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Staff Bios
Ramsey Jabaji
Interim Director
Pronouns: he, him, his
301-405-0234 | rjabaji@umd.edu
Ramsey Jabaji holds a dual appointment as interim director of Education Abroad and director of the Office of Global Engineering Leadership in the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Ramsey is responsible for the oversight and strategy of the Education Abroad office. He also has 15+ years of teaching experience in leadership and higher education administration at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University in locations such as Australia, China, France, The Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Ramsey holds a master's in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland and a bachelor's in Sociology and Environmental Studies from Franklin & Marshall College. He is a former board member of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, he served a 6-month appointment as special assistant to the president to launch UMD's TerrapinSTRONG onboarding initiative, and he currently serves as an Aspen Institute Impact Fellow. He is the recipient of multiple national awards from ACPA: College Student Educators International & NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society & Phi Kappa Phi National Leadership Honor Society at the University of Maryland. He holds a Leadership for Diversity Institute Certification from the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and a CliftonStrengths Certification from the Gallup Organization.
Lauren Ruszczyk
Senior Associate Director
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-0381 | lrus@umd.edu
Lauren oversees the development and management of EA's program portfolio for all semester-long programs and affiliations. She collaborates with academic colleges and departments to strategically integrate study abroad into academic programs. Additionally, Lauren oversees advising and student support services for Education Abroad, working closely with her team to develop and lead initiatives that support broader access to study abroad for UMD's diverse student body. Lauren also serves the UMD community through her work as a facilitator for leadership and professional development programming through the Center for Leadership and Organizational Change.
After a transformative undergraduate study abroad semester in Spain, Lauren started working in the international education field as a study abroad peer mentor in 2005 and since then has held a variety of roles for UMD Education Abroad. She spent two years away from UMD while living and working in Australia at the University of Sydney and completed her MA in international studies at the Institute for International Studies at the University of Technology Sydney and the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile. Lauren holds a Masters in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and a BA in Spanish Language & Culture from UMD.
Wil Biddle
Associate Director for Operations
Pronouns: he, him, his
202-630-7640 | wbiddle@umd.edu
Wil holds a dual appointment as interim Associate Director for Operations for Education Abroad as well as Associate Director of Administrative Services in the Office of International Affairs. He has worked in the field of international higher education in the US and abroad since 2008, and with University of Maryland since 2014. Wil has chaired the Higher Education International Business Officers (HEIBO) association, and has served on its steering committee since 2016. He has a master's degree in Business Administration from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in International Business and Economics.
Isatta Mansaray
Assistant Director for Operations
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-0529 | imansa@umd.edu
Isatta became a part of the EA team in 2013. She works with EA staff, faculty, and student support partners across campus to provide administrative support to students in the areas of registration, billing, and scheduling. Before joining EA, Isatta worked as a Program Associate for Global Communities, an international nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of vulnerable people around the world. Isatta received her BS in business administration with a focus on international business at Towson University, where she completed her own study abroad experience with American University in Rome.
Natalie Brady
Assistant Director, Advising
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-8326 | nmbrady@umd.edu
Natalie joined the EA team in August 2019 and serves as the advisor for Spain, Portugal, Latin America , the Caribbean, and Greece. She graduated from Salisbury University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and English. During her time there, she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and fell in love with Spanish culture. Shortly after, Natalie moved to Austin, TX and remained there for three years working at Academic Programs International (API) as an intern and then as the Program Coordinator for the Florence, Italy programs. She pursued her Master's degree in International Education at the Universidad de Alcalá in Madrid, Spain and remained for a second year as an Auxiliar de Conversación. Natalie is excited to work more closely with students and is interested in creating accessibility for students of all backgrounds, as well as the re-entry process for study abroad alumni.
Leanne Johnson
Director of International Risk Management
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-314-7748 | lijohnso@umd.edu
Leanne Johnson has been a part of the University’s Education Abroad team since 2013, overseeing risk management. She is a member of the State Department’s Overseas Advisory Council and its Academic Working Group, The Forum on Education Abroad, and the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. Before coming to the University of Maryland, Leanne served as the Assistant Director for the Global Perspective Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in Worcester, Massachusetts. She has also worked for the City of Riverside in California, California's 51st Assembly District, the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Peace Corps, and the Clinton Administration. Leanne completed her own study abroad experience in Yaounde, Cameroon and has since traveled professionally to countries in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Leanne holds a master's degree in international communication from American University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington Adventist University.
