Meet the Staff
Executive Director, Global Education Center
Marina Cunningham
Phone: 973-655-4499
Email: cunninghamm@mail.montclair.edu
Dr. Cunningham is the chief international officer on campus. She oversees all initiatives at the Center which include the Office of International Services, Study Abroad and Special Programs, Summer Institutes, Scholar Services and Teaching in English. She is responsible for fostering global education and advancing international objectives across colleges and schools. She manages all linkages and contractual agreements with international institutions; sets policies to help advance internationalization on campus; manages the Global Education Distinguished International Scholars’ program and scholar visits and develops protocol guidelines for Fulbright and other visiting scholars. Born in Shanghai, China, Marina has lived and studied in Ecuador. She holds a B.A. in Spanish language and literature from University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Northwestern University. In the 1980s she spent several years heading up programs for Eastern European refugees. She also taught Russian literature and language at Northwestern University, William Paterson University and Montclair State University. Marina has traveled extensively and is fluent in several languages. She is a recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship and the Fulbright Administrators Program in Germany. She was the Principal Investigator for a number of grant awards for programs she administered at the GEC from the NJ Council for the Humanities, the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Soros, IREX, Fulbright, Library of Congress and Fund for Mutual Understanding.
Global Education Center Staff
Beth Calamia Scheckel
International Student and Scholar Advisor
Phone: 973-655 6862
Email: calamiascheb@mail.montclair.edu
Beth works with incoming international visitors. She coordinates orientations, plans social and cultural events for students and scholars, administers the Global Living Community on campus, conducts workshops on topics such a visa regulations, health insurance and taxes, helps students with internships and employment options, acts as academic advisor for students studying abroad at Montclair State University and in general helps our international visitors acclimate and maneuver through the university. Beth received a BA in Classics from Wesleyan University and an MA in Classical Archaeology from UNC-Chapel Hill. She studied abroad in Rome while an undergraduate and as a graduate student spent two summers working in Greece for UNC's study abroad program. She wishes she could travel more lately but always feels privileged to learn about the world from her many international students and scholars. Her next goal is to master a modern foreign language.
Nyieta Charlot
Study Abroad Coordinator
Phone: 973-655-4216
Email: charlotn@mail.montclair.edu
Nyieta is responsible for managing the study abroad application process and advising students individually and in groups. She plans campus outreach events such as the Study Abroad Fair, oversees the Study Abroad Peer Advisor program and provides scholarship advising. She spent a semester abroad in Brazil, lived with a host family and counts it as a transformative experience personally and professionally. She's traveled to Ghana, Cuba, England, France, Chile, Peru and other countries and loves helping students study abroad. She received a BA in International Cultural Studies (concentration Latin America and the Caribbean) from St. Francis College (NY) and a MA in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University. Nyieta also served as Co-Chair of NAFSA's Subcommittee on Underrepresentation in Education Abroad, and as a selection panelist for the Gilman and Fund for Education Abroad Scholarships. She’s ready for her next adventure and is anxious to send students to begin theirs.
Domenica Dominguez
Director, Study Abroad and International Programs
Phone: 973-655-4483
Email: dominguezd@mail.montclair.edu
Domenica is responsible for the development and management of international student mobility programs. She works with Montclair State faculty, staff and global partners to create and support opportunities for Montclair students to study abroad. She also manages special programs that bring international students to Montclair State such as Fulbright, WorldLearning, IEAW and IREX. She advises students on study abroad and international scholarships. Domenica received a BA in International Relations from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University, SIPA. She spent a year living in Spain, has traveled to many countries and looks forward to sending our students abroad for an amazing experience.
Victoria A. Donoghue, Esq.,
Director, International Services
Phone: 973-655-6862
Email: donoghuev@mail.montclair.edu
Victoria received her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in 1992. From 2003-2007 Victoria was the Assistant Director of Human Resources at the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, where she oversaw the Foundation’s immigration program, supervising the processing of nonimmigrant visas, served as an immigration resource both to the Foundation’s foreign national employees and Principal Investigators, and regularly delivered presentations to colleges throughout the CUNY system about immigration matters. In 2007 Ms. Donoghue entered private practice as an immigration attorney. Since then she has taught and published widely on a variety of immigration-related issues. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Immigration Law Program at the School of Professional Studies, CUNY.
Wendy Gilbert-Simon
Assistant Director, Global Education Center and Global Programs Coordinator
Phone: 973-655-4185
Email: simonW@mail.montclair.edu
Wendy is responsible for developing and managing Montclair State University's faculty led short term study abroad programs and short term programs at Montclair State University for international students. She handles short term visiting international scholars, international events and guest lectures series. She received a BA in Asian Studies at Connecticut College and an MA in Japanese at Stanford University, spent her junior year abroad (and then some!) in Japan, and has traveled to many countries, and hopes that everyone has the opportunity to experience the world.
Fang Gong
Assistant Director, Teaching in English Program
Phone: 973-655-6865
Email: gongf@mail.montclair.edu
Fang is responsible for promoting and marketing the program to overseas institutions, developing program budgets and business plans, and executing program logistics. Prior to working at the Global Education Center, Fang was the Associate Director in the International Program Office at the School of Business. She has extensive experience in global partnership with public and private sectors, especially between US and China. It is her passion to build bridges between countries by educating people, transferring knowledge and sharing cultures. Fang completed her undergraduate degree at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, China, and earned her Master degree of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers State University of New Jersey in 2007.
