International Student Advisors are here to advise international students on immigration, personal, social, and cultural matters during their time here at UC Berkeley. We are here to serve as advocates to the university community and to help connect students to the correct resources around the community. We are also here to help university faculty and staff best serve our international student population. Learn more about us below!
How to Contact Us
- Email general questions to internationaloffice@berkeley.edu. An Advisor will respond within 3 business days.
- See the BIO Student Services page for current advising and appointment scheduling.
- Call us at 510-642-2818 for quick questions.
| Name | About Me | Liaison Units |
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 Erin Skelly Assistant Director for Student Services Pronouns: she/her |
I started at BIO in July 2012 and I am from Fort Walton Beach, FL. I speak English, German, and Dutch, and I can talk about food or directions in Japanese and Korean. I have visited Mexico, the Bahamas, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Denmark, Belgium, Japan, Thailand and China. I have studied in the Netherlands and Germany, and I have lived in the Republic of Korea. The experience of coming from an international family background, and having studied, lived, and traveled in different countries has been one of the primary shapers of my life. I feel lucky to have a job that I love, and one which enables me to continue being a part of a global community. Also, as a Floridian, I am grateful every day for the glorious Bay Area weather and the opportunities to explore the State of California's gorgeous landscapes. I received my M.A. in Philosophy from Florida State University, and my B.A in Religion from New College of Florida. Professionally, my interests are in mental health and counseling, crisis management, academic integrity, intercultural communication and engagement, and gender/LGBTQ+ issues. Personally, I love knitting, yoga, analytic and continental philosophy, weird movies, feminist science fiction, and watching live bands. And cats. I really love cats. |
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Amy Chin-Pokhrel Customer Relations Manager Pronouns: she/her |
Hello! I started at BIO in May 2017. I am originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My journey in the US began in 2006 when I arrived as an international student in Minnesota to pursue an undergraduate and graduate degree in Piano Performance. Throughout the course of my studies, I obtained valuable on-campus opportunities that allowed me to connect with students from around the world, giving me an opportunity to discover my interest in cross cultural exchange. Upon completion of my degrees, I pivoted to pursue another graduate degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa. This educational experience, coupled with my own experience, sealed my commitment to the international education field. Outside of academics, my love for travel has brought me to 9 countries so far. I hope to discover more in the near future. Within the US, I have had the privilege of living in Minnesota, Iowa, Hawaii and now California. Professionally, I'm so happy to be part of the CAL community where I can bring my expertise and enthusiasm to support international students. I am particularly dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and aiding international students in the adjustment process. I look forward to connecting with you and to help you make the most of your time at CAL! |
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Anna McCreedy International Student Advisor Communications Coordinator Pronouns: she/her |
I started at BIO in June 2017 and am from Medford, Oregon. I speak English, conversational Mandarin Chinese and a little German, and have lived in Sichuan, China for over a year. I've traveled to Vietnam, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Ireland. I completed my undergraduate degree at Colorado College with a BA in international political economy, and later pursued a master's degree in international education management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. I'm very passionate about international education, and am so lucky to be able to work in a field that involves the sharing of knowledge and cultures. Within international education, I am particularly interested in the areas of mental health support, intercultural exchange, and campus internationalization. Personally, I am interested in rafting, hiking, and playing with my dog. Come drop by BIO to say hi! |
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Katherine Greco International Student Advisor Pronouns: she/her |
Nice to meet you! I began working at BIO in September 2018. I was raised in Dallas, Texas and have since lived in several cities across the U.S. I speak conversational Japanese and have studied Spanish, French, Middle English and Ancient Greek. After college, I spent two years teaching English in Shizuoka, Japan. After that, I returned to the U.S. and taught English and ESL to high school and adult students. The most rewarding part of those years was working with international and immigrant students to support them both in the classroom and in the wider world. Little by little I transitioned out of the classroom and began working in student services to guide students through housing, college placement and visa issues. Within the field of international education, I am particularly interested in inter-cultural communication, identity formation and student adjustment. It is a pleasure to work for Berkeley’s international students, and I look forward to meeting you soon. |
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Sage Erbez-Benson International Student Advisor Pronouns: she/her |
Hi, everyone! I started working at BIO in February 2022. I grew up in New Mexico, where I received my B.A. in Journalism. During undergrad, I had my first international adventure when I studied abroad in Stockholm, Sweden. I loved it so much that I did a second study abroad a couple years later in Bangkok, Thailand. Living abroad was an amazing experience that I'm incredibly grateful to have had. In addition to studying abroad, I've also been lucky to have traveled to 20 other countries as well. I'm looking forward to more adventures in the future! Since leaving New Mexico, I've lived in Portland, Seattle, Santa Cruz, and the Bay Area. While living in Santa Cruz, I received my M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. I then spent several years teaching ESL to adults. I've always found joy in working with and connecting with people from around the world, and I'm excited to bring my cross-cultural experience here to BIO!
