The staff of the ISSI is here to support you throughout your studies at Northeastern University. We are happy to answer your questions and to provide any assistance we can.
Phone:
+1-617-373-2310
Fax:
+1-617-373-8788
Email:
issi@neu.edu
Mailing Address:
International Student & Scholar Institute
405 Ell Hall
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30AM – 7:00PM
Friday: 8:30AM – 5:00PM
THE ISSI STAFF
Cristina Costa
Customer Service Representative
c.costa@neu.edu
Cristina is a Boston native who recently joined the ISSI team in January 2013. Cristina was living abroad for the past three years after completing her B.A. in Marketing and Communications at Boston College in 2009. She moved to Japan in 2009 to teach English for two years and later taught English for over a year in southern Spain. Her passion for international travel, education and learning about different cultures brought her to the ISSI office where she primarily works at the front desk as the customer service representative. Cristina has traveled extensively through North America, Asia, Latin America and Europe. She is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks fluent Japanese and Portuguese.
Elizabeth Diaz
International Student & Scholar Advisor
e.diaz@neu.edu
Elizabeth has served international students and scholars at the ISSI for 35 years. An experienced international educator and former teacher of English as a Second Language in Peru, she advises on a myriad international issues, currently concentrating on immigration compliance and employment issues. She is an experienced presenter on international and intercultural-related themes, ran an educational seminar series, co-chaired an honor society, and coordinated a hospitality program. She has offered presentations that run the gamut from public speaking on awareness of the diverse international community on campus to dance performances and art exhibit presentations. Elizabeth is a native of New York State and an alumna of Northeastern University. She speaks English, Spanish and German.
Megan Driscoll
International Student Advisor - Special Programs
m.driscoll@neu.edu
Megan joined the staff of the ISSI in January of 2011 as an International Student Advisor for students enrolled in non-degree programs with the university. She has a degree in Visual Arts and Philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross. She also has several years experience in art galleries as well as at non-profit organizations which promote intercultural understanding through creative and artistic expression. Her interest in travel, education and culture drew her to the field of international education. She has traveled abroad to Italy, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Wayne Jenks
Staff Assistant
w.jenks@neu.edu
Wayne has attended universities in the United States, Canada, and Scotland, where he studied international relations. He has worked at ISSI since 1986, and is concerned with the department's front area operations, finances, supplies, courier services, paper records, and student employment issues.
Ikuko Konda
International Student Services Coordinator
i.konda@neu.edu
Born and raised in Japan, Ikuko first came to the US to pursue her undergraduate degree in Ohio. After completing her B.A. in Communication, she moved to Boston and earned a M.A. in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University. Ikuko has worked with the international student population since 2006. She's traveled abroad to countries such as Germany, Panama, China, and India but she also enjoys traveling across the U.S. especially in New England.
Laurie Larocque
Senior Assistant Director
l.larocque@neu.edu
Laurie has worked at ISSI since 1979, during which time her responsibilities have included immigration-related issues, orientation for international students, workshop presentations, and various ISSI-sponsored cultural programs. She received her bachelor's degree in French from Regis College, has taken graduate courses in education and counseling, and received an MBA from Northeastern University. Laurie enjoys reading-especially books with cross-cultural themes-as well as cooking, and traveling. She speaks French, Spanish, and English.
Salvatore Mazzone
Senior Associate Director
s.mazzone@neu.edu
Sal, who has been engaged in the field of international education for 20 years, joined ISSI in 1995. His primary responsibilities are SEVIS compliance, systems management, and international student and scholar advising. Sal's academic background is in anthropology, sociolinguistics, and cultural studies. Originally from Italy, he has retained that country's passion for soccer and fine cuisine. Sal speaks Italian and English.
Stephanie McCormick
Optional Practical Training Specialist
s.mccormick@neu.edu
Stephanie comes to the ISSI from Suffolk University, where she served the international student population. At Northeastern she works as the ISSI's advisor to graduating F-1 visa students throughout the "Optional Practical Training" (OPT) application/authorization process.
Karine Nanagoulian
Associate Director
k.nanagoulian@neu.edu
Karine joined ISSI in 2002. Born in Armenia, Karine completed her master's in civil engineering at Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, before gradually acquiring a new profession about which she is passionate: immigration issues and international education. Karine reviews and processes applications of undergraduate and graduate students, as required for visa eligibility and other immigration-related matters. She also advises international students daily. Karine, who has traveled extensively, was assigned to Armenian embassies in various countries before joining Northeastern. Her hobbies include international movies, literature, and music. Karine speaks Armenian, Russian, and English.
Miho Kito
International Student Specialist
m.kito@neu.edu
Miho joined the ISSI staff in December of 2012. She earned her Master's degree from Northeastern University after completing her undergraduate work in her native Japan. Miho specializes in the quality assurance of our co-op and OPT applications, and works with the university's incoming visiting research scholars.
Khuong Nguyen
Compliance Specialist
kh.nguyen@neu.edu
Originally from California (though born in North Carolina), Khuong moved to Boston in 1998 where he attended Boston Latin Academy for High School. Khuong entered Northeastern as a Pharmacy major in 2005, and began his association with the ISSI in 2006, serving as the President of the Vietnamese Student Association. There, he discovered his true passion working alongside international students and creating various programs for students to enjoy. He speaks Vietnamese and English.
Meaghan Sturtevant
International Cooperative Education Specialist
m.sturtevant@neu.edu
Meaghan is originally from the Boston area and holds a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Communication from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Before starting at Northeastern as the Co-Op Specialist for International Students, she worked for three years as an International Student Advisor at a private English language school in Boston. She studied abroad in Tours, France and worked as an English teacher in a small town in France. She also worked in a Study Abroad Office for two years as a graduate assistant at UMBC. Meaghan enjoys meeting students from around the world. She speaks French.
Amy Wooldridge
Assistant Director - International Student Programming
a.wooldridge@neu.edu
Originally from Texas, Amy earned a Master's degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge. She has worked, in some capacity, with immigrants or international students that are new to the social, academic and professional environments of the United States throughout her professional and academic careers. In the ISSI she has been charged with ISSI's orientation and cultural programming. Amy enjoys traveling, discussing cross-cultural topics, outdoor activities, cooking and spending time with friends and family. So far, her travels have taken her to South Africa, Germany, Italy, England, Ireland and Scotland.
John Bielaus
Data Manager
j.bielaus@neu.edu
John joined the ISSI as the Data Manager in August of 2010. He has over eight years of professional experience in higher education, having worked on financial aid, billing and registration systems. He received his Bachelor's degree in Computers in Communications from Boston University, and his Master's degree from the World History program at Northeastern University's College of Arts & Sciences. His job responsibilities with the ISSI include maintaining the office's database and server, troubleshooting technical issues, and running reports for data analysis. John has trekked across six continents and visited differing areas of the world from Iceland to Fiji to North Korea. He speaks both German and English.