Staff
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Staff
Amanda Maurer, Director of Education Abroad
Ms. Maurer came to USF from the Columbia University School of Law, where she held the position of Senior Director of International Programs for thirteen years. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Russian language and literature and has studied in former Yugoslavia and Russia. She also worked with a NGO in Russia for over four years. Ms. Maurer is the director of the Education Abroad office and works personally with the Russian and Slovakian exchange programs.
Contact: amaurer@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-4126
Jim Pulos, Associate Director of Education Abroad
Mr. Pulos is the primary contact for Education Abroad student advising or issues with various university offices (Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid, etc.). He coordinates student course registration, course approval, grades, and all payments of program fees. He also serves as the liaison between students and Education Abroad faculty directors and between non-USF students and their universities' respective offices. He is also responsible for the Italian and Greek semester programs, internships in Dublin, and selected summer Education Abroad programs.
Contact: jpulos@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-4043
Rene Sanchez, Assistant Director of Education Abroad
Mr. Sanchez serves as the advisor to students attending semester exchange programs, ISEP direct enrollment, and coordinates all programs in Canada, Mexico, Panama, and South America.
Contact: rene@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-3104
Ben Chamberlain, International Risk and Security Officer
Mr. Chamberlain came to USF from Michigan State University where he was the International Health and Safety Analyst for International Studies and Programs. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. He has lived and studied Mandarin in Taiwan. He spent many years working with disadvantaged and high risk youth. Mr. Chamberlain monitors world events on behalf of the USF community and serves USF as the primary 24/7 responder for travel incidents abroad.
Contact: bchamberlain@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-3724
Parandoosh Sadeghinia, Incoming Exchange Coordinator
Contact: parandooshsa@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-6148
Nancy Di Bella, Education Abroad Advisor
Ms. Di Bella is developing and coordinating programs in the Americas, and the Caribbean. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela and grew up bicultural and bilingual completing higher education degrees in both Venezuela and the US. Since 2005 she has led many Education Abroad programs to Costa Rica and Ecuador, and she never ceases to be amazed by the transformative power of studying abroad!
Contact: ndibella@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-1969
Masai Shakong, Education Abroad Advisor
Ms. Shakong is the Education Abroad Advisor coordinating and developing new programs for Sub-Saharan Africa and Non-Mediterranean Europe. Her years spent living and studying in Africa and her extensive international travel provide a solid foundation and wealth of experience for her position. As an advocate of international education, Ms. Shakong embraces every opportunity to foster an environment that promotes the creation of international experiences for students and faculty.
Contact: masai@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-9024
Krissy Loveman, Education Abroad Advisor
Ms. Krissy is the Education Abroad Advisor and Coordinator for programs in Asia and Pacifica. She first developed an affinity for international education when she studied abroad in Japan for a year. After completing her Bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of Alabama, she interned with the Division of International Education at the University of New Orleans to help promote study abroad. Upon completing her internship in the Big Easy, she went to Japan for two years on the JET Program to support English Education in a small town known for its wild boar, “inoshishi.” During her time on JET, she backpacked to Southeast Asia and Europe and fulfilled a dream of eating curry in Thailand. After returning to the U.S., she studied a Master’s in International and Intercultural Education and a Graduate Certificate in Asian Globalization while working as Program Assistant with the Asian Studies Program at Florida International University. She is excited to be at USF helping students go abroad on life-changing experiences. In her spare time, she creates mixed media art and explores Tampa.
Contact: kloveman@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-8983
Chris Haynes, Education Abroad Advisor
Mr. Haynes is extremely excited to be working within the Education Abroad Office as the new Student Programs Coordinator. He will be based in the Education Abroad Gateway Office conveniently located in the Marshall Center on the third floor. His main responsibility will be to focus on study abroad outreach through initiatives and student programs to help promote study abroad participation across the USF campus. He will also be overseeing the GloBull Ambassador Program for returning USF students designed to allow them to share their experience and knowledge with students who are thinking about studying abroad. Mr. Haynes is coming from the Institute for Study Abroad-Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where he was a Program Advisor for study abroad programs located in England, Australia and New Zealand. He attended Butler University as an undergraduate and studied abroad for a semester in Seville, Spain where he also taught English as a foreign language.
