Dean's Office
Florence Leclerc
Dean
Florence Leclerc is the dean of Parsons Paris. She is also the senior director of Strategic Academic Partnerships and works on both campuses—New York and Paris—of The New School. Leclerc has spent most of her life abroad and currently lives in the United
States and France. She obtained her master's degree in translation from the École de Traduction et d’Interprétation of Geneva, Switzerland, and an MBA in Marketing from SUNY New Paltz. For a number of years, she chaired the Foreign Languages Department
at The New School in New York, where she taught French language and culture at all levels. In 2013, she moved back to France to relaunch Parsons Paris. Leclerc is also an associate professor of foreign languages and a novelist.
Edward S. Mills III
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Academic Planning & Registration
Edward Mills began as the director of Student Life and Advising at The New School Parsons Paris in June 2013, building and heading the offices of Student Life, Student Services, and Academic Advising. Before joining Parsons Paris, Mills served as the
director of Auxiliary and Summer Programs at Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. Before that, he served for six years as the academic director of the International School of Management in Paris. Mills earned his MA in Political Science at the University
of North Carolina, jointly with Sciences Po, and his BA at Skidmore College. He also completed the Management Development Program at the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education.
Arnaud Hédin
Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs & Academic Planning
Arnaud Hédin studied French as a foreign language (Maîtrise FLE) at the University of Nottingham and the Université Paris V Sorbonne and French literature at the University of Chicago. He holds a Maîtrise in LCE anglais (Université Paris Diderot). He
taught French courses at both the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Center in Paris and currently teaches French at Parsons Paris.
Guillaume Vidal
Director of Administration & Finance
Guillaume Vidal began working with Parsons Paris in 2013. Since 2024, he has served as director of Administration and Finance, overseeing Parsons Paris' bookkeeping, budget monitoring, and financial statements and assisting in external auditing. Vidal graduated from ESCEM Tours-Poitiers with a master’s degree in auditing and chartered accountancy. His professional experience includes statutory auditing of major insurance groups and service companies with Mazars; serving as senior manager at Primexis, an external accounting firm; and assisting subsidiaries of major international groups in accounting outsourcing, tax compliance, internal control, and preparation of financial statements. In addition to working with Parsons Paris, Vidal has provided assistance to educational groups such as CIEE and St. John's University.
Karen Decter
Associate Director of Personnel Administration & Public Events
Originally from Boston, Karen Decter graduated with a BA in Political Science from Denison University in Ohio. She studied at Sciences Po through the Sweet Briar College Junior Year in Paris program. She moved back to Paris upon graduation and has never
left. Decter has held administrative and project management positions at international companies in the television production, retail, financial guarantee insurance, renewable energy, and real estate management industries in Paris.
Decter also holds a floral arts degree from TECOMAH in Jouy-en-Josas and has worked as a florist at a Parisian palace hotel. She is a triathlete and has been an official Fédération Française de Triathlon (FFTRI) referee for seven years and a volunteer
at Fédération Française d'Athlétisme (FFA) road races for nine years.
Lisa Sarma
Director of Communication & Marketing Initiatives
Lisa Sarma has been leading the Communications and Marketing department of Parsons Paris since 2018, defining and executing its multichannel marketing strategy and developing online, print, and social media content. Sarma gained marketing experience working
for start-ups and brands in the beauty and fashion sectors. Before joining Parsons Paris, she spent eight years at the head of the Digital Marketing department at Givenchy Beauty, part of the LVMH group. Before moving to Paris, she worked in environmental
consulting and communications in San Francisco. Sarma holds degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Columbia University (BS) and Stanford University (MS).
Admission
Mike Fakih
Associate Provost for Enrollment
Mike Fakih has lived in North America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East and for eight years worked at Sciences Po Paris as director of the Europe-Africa Program and associate director of the Middle East program. His role encompassed project development,
institutional partnerships, and the development of international admissions and promotion. He also taught seminars on corporate social responsibility and media studies. Previously he worked on the founding and launch of an international sustainable
development forum in France and was a journalist in the Middle East. Fakih earned his MPA from Sciences Po and completed an MA and a BA in Political Science at Saginaw Valley State University in the United States.
