Kim Godsoe: Dean of Academic Services
Kim began working in the field of higher education in 1990, and has been a member of the Brandeis community since 1994. As the Dean of Academic Services, Kim oversees all aspects of this busy office, from class-based advising to special programs. With a BA in Russian and Politics and an MFA in Writing, Kim is currently working on her PhD in Assets and Inequalities from the Heller School at Brandeis. Dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the mission and values of Brandeis, Kim serves on a number of campus committees, including the Committee on Academic Standing, the Committee in Support of Teaching, and the Provost's Advisory Committee on Assessment. On a larger scope, she has also presented on the topic of Assessment at the national conference for the Council for Opportunity in Education, as well as at regional conferences for NASPA and NACADA. Outside of work, Kim loves to test out new culinary creations and also loves to travel to places including Italy, Spain, Russia, Estonia, Costa Rica, and Montserrat.
J. Scott Van Der Meid: Assistant Dean of Academic Services and Director of Study Abroad
Scott has directed the study abroad program at Brandeis since 1999. Prior to his time at here, he worked for several years in Boston University's Office of International Programs. Scott received his B.A. in History and German Literature with a concentration in Asia in the Modern World and his M.A. in Intercultural Relations. He studied in West Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall and Germany's eventual unification. Scott also studied and worked for several years in Tokyo, Japan. He has been to over 45 countries on every continent except Antarctica. Professionally, Scott has served on several national advisory boards in the field of international education including Arcadia University's National Advisory Board and SIT Study Abroad's Partnership Council. He is past Co-Chair of the NAFSA Rainbow Special Interest Group and served as a founding member of the Forum on Education Abroad's Advisory Council. Other national committee involvement included NAFSA's Committee on Underrepresentation in Education Abroad, the SECUSSA Data Collection Working Group, the CIEE Nomination's Committee, the IES Membership Committee, the Forum on Education Abroad's Data Committee and Forum on Education Abroad's Ethics Working Group. He currently serves on the IFSA-Butler Executive Council of the National Advisory Council and is a member of the Advisory Board for the NAFSA Rainbow SIG.
Kate Amaral: Assistant Director, International Students and Scholars Office
A member of the Brandeis community since 2007, Kate is responsible for immigration advising for international students and scholars, as well as coordinating programs that foster international awareness. She also plans events and outings for students and scholars and serves as coordinator of the Wien International Scholarship Program. Kate holds a BA in Studio Art, with a minor in French, and used these skills when she taught English in France for a year. After spending five years living and working in higher education in Texas, Kate returned to her native New England (she is originally from outside of Providence), where she can once again cheer on her beloved Red Sox. Kate also enjoys charcoal drawing and photography.
Gillian Boulay: Department Coordinator, ISSO