Our Staff

Eric Garfunkel is the  vice president for international and global affairs at Rutgers. He is responsible for the university’s internationalization efforts, including study abroad and global education, cross-cultural and global programming, development and support of international relations and partnerships, and services for visiting students and scholars. He is also a distinguished professor of chemistry and physics.

During his 34 years at Rutgers, Garfunkel played a leading role in the formation of the multidisciplinary Laboratory for Surface Materials—which researches high technology surfaces and interfaces—and the Institute for Advanced Materials, Devices and Nanotechnology—which focuses on atomic scale design and manipulation of materials. His current research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of materials that can be used for alternative energy (solar and battery) and nanoelectronics. He has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Semiconductor Research Corporation.

Garfunkel is a global scholar who has held visiting professorships across the world, including Paris, Berlin, Florence, and Shanghai. He is deeply involved in developing global partnerships and research collaborations with Chinese and African universities, and he has helped lead the international activities of the Materials Research Society for over a decade. In his new role as vice president for international and global affairs, he now chairs the International Administrative Council. He also works closely with African studies faculty.

Garfunkel earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Berkeley in 1983 and his bachelor’s from Haverford College in 1978. Before coming to Rutgers, he was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Paris-Sud in Paris, France, and at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Languages: English, French, Chinese

Languages: English, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Ben Fan is the director of budgets and personnel. He oversees the financial, human resources, and operational responsibilities of the GAIA Centers, which entails the development and enforcement of policies and procedures that ensure adherence to financial and personnel requirements. Fan also provides recommendations for future strategies and agendas and perform a number of managerial activities in the GAIA Centers, including those related to facilities and telecommunications/IT functions. With an MBA and a master’s of science in accountancy, Fan has significant experience in leading accounting, recruitment, and personnel efforts for higher education international relations units; he is also a founding member and steering committee member of HEIBO (Higher Education International Business Officers).

Languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese

Languages: English, Spanish

Languages: English, Spanish

Languages: English, Yoruba, Arabic

Languages: English, Arabic, French

Carissa Sestito is the assistant director of marketing and communications. Sestito has over 11 years of experience working in a marketing and media capacity at Rutgers; she also completed her undergraduate studies in journalism and media studies at the university. 

Languages: English, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Lauren Franson is the associate director of the Center for Global Education. She comes to Rutgers from James Madison University in Virginia, where she held the position as assistant director of study abroad in the Office of International Programs since 2010. Franson holds a master’s of education in counseling psychology from James Madison, has deep knowledge of student advising for study abroad, and has developed and managed a large number of faculty-led short term programs. 

Christina LoBrutto’s two passions in life are writing and traveling. She spent a semester studying abroad in Queensland, Australia and has valued the power of global education ever since. That’s why she loves promoting study abroad to Rutgers students! An avid traveler, LoBrutto has volunteered through service trips to Belize and Morocco, skied the Swiss Alps, and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She is a Rider University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s degree in business communication.

Patty Welsh is an adviser for students exploring studying abroad. She graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor's degree in communication/public relations and a master's degree in counseling education from Rider University. Though she never studied abroad, she has traveled to Australia and Italy and enjoyed all the cultural elements that each had to offer. Besides her passion for travel, she enjoys exercise and reading and lounging at the beach with her family. 

Lauren Winogron works in the Center for Global Education as the senior program manager for semester programs, managing a portfolio of exchange, faculty-led, and provider programs. She traveled abroad for the first time as an undergraduate, and has visited countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. She studied abroad in Bangalore, India. Lauren received her bachelor's in communication arts (focusing on media studies & intercultural comm.) from Ramapo College of New Jersey, and her master's degree in higher education administration (focusing on international education & student development) from Drexel University.

Languages: English, Arabic, German, Hebrew, Polish, Spanish

Rick Lee is the director of the Center for Global Programs and Relations. Since completing his undergraduate and master’s degrees in English at the University of Alberta in 1997, he has spent close to two decades as part of the Rutgers community as a graduate student, teacher, and staff member. He completed his Ph.D. in English in 2009 here and has most recently served as the associate director of the Tyler Clementi Center, where his responsibilities included promoting the center’s mission and acting as a liaison between the center and other Rutgers units. He has also served as the director of alumni and public relations in the English department, and as a coordinator of Asian American studies programming for the American Studies department. In these roles, he has developed innovative and accessible programming for the Rutgers community and the general public, including a conference focusing on the influence of Shakespeare in East Asia and film screenings and discussions of the Cambodian genocide and the culinary journey of the roti across the Indian diaspora.
 
