About the Global Engagement Office

Originally from Germany, I grew up moving a lot and have been fortunate to gain experience studying, living, and working internationally.  I received my Master’s degree in International Relations with honours from the Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands where I was a Nuffic Huygens scholar and completed my doctoral studies at the University of Calgary. My dissertation and research focused on the internationalization of higher education and the nexus of government policy, immigration policies/programs, institutional programming, and international student career transitions.

In addition to my role at UBC, I am a member of the Central Okanagan Local Immigration Partnership Committee, the immediate past Co-Chair of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) National Immigration Advisory Committee, an instructor/guest lecturer for CBIE’s International Student and Immigration Education Program (ISIEP), and Senior Advisor, Learning and Development at the Canadian Bureau for International Education. I also am a member of the Board of Advisors for Isempower, a career ecosystem designed to support international students in the transition from studies to career and a member of the Board of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). Before joining UBC, I was at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) with their International and Executive MBA programmes, and prior to that at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) in the Netherlands.

The team at the Global Engagement Office is here to support you throughout your studies. If you aren’t sure where to start with your query, stop by our office and connect with our staff to get you started!

I am in my 16th year with Go Global and have loved watching it grow over the past decade. I am a BA graduate from UBC Okanagan and an MEd graduate from UBC Vancouver and spent part of that degree in Copenhagen. I’ve recently completed my PhD with a focus in overseas short-term programs. I have a serious love of traveling, reading, and lifelong learning.

I have learned an incredible amount while abroad and I’ve taken quite a few solo adventures. I highly recommend traveling alone at least once as it squashes fears and will boost your confidence to continue exploring. I fully believe that studying overseas is what you make it, so go abroad with an open mind and say yes to experiences no matter how scary they might sound at first. Introduce yourself to new people and don’t hide in your dorm room!

I have a Masters of Arts from Carleton University with a specialization in Women’s and Gender studies (migration and diaspora). I have over 6 years of experience working in the field of human rights and migration policy. I have also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Gender Studies from the University of Victoria. I manage the Intercultural Development Program at UBCO to provide intercultural training to students and staff on topics related to mental health, cross-cultural communication, social justice, and professional development.

I also work as an Intercultural Consultant across campus and within the broader Okanagan community to provide strategic direction on equity and diversity projects and publications. I am also a volunteer advisory board member of the Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and an Associate Lead of the International Network of Tomorrow’s Leaders (INTL) of the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE). I am passionate about meeting and interacting with students from all over the world. I hope you have a successful academic year and I look forward to meeting you.

I completed a Master’s of Education at UBC’s Okanagan campus and a Bachelor of Law at Northwest University in China. I have over six years experience working with international students in both secondary and post secondary schools.

I am familiar with the cultural adjustment process for international students, and have extensive experience providing international student services, such as settlement support, personal issue support, health care advising, and connecting students with cultural activities and supports within the community.

From a very young age I have been moving and travelling around the world. I was born in Iran but left as a young child. My family moved to Scotland, then to Canada. As a young adult my travelling spirit continued to spur me on. I started my undergraduate degree at Okanagan College in Kelowna (before there was a UBCO), but then completed it at Sonoma State University in San Francisco. I travelled to China as part of my undergrad program. My student experience was so incredible there, that I returned to China, after I was married, and we lived, worked and raised a family there for the next 19 years.

After returning to Canada in 2012, I began a position as an International Student Specialist at the University of Alberta. I became a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in 2014 and have been working to support international students through their journeys ever since. I am a keen advocate for international students. My passion is to see international students thrive!

I am so pleased to be part of the UBCO Global Engagement Office and bring my expertise in supporting the international graduate students and their families.

I am a dedicated immigration practitioner and advisor with over five years of experience in international education. With experience in post-secondary, legal aid, and private practice, I bring a diverse set of perspectives to supporting students with anything that might be relevant to their personal, academic, and professional lives. I have worked at the Global Engagement Office in a variety of roles, and also bring experience in supporting short-term visiting/exchange students and researchers to the International Student Advising team.

I am also an alumnus of UBC Okanagan (BA – International Relations, 2018), and was an international exchange student myself at Sciences Po (2017). I was licensed as an Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in 2021, and outside of my role(s) at UBC, have been engaged as a researcher on international student immigration law and policy for the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). I am passionate about supporting students through cross-departmental partnerships, and am always interested in collaborating with other campus partners on initiatives that serve to enhance the student experience.

I am a dedicated immigration professional and community leader with a passion for supporting individuals and families in their journey to find a new home in Canada. Since 2015, I have made a significant impact in the field of immigration through my work in refugee resettlement, immigration consulting, and community development initiatives.

With a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the UBCO and a post-graduate certificate in immigration consulting, I possess a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge in the complex field of immigration.

My career began in refugee resettlement, where I worked to provide support and assistance to displaced individuals and families. My compassionate and empathetic approach played a vital role in helping refugees successfully integrate into Canadian society and rebuild their lives.

