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Staff

USAC staff are here to provide you with personalized support throughout your study abroad experience. Our team spans the globe, with staff located not only in our Central Office in Reno, Nevada, but also across more than 15 U.S. states, as well as on-site staff or support available for our program locations around the world.

Departments

Central Office Staff

The USAC Central Office is located in Reno, Nevada on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. The office is composed of Program Advisors, Institutional Relations Officers, Enrollment Representatives, Accounting Specialists, and other staff who are here to provide personalized pre-departure advising and support you throughout your study abroad experience.

USAC Administration

Alyssa Nota, Ph.D

Alyssa Nota, Ph.D.

(she/her)

President/CEO

Strategic Initiatives/Special Projects

Jeremy Doughty

Jeremy Doughty, Ph.D.

(he/him)

Academic Innovation & Research Specialist

Sabrina Harris

Sabrina Harris, M.A.

(she/her)

Strategic Initiatives

Amanda Stewart

Amanda Stewart

Special Projects & Alumni Development Officer, Director of Institutional Relations

Advising

USAC Program Advisors serve as the primary point of contact for enrolled students seeking guidance on various aspects of their study abroad experience. This includes inquiries related to program location, housing arrangements, the student visa process, travel arrangements, pre-departure and arrival details, and more.

Cami Alfaro

Cami Alfaro, M.S.

(she/her)

Director of Advising

Justine Manuel

Justine Manuel

(she/her)

Manager of Advising

Bonnie Woolrich

Bonnie Woolrich

(she/her)

Partnership Program Coordinator

Alissa Qualheim

Alissa Qualheim, M.Ed.

(she/her)

Partnership Program Coordinator

Emily Schmith

Emily Schmith

(she/her)

Advising Special Projects Coordinator

Ariana Chu

Ariana Chu

ariana.chu@usac.edu

Interim Program Advisor

Programs: India and Japan

Dominique Nelson

Dominique Nelson

dominique.nelson@usac.edu

(they/them)

Program Advisor

Programs: Czech Republic, France, and Portugal

Laura Conneau

Laura Conneau

laura.conneau@usac.edu

Program Advisor

Programs: Korea

Tara Littlefield

Tara Littlefield

tara.littlefield@usac.edu

(she/her)

Program Advisor

Program: Spain (Alicante and San Sebastián) and Sweden

Danny Rhodes

Danny Rhodes, M.Ed.

danny.rhodes@usac.edu

(he/him)

Program Advisor

Program: Italy (Reggio Emilia, Viterbo, and Verona)

Anneka Shaver

Anneka Shaver

anneka.shaver@usac.edu

(she/her)

Program Advisor

Programs: Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Thailand, Uruguay, and Vietnam

Amanda Singleton

Amanda Singleton

amanda.singleton@usac.edu

(she/her)

Program Advisor II

Programs: England and Scotland

Madeleine Smith

Madeleine Smith

madeleine.smith@usac.edu

(she/her)

Program Advisor

Programs: Australia, Italy (Torino), and New Zealand

Emily Stage

Emily Stage

emily.stage@usac.edu

(she/her)

Program Advisor

Programs: Netherlands and Spain (Bilbao and Valencia)

Phoebe Stears-Macauley

Phoebe Stears-Macauley

phoebe.stears-macauley@usac.edu

(she/her)

Program Advisor

Programs: Germany, Ireland, Israel, South Africa, and Spain (Madrid)

USAC/UNR Advising

Shani Sullivan

Shani Sullivan

shani.sullivan@usac.edu

(she/her)

USAC/UNR Study Abroad Outreach Coordinator

Institutional Relations

The Institutional Relations team is ready to answer any questions you may have about USAC or our programs. The team works with universities, colleges, and other institutions around the country and travel to many study abroad fairs.

Amanda Stewart

Amanda Stewart

Director of Institutional Relations

Jonathan Hakim

Jonathan Hakim

(he/him)

Senior Lead Institutional Relations Officer

States: Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Schedule an Appointment

Stephanie Cannata

Stephanie Cannata

(she/her)

Lead Institutional Relations Officer & Trainer

States: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

Schedule an Appointment

Angela McNutt

Angela McNutt

(she/her)

Faculty-Led Supervisor

Caroline Anderson

Caroline Anderson, M.A.

(she/her)

Institutional Relations Officer

States: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming

Schedule an Appointment

Katrina Brown

Katrina Brown, MFS

(she/her)

Institutional Relations Officer

States: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Washington

Schedule an Appointment

Raquel Cifuentes

Raquel Cifuentes, M.Ed.

(she/her)

Institutional Relations Officer

States: Alabama, Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and U.S. Virgin Islands

Schedule an Appointment

Kim Diehl de Yanes

Kim Diehl de Yanes, M.A.

