91³Ô¹ÏÍø

About Us

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 91³Ô¹ÏÍø 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 91³Ô¹Ï꿉۪s goal of providing global education and understanding of international cultures. We welcome all 91³Ô¹ÏÍø members who believe in our mission.

Current Executive Committee (2025-2026)

  • Tiina Itkonen

    Tiina Itkonen

    Chair

  • Syed Ali Naqvi

    Syed Ali Naqvi

    Co-Chair & Social Media Designer and Lead

  • Manuel Correia

    Manuel Correia

    Secretary

  • Jeannette Edwards

    Jeannette Edwards

    Treasurer

  • Ivona Grzegorczyk

    Ivona Grzegorczyk

    At Large

  • Maria Ballesteros-Sola

    Maria Ballesteros-Sola

    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

Sunghee Nam - Chair


  • Courtney Gross - Secretary
  • Diana Lenko - Treasurer
  • Ivona Grzegorczyk - At Large
  • Tiina Itkonen - At Large

International Faculty at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø


Pictured above: International faculty at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø 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:

  1. Increase the advocacy for international faculty and staff in all levels of University operations;
  2. Provide support, professional training, and resources for international faculty and staff;
  3. Provide orientation, onboarding, and mentorship to international staff, faculty, and students on campus;
  4. Increase the awareness of the diverse cultures of international faculty and staff;
  5. 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;
  6. In collaboration with other campus entities, organize and support activities and events to promote international awareness on campus and local community; and
  7. In collaboration with the Center for International Affairs and other campus entities, provide support for international students and 91³Ô¹ÏÍø 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 91³Ô¹ÏÍø's Information Technology Services