Niku Letang
Applications Coordinator
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-6964 | nletang@umd.edu
Prior to joining the Education Abroad team in January 2016, Niku worked as a Graduate Assistant for Study Abroad at Valdosta State University. She manages MyEA, the online student database and application portal, and facilitates statistics and reporting on study abroad enrollment. She also maintains and updates the EA website and oversees EA's social media initiatives. Niku has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Montclair State University, a Master's degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University, and a Master's degree in Human Computer Interaction from the University of Maryland. She is passionate about web accessibility and solving problems from a human-centered approach while creating positive user experiences. Niku is originally from the Caribbean island of Dominica. In her free time, she enjoys reading, interior decorating, working on her design skills, and discovering new Vegan restaurants.
Carly Jimeson
Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Pronouns: she,her,hers
301-405-8524 | cjimeson@umd.edu
Carly graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s in Communication. As an undergraduate, she participated in Destination London, Maryland-in-Copenhagen and EA’s Online Communication internship. Carly is passionate about the role of international education to create globally conscious citizens. She is excited to return to EA and looks forward to working with OIA and EA to engage more students in international programs. Carly previously worked as an Account Executive at a fast-paced ad agency where she managed media campaigns and communication channels for a variety of clients. She loves the art of communication and storytelling to emotionally connect brands to their audiences. In her spare time, Carly enjoys visiting new cities, baking cookies and spending time with her family at their beach house in Cape May, NJ.
Collin Hill
Operations Enrollment Coordinator
Pronouns: they, them, theirs
301-314-7790 | crhill@umd.edu
Collin joined the EA team in 2022 and provides administrative support in all aspects of enrollment services including registration, billing, course scheduling, and grades. Before coming to the University of Maryland, Collin was a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of North Carolina Asheville. They received their M.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs from Western Carolina University and their BA in Communication Studies from Clemson University. During their graduate program, Collin held an internship abroad at the University of Oviedo in Spain. They are passionate about working collaboratively to ensure students receive the support needed before, during, and after their study abroad experiences. In their free time, Collin enjoys reading at new coffee shops, hiking with their dog, and planning future travel itineraries..
Kevin Mascitelli
Student Enrollment Coordinator
Pronouns: he, him, his
301-405-8283 | kmascit@umd.edu
Kevin joined the Education Abroad team in 2022, and he coordinates enrollment for short-term study abroad programs at the University of Maryland. His enthusiasm for international communities has led to many exciting opportunities—from teaching English in Valencia, Spain to serving his hometown community’s migrant population, Kevin has always valued intercultural exchange. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in International Relations, and he is currently completing a master’s degree in International Education Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. In addition to international exchange, Kevin could talk for hours about music history, Microsoft Excel, and how to cook the perfect Spanish tortilla. .
Kelsey Prima
Program Manager for Academic Exchanges and Systems
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-5747 | kprima@umd.edu
Kelsey joined the EA team in May 2021 and oversees incoming exchange and coordinates exchange processes, agreements, and curriculum integration efforts. She brings with her more than 5 years of experience working in international exchange programming and institutional relations, and in her previous role at ISEP Study Abroad she worked closely with over 70 international partners in Europe, the United Kingdom and Oceania to promote mobility, manage exchange partnerships, develop new programs and facilitate strategic initiatives. Kelsey is a Philadelphia native who completed her bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Delaware and her master’s degree in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. While at UD, Kelsey studied abroad in Austria and Costa Rica, and went on to teach in Austria through the Fulbright U.S. Teaching Assistants program after graduating, and later worked in international education at the Middlebury School in Mainz, Germany. In addition to her work with EA, she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of yPIE DC, or Young Professionals in International Education in Washington, DC. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys long hikes in Shenandoah, losing herself in a good novel, scouting out specialty coffee shops and planning her next trip abroad.
Zhana Welch
Program Manager, Short-term Faculty Led Programs
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-0596 | zwelch@umd.edu
Zhana joined the EA team in June 2022 and oversees summer, winter, and spring break short-term faculty-led study abroad programs. She brings a love of international exchanges and previously worked with Georgetown University's English Language Specialist Program as well as several other DMV-based study abroad organizations. Zhana originally hails from New York, and holds a BA degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and an MPS in Higher Education Administration from Georgetown University. As an undergrad, she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain and Seoul, South Korea, and led research as a master's student on the impact of discrimination on second language acquisition for racial minority students abroad. When not in the office, she loves oil painting, ballroom dancing, traveling, and keeping the Duolingo owl happy by completing her Spanish lessons every day.