Lee places a strong emphasis on the value and promotion of diversity and inclusion. He is a leading member of the university’s Committee to Advance Our Common Purposes, a group dedicated to promoting social justice and fostering intercultural dialogue—and, in 2014, he received the Human Dignity Award from the committee. His many other awards and fellowships include the School of Arts and Sciences Award for Distinguished Contributions to Undergraduate Education and a fellowship at the Institute for Research on Women. He has delivered many scholarly presentations, many of which focus on the literary and cultural representations of Asian, Asian American, and Asian Canadian identities, as well as on the ongoing role of HIV/AIDS in gay culture.

As director, Lee enriches the global programs and relations unit with these values and experiences. He is responsible for program development and implementation, finding avenues to advance new and existing international partnerships, and identifying external program and funding opportunities to strengthen global projects. He also liaises with diverse units across the university including academic departments, centers, institutions, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Alumni Relations, and other GAIA Centers units.

Languages: English, Bahasa, Cantonese, French

Jon Breen started at the GAIA centers in 2016 as the first official Peace Corps recruiter for Rutgers. Working with administrators, faculty, and students, Breen actively recruits potential Peace Corps applicants across all campuses. Entering his second year in this position, Breen has established a team of current students to assist him with outreach across the university and his position is housed within the Center for Global Programs and Relations.

Breen served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania from 2014–2016, where he worked as a community health volunteer. During his time abroad he developed and implemented two USAID-funded grant projects, one focused on gender equity and the other on breast cancer prevention with local Albanian counterparts. Originally from San Francisco, California, Breen graduated from University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. After college, Breen began working in the nonprofit sector—first as a mental health counselor in San Francisco and later as the administrator for an LGBT Community Center in San Jose. He has worked as a fund development coordinator for HIV and Meals On Wheels Services with the Health Trust and also served for a term as commissioner on the Santa Clara County HIV Planning Council.

Since 2012, Greg Costalas has been working as a senior program coordinator and the international sponsored student and scholar coordinator at Rutgers where he advises many of the J-1 visa holders on campus. He works with both degree and nondegree-seeking students on university sponsored visas, as well as with students and scholars on J-1 visas sponsored by outside organizations. Costalas also works on internationally focused programming for the entire university community and serves as the administrative director for the Mandela Washington Fellowship program (Civic Leadership Institute) which takes place every summer at the university. 

Costalas received a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Rutgers and worked for a number of exchange visitor programs in the United States and abroad prior to coming back to the "banks of the Old Raritan." He lived in Australia for a short period and enjoys traveling around the globe to help him gain a better understanding of the world’s many cultures and people. 

Stephanie Perez started her career in international education in 2010 with the Office of International Programs at the School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University–New Brunswick. She later joined the GAIA Centers upon its establishment in 2011 as a program coordinator. In her current role at the Center for Global Programs and Relations, Perez manages various initiatives focused on internationalizing the campus. She coordinates many on-campus programming activities such as the Biennial Theme and the GAIA Centers’ activities during Rutgers Day. She also directs the GAIA Grants and the Global Ally Certificate programs. A graduate of Rutgers University, Perez received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education from the Graduate School of Education.

Languages: English, Spanish

Kim Pernice has been with the GAIA Centers since 2012. Currently, she works primarily with faculty and administrators across the university who are interested in developing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with international institutions. She also coordinates visits for delegations from both partner and potential partner institutions, and helps to organize visits for outgoing delegations from Rutgers. Pernice oversees the Rutgers Peace Corps Recruitment Office, and works closely with the Peace Corps recruiter Jon Breen, to raise awareness of the Peace Corps at the university.

Pernice holds a master’s of arts in sustainable development from the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute and conducted her thesis fieldwork in Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami. She has also worked in South Sudan with a USAID-funded civil society building program, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia from 1998–2001.

Languages: English, Gujrati, Hindi, Marathi

Languages: English, Jaluo, Swahili

Languages: English, Bengali, Hindi

Katsumi Kishida joined the center in May 2013 as an international student adviser. Growing up in both Japan and the United States, she knew early on that she wanted to work with the international community as a career. She has been passionately helping international students since her undergraduate days at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where she majored in international relations. Kishida became an F1 visa student while doing her master's degree in international education at Teachers College, Columbia University, so she understands the challenges and the joys international students face when studying abroad. In November 2016, she took on a new role at the center as assistant director of programming. In this role, she is responsible for expanding our international programming initiatives to the global Rutgers community, not only at Rutgers–New Brunswick, but to the RBHS community in both New Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey, as well. Through the center’s programming initiatives such as International Student Orientation, International Friendship Program and International Women’s Group, she is excited to create opportunities for the greater Rutgers community to engage in cross cultural exchange and bring together communities for lifelong learning and friendship.