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, baking, days at the beach, and searching for the best vegan pizza in the East Bay.
I'm looking forward to working with you!
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Tuangporn (Yam) Mansmann International Student Advisor Pronouns: she/her |
Greetings! I began working at BIO in July 2021. I am originally from Bangkok, Thailand, where I studied French and English at Chulalongkorn University, and spent a summer studying in Paris, which opened my eyes to international perspectives. After graduation, I worked as a flight attendant for three international airlines traveling through parts of Asia, Australia, Middle East, and Europe. After years of constant travel (including my first visit to the U.S. in a Minnesota winter), I decided to pursue my master’s degree in TESOL at San Francisco State University, then taught ESL and scored TOEIC and TOEFL Speaking before expanding my interest to international student services. Before joining BIO, I worked at a professional language school as a Client Services Coordinator & DSO; my experience there reminded me of how much I love assisting, advising, and interacting with international students. My interests include intercultural communication, student admissions and adjustment, student services and engagement, and overall well-being. In my free time, I volunteer at a local non-profit organization as a voice over narrator for media work, a head florist for events, and help around as my schedule permits. I LOVE spending time and traveling with my husband. Together we have so far visited 14 countries and 16 states including Puerto Rico and 4 Hawaiian Islands. I am thrilled and honored to be part of BIO and UC Berkeley and look forward to meeting you! Come visit us at BIO! |
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Lei (Polly) Pan International Student Advisor Pronouns: she/her |
Welcome to BIO! My name is Lei Pan. I usually go by "Polly". I was born and raised in the northeast of mainland China, where I obtained my bachelor's degree. I worked as an assistant lecturer and a student services advisor for three years right after I graduated from college. To further pursue my dream and academic passion, I went to Trinity College in Dublin, ireland, where I obtained my master's degree. As an international student during my time in Ireland, I fully understand the excitement and challenges that come with studying abroad. I came to the U.S. in 2012 and began my role as an International Student Services Advisor in 2017. Education has always been my passion. I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to serve international student population, utilizing my knowledge to help pave a smooth path for them while they study in the U.S. and pursue their academic goal. |
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Nancy Aguilar International Student Advisor Pronouns: she/her/hers/élla |
Hello Everyone! I started being part of this amazing team in January 2023. I was born in Los Angeles, California, and moved to the Bay area when I was eleven. I speak Spanish and English. |
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Jeremiah Lee International Student Advisor Pronouns: he/him |
Hi, everyone! I started working at BIO in January 2023. I recently moved to the Bay Area from Michigan. I studied abroad in London and lived in Japan for 5 years after undergrad. I have been lucky enough to travel to over 30 countries across 5 continents. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to adjust to living, studying, and working in a new country. While living and traveling abroad, I had so many people help and support me. I love working in international education because it gives me the opportunity to directly support students just how so many others helped me. I got my BA in History from DePauw University and my MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from University of Southern California. Professionally, I have worked in a variety of roles in international education including teaching, overseeing international student support programs, and recruitment.