Crystal Yuille
Program Manager, Short-term Faculty Led Programs
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-8309 | cyuille@umd.edu
Crystal Yuille joined the EA team in 2022 as the Study Abroad Program Manager for short-term, faculty-led programs. Previously, Crystal coordinated the Sally Yudelman Internship Program at the Washington Office on Latin America and oversaw the relaunch of the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship in the Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University. She looks forward to capitalizing on previous experiences to support thoughtful, intentional study abroad programming at UMD. Crystal received bachelor’s degrees in Global Studies and Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she studied abroad four times. In 2022, Crystal obtained her master’s degree in Political Science with a focus on Black Politics and International Relations from Howard University. In her last semester, Crystal served as a Fulbright Student Researcher to Colombia and conducted a research project that focused on the Pan-African ties of the largest Black folk festival in Latin-America – the Petronio Alvarez Festival. Crystal is particularly passionate about transnational solidarity, human rights, and afro-feminisms, and believes in utilizing international education to support students and faculty in increasing understanding and compassion in the world.
Sally Roberts
Senior Advisor
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-7917 | srober15@umd.edu
Sally joined the EA team in August 2022, and advises for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. Previously, she worked in the study abroad offices at William & Mary in Virginia and DePaul University in Chicago. Sally has a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College, and studied abroad at the University of St Andrews in Scotland during her junior year. She earned her M.A. in International Education from New York University, where she studied on short-term faculty-led programs in the Dominican Republic and South Africa. She also taught English for a year at a high school outside of Bangkok, Thailand, and worked with summer high school programs at Georgetown. A New Hampshire native, Sally is excited to be back in the DMV and is looking forward to helping students find the right study abroad experience for their needs and desires.
D'Kiya Bynum
Advisor
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-314-7775 | dbynum12@umd.edu
D’Kiya joined the EA team in May 2022 and advises for various regions including France, Canada, Middle East, India, Africa, Russia, Japan, and Korea. D’Kiya is a University of Maryland Alumna who received a dual degree in International Business and French Language and Literature. During her time at UMD she studied abroad through the MD-in-Montpellier program. She initially fell in love with learning about the French language and its culture at a young age after attending a French immersion school for 9 years and studying in Québec, Canada and France. D’Kiya looks forward to entering into the field of international education in order to share with students the opportunities studying abroad can bring such as language immersion while focusing on making sure study abroad is an option for all students on campus.
Emily Garcia
Advisor
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-314-2153 | ergarcia@umd.edu
Emily joined the EA team in May 2022 and serves as the advisor for Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, Germany, and Scandinavia. She is a Texas native and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Human Development & Family Sciences in Fall 2019. During her time there, she participated in a faculty-led program in Italy and extended her stay throughout the summer to continue traveling around Europe. After her return, she went on to pursue her Master’s degree in Higher Education at the University of Houston where she also worked as a graduate assistant in the Learning Abroad office. Emily is excited to continue helping students discover their academic goals, personal aspirations, and professional development within the field of international education.
Joy Gursky
Advisor
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-314-9708 | ggursky@umd.edu
Joy joined the Education Abroad team in 2022 and serves as the advisor for Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as regions including Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Having studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal and Paris, France during her time as an undergraduate student, she understands the significance of promoting cross cultural understanding and pushing young people to care about and learn from the global community. Joy has supported measures related to higher education in a number of ways, including university advancement, nonprofit fundraising, alumni engagement, and recruitment for study abroad programs at her alma mater. She comes to the University of Maryland after two years of teaching English to middle schoolers in the outskirts of Paris, France. Joy is a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship alumna and received her Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and French from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Although she misses the beach, she is so excited to work with University of Maryland students to help them turn their dreams of studying abroad into a reality.
Katherine Schwarzentraub
Coordinator, Global Leadership Programs, Office of Global Engineering Leadership, A. James Clark School of Engineering
Pronouns: she, her, hers
301-405-0786 | ktraub@umd.edu
Katherine joined the OGEL team in December, 2021, after initially working as the General Advisor in Education Abroad. As the Coordinator for Global Leadership programs, Katherine works with Engineering students to find programs that align with their major, goals, and interests. She also supports Incoming ENGR Exchange students during their time at UMD. Katherine is a graduate of Wofford College, with a double major in Government and German and Art History minor, and is wrapping up her MA in International Education Policy at UMD. During semesters abroad in London and Vienna, she furthered her interest in British culture and German language. Katherine is excited to help students explore how they can make International Education a part of their Maryland Experience!