Meet Our Office Staff

Where I'm from:
I'm a global nomad but I am originally from California.

Education:
MA, TESOL — University of Washington

International work experience:

• Peace Corps, Thailand
• University lecturer / teacher trainer, Thailand
•  ESL lecturer and program director, Cambodia
• UB Twinning Program director, Malaysia
  

Travel (work and leisure):

• Americas: Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina
• Europe: all of Western Europe plus Cyprus, Russia and Turkey
• Middle East / Gulf: Jordan, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman
• Asia: Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Australia

Looking forward to visiting:

• Cuba and Eastern Europe...because I haven't been there yet.

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• The Buffalo Niagara region offers an amazing array of activities for "high" culture, pop-culture, outdoor activities – start planning now so you don’t miss anything!

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• Meeting new students and their parents and being able to experience firsthand the culture of our international students.
  
• Variety: always learning about new educational systems and credentials
• Working with a great team of admission counselors who are always thinking about students first, and about attracting the best and brightest students to UB from around the world

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• Serving in the U.S. Peace Corps for three years in Thailand: Helping others, promoting understanding about Americans, promoting understanding about other cultures to Americans. Peace Corps shaped my personal and professional life.

Favorite TV show:

• The Big Bang Theory

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• Language is a key to understanding a new culture. The better your English is, the easier it will be to integrate and make friends. So work hard on your English and get involved in on-campus and off-campus activities.

Where I’m from:
Buffalo, N.Y. (Angola)

Education:
MS College Student Personnel Administration — Canisius College

International experience:

• I studied abroad in London, England as an undergraduate (during the 2012 Summer Olympics!). While I was there, my studies focused on Multicultural Literature and Children’s Literature.

Travel (work and leisure):

• Europe: Italy, England
  
• North America: Canada

Favorite place visited:

• A few years ago I spent a month with my family traveling around Italy. My mom is an Italian citizen and many of her family members still live there. One leg of the trip we spent two weeks in Balestrate, Palermo, and Montedoro Sicily. It was amazing to see the place where my mom grew up and get to know my family that still lives in Sicily. The Sicilian beaches along the Mediterranean Sea were also incredible.

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• Buffalo is my home so I love a lot of things about it but right now my favorite thing is the new development along the Lake Erie waterfront. I love going to Canalside in Downtown Buffalo because there is something to do there during every season: free outdoor concerts and kayaking in the harbor in the Summer, free yoga classes in the Spring, festivals in the Fall, and ice skating and curling in the Winter!

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• I get to learn something new every day. I love getting to work with students from all over the world because I feel like I get to travel without ever leaving my office.

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• Deciding to go to college in the south that was 13 hours away from my family and friends. It allowed me to grow and learn a lot about myself in ways that I don’t think I would have if I had decided to stay close to home. I can’t imagine my life now without the relationships I formed through being a member of a National Panhellenic sorority and the experiences I had while being a student there for four years.

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen: There are so many ways to get involved at UB and so many ways to meet new people and try new things- start by trying at least one! 

Where I’m from:
Buffalo, N.Y. (North Tonawanda)

Education:
EdM Higher Education Administration – UB

International experience:

• Study abroad – Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
  
• English teacher – Katowice, Poland
  
• Phonics and creative writing teacher, Singapore
  

Travel (work and leisure):

• Europe: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece
• Africa: Morocco
• Asia: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia
• North America: Canada

Looking forward to visiting:

• Penang, Malaysia – my husband’s family is there and unfortunately I have never been able to visit. I would love to see where he grew up, and feel how his hometown feels. I would like our son to know where his father came from and be at home there, too.

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• This is my hometown, so it's hard to point out only one favorite thing. But I think the fact that this is a friendly place – with down-to-earth people who genuinely like who we are and enjoy where we live – makes everything about it a great place to be.

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• I always wanted to be in international education and now that I am, things are never dull. In many exciting and challenging ways, it allows me to keep learning and growing, improving and evolving, both professionally and personally.

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• Becoming a mother. It’s pure joy and amazement, every day.

Favorite quote or motto:

• I wouldn’t say I have a favorite quote or motto, but I've always like this one: "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." ― Mother Teresa

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• Make a point of experiencing "now" and living in the moment. Be kind to others and yourself and do your best. When tomorrow comes, you’ll be proud of who you were today.

Where I’m from:
My family is originally from Gujarat, a state in the northwest of India.  I was born in Syracuse, NY and grew up in the suburb of East Amherst, about 15 minutes from UB’s North Campus.

Education:

BA, Political Science and English Literature; Minor, Art History - UB
MBA - Canisius College

International experience:

Before coming to UB, I coordinated the international exchange programs at Vermont Law School.  At UB I have worked with international students in the Graduate School of Education’s Economics and Education Policy Analysis program and more recently in International Admissions.

Travel (work and leisure):

• Europe: England, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Greece
• Asia: India
• North America: Canada
• Central and South America: Brazil, the Caribbean, Panama

Favorite place visited:

• My favorite place to visit has been Sikkim in northeast India.  I have vivid memories of snow glinting off the top of Kanchenjunga and hiking amid the stunning scenery in the foothills of the Himalayas.  The warmth and heart of the beautiful people of that land made a lasting impression on me as well.

