Our Staff

Jim oversees the International Student and Scholar Services office. He received his BA in Sociology and International Relations from the University of Maryland and his MSEd from Baruch College. Jim comes to The New School with more than 20 years of experience in international education and global exchange, including 14 years as the director of ISS at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. He has traveled to 37 countries and has lived in Spain, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. Jim's passion for working with international students and scholars stems from his own travel experience, and he values the opportunity to learn from people of different backgrounds and cultures. In his free time, he enjoys sports, traveling, and being active with his wife and children. 

Anya has worked in international education for 15 years. She holds master's degrees in applied linguistics, German, and English literature and is working toward her EdD in Higher Education Leadership. She has lived and worked in China, El Salvador, Malta, Thailand, and Russia. In 2015, Anya moved back to the United States and began working with international students at Drew University as an academic program manager. She has also taught ESL, writing, linguistics, and Russian. In her free time, Anya loves to spend time with her husband and son, play piano, and learn Chinese on Duolingo.

Daniel's experience living abroad is what inspired his love of international education. He lived in China for two and a a half years teaching English and studying, and he also speaks Chinese. As a former international student, Daniel understands the unique challenges other international students face and is excited to support them at The New School. Daniel received his BA in International Relations and has master's degrees in international relations and Asian studies. He aims to read one book every month and a half and also loves Chinese hand-pulled noodles. 

Heather comes to The New School with almost ten years of experience in the field of international education from other New York City institutions, including Pace University and St. Francis College. Heather worked in global logistics and operations abroad in the Netherlands before deciding to pursue her passion for international education. Heather holds both an MA and a BA in Psychology.

Joselyn has been with the ISSS office for more than 12 years, during which she has developed the experience necessary to succeed in her role, about which she is passionate. Joselyn holds an AAS in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Monroe College and is currently pursuing a BA/MA in Psychology at The New School. Joselyn loves to spend time with her two children and her husband.

Rachel's experience teaching in South Korea and living with a Korean host family for two years spurred her to enter the international education field. She channels her enthusiasm for teaching into her role as an advisor and providing cross-cultural support to students. She received her MA in International Education from New York University and her BA in Anthropology and International Relations from Syracuse University. Rachel enjoys taking Polaroids of everything, listening to Korean R&B, and researching her diverse family tree.

Andrew has been with The New School since 2017 and served in advising roles for international students, scholars, exchange students, and study abroad. Since 2018, he has also served as the campus Fulbright Foreign Student Advisor. Andrew has studied abroad in France and Italy and is also a volunteer with NAFSA. He received his B.A. in French and International Studies from Manhattan College and M.A. in International Relations from Seton Hall University. In his free time, he enjoys going to Broadway shows and theater performances and is always on the hunt for great food in New York City. 

Kerise has worked in higher education for more than 19 years. She received her MS in Communication Studies from the College of New Rochelle in 2007. As an international student advisor, Kerise assists students and scholars with various questions concerning their status at The New School. One of her favorite quotations is "Live to learn, and you will really learn to live," by John C. Maxwell.

Chris has several years of experience working with international students as both a teacher and an advisor. Soon after graduating from the College of Mount Saint Vincent with a BA in Business, he traveled to China to teach English. After returning from China, he worked as an international student coordinator/DSO at Kaplan International in both SoHo and the Empire State Building. These experiences deepened his interest in international education and influenced his career path. Chris enjoys a good beer, so he sometimes brews his own.

Kevin Obomanu is a Afropolitan obsessed with current events and social equity. A dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, Kevin has lived in four countries and several parts of the United States, picking up something new about the people he encounters while learning more about himself. This has informed the way he has worked with international students for several years.

With a bachelor’s degree in television producing and directing, Kevin is passionate about the way the medium influences the zeitgeist of the 21st century and varied kinds of casual discourse. In his spare time, he uses his PhD in Real Housewivesology to examine the Real Housewives of Atlanta and the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. You can usually find him listening to a newscast, reading the New York Times, watching Korean and Thai dramas, making espresso drinks, or baking cookies. Ask him about his travels or his song of the week.

Cortney is joining The New School's International Student and Scholar Services as front desk advisor. Cortney earned her BS in Elementary Education/Communication at SUNY New Paltz. Later she earned an MS in Post-Secondary Education at Troy University. Cortney joins The New School with several years of experience as a teacher and advisor in the field of international education. She taught English to middle school students in Chengdu, China. She later became a DSO and administrator at Education First (EF) International Language School in Tarrytown, New York. She also served as an advisor for five years at Georgia Institute of Technology. In her spare time, Cortney loves to cook, enjoys 1980s pop culture (music, movies, and TV), and spends time with her husband and son.

Brooke has more than a decade of experience in the field of international education. Her experiences in France, Ireland, and Canada have given her unique insight into the lives of international students and have inspired her student-centered approach. Brooke studied French literature and earned a BA at SUNY Oswego. She studied international humanitarian action at University College Dublin, where her passion for immigration and migration studies began. Brooke’s professional experience includes teaching ESL abroad, leading international admissions and recruitment, working with J-1 intern and trainee exchange participants, and overseeing F-1 immigration advising.  Brooke speaks French and enjoys travel. Her favorite hobby is taking long walks with her puppy, Mochi.