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Wasim Younis International Student Advisor Pronouns: he/him |
I returned to the Bay Area after 6 years on the East Coast. As much as I loved my time in Washington DC, Boston, and Toronto, I am grateful and excited to be back home! My first home was actually London, England, until the age of 13 when my family moved to Davis, California, where I did my undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis, but the Bay Area is my home these days. My career path changed when I became qualified to teach English as a Second Language, and I spent almost ten years working in language schools, mainly as an academic manager and then also as an operations manager. I also continued my professional development by graduating with a Masters in Applied Educational Leadership & Management from the University of London. I have wanted to stay in the international education field ever since. Coming to BIO gives me a chance to work with an awesome team, to continue developing as a professional, and to help serve Berkeley's community of amazing students and scholars. Away from work, I love music. I've been playing bass, acoustic and electric guitar for almost half my life, and I'm now looking to learn the harp and the saxophone. I'm a foodie too, with a particular weakness for Indian and Korean food, so I welcome any suggestions for new restaurants to try. See you at BIO! |
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Cathy Zhao International Student Advisor Pronouns: she/her |
Hello, I'm Yunyang Zhao, often called Cathy. Originally from mainland China, I'm a native Chinese Mandarin speaker. I understand Cantonese but am not fluent in speaking it, and I'm also learning Japanese. As an international student, I've studied in two countries. I began with international business as an undergraduate in Australia, then pursued TESOL in the United States for my graduate studies. My passion for International education ignited during my time as an Educational Counselor in China. Guiding students towards international opportunities, I later transitioned to becoming an International Admissions Advisor, starting in 2015 at a private university and later at UC Davis. Drawing from my education and professional background, I find great fulfillment in assisting international students within universities. With over a decade of residence in the U.S., primarily in the Bay Area, I'm dedicated to enriching the experiences of International students and contributing to their success. |
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Jessica Sharp International Student and Scholar Advisor Pronouns: she/her |
I originally started working at BIO in September 2019. I transitioned to a GSAO role in Summer 2022 in the School of Social Welfare where I was able to broaden my horizons. As of January 2024, I’ve transitioned back to BIO where I’m excited to be a part of the international community once again. I grew up in San Pedro town, a small island in northern Belize (with a population of approx. 10,000). In 2009, I moved to the Bay Area where I spent the year getting to know communities through volunteer opportunities. Ever since then, I’ve considered the Bay Area my second home. In 2010 – 2012, I completed my B.A. as a transfer student at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. By the time I graduated, I knew I wanted to pursue my graduate studies abroad. In 2012, I pursued an M.A. in English Literature at Kingston University in London. Due to my own international experiences, I began to pursue international education professionally. My background in international education has ranged from compliance to student success advising. My professional interests include intercultural communication, community engagement, and cultural adjustment. I have an endless love for travel, food, and learning about different cultures, and I hope to continue broadening my experiences. Since I’m originally from a country with a complex and interesting cultural identity, I love learning about the intricacies of how we define ourselves. In my free time, I love reading, watching good TV and movies, and exploring new food spots around the Bay! I’m excited to be a part of the international community here at Berkeley and look forward to meeting you! |
Customer Service Team
| Name | About me |
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Rosa Letizia Beschi Customer Service Assistant Pronouns: she/her |
Hi everyone! My name is Rosa Letizia (Rosa for short), and I started working at BIO in September 2022. I was born in Italy but moved to the U.S. when I was five, and have been living in rural NorCal ever since. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Global Studies and a minor in French, and hope to pursue a graduate degree in the field of International Relations in the future.
As a student I benefited enormously from the help and support of Cal advisors and staff members, and I'm honored to pay it forward and assist international students as they navigate their journey here at the University. I'm thrilled to be here, and I look forward to meeting you!
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Xiaoying Zheng-Webster Customer Service Assistant Pronouns: she/her |
Hi all! I’m Xiaoying (pronunciation: \ˈshaō-iŋ \) and I started working at BIO in July, 2021. I studied Journalism at undergraduate level in Beijing, and later changed my major to Korean Language Education when I went to Ewha Womans University, South Korea for graduate school.
Before I moved to the Bay Area in 2017 as an international student, I worked for a NPO and taught Korean language to immigrant youths for a few years in Seoul, South Korea. Looking back at my path, I started as an international student and received a lot of help and support; it’s always my honor to be a helping hand to assist international students with great passion. In my free time, I enjoy learning new things and watching Golden State Warriors’ games. It would be fun if we ran into each other at a Warriors home game! |
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Zirui (Susie) Shu Customer Service Assistant Pronouns: she/her |
Hi everyone! My name is Susie and I started working at BIO in January 2023. I was born in Beijing, China and I moved to the U.S. when I was fourteen. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. degree in Philosophy and a minor in Education. I hope to explore the field of education and be a helpful resource to the international students at Cal. I was an international student when I first came to study in the U.S. and had received a lot of support and assistance from school counselors and advisors. So I'm very excited to join BIO and serve the international community with great passion and enthusiasm. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, reading, or sometimes simply meditating on random philosophical ideas. We can talk about philosophy someday if you're down! I look forward to meeting you! |
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Neomie Noelle Hinanay Customer Service Assistant Pronouns: she/her |
Hello! I'm Neomie Noelle (just Neomie is fine); I started working in BIO in January 2023. I was born in the Philippines and moved around the United States growing up before moving to California for high school. I graduated with a degree in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley, and I got involved with the Spirit Teams during my time on campus. I hope to pursue a career in civil service. I also had the opportunity during undergrad to engage with visitors from all over the world by giving UC Berkeley campus tours. I'm honored to have another opportunity to assist the international community with what we do at BIO. Ask me about Cal history and fun facts if you stop by our office! Looking forward to meeting you! |