Laura Fried
Assistant Director of Admission
Laura Fried graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA double major in Psychology and Journalism & Mass Communication. Fried previously worked as a pre-college and high school completion advisor at the Academy of Art University
in San Francisco. Before moving to France, she lived and worked in Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia, and New Zealand.
Yun Hye Jang
Admissions Counselor
Originally from South Korea, Yun Hye Jang attended Ewha Womans University in Seoul, where she studied English literature and language. She spent two semesters as an exchange student in Bristol, Tennessee, where she discovered the joy of being surrounded
by people from different cultural backgrounds. She then moved to Lyon, France, to continue to explore the world and stayed there for one semester at University Lyon 3. After finishing her studies, Jang began working at the global research company
TNS. She then took a position as an e-commerce specialist at Air France KLM Korea. In 2016, Jang moved to France and started writing articles about Paris, which were published on the Air France Korea blog. Jang worked as a student life coordinator
at Academic Programs International in Parsons Paris from 2018 until 2021. She now works in the Office of Admission at Parsons Paris as an Admission counselor.
Student Success
Hala Dimechkie
Dean of Students
Hala Dimechkie is an international education professional with 20 years’ experience in higher education. Before joining Parsons Paris, she worked at the American University of Beirut (AUB), where she served as the director of the Office of International Programs, a position in which she developed her expertise in international student services, study abroad programs, and institutional partnership development. Before that, Dimechkie spent a number of years in the United States, where she worked in public relations and communications. Dimechkie was raised and educated in the UK, earning her BA at the University of Exeter and her MA in History at AUB. Dimechkie speaks English, French, and Arabic. She is passionate about intercultural communication, teamwork, and harnessing the power of peer-to-peer support.
Virginie Grillet
Director of Career Development & Internships & Alumni Engagement
Originally from Lille, a French city formerly known for its textile industry, Virginie Grillet studied business and harp. After graduating, she worked in marketing as a consultant and in home textiles as a product manager for 15 years. Grillet spent more
than ten years working abroad (in Shanghai, Bangalore, Tokyo, and Düsseldorf), gaining valuable international experience that she brought to Parsons Paris. Before joining Parsons Paris, she searched for young talent and leading figures in
Europe for a Japanese recruitment company. She participated in career fairs, held seminars for students, and prepared them for job interviews at Japanese companies. Grillet is developing a number of student success initiatives and services, including
internship opportunities, events on campus, relationships with employers, student mentoring, and alumni programming.
Emily Jiang-Poulard
Assistant Director of Student Success
Emily Jiang-Poulard joined Parsons Paris as the coordinator of Student Success in 2018. Before moving to France in 2017, she worked for more than seven years in higher education in the United States, specializing in international education. She
holds an MEd in College Student Personnel Administration and a BS in Special Education from James Madison University. At Parsons Paris, Jiang-Poulard focuses on promoting student development, ensuring academic success, and helping students reach their
potential in an inclusive global learning environment.
Rachel Olejniczak
Director of Student Life
Rachel Olejniczak is a Charleston, South Carolina, native who moved to France in 2013. She has worked in various French universities teaching ESL courses. She currently serves as director of Student Life at Parsons Paris and as the API Parsons Paris resident director. Earlier she was the student life coordinator and AMT academic advisor for second-, third-, and fourth-year students. Olejniczak holds a BA in Communication Arts in Radio–Television–Film and a minor in European Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an MSc in Global Media from the London School of Economics and Political Science. At Parsons Paris and API, she supports students through the ever-changing adventure of studying and living abroad. When she’s not supporting students, she’s pursuing her passion for media literacy and media analysis.
Anna N'Semi
Student Life Coordinator
Anna Borbála N'Semi is of Congolese and Hungarian heritage and has lived in multiple countries in Africa, Europe, and North America. As an international student in four countries, including Canada and the United States, she studied economics, French culture, and Francophone literature, with a specialization in contemporary Congolese literature. Since relocating to Paris, N'Semi has worked with international educational organizations and institutions, including CIEE and the American University of Paris (AUP). At AUP, she served as residential life coordinator and first-year success mentor while also chairing the University Conduct Board. Fluent in Hungarian, English, and French, N'Semi is passionate about international education and dedicated to helping students develop the intercultural communication skills essential for success in our globalized society.
