Office of International Services Staff

Susan Ellis Dougherty
Director
Susan recently joined OIS as Director. She began her interest in international exchange during a short-term high school home stay in England. Her interest in international exchanges has continued during her university experience at the University of Connecticut and throughout her professional life. Susan has more than twenty years of experience in the field of international education. Prior to joining OIS, Susan was Associate Director at Johns Hopkins University, where she received her Master's Degree in Educational Studies concentrating in English as Second Language and Adult Learning.  Susan's work and life have taken her to 27 of the world's countries and she says she hasn't finished yet.

Barbara Varsa
Associate Director
As Associate Director of the Office of International Services Barbara Varsa serves as a resource person for matters related to international students, scholars and faculty at the University. She has taught English as a Second Language in France and given International Admissions presentations in China, Taiwan, and Germany. She is an International cooking aficionado who delights in Hungarian as well as Asian cuisine.

Jeanette Ramirez
Program Management Specialist
Jeanette manages the front desk admissions office. She supervises the front desk staff and student workers. She advises applicants on the admissions process and prepares I-20's for new students. She has been in the OIS office for more than 10 years. Her passions are home interior design, gardening, cooking, and listening to classical music.

Marvella Soumare
Office Supervisor
Marvella is the first person you'll meet when you visit OIS. She coordinates the OIS front office.  She has been on campus for 11 years, and she really enjoys helping others, and meeting the students. In her spare time Marvella enjoys spending time with her family.

Nancy Lee Gong
International Student Advisor
Nancy has been an international student advisor at the University of Maryland since November 2000.  She assists F-1 and J-1 students on immigration matters and provides guidance on adjustment and academic concerns.  Among other things, she serves as the OIS liaison with the Maryland English Institute and the Registrar's Office on issues pertaining to currently enrolled international students.  Prior to joining OIS, Nancy was the coordinator of the Educational Advising Service at the Fulbright Commission in Indonesia.  She also held positions in the field of international education in Singapore and Malta.

 

Student Advising Staff

Jody Heckman-Bose
International Student Advisor
Monday, Wednesday, every other Friday
Jody is the PDSO, primary designated school officer, for the Office of International Services.  She has an insatiable appetite for travel and has visited 26 countries around the world.  Her longest time abroad was spent in Nepal where she lived and conducted research on the topic of "Women Pursuing Higher Education in a Developing Nation".

Felixa Wingen
International Student Advisor
Felixa just became a member of the OIS team at the beginning of 2013 as an International Student Advisor to F-1 and J-1 students.  Her appetite for learning about other cultures started early at a multicultural day care center in Germany.  Growing up and studying in Germany, she had the chance to explore the European neighborhood before moving to the US.  Since then, Felixa studied and then advised international students in Pennsylvania before joining the University of Maryland.  She jumps at every opportunity to explore more of the World and other cultures.

Katrina Knudsen
International Student Advisor
Katrina is an advisor to F-1 and J-1 international students. She has her master's degree in Higher Education Administration and worked as an advisor to Ph.D. students at the University of Maryland prior to joining OIS. Katrina has lived in Japan and Costa Rica and has also traveled to various places in Europe. She enjoys cooking and sampling international cuisine as well as learning about new languages and cultures.

Louisa Manzeske
International Student Advisor
Louisa Manzeske joined OIS in 2011 as an H-1B and J-1 advisor, but moved into a position as an F-1 and J-1 Student Advisor as of 2013. Formative periods of living, working, and/or studying in Italy, France, the UK, and Japan sparked Louisa's love of travel and drew her to the international education career field. She earned her Master's degree at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland while working in the University's international services office. In her free time, Louisa is a painter and also enjoys cooking, exploring DC's nooks and crannies, and volunteering as an art teacher at the Sitar Arts Center in Adams Morgan.

Patrick Frazier
International Student Advisor
Patrick is an advisor to F-1 and J-1 international students. Prior to working at UMD he worked in the international education field in Connecticut, California, New York and Cairo, Egypt.  He has his master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies, and has visited most of the Arab and North African countries. He enjoys learning about different areas of the world (particularly domestic politics) and spending time with his wife and two sons.  He is always willing to try new (to him) foods and welcomes any that pass his way. 

Sue Hoffman
International Student Advisor
Sue serves as an International Student Advisor for F-1 and J-1 students. In this role, Sue is the OIS Liaison for the International Spouses Organization and coordinates the International Coffee Hour. She has previously worked with international and cultural student organizations at the University of Maryland. Sue lived in Tajikistan for one year, studying Persian and offering American cultural programming for university students. She enjoys traveling, bicycling, and cooking. She especially savors a good cup of coffee with a friend.

Faculty/Scholar Advising Staff

Connie Jesse
Assistant Director, Faculty/Scholar Immigration
Connie Jesse joined the Office of International Services in 2003 and currently serves as the Assistant Director for Faculty and Scholar Immigration.  She advises departments on immigration matters regarding employment, and works with international faculty and scholars on maintaining their status.  She has her Master's Degree in International Education and Human Development from George Washington University. Her international experiences include living, working and researching in Peru, Mexico, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Russia, Ecuador, as well as vacationing in seven other countries. 

Kristen Aquilino
Graduate Assistant
Kristen is a graduate assistant working with J-1 and H-1B scholar exchange visitors.  Her passion for travel and learning about different cultures took her to Chile for a semester abroad during her undergraduate career, and to Spain as an English teacher following graduation.  She is currently completing her masters degree in International Education Policy at the University of Maryland with the goal of pursuing a career in international education.  Any of her downtime is filled with running, baking, watching movies, time with friends and family, and taking advantage of opportunities to travel!