Government Regulations Advisory Committee (GRAC)
The Region XI Government Regulations Advisory Committee (GRAC) is a sub-committee of the NAFSA Region XI Team that specializes in U.S. government laws, rules, and regulations (at the federal, state, and local level) as they pertain to international students and scholars enrolled, employed, or visiting educational institutions in the six New England states. GRAC works closely with the Regulatory Ombudspersons, the Knowledge Community for International Student and Scholar Services (KCISSS) Representative, and the Region XI Chair stream, who are all ex-officio members of the committee. Each GRAC member has specific expertise area(s) below and is available for questions you may have. Should you wish to contact GRAC members, the contact information is available through the NAFSA Membership Directory or via the GRAC members’ institutional website.
| NAME | POSITION | TITLE/INSTITUTION | Web page for Contact Us" on GRAC website | SPECIALIZATION |
| Arthur GALINAT | Member, GRAC Chair | Director, International Student and Scholar Services, UConn | Contact Arthur Galinat | F / J stu / J sch /Taxes |
| Caitlin SZYMKOWICZ | Member, GRAC Past Chair | Associate Dean of Global Education, Director of Lewis Global Studies Center, Smith College | Contact Caitlin Szymkowicz | F / J stu /J sch |
| Max CRUMLEY-EFFINGER | Member | Assistant Director, Office of International Student Affairs, Emerson College | F | |
| Kaitlin DORNENBURG | Member | HR Specialist, UConn Health | Contact Kaitlin Dornenberg | F / J stu / J sch / H / TN / I-9s |
| Jodi HANELT | Member | Executive Director, International Students and Scholars Office, Brandeis Universtiy | Contact Jodi Hanelt | F / J stu / J sch / H / TN |
| Emma HUSE | SIW Co-Chair (2nd year) | International Scholar and Employee Program Manager, University of Vermont | Contact Emma Huse | J sch / H / TN / O / LPR / MED |
| Maria JENKINS | Member | Director of International Student Services, Boston Architectural College | Contact Maria Jenkins | F |
| Jessa KARKI | Member, Region XI Chair | Associate Director of Comprehensive Advising, Office of Global Services, Northeastern University | Contact Jessa Karki | F / J stu / J sch / Taxes |
| Kathy KAUTZ DE ARANGO | Member | Executive Director of University Immigration Services, University of New Haven | Contact Kathy Kautz De Arango | F / J stu |
| Katey PALUMBO | Member | Director of International Programs and Senior International Officer, Worcester State University | Contact Katey Palumbo | F / J stu / J sch / ESL Programs |
| Maggie SHIRLAND | Member | Assistant Director, International Student Advising & Compliance, Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Contact Maggie Shirland | F / J stu |
| Mary WALSH | Secretary | Partner, Iandoli Desai & Cronin, PC | Contact Mary Walsh | All NIV / O / PERM / EB-1 / NIW / I-9s / Entrepreneurs |
| Colleen CALLAHAN-PANDAY | Member | Director, International Students and Scholars, Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Contact Colleen Callahan-Panday | F / J stu / J sch / taxes / H |
| Leah BOCCACCIO | Member | Senior Advisor to International Students & Scholars, Harvard University | Contact Leah Boccaccio | F / J stu / J int / J sch / H-1B / TN / LPR w/ outside counsel |
| Abigail BORCHERT | Member | Senior International Student Services Advisor, University of Rhode Island | Contact Abigail Borchert | F/J Stu / Taxes |
| Holly GORMAN | Member | Immigration Specialist II, UMass Chan Medical School | Contact Holly Gorman | |
| Ashley SINCLAIR | Member | Director of Global Engagement, Choate Rosemary Hall | None available | K-12 F-1 |
| SPECIALIST | ||||
| Erin GUSTAFSON | Advocacy Specialist | Senior Adviser, Office of International Students & Scholars, Yale University | Contact Erin Gustafson | F / J stu / J sch / H / Advocacy |
| EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS | ||||
| Rachel HOLLABAUGH | Scholar RegBud | Associate Director of Comprehensive Advising, Office of Global Services, Northeastern University | Contact Rachel Hollabaugh | J stu / J sch |
| Luca LIPPARINI | Student RegBud | Associate Director of Student Advising, Office of International Students & Scholars, Yale University | Contact Luca Lipparini | F / J stu |
| Christian WILWOHL | Region XI Past Chair | Dean of Global Education, Providence College | Contact Christian Wilwohl | |
| Emily OSTENSON | Region XI Chair | Associate Director of Global Education, Office of Global Affairs, UMass Amherst | Contact Emily Ostenson | |
| Adrea PAPADOPOULOS | Region XI KCISSS Rep | Associate Director, International Students and Scholars Office, Brandeis Universtiy | Contact Adrea Papadopoulos | F / J stu / J sch |
Specialization*
F: F Students and Dependents
J int: J Student Interns
LPR: Lawful Permanent Residents
TN: TN Status Under NAFTA
J stu: J Students and Dependents
H: H-1B Scholars/Employees and Dependents
MED: Medical Scholars and Dependents
J sch: J Scholars and Dependents
K-12: Kindergarten-12th Grade
O: O-1 Scholars and Dependents