Lara Kavaklioglu
Careers & Internship Coordinator
Originally from Istanbul, Türkiye, Lara Kavaklioglu began coordinating fashion show backstages at just 15—a role that sparked a passion for organization and creativity that continues to shape her career. She moved to Paris to study at Parsons Paris, completing additional studies at Parsons School of Design and SCAD, and worked in the Student Success office during her time as a Strategic Design and Management student. After graduation, she coordinated creative teams at an international social media agency and later worked as a staff coordinator at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Now back at Parsons Paris, Kavaklioglu brings her global perspective and hands-on experience to her roles as career coordinator at Parsons Paris and resident coordinator for the API summer programs. Coordinating is in her DNA—and her love of decorative arts means she sees design potential in even the smallest everyday objects.
Giacomo Frassineti
Academic Advisor at Student Success
Giacomo Frassineti joined Parsons Paris as the academic advisor for BFA Fashion Design and MFA Fashion Design and the Arts in 2025. Before moving to Paris, he worked in Rome as an education program coordinator at Link Campus University and in other post-secondary institutions. He holds a MA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Turin, a postgraduate diploma in Cultural Heritage Management from IULM University, and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Frassineti is deeply committed to easing students in their academic life, providing them with resources, support, and agency while taking into account their multicultural backgrounds and experiences.
Brooke Berndtson
Coordinator of Student Success
Brooke Berndtson brings a decade of expertise in international education in Paris to her current role in Student Success. Before joining Parsons Paris, she held roles as a guidance counselor and as a lecturer in Psychology, Health, and Gender at the American
University of Paris; served as an English Department coordinator at Ecole Internationale Bilingue Monceau; and worked as a self-employed student support specialist for neurodivergent youths. Berndtson holds a Master of Studies in Philosophy from the
University of Oxford, a Master of Science in Mental Health in Children and Young People from the University of Edinburgh, and an Advanced Certificate in Disability Services in Higher Education from the CUNY School of Professional Studies. She is deeply
committed to promoting students' well-being, engaging in disability advocacy, and creating accessible, inclusive multicultural learning environments.
Technology & Campus Resources
Shaen Sellam
Associate Director of Technology & Campus Resources
Shaen Sellam is responsible for all aspects of technology infrastructure, system development, resource management, and forward planning for both our Saint Roch and Romainville campuses.
Before joining Parsons Paris in 2019, Sellam worked in technology departments at two other universities and held positions in recording studios, sports organizations, and various technology environments for 15 years. Sellam's work encompasses enterprise infrastructure, creative technologies, digital fabrication, and multimedia production. He develops custom workflow solutions that support both administrative operations and academic initiatives across the institution.
Sellam holds a diploma in audio engineering and has worked in multiple technical disciplines throughout his career.
Dimitri Ghohari
Building & Facilities Manager
Pingfang Tsai
Making Facilities & Technology Coordinator, Fashion Lab
Pingfang Tsai supports students and faculty with technical aspects of drawing, digital tools, and industrial sewing. She holds a fashion design degree from Atelier Chardon Savard and a geomatics engineering degree from National Cheng-Kung University. Before joining Parsons Paris, Tsai interned at major fashion houses including Emanuel Ungaro, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, and Tara Jarmon, gaining experience in styling and design assistance. Originally from Taiwan, Tsai is fluent in Chinese, French, and English and brings an international perspective and a strong passion for creative and innovative design. Tsai is based mainly on our Romainville campus.
Hussain Patel
Parsons Paris Technology & Equipment Resources Technician
Hussain Patel oversees daily operations, overseeing and maintaining Tech Lab resources, including computers, printers, scanners, copiers, laser cutters, 3D printers, and vinyl cutters, and keeping the working area clean and usable at all times. Patel studied computer system management as well as history and art history at Université Paris-Sorbonne. At Parsons Paris, Patel combines his academic skills with his passion for technology and innovation. Born in Paris, he has traveled the world and brings a global perspective and adaptability to his work. Patel is based mainly on our Saint Roch campus.
Sylvère Beaumont
Parsons Paris Technology & Equipment Resources Technician
Sylvère Beaumont oversees technical support, lab operations, and user assistance in various creative and academic technologies. His educational and professional background is diverse, including graphic design, music performance, and comedy. He approaches problem solving with both analytical precision and creative flexibility.
Beaumont holds a BFA. In addition to working at Parsons Paris, he is actively involved in music as a DJ. He is based mainly on our Romainville campus.