Languages: English, Japanese

Lauren Tong developed a strong interest in international education as a graduate assistant at the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers in 2012. After working with the center on various programming and administrative projects, she became an international student adviser the following year and focused mainly on immigration regulations and coordinating the annual International Student Orientation; in 2016, she became the assistant director of student services. In this role, she aims to provide a smooth transition and a positive experience for international students at Rutgers.

Tong enjoys building relationships with students, fostering the orientation program, and providing outreach to campus partners. As a long-time Scarlet Knight, she is passionate about helping students navigate this large university, and promoting international student involvement and leadership.

She received a bachelor of arts and master's of education in college student affairs from Rutgers. In her free time, she loves to travel, exercise, enjoy food, and spend time with her family and friends.

Languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese

Gina Antonatos joined the Center for Global Services in September 2016. As a child of immigrant parents, she has a solid foundation and love for cross-cultural and international affairs. Prior to her coming aboard at Rutgers, she developed a strong background in customer relations and most recently was employed as a substitute teacher and school secretary for a local public school system. Antonatos is a graduate of Rutgers with a bachelor's in communications.

Languages: English, Greek, Russian

Martha Baillargeon joined the Center in March 2016, excited to contribute to the diverse international community at Rutgers. Born in Maine and raised in upstate New York, she completed her undergraduate studies in international relations at Boston University (BU). During her studies, she held a work study position at BU's International Students and Scholars Office, sparking her interest in working with international students. Later she spent nearly five years studying and working in Geneva, Switzerland, during which time she earned a master's in international history and politics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Baillargeon worked with students studying abroad in Geneva, government development projects in Southeast Europe, and international students learning English in New York City before coming to Rutgers.

She is a student adviser for graduate F-1 and J-1 students in art history, Chinese, east Asian languages and cultures, education, electrical and computer engineering, food science, French, human resources management, industrial relations and human resources, Italian, kinesiology and health, labor and employment relations, labor studies, packaging engineering, pharmaceutical science, Spanish, statistics and biostatistics, statistics/data science, and statistics/financial and risk management.

Caroline Foga was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and came to the United States in 1990. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Thomas Edison State College. Sge worked at Middlesex County College prior to joining the Center for Global Services at the GAIAC Centers in December 2008; one of her jobs at Middlesex County College was in international student admissions. Foga is also a licensed real estate agent and a member of the National Association of Realtors.

Languages: English, Spanish

Melaina Fraboni is an international student coordinator for the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers where she aims to welcome and assist any student who walks through the door. She previously worked at Rutgers as an adviser for Rutgers Student Centers and Involvement while earning her master's of education in college student affairs from Rutgers.

Eirinn Jones joined the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers in November of 2006. Born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Jones attended Rutgers and graduated with a bachelor's in anthropology. Prior to joining the staff, she 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.

Languages: English, French

James Jones was born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey and received his bachelor's in culinary arts from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Afterwards, he joined the Jet Program and lived in Akita, Japan, for three years teaching English. To continue on his path of education, Jones received his master’s in student affairs and higher education from Indiana State University. He worked at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as a program coordinator for international students where he created both small and large scale programs to help international student acclimate to Las Vegas and UNLV.

He is a student adviser for graduate F-1 and J-1 students in agricultural economics, atmospheric science, business and science, classics, computer science, dance, ecology and evolution, economics, food and business economics, geography, geological sciences, materials science and engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, mechanics, music, music/liberal arts, neuroscience, nutritional sciences, physiology and neurobiology, professional visual art, social work, sociology, theater arts, and visual arts.

Languages: English, Japanese

Carol Long joined the center in February 2004 in a data entry support position and is currently a part-time front desk coordinator/client assistant. During her many years of employment at Rutgers, Long 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 joined the center as the front desk adviser in 2006. Born in New Jersey, she 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, Maldonado returned as an adult to live in Brazil, teaching English and building a small software company together with her husband. After returning to the United States, she 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.

Languages: English, Portuguese

Carissa McCarthy joined the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers in 2006. She grew up on Long Island, New York, and has always enjoyed learning about different cultures. She received her bachelor's in graphic design communications from Philadelphia University. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy, for a semester and decided to pursue a career in international education when she returned. She later received her master's degree in intercultural communications from the University of Pennsylvania. McCarthy has also conducted English conversation groups at the International House in Philadelphia.

She is a student adviser for F-1 and J-1 short-term nondegree students.
 

Languages: English, French, Darija/Moroccan

Jinling Quan is an ethnic Korean minority  born in China. She grew up in a bilingual/bicultural community called Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China, where she was exposed to both Korean and Chinese languages and cultures at an early age.

