Linda Asaro, International Student Adviser
Linda Asaro was born and raised in California. Her passion for international education began when she was an international student in England, U.K. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and holds a Master's degree in International Organizational Management from the School for International Training in Vermont. Linda served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Republic of Armenia and she has run a number of special international programs, including a cultural immersion program in Cuba. Her career as an international student adviser began in 2004, while working at the ESL/PALS program on the Livingston campus. Linda joined the Center for International Faculty and Student Services as an international student adviser in June 2005.
You may contact Linda directly at lasaro@rci.rutgers.edu
Marcy P. Cohen, Director
Marcy Cohen joined the Center for International Faculty and Student Services in 1987 and has served as its director since 1997. Her prior experience included coordinating international services at Lehigh University and teaching English in Porto, Portugal and in Boston, MA. Her travels abroad have included a 9-month stint working on an Israeli kibbutz, a cultural/educational tour of Taiwan hosted by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education and, more recently, visits to South Korea as a Fulbright grantee, and to South Africa and Botswana on a U.S. State Department grant to consult with educational advising centers in those countries.
Ms. Cohen earned her Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology from Barnard College (Columbia University) and her Master's degree in Education from Boston University. She has played an active role in NAFSA: Association of International Educators, holding a variety of elected and appointed posts over the years, and is a member of the association's Trainer Corps. Ms. Cohen can converse in Portuguese and French.
You may contact Marcy directly at marcohen@rci.rutgers.edu
Asenath Dande, Associate Director for Faculty and Scholar Services
Asenath joined the Center for International Faculty and Student Services in December 2005. With her ten years of experience in various roles in Higher Education, Asenath brings with her a wealth of experience in regulatory matters, administration, and cross cultural communication. Prior to joining Rutgers, Asenath had served as Coordinator of the Office of International Services at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey for three years, and for four years prior to that as Director of the International Advisement Office at The Juilliard School, NY.
She has a Master's degree in Educational Administration from St. Lawrence University, NY, a Bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and experience in foreign language teaching and curriculum development. Prior foreign language teaching experience includes teaching elementary and intermediate Kiswahili language courses at St. Lawrence University, NY, Lincoln University, PA and the University of Delaware, DE. She is also an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
In her current position she advises on matters pertaining to H-1B nonimmigrant status and permanent residency.
You may contact Asenath directly at adande@rci.rutgers.edu
Caroline was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and came to the U.S. in 1990. She is fluent in Spanish and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Thomas Edison State College. Caroline worked at Middlesex County College prior to joining the Center for International Faculty and Student Services in December 2008; one of her jobs at Middlesex County College was in international student admissions. Caroline is also a licensed real estate agent and a member of the National Association of Realtors.
You may contact Caroline directly at cfoga@rci.rutgers.edu
Eirinn Jones -- Insurance and Accounting Coordinator
Eirinn joined the Center for International Faculty and Student Services in November of 2006. Born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Eirinn attended Rutgers University and graduated with a BA in Anthropology. Prior to joining the Center Eirinn managed the Busch Campus Center Convenience Store, and also worked for several years as Customer Service Manager and Accounting Clerk at the Rutgers University Bookstore.
You may contact Eirinn directly at eljones@rci.rutgers.edu
Yetnayet ("Mimi") Lemma -- International Faculty/Scholar Adviser
Yetnayet ("Mimi") Lemma was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and came to the U.S. in 1988 on an F-1 visa to pursue her high school and college education. Mimi holds a Bachelor's degree from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and a Paralegal Certificate from Villanova University. Mimi joined the Center for International Faculty and Student Services in October 2006. From January 2003 until joining the Center, she served as a paralegal at a law firm in Philadelphia that specializes in Immigration Law. Mimi's experience also includes technical work in environmental health at the University of Pennsylvania and a range of technical positions in the telecommunications industry from 1998 to 2001.
You may contact Mimi directly at ylemma@rci.rutgers.edu
Carol Long, Client Services Assistant
Carol joined the Center staff in February 2004 in a data entry support position and is currently a part-time client services assistant at the Center. During her many years of employment at Rutgers, Carol has worked in the central administration as secretarial assistant for the Executive Assistant to the President for Community Affairs and for the Associate Vice President for Computer and Information Services.
Susan Maldonado - SEVIS Compliance Administrator
Susan joined the center as the Front Desk Adviser in August of 2006. Although born in New Jersey, Susan grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish and still has strong family ties to South America. After graduating with a degree in History from Skidmore College, Susan returned as an adult to live in Brazil, teaching English and building a small software company together with her husband. After returning to the US, Susan lived in New Mexico and has traveled as frequently as possible. Her prior work experience in the private sector provided her with a strong background in customer service and administrative matters, which she is putting to good use at the Center.
You may contact Susan directly at susanmal@rci.rutgers.edu
Carissa McCarthy -- International Student Adviser
Carissa McCarthy joined the Center for International Faculty and Student Services in November 2006. She grew up on Long Island, NY and has always enjoyed learning about different cultures. She received her B.S. in Graphic Design Communications from Philadelphia University. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy for a semester. Upon returning, she decided to pursue a career in International Education. She later received her Master's degree in Intercultural Communications from the University of Pennsylvania. Along her journey to Rutgers, she helped her husband (previously an F-1 student) change his status to a permanent resident. Carissa has also conducted English conversation groups at the International House in Philadelphia.
You may contact Carissa directly at carissam@rci.rutgers.edu
Mohini Mukherjee - International Student Adviser
Mohini Mukherjee has been a student and later an employee at Rutgers since 1999. She was born and raised in India and came into the U.S to pursue graduate education after the completion of her undergraduate major in English Literature. She earned two Master's degrees from Rutgers -- in Women's Studies and Human Resource Management. Mohini has worked in various capacities within Residence Life and Student Services offices at Rutgers and joined the Center in August 2006.
Her very diverse personal and professional background has greatly contributed to her interest in the field of higher education with a keen focus on international education. She would like to be of as much assistance as she can to the international student population at Rutgers.
You may contact Mohini directly at mohinim@rci.rutgers.edu
Urmi Otiv, Associate Director for Student Services
Urmi Otiv has been with the Center for International Faculty and Student Services since 1998 in various roles. She started as a volunteer to assist in the Center's cultural programs, then moved on to being a part-time international student advisor and in the year 2000 became Assistant Director. Since 2004 Urmi has served as Associate Director for Student Services.
Urmi came with her husband to the U.S. from Mumbai, India in 1985. Her prior experience includes teaching courses in Philosophy, Hinduism, and Logic and Critical Thinking at Bombay University, India and at Oklahoma State University, OK. Urmi earned a Master's degree in Philosophy and Psychology from Bombay University, India and a second Master's degree in Education from Rutgers University.
You may contact Urmi directly at uso@rci.rutgers.edu
