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Who We Are
Watch the video to learn about our team and click on the team member to get their phone and email.
Ximena is an Assistant Director for ISSO-CUIMC. In her role, she provides documentation and advising services to the international community of students, faculty and scholars belonging to Columbia’s medical campus. Ximena has over 15 years of experience in the field; over ten of these have been spent serving the Columbia University international population.
Prior to joining Columbia, Ximena held positions at Rutgers University and the Institute of International Education. She holds an M.A. degree in International Affairs from The New School.
In her free time, Ximena enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures and spending time with her family.
As Director, Kathy leads the advisory team at ISSO-CUIMC and is responsible for overseeing federal immigration compliance of the international community of students, faculty and scholars at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus. She also oversees the development, coordination, and delivery of immigration-related services.
Kathy has had an extensive career at the Medical Center, the longest tenure is at the ISSO-CUIMC. Her longstanding leadership of the ISSO-CUIMC and breadth of immigration knowledge is noteworthy and beneficial for Columbia University’s international community. She is well-recognized at CUIMC for her expertise in the field.
Heesuk is an International Student and Scholar Adviser at ISSO-CUIMC. In her role, she provides documentation and advising services to the international community of students, faculty and scholars belonging to Columbia’s medical campus.
Originally from South Korea, Heesuk came to the United States to pursue her education and learn about different cultures. She holds a M.A. in International Education from New York University and previously worked at Adelphi University and Institute of International Education. Heesuk has over 8 years of experience in the field of International Education.
During her free time, Heesuk enjoys traveling, trying new cuisines, spending time with her family, and going to see off-Broadway plays.Hadija is an Assistant Director for ISSO-CUIMC. In her role, she provides documentation and advising services to the international community of students, faculty and scholars belonging to Columbia’s medical campus.
Hadija holds an M.A. from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She is originally from Russia and came to the U.S. as an international student to pursue this degree, so she has first-hand experience at being an international student in this country.
Working with the international community makes Hadija feel like she gets to travel the world without leaving NYC. Though she doesn't believe in travel bucket lists, she does have an insatiable travel bug.
Gwyneth is the Senior Associate Director for ISSO-CUIMC. In her role, she oversees the development, coordination, and delivery of advisory and support services for the international community of students, faculty, and scholars at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Gwyneth holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Brussels School of International Studies (through the University of Kent at Canterbury, England) and an Ed.M. in International Educational Development from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Gwyneth has gained insights on a global level from her time studying abroad as well as teaching students in Japan. Through this lens, Gwyneth understands and appreciates the challenges international students and scholars may face as they pursue their academic goals in the United States and is highly dedicated to the field.Aidé specializes in supporting F-1 international students, offering comprehensive advising services and documentation assistance to the international community at Columbia’s medical campus. She has over 10 years of experience in education, with five of those years focused specifically on international education.
Before joining Columbia, Aidé worked as an International Student Advisor at ArtCenter College of Design in California, where she primarily supported F-1 students in arts and design programs. In this role, she provided guidance on visa and immigration matters, organized workshops, and helped students navigate the complexities of studying in the U.S. Before transitioning into F-1 advising at ArtCenter, she spent four years teaching in Spain, where she introduced students to American culture and the English language. Aidé earned her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from UC Irvine and a Master's degree in Spanish from Middlebury College.
Her favorite part of working with international students is building genuine relationships and helping them feel at home during such an important chapter of their lives. Having personally experienced studying and living abroad in Argentina and Spain, she remembers the excitement—but also the uncertainty—that comes with adjusting to a new culture and education system. That experience has deeply shaped how she approaches her role. Aidé strives to be someone students can trust and rely on, whether it's patiently guiding them through complex immigration procedures, helping them access campus resources, or simply offering encouragement and understanding when they're feeling overwhelmed. Seeing students become comfortable, confident, and successful in their new environment is incredibly rewarding and motivates Aidé every day.
In her free time, Aidé enjoys traveling, visiting museums, photography, cooking, exploring cafes and restaurants, and going on walks. She has traveled to more than 30 countries across four continents, and each trip has given her a deeper appreciation for different cultures, languages, and ways of life.