Quan came to the United States during her high school years. Her unique ethnic background helped to develop her interest in learning different languages and cultures. She attended the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and studied abroad at Waseda University in Japan. Quan recently received her master's in international education development at Teachers College (TC), Columbia University. While studying at TC, she also worked at the Columbia University. International Students and Scholars Office. Through her personal and work experiences, she understands the challenges that many international students may face as newcomers to the United States. Quan is passionate about being part of a diverse community and supporting support international students in reaching their personal and professional goals during their time at Rutgers.

She is a student adviser for graduate F-1 and J-1 students in animal science, chemical and biochemical engineering, chemistry and chemical biology, clinical psychology, communication and information studies, comparative literature, endocrinology and animal biosciences, English, history, interdisciplinary majors, landscape architecture, library and information science/library sciences, linguistics, medicinal chemistry, philosophy, physics and astronomy, political science, psychology, public policy, religion, toxicology, United Nations and global policy studies, urban planning and policy development, and women's and gender studies.

Languages: English, Korean, Chinese

Carlo Santoro joined the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers in 2015. He graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor's in Italian and furthered his studies of Italian at Rutgers in the graduate program. Santoro has a very diverse background that includes experience in advertising and public relations, trade promotion, government relations, and business development, among others. Specifically, he comes to us from a position as the deputy secretary general of Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, Inc. in New York; there, Santoro launched the organization’s successful J-1 Exchange Visitor Trainee Program and was its designated responsible officer, overseeing its implementation, management, and program growth. He was responsible for providing immigration counseling and advice to students and trainees, assuring positive and successful experiences and outcomes. He is also credited with cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with U.S. government agencies—such as USCIS, the State Department, and the Italian embassy and consular office—and with colleagues at other sponsoring organizations and schools to assure the effective functioning of the visa programs.

His career highlights include his role in establishing the U.S. subsidiary of a European renewable energy company where his responsibilities included business development, public relations, and outreach with universities and research institutes. As an independent consultant, Santoro has served clients in diverse fields including immigration law, food and wine industries, manufacturing, import/export, chemicals, and construction.

He advises international faculty and scholars on matters pertaining to J-1 nonimmigrant status.

Languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish

Justin Schlossberg joined the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers 2012. He graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s in international affairs and has studied abroad in China. Upon graduation, he spent two years working as an English teacher in Mokpo, South Korea, and Singapore and has traveled extensively throughout east and southeast Asia. More recently, Schlossberg worked for two years in the hospitality industry handling customer service responsibilities. Born in New Brunswick, his travels have come full circle—as an international student adviser, he enjoys learning about cultures and countries while assisting them.

He is a student adviser for undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students enrolled in the School of Engineering, the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Planning and Policy, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers Business School, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and School of Management and Labor Relations)

Erica Sewell is an international student coordinator at the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers. Sewell has lived and studied in South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom. She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and comparative literature from Rutgers–New Brunswick and a master’s degree in migration studies from the University of Oxford. She is excited to use her knowledge and skills to support Rutgers’ international students.

Ruimin Zhang joined the Center for Global Services at the GAIA Centers in 2013. Her interest in the field of international education began about 23 years ago, when she entered the United States as a visiting professor from China. She holds a bachelor's and a master's in English language and literature from Wuhan University and an educational specialist (Ed.S) degree in bilingual/ bicultural education from Seton Hall University.

Prior to joining Rutgers, Zhang had served for seven years as the senior coordinator of the Office of International Services at the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) advising international students, faculty and scholars on H-1B, J-1, and F-1 matters. She also held the position of assistant director of the International Services Office at George Mason University, also handling similar types of visas, seven years before joining UMDNJ. She enjoys meeting people from various countries with different cultural backgrounds.

She primarily advises international faculty and scholars on H-1B visas.

Languages: English, Chinese

Languages: English, Gujrati, Hindi, Marathi

Languages: English, Spanish, Italian

Languages: English, Spanish

Languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese

Anu Gupta joined Rutgers in March 2017 as the assistant dean of the newly established Office of International Academic Support. Her prior experience at Rutgers as a director of development and her vast international experience has prepared her to launch universitywide collaborative initiatives to offer the much needed academic support to the ever growing population of international students. Her work experience includes 22 years of leadership positions at International and national aid organizations such as United Nations and Sesame Workshop, designing and implementing programs for poverty alleviation, health and nutrition, economic empowerment and humanitarian aid. Gupta has lived and worked in over 10 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. She has a master's degree from Cornell University School of Agriculture. She is committed to using her extensive experience to continue to make a real impact in the lives of people at home and around the world.