Recognizing the need for professional guidance in immigration matters, I became a regulated immigration consultant. Through my consulting practice, I have provided expert advice and assistance to numerous individuals, families, and businesses, helping them understand the intricacies of immigration laws, navigate the application process, and achieve their immigration goals.

One of my most significant accomplishments is my involvement in developing the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot for Moose Jaw, SK. Recognizing the economic and social benefits of attracting newcomers to smaller communities, I worked diligently to help create an immigration program that would facilitate the successful integration and retention of newcomers while meeting the specific needs of rural and northern areas.

I am excited to bring my dedication, expertise, and leadership home to UBCO as our RCIC – International Student Career Advisor.

As a frequent traveller and dual-citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom, I am well aware of some of the unique challenges and obstacles that students may encounter both when considering whether to go and while on exchange. Having completed two degrees at UBC Okanagan (BA and BEd), I know how easy it is to find reasons not to go on exchange and am passionate about encouraging students to take advantage of the opportunity to go on exchange while they can (speaking from experience of someone who did not take the opportunity to go abroad and regrets it on regular occasion).

My goal as your Go Global Advisor is to help you have the best exchange experience possible while ensuring you meet all requirements for graduation. No matter where you decide to Go Global, it is a life-changing decision that you will never regret in life!

I recently completed my Masters of Business Administration, and when I’m not head deep in work or study, my passions include travel, playing & watching football (soccer), supporting Liverpool FC, and continued learning/development.

I have a great passion for studying cultures, completing an Honours in Anthropology focusing on the connection between nationalism, social stratification, and cooking customs of Soviet women in my Honours Thesis. As a first-generation immigrant in Canada, I always seeks an opportunity to make the process of cultural adaptation more pleasant for others and contribute to the minimization of discrimination, cultural bias, and racism in Canadian society. I was also a long-term volunteer with CILLDI (Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute) and see the Truth and Reconciliati

As a graduate of UBCO and a past participant in the Go Global program, I have had first-hand experience in the many aspects of going abroad. I received my BA in International Relations from UBCO, with a year of my degree spent studying at the University of Edinburgh. Outside of my exchange, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to over 15 countries, and continue to have a strong passion for travel. I will always look to encourage students to take the opportunity to Go Global where ever possible in their degree. I can also understand the potential doubt and the many decisions that come along with an exchange, whether that be choosing a partner school, course selection, or deciding where to live. I am here to help with all of those choices and guide you to make sure that your exchange experience is the best that it can be.

My advice is that if Go Global has crossed your mind even once, just do it.

This last semester I studied in Denmark at the University of Copenhagen. (Here is me at Nyhavn, a famous street there!)

My Go Global experience impacted me far greater than I expected. It opened up a world of opportunities for me through learning about different cultures in a deep and unique way and gave me meaningful connections, friendships, and memories.

I am now back at UBCO for my last year of my undergrad, studying International Relations. As the Go Global Project Assistant I want to help connect students to this great opportunity that UBCO has. Having first-hand experience in the difficulties and stress of getting ready to study abroad, I am excited to help other students with their application process and get them excited for what is to come.

Being a student is an interesting part of your life – it is exciting, it is difficult and it’s a time where you learn so much about who you are. A lot of my understanding of self developed during this time in my life. I am an immigrant and a child of immigrant parents, I identify as South Asian, Canadian, and Muslim (to name a few of my intersecting identities). There are many ways one understands themselves and the world around them. Navigating your educational life can be stressful, confusing, and absolutely wonderful and I’m here as a support through that journey.

I received my Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from Simon Fraser University (SFU). I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Canadian Certified Counsellor.

I have worked with UBC-V Counselling Services, UBCO Health and Wellness, and Student Assistance Programs where I’ve supported students experiencing a wide range concerns that include anxiety, depression, suicidality, romantic relationships, familial relationships, identity questions, chronic illness, and academic goals/achievements. I have also spent time as a caseworker working with refugees in the Lower Mainland, emotionally supporting them and working with them to navigate Canadian life.

I work from a Relational Cultural Theory approach which is grounded in Person-Centred values and allows for multicultural work. I enjoy getting to know people through their identity, their relationships, and the broader culture they identify with in ways that are meaningful to the core concerns they want to address in our work together. I identify as a Muslim and for clients desiring faith-based sensitivity in their therapeutic work, I can offer a Muslim perspective.

(Currently on leave)

I completed a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law & Psychology from De Montfort University in England.

I have over a decade of experience working as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in a variety of different settings, with people of all ages from all around the world. I appreciate that sometimes in our lives, particularly as a student, we may experience a diverse range of challenges, which can transform our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This has the ability to create a sense of uncertainty, leading us to believe that life is unchangeable. I provide compassion and establish a positive therapeutic relationship with all students, to help overcome these challenges. My approach to supporting students is based upon creating a safe, trusting, collaborative relationship, regardless of age, culture, or religious background. Students will be supported and provided with strategies to overcome any difficulties that may be interfering with their academic success.

I invite you to come speak with me to learn more about counselling services. I welcome you to UBC and hope you have a successful academic fun-filled experience!