Medea Iluridze Berry
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 973-655-7928
Email: iluridzem@mail.montclair.edu
Medea provides administrative support for various global initiatives, special projects and study abroad programs. She holds a Tourism and Travel Degree from Swiss Management School, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MBA from Montclair State University. Medea joined the Global Education team in 2006 as a student assistant, and has since become a Global Special Programs Assistant.
Ellen Mazujian 
Disney Program Assistant
Phone:973-655-7604
Email: mazujiane@mail.montclair.edu
Ellen joined the Global Education Center in April 2012 and is responsible for coordinating events, accommodations, and the visa process for the Disney International College Program at Montclair State, among other tasks. Ellen is a Montclair State University alumna, graduating in 2009 with a BA in Spanish and a minor in International Studies. She also earned her Teacher Certification for Spanish K-12 from Kean University. Ellen studied abroad for a semester in Spain and has travelled to Morocco, France, Germany, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic, and more! Joining the Global Education Center fulfills her love of academic programs and international community involvement.
Aditi Patel
Assistant Director for International Students
Phone: 973-655-6862
Email: patelad@mail.montclair.edu
Aditi graduated from Montclair State University with a BS degree in Business Administration and a MA degree in Administration and Supervision. She began working at the Global Education Center as a student worker, and has since acted as International Student Advisor/SEVIS Coordinator, and currently serves as the Assistant Director of International Services. She advises incoming and current students about their visa status, manages, updates, and tracks immigration status of international students on SEVIS, creates immigration documents for newly admitted international students, oversees office database management system, maintains the International Services website. She is originally from India (and has lived in England) and had once been an international student herself at Montclair State.
Karen Segraves Pender
Assistant to the Executive Director
Phone: 973-655-4499
Email: segravesk@mail.montclair.edu
Karen joined the Global Education Center in 2004, she is responsible for assisting Dr. Marina Cunningham with some of the various programs, as well as maintaining the office. She is accountable for the Global Education Center International Scholar Guesthouse, making room reservations for the scholars, housekeeping cleaning schedule and keeping the house stocked with food and other essentials.
Student Assistants
Jaqueline Granja assists at the reception desk, and is the first contact in the office for international students, scholars and visitors. She assists international students with immigration and visa regulations, as well as with I-20 applications. She performs clerical work such as preparing Invitation, good standing, and consulate letters. Additionally, she helps organizing and participates in the International Student Orientation Week. She is an international student from Campo Grande/MS in Brazil, majoring in Political Science with a Minor in French.
Meghan Kathleen Greco assists the Study Abroad Coordinator with study abroad advising, the weekly information sessions, and planning study abroad events. She spent a semester abroad in London, England. Meghan graduated from Fordham University and is currently working on her Masters of Teaching in English.
Gabriela Gutierrez assists at the reception desk, and is the first contact in the office for international students, scholars and visitors. Originally from Mexico, she is studying for an MA in Theatre with a concentration on Production/Stage Management.
Nicholas Juzdan assists with Faculty Led Short-Term Study Abroad Programs and Short Term Programs at Montclair State University for International Students. He also assists with international events and guest lectures by visiting international scholars. He is majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports, Events and Tourism Marketing. Nicholas has traveled numerous times to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
Jonathan Harrison Kull is responsible for working with Study Abroad Peer Advisors and Study Abroad Alumni in creating Study Abroad Presentations, Information Tables and assists in coordinating events. He earned his BA in Asian Languages and Literature: Japanese from the University of Iowa and is currently earning his MA in Counseling: Higher Education Concentration at MSU. He studied abroad in 2005 in Nagoya Japan for a semester and has taught abroad in Shenzhen China for three years. He has also travelled to many countries and is very passionate about working in Global Education.
Ksenia Lebedeva is a student assistant with Study Abroad and is responsible for maintaining files, creating flyers, and keeping student paperwork organized and up-to-date, as well as assisting with Study Abroad events. She is originally from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, and has also traveled to Finland and Israel. She is about to graduate with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Public Administration.
Toi McRae assists with incoming and outgoing Study Abroad and International students. She is majoring in Health Education with a concentration in Public Health and a minor in Child Advocacy.
Anthony Niebo is responsible for editing, maintaining, and updating the department's main website as well as it's Study Abroad website. Anthony has traveled to Delaware, Flordia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Sourth Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Ontario Canada. He is currently studying for his Bachelors Degree in Information Technology and a Minor in Computer Science.
Robert Ouma assists with processing F-1 related applications, under the supervision of the International Services Assistant Director. He helps with advising students on immigration matters, orientation activities and provides support for administrative work as needed. He is an undergraduate student from Kenya, pursuing a degree in Organizational Communication.
Kaitlin Overton assists with Faculty Led Short-Term Programs. She is also a Study Abroad Peer Adviser, leading study abroad presentations in classrooms and assisting students with study abroad programs. She is a Theatre Studies major with a minor in International Studies and studied theatre abroad at Goldsmiths College, University of London in England during the fall semester of 2011. While in England, Kaitlin also traveled to Wales, Scotland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.