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• There are so many things to do year round and everything is quite accessible and affordable.  The city offers a great urban experience with excellent restaurants, theater, art galleries, the Philharmonic, Delaware Park, and seasonal markets, concerts, and festivals.  There are many beautiful areas for nature lovers to explore as well including Niagara Falls, the Niagara Gorge, and a number of State Parks such as Allegany, Letchworth and the Chautauqua Area. 

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• I get to armchair travel every day by working with students from all over the world.  I particularly enjoy helping students and their parents feel informed, welcome, and prepared for the study-abroad experience at UB. 

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• The most transformative experience of my life was the birth of my son.  Feeding his curiosity and knowledge about the world and sharing adventures with him both local and abroad are my favorite things in life.

Favorite quote or motto:

• “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neal Donald Walsch

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• Get involved and branch out.  Take advantage of some of the many ways to become part of UB’s vibrant community.  Challenge yourself to go a little outside your comfort zone and you will be rewarded with experiences and connections that are fulfilling and help you grow both academically and as a person.

Where I’m from:
Oswego, New York

Education:
MS Health and Human Performance - Canisius College

International work experience:

• Lived in Montréal, QC, Canada, 

Travel (work and leisure):

• North America:  Canada, Mexico

Looking forward to visiting:

• Tōkyō, Kyōto, and Sapporo, Japan
• Seoul and Busan, South Korea
• Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand
• Stockholm and Göteborg, Sweden
• Helsinki and Turku, Finland

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• Buffalo has a lot to offer you from city-life and outdoor activity (beaches, hiking and trails, rivers, winter recreation), entertainment and festivals, regional and ethnic foods, sporting events, accessibility to Canada, and much more.

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• I am very fortunate to work with a talented team of individuals that has a variety of international experience in higher education, and all of us want to help prospective students follow their ambitions and dreams. I also enjoy that I am able to work with our international students and learn more about them and their experiences.

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• Living in Montréal was one of my most valued experiences. I took advantage of many opportunities, which taught me a lot about myself, but also how to appreciate and reflect on the experiences and cultural diversity of others.

Favorite quote or motto:

• ""Fall down seven times, stand up eight."

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• "Years know more than books."  Experience everything that you can beyond your studies here. Have no regrets and take advantage of every opportunity you have to learn about yourself and the people you meet.

Where I’m from:
Clarence, New York

Education:
Masters of Sports Administration – Canisius College, Buffalo NY

International experience:

• I have traveled through Canada.
• In Sponsored Projects Services, I have worked with many Universities in Europe and Asia on research grants.

Travel (work and leisure):

• Cape Cod, Massachussetts. I love the beaches and weather.

Looking forward to visiting:

• Germany and Italy, I have family roots in both countries. Also, I would like to see all the history.

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• Working with all the students from different countries and learning all the different types of education from around the world.

Where I’m from:
Concord, New Hampshire

Education:
MA, Spanish Literature - UB

International work experience:

• Studied abroad at the Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
• Worked for Hostelling International as a program coordinator for international travelers
• Taught Spanish courses at UB, went on a service trip to Mexico

Travel (work and leisure):

• Europe: Spain, Italy, France
  
• North America: Canada, Mexico
• Africa: Nigeria 
  

Looking forward to visiting:

• Costa Rica! I’ve spent a lot of time in Spain but I have not gotten to experience very much of Latin America, and Costa Rica is first on my list.

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• The food scene. I think one of things that most surprised me when I moved to Buffalo was how good this food was and the number of really good restaurants. It’s also nice to see how much it has changed and the number of new businesses that have opened even in the three and a half years I have been living here.  

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• My goal since I came back from studying abroad has been to work in an international setting so I am very happy to be a part of UB’s International Education department. The people that work in this office have been really friendly and helpful to me as a newbie; it’s a great group of people to work with. 

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• Studying abroad was a very life-changing experience for me because it exposed me to how different and exciting the world is outside of our borders. I learned a lot about Spanish culture and about myself, and it inspired me to pursue an internationally focused career.

Favorite quote or motto:

• This is a quote I like that I think anyone who loves to travel can relate to: “You never really leave a place you love. Part of it you take with you, leaving part of yourself behind.”

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Everyone struggles at some point in college but the most successful students are the ones who ask for help. Your professors, TAs and academic advisors want you to succeed and the best way to do that is to seek out help when you need it.

Where I’m from:
Long Island, N.Y.

Education:
MA Cultural Anthropology — UB

International work experience:

• Lived in London, UK, writing articles for the Encyclopedia of Time.

Travel (work and leisure):

• Europe: Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece
• North America: Canada, Mexico

Looking forward to visiting:

• I want to travel to every continent and see as many places and meet as many people as I can. The next place I would like to go is Egypt because of the amazing amount of history, or Costa Rica for the scenery and wildlife.

My favorite thing about Buffalo / Western New York:

• Big-city life at an affordable price. Food trucks, concerts and diverse neighborhoods all for a fraction of the cost of living in NYC.

Favorite thing about working in International Admissions:

• I love helping students realize their dream of studying in the U.S. I remember how exciting and life-changing it was to study aboard, and it is so rewarding to share that experience with students every day.

The most life-changing, transformative experience of my life:

• Studying abroad in Florence. It showed me see how big the world really is and put things into perspective for me, helping me realize what is really important.

Favorite movie, TV show and Broadway show:

• "The Nightmare Before Christmas" / "Walking Dead" /" Les Misérables"

My one piece of advice for new, incoming international freshmen:

• Try something new, something you thought you could never do. I bet you'll surprise yourself!