We represent the regions/continents of North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia (Oceania), from over 30 countries, and have a lot in common as relative newcomers to the American society.
Mission
The CSUCI International Faculty & Staff Association (IFSA) aims to provide a welcoming, nurturing, supportive environment and community for international faculty, staff and their families, and to advance CSUCI’s goal of providing global education and understanding of international cultures. We welcome all CSUCI members who believe in our mission.
Current Executive Committee (2025-2026)
Chair
Syed Ali Naqvi
Co-Chair & Social Media Designer and Lead
Secretary
Treasurer
At Large
At Large
Executive Committee 2024-2025
- Tiina Itkonen - Chair
- Manuel Correia - Secretary
- Jeannette Edwards - Treasurer
- Ivona Grzegorczyk - At Large
- Maria Ballesteros-Sola - At Large
Executive Committee 2023-2024
- Tiina Itkonen - Chair
- Diana Lenko - Secretary
- Courtney Gross - Treasurer
- Ivona Grzegorczyk - At Large
- Fope Adesina - At Large
Inaugural Executive Committee (2021-2023)
Sunghee Nam - Chair
-
Courtney Gross - Secretary - Diana Lenko - Treasurer
- Ivona Grzegorczyk - At Large
- Tiina Itkonen - At Large
Pictured above: International faculty at CSUCI convocation, August 2019
Front row: Ahmed Awad, Jorge Garcia, Dean Osman Özturgut, Sohui Lee; second row: Dean
Vandana Kohli, Javier Gonzalez, Kimmy Kee-Rose, Sunghee Nam, Tiina Itkonen, Ivona
Grzegorczyk, Parul Malik, HyeSun Lee, Jaime Matera; back row: [...], Alona Kryshchenko,
Dana Baker.
The goals of IFSA shall be to:
- Increase the advocacy for international faculty and staff in all levels of University operations;
- Provide support, professional training, and resources for international faculty and staff;
- Provide orientation, onboarding, and mentorship to international staff, faculty, and students on campus;
- Increase the awareness of the diverse cultures of international faculty and staff;
- Provide a support network for families of members to adjust to the American cultures; share experiences of the immigration process; and integrate to campus and local communities;
- In collaboration with other campus entities, organize and support activities and events to promote international awareness on campus and local community; and
- In collaboration with the Center for International Affairs and other campus entities, provide support for international students and CSUCI students participating in international events and study abroad programs.
On behalf of IFSA’s organizing group,
- Maria Ballesteros-Sola (Spain)
- José Castro - Sotomayor (Ecuador)
- Miguel Delgado-Helleseter (Costa Rica and Norway)
- Ivona Grzegorczyk (Poland)
- Tiina Itkonen (Finland)
- Diana Lenko (Moldova)
- Sunghee Nam (South Korea)
- Rudi von May (Peru)
Website maintained by Rudi von May with support from CSUCI's Information Technology Services