Contact: haynesc@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-5474
Chasidy Gonnella, Fiscal Business Analyst
With over 10 years of experience working in higher education, Ms. Gonnella proudly serves as Education Abroad's Fiscal & Business Analyst. She is primarily responsible for accommodating travel arrangements and payments for faculty program leaders, compiling Education Abroad's departmental financial reports, and consulting with various departments to ensure policy and audit compliance. Ms. Gonnella is currently in the process of earning her Bachelor's degree in Accounting, and she is looking forward to traveling internationally for the first time this fall.
Contact: cgonnella@usf.edu
Phone: (813)-974-3207
Leigh-Ann Goode, Fiscal & Business Specialist
Mrs. Goode is an alumna of USF. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing in 2007 and had the pleasure of participating in a study program in Florence, Italy during the summer of 2005. Prior to joining the Education Abroad team, Mrs. Goode worked in USF’s Housing & Residential Education department where she worked closely with the international exchange coordinators to facilitate on-campus housing for incoming exchange students. As the Fiscal & Business Assistant, Mrs. Goode is primarily responsible for adding program charges to student accounts and preparing student tuition waivers.
Contact: lagoode@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-1088
Yalan Yang, Fiscal & Business Specialist
Contact: yalan@usf.edu
Phone:
Preston Drane, International Risk and Security Coordinator
Mr. Drane is a proud alumnus and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies. During his time an undergrad, he participated in the London and Paris study abroad program. Since his first experience traveling abroad, Preston has traveled to various countries in the Caribbean, Europe and South America. He interned for a former U.S. Department of State Regional Security Officer for a year prior to joining the Education Abroad office in 2013.
Mr. Drane oversees the enrollment of the international health and evacuation insurance and monitors global events for all USF travelers. He also participates in first responder 24/7 coverage for all incidents abroad.
Contact: pjd1@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-0402
Kate Ledford, Education Abroad Registrar
Ms. Ledford came to USF after finishing her Master of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. During graduate school, she worked at the state education agency for the District of Columbia, and Achieving the Dream, a nonprofit reform network dedicated to the success of community college students. She holds her B.A. in Sociology from Bryant University and spent one semester studying in Berlin, Germany.
Ms. Ledford oversees the course management and registration for all outgoing and exchange study abroad programs and assists with grade submissions, foreign transfer credit evaluation and resolving academic issues. Kate also maintains USF’s two School of Record relationships, including the course equivalency catalogs, student registration, and transcripts in coordination with a wide variety of university offices and departments. Ms. Ledford is also responsible for the administration of the Education Abroad Scholarships.
Contact: kledford1@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-6301
Corella Edwards, Enrollment Management Specialist
Corella is a proud graduate of The University of South Florida, earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s from USF. Corella has a background in Child Welfare Dependency Case Management, Teaching, and Registration & Enrollment for a Drop Out Prevention Program for young adults obtaining credits towards the completion of their High School Diploma.
As the Enrollment Management Specialist, Corella processes and maintains all student and course registrations for Education Abroad programs, as well as supports the School of Record relationships.
Contact: cjedwar4@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-1205
Kelly Moore, Education Abroad Staff Assistant
Contact: kellymoore@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-8582
Gary Bellamy, Web and Database Coordinator
Mr. Bellamy has over 20 years experience in Data Analysis, Telecommunications and IT in the private sector. A U.S. Patent holder and experience with ITIL and Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, Gary attended HCC and is A+ Certified.
Gary is the Web and Database Coordinator supporting the Terra Dotta Study Abroad application for the Education Abroad Office.
Contact: gwbellamy@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-3933