Join our dynamic team and help your region be a leader and innovator in international education.

Check out the positions for the NAFSA Region X Team!

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Robert Sanford

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New York University - Office of Global Services
Chair, Region X

Mary Nellis

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Chair-Elect, Region X

Stacy Phelps

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Stacy Phelps
WorldStrides
Marketing & Development Representative, Region X

Carlo Fabros

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StudentUniverse
Marketing and Development Designate, Region X

Kara Lanuti

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State University of New York at Buffalo
Communications Manager, Region X

Leigh Lane Peine

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Leigh Lane Peine
Educational Credential Evaluators
Conference Planner, Region X
Leigh Lane Peine is the senior director of marketing for ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Holding undergraduate and graduate degrees in marketing, Lane Peine has more than 20 years of experience in the field of marketing. Her past two roles as chief marketing officer and senior director of...

Chad Goeden

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Chad Goeden Photo
Columbia University
Conference Planner Designate, Region X
Chad Goeden is the Associate Director for International Student Programs in the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Columbia University. Chad has been active in teaching, advising, and programming in the field of international and intercultural education for more than 20 years. His...

Samantha Johnson

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New York University - Office of Global Services
Secretary, Region X

Ethan Edholm

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Ethan Edholm
Fordham University
Advocacy Coordinator, Region X

Tricia Tierney

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Office of Global Affairs - SUNY
Regulatory Ombud for Scholar Issues, Region X

Rachel Young

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The New School
Regulatory Ombud for Student Issues, Region X

Maria Kopnitsky

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Maria Kopnitsky
The Institute for Shipboard Education - Semester at Sea
Upstate NY Representative, Region X

Megumi Tan

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Megumi Tan
New York University
Downstate NY Representative, Region X
Megumi Tan is Associate Director, Inbound Services at the Office of Global Services at New York University. Her primary responsibilities include developing processes for gathering and updating required student data for the university's over 20,000 F-1 and J-1 international students in the SEVIS...

Kaitie Brown

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IES Abroad
New Jersey State Representative, Region X

Gavin Ireland

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Kingsborough Community College
Two Year Institution Representative, Region X

Marieta Chemishanova, EdD

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New Jersey Institute of Technology
ISSS KC Liaison, Region X
Marieta Chemishanova is the Executive Director of the Office of Global Initiatives at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Originally from Bulgaria, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from her home country and came to the United States in 2000 as an F-1 international student. She earned a...

Malikka Hutchins

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Malikka smiles in front of a gray background, wearing a black hijab and gray blazer
Rutgers University - Newark
EA KC Liaison, Region X, 2023-2024 RISE Fellow
Malikka Hutchins is an International Education Professional whose passion for the field was ignited by a Study Abroad opportunity to South Korea that would not have been possible without her being awarded a Gilman Scholarship. Upon returning from the trip as the first in her family to ever go abroad...

Patricia Gibson

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Teachers College, Columbia University
IEL KC Liaison, Region X

Ruth Kamona

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The City University of New York (CUNY)
TLS KC Liaison, Region X

Omobonike Odegbami

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Omobonike Odegbami
Hamilton College
Academy Coach, Region X
Omobonike Odegbami is the inaugural Director of International Student Services at Hamilton College, NY. She is a culturally competent leader with over 20 years of experience creating impactful change in higher education. Throughout her career, Omobonike has demonstrated a commitment to excellence...