ISSO is closed on all University holidays.
Who We Are
Watch the video to learn about our team and click on the team member to get their phone and email.
Yajaira manages all administrative aspects of our two locations. She is responsible for the oversight of department finances including reporting, compliance reports, review of financial transactions such as processing invoices, expense reports and other payments through Accounts Payable.
She serves as primary Liaison with Central Human Resources and Office of General Counsel. She is responsible for managing the review and application of job description, applicant review as well as hiring and onboarding process.
Ximena is part of the office that provides documentation services for, and advisement to, the international community of students, faculty and scholars on the Columbia University Medical Campus (CUIMC).
- Email: [email protected]
Tomasz is a member of the ISSO Compliance Team. He provides F-1 visa documentation services and advisement for students enrolled in English as a Second Language courses and initial F-1 students for the Morningside campus.
Tomasz is also a NAFSA mentor and Trainer Corps member. He has an MPA degree from NYU and an EdM from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Stacey is part of the office that provides documentation services for, and advisement to, the international community of students, faculty and scholars on the Columbia University Medical Campus (CUIMC).
As a member of the Student Advising Team, Simone assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Shay assists the very large number of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to employment, visas, enrollment and travel.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Seong Hwan assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Scott assists the very large number of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to employment, visas, enrollment and travel.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Saundra assists the large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
Samantha oversees the Student Advising team for the Morningside campus. She also serves as the main point of contact for academic departments.
The advising team assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including but not limited to, visas, employment, enrollment, travel, and tax-filing obligations.
The team provides information sessions at orientation programs and offers employment-related workshops throughout the academic year.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Regina assists the very large number of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to employment, visas, enrollment and travel.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Noelle assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
As a member of the Compliance Team, Nikolas assists Associate Director Maria Reynoso in processing visa documents and database management. He works with colleagues on the Student Advising Team in other matters related to student compliance issues.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Michelle assists the very large number of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to employment, visas, enrollment and travel.
As a member of the Compliance Team, Mazaher assists Associate Director Maria Reynoso in processing student visa documents and database management. He works with colleagues on the Student Advising Team in other matters related to student compliance issues.
Martha became interested in working with international students though a student worker position in the International Student and Scholars Office during her undergraduate studies in international relations in Boston, MA. Subsequently she spent nearly five years studying and working in Geneva, Switzerland, during which time she earned a master's in international history and politics. She has been living in the NYC area and advising international students since 2015. Outside of work you may find her reading historical fiction, escaping the city to go on a hike or visiting family in upstate NY or southern Italy.
Maria directs the Compliance Team. They are responsible for the issuance of student visa documents, totaling more than 5000 just for incoming students for summer and fall term.
Working with the advising team, the compliance team helps students to maintain their status by following the regulations that govern their stay. They are also responsible for university compliance with federal regulations.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Marc assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
Lana is the Assistant Director for Information Technology. She's part of a team of two kept busy serving all the technology needs of our two locations.
Kimberly comes to Columbia from Fordham University, where she handled the instructional H-1B and J-1 scholar populations. She has an M.S. degree in Human Resources Management, as well as an M.S. in Education Administration, both from Fordham University. She is a native New Yorker, who enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
- Email: [email protected] Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students. - Phone: 212-853-1749Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Email: [email protected] Students -- please do not contact this number.
Kathy directs the office that provides documentation services for, and advisement to, the international community of students, faculty and scholars on the Columbia University Medical Campus (CUIMC).
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Jordan assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
Jennifer is part of the Student Advising team. She serves as the main point of contact for academic departments on the Morningside campus.
The advising team assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including but not limited to, visas, employment, enrollment, travel, and tax-filing obligations.
The team provides information sessions at orientation programs and offers employment-related workshops throughout the academic year.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Jennifer assists the very large number of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to employment, visas, enrollment and travel.
Jane leads the Scholar Advising Team that serves the Morningside and Manhattanville campus schools. They work with academic departments in bringing international faculty and researchers to the university and overseeing their stay.
The scholar team is responsible for the university's compliance with the J-1 Exchange Visitor program for researchers, professors and student interns, and files nonimmigrant petitions with USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration and Services) for other visa types used by our academic community.
They provide orientation programs for J-1 scholars and workshops and one-on-one training for department staff members with whom they work.
- Email: [email protected]Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Phone: +1 212 854 6356Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Email: [email protected]Students -- please do not contact this number.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Jacob assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
Hadija is part of the office that provides documentation services for, and advisement to, the international community of students, faculty and scholars on the Columbia University Medical Campus (CUIMC).
Gwyneth is part of the office that provides documentation services for, and advisement to, the international community of students, faculty and scholars on the Columbia University Medical Campus (CUIMC).
As a member of the Compliance Team Evelyn assists Associate Director Maria Reynoso in processing visa documents and database management. She works with colleagues on the Student Advising Team in other matters related to student compliance issues.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Ella assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
Liz is responsible for the development, coordination, processing and delivery of advising and related support services for University-sponsored O-1 petitions and permanent residence for the Morningside, Manhattanville and CUIMC campuses. She serves as an expert resource for faculty, researchers, scholars and staff on a wide range of employment-based issues including how nonimmigrant visa status factors into the permanent residence process.
- Email: [email protected]Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Phone: +1 212 853 -1414Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Email: [email protected]Students -- please do not contact this number.
As a member of the Compliance Team, Dawn assists Associate Director Maria Reynoso in processing visa documents and database management. She works with colleagues on the Student Advising Team in other matters related to student compliance issues.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Daniel is part of the Riverside Drive office that assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
Colleen is part of the Scholar Advising Team, providing services to Columbia’s Morningside and Manhattanville scholar communities. They work with academic departments in bringing international faculty and researchers to the university, provide orientation programs for J-1 scholars and workshops and one-on-one training for department staff members with whom they work.
- Email: [email protected]Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Phone: +1 212 853 1415Students -- please do not contact this number.
Contact your ISSO campus team for assistance: Morningside Students or CUIMC Students.
- Email: [email protected]Students -- please do not contact this number.
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Clayton assists our large population of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to visas, enrollment, employment, and travel.
As a member of the Compliance Team, Claire assists Associate Director Maria Reynoso in processing visa documents and database management. She works with colleagues on the Student Advising Team in other matters related to student compliance issues.
As a member of the Programming Team, Chad develops and delivers programs and events designed to build community among Columbia’s international students. The Programming Team fosters belonging, develops intercultural competence, promotes leadership and global mindfulness, and supports overall international student success.
Ben Canning-Pereira’s primary role is to assist Ellen Cohen in maintaining all communications-related materials for the ISSO. His responsibilities include maintaining this website, as well as managing email marketing, user testing, and online communications. His job is to put the “user” first — this means the international community who come to Columbia to study, teach and conduct research — and the university members who admit, appoint, employ, teach and work with them!
As a member of the Morningside Student Advising Team, Alexis assists the very large number of international students in matters relating to their immigration-related needs, providing advisory and documentation services and information on a host of issues, including, but not limited to employment, visas, enrollment and travel.