of welcoming the first group of DIP participants at its inaugural networking event. She also served as a DIP mentor in 2015 and 2016. Sandy cares deeply about the environment, social justice, and community building.
David Wick has worked in international education since 1988. His experience includes leading study abroad efforts at a youth exchange organization, Arkansas State University, San Francisco State University, and Santa Clara University. In addition to receiving multiple NAFSA awards in recognition of his international education policy leadership, Wick has held appointed and elected NAFSA leadership roles with the Academy, Trainer Corps, Annual Conference Executive Committee, Region III and Region XII teams, and the Education Abroad Knowledge Community. Wick currently serves as elected chair of the Lessons from Abroad Advisory Board and as president-elect of Macalester College’s Alumni Aboard.
Public Institutions
Ingrid Garcia-Galinat has worked in the field of international education for 15 years. She is the assistant director of international programs and primary designated school official at the University of West Alabama (UWA) in Livingston, AL. In addition, she is the advisor for the Congress Bundestag German Exchange program and volunteers with NAFSA as a Trainer Corp team member and the Leadership Development Committee. As a mentor in NAFSA’s Diversity Impact Program, Garcia-Galinat is looking forward to collaborating with her DIP participant about professional development opportunities and understands the challenges many of the DIP participants have experienced from her time working in community and technical colleges.
Jason Lau, PhD has over twenty years of experience in higher education. He is the executive director and senior business officer of the School of Extended and International Education at CSU Sonoma State University. He also teaches at the Santa Rosa Junior College. He holds a PhD in educational policy and leadership studies from The University of Iowa, and his BA and MA in leisure, youth and human services administration from the University of Northern Iowa. Lau traveled from Hong Kong to Iowa to be the first member of his family to receive a college education. Currently, Lau serves as member of NAFSA’s Leadership Development Committee.