(she/her)

Institutional Relations Officer

States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Schedule an Appointment

Charles Petranek

Charles Petranek, M.A.

(he/him)

Institutional Relations Officer

States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Oregon

Schedule an Appointment

Thomas Phillips II

Thomas Phillips II, M.A., Ph.D.

(he/him)

Institutional Relations Officer

States: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Schedule an Appointment

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety team is your primary resource for questions regarding your health, safety, and security on USAC programs. Contact the Health and Safety Team with questions and concerns regarding travel, insurance, and other well-being abroad inquiries.

Elizabeth Rice

Elizabeth Rice

(she/her)

Senior Health and Safety Manager

Dr. Christine Sieben

Christine Sieben, Ph.D.

(she/her)

Health and Safety Manager & Support Officer

Victoria West

Victoria West

(she/her)

Health and Safety Assistant

Academic and Enrollment Services

Academic and Enrollment Services is your best resource for questions about your application or our admissions process, internship placements, course registration, syllabi, and academic records (i.e., transcripts and grades.)

Kara Bingham

Kara Bingham, M.A.

(she/her)

Director of Academic Affairs

Justus Watt

Justus Watt, M.A.

(he/him)

Registrar

Stacey Arnsdorff

Stacey Arnsdorff

(she/her)

Assistant Registrar

Valentina Ossio-Marin

Valentina Ossio-Marin

(she/her)

Registration Assistant

Jillian Kent

Jillian Kent, M.A.

(she/her)

International Student Coordinator/
Scholarship Administration

Joel Lippert

Joel Lippert

(he/him)

Senior Enrollment Specialist

Programs: Czech Republic, Germany, and Spain (Bilbao and San Sebastían)

Schedule an Appointment

Rachel Alperstein

Rachel Alperstein

(she/her)

Lead Enrollment Specialist

Programs: Italy and Israel
Schedule an Appointment

Stephanie Seitz

Stephanie Seitz, M.Ed.

(she/her)

Lead Enrollment Specialist

Programs: India, Spain (Alicante,
Madrid, and Valencia), South Africa;
and Virtual Internships
Schedule an Appointment

KayCee Carlen

KayCee Carlen

(she/her)

Enrollment Specialist

Programs: Japan and Korea
Schedule an Appointment

Ashleigh Patton

Ashleigh Patton

(she/her)

Enrollment Specialist

Programs: England, Ireland,
New Zealand, and Scotland
Schedule an Appointment

Kathryn Rogers

Kathryn "Kat" Rogers

(she/her)

Enrollment Specialist

Programs: Australia, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden
Schedule an Appointment

Esmeralda Rosales

Esmeralda Rosales

(she/her)

Enrollment Specialist

Programs: Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Thailand and Uruguay
Schedule an Appointment

Marketing and Communications

The Marketing and Communications Department comprises five key areas of focus — marketing, creative and web, alumni relations, external/internal communications, and PR/media relations.

The team provides strategic and creative counsel, facilitates connections across our target audiences, and enhances the engagements and experiences others have with USAC with the ultimate goals of advancing USAC's mission by enhancing its brand, reputation, visibility, and audience engagement.

This is accomplished through integrated and innovative approaches to marketing and creative communications. Contact us at marketing@usac.edu

Kat Raenell

Kat Raenell, M.Ed.

(she/her)

Senior Manager & Marketing Communications Strategist

Bill Goloski

Bill Goloski

(he/him)

Marketing Communications Manager

Lauren Broce

Lauren Broce

(she/her)

Social Media Manager

Allie Crichton

Allie Crichton

(she/her)

Website Strategist

Colette Horton

Colette Horton

(she/her)

Marketing Specialist & Alumni Content Coordinator

Accounting

The Accounting Department is ready to help you with billing, payment, budget sheets, and financial aid consortium agreements.

David Mustard

David Mustard, CPA

Director of Finance

Shelly Bass

Shelly Bass

Accounting Operations Manager

Leah Radcliffe

Leah Radcliffe

Accounting Supervisor

Bonnie Hardy

Bonnie Hardy

Accounting Administrator

Schyler Tune

Schyler Tune

Staff Accountant I

Isabell De Jesus

Isabell De Jesus

Staff Accountant

Tim Smith

Tim Smith

Financial Planning & Analysis

Kai Mars

Kai Mars

(he/him)

Accounting Systems Analyst

Jason Connolly

Jason Connolly

Lead Student Accounting Specialist

Ricci Curren

Ricci Curren

Student Accounting Specialist

Jeadene Solberg

Jeadene Solberg

(she/her)

Student Accounting Specialist

Nicholas Steiner

Nicholas Steiner

(he/him)

Student Accounting Specialist

Joe Uhrich

Joe Uhrich

Student Accounting Specialist

Human Resources

Human Resources supports USAC's world-wide employees empowering them to serve students participating in our programs abroad.

Virginia Dunn

Virginia Dunn

(she/her)

Director of Human Resources

Stacey Puentes

Stacey Puentes

Senior Human Resources Representative

Information Technology

The Information Technology Department oversees network administration and application development, and supports users of the USAC Gateway and Global online portals.

Fritz Roske

Fritz Roske

Director of Information Technology

Josh Black

Josh Black

Software Development Manager

Francisco Becerra-Ortiz

Francisco Becerra-Ortiz

(he/him)

Software Developer I

Yasiel Sanchez

Yasiel Sanchez

(he/him)

Software Developer II

Jaroan Tatum

Jaroan Tatum

Software Developer I

Ognjen Grubor

Ognjen Grubor

Application Specialist

Caleb Davie

Caleb Davie

(he/him)

Server and Cloud Systems Administrator

Mason Najima

Mason Najima

(he/him)

CRM Analyst

Hunter Noël

Hunter Noël

(he/him)

Desktop Support Specialist

Staff Abroad

USAC programs offer on-site staff and support at varying levels depending on the program. Learn more about on-site staff on the program pages.

USAC Specialty Programs

Specialty Programs feature full-time, on-site support from USAC Resident Directors, staff, and faculty. Resident Directors run and manage the entire program on-site including academics, hiring, planning, emergency support, and more.

Country Program Resident Directors
Chile Santiago Jorge Molina (he/him)
China Chengdu Wentao Song (she/her)
Shanghai Jessica Wang
Costa Rica Heredia Carlos Oviedo
San Ramón Dr. Carlos Salas
Cuba La Habana Sebastian Bombi
Czech Republic Prague Jan Stodola
France Lyon Stefano Pizzetti (he/him)
Pau Robina Müller
Germany Lüneburg Dr. David Gilland
India Bengaluru

Abhishek "AB" Bhagwat

Ireland Cork Patrick O’Donnell
Galway (Summer) Dr. Mark Quigley
Italy Reggio Emilia Simona Lai
Torino Eliana Silvestro
Verona Gözde Lago
Viterbo Francesca Del Giudice
Spain Alicante Luis Fernández Rellán
Bilbao/Getxo Dr. Ibon Zamanillo Elguezabal
Madrid Dr. Sara Elso
San Sebastián Dr. Miriam Diaz Granado
Valencia Laura Rostowfske Reilly
Thailand Chiang Mai Chaidarun "Jum" Tippawan (she/her)
Uruguay Montevideo Sebastian Bombi

USAC Partnership Programs

Partnership Programs feature support from the host university and international programs offices.

Country Program Program Directors
Australia Gold Coast
Brisbane
Global Mobility Team
Melbourne
Geelong
Warrnambool
Global Student Mobility Office
England Brighton Mary Jones
Dr. Dara Fleming-Farrell (USAC Resident Director)
Bristol University of Bristol Centre for Study Abroad
Dr. Dara Fleming-Farrell (USAC Resident Director)
London (Semester) London Met Study Abroad Office
Dr. Dara Fleming-Farrell (USAC Resident Director)
London (January, Summer) Roehampton Study Abroad Team
Dr. Dara Fleming-Farrell (USAC Resident Director)
Reading University of Reading Study Abroad Office
Dr. Dara Fleming-Farrell (USAC Resident Director)
Ireland Cork (Semester) Marita Foster
Karen McSweeney

Patrick O'Donnell (USAC Resident Director)
Israel Haifa International School Staff
Japan Hiroshima Hiroshima University Study Abroad (HUSA)
Nagasaki Tomoko Mohri
Nishinomiya Amina Dante
Korea Gwangju/Yeosu Jiyeon Choi
Myunghee Lee
Seoul (Kookmin University) Jeongwon Lee
Seoul (Korea University) Global Services Center

Seoul (Yonsei University, January and Summer)

SuhHye Lee
Seoul (Yonsei University, Semester)

Gyuri Jeong
Su Hyun Jung

Netherlands Maastricht Center for European Studies
The Hague THUAS International Office Staff
New Zealand

Auckland
Palmerston North
Wellington

Yuka Procter
Portugal Lisbon Global Education Office and Dr. Michael Baum
Scotland St Andrews University of St Andrews Global Office
Stirling Jo Hagerty
South Africa Stellenbosch International Office
Sweden Växjö/Kalmar Åsa Dahlberg
Thailand Khon Kaen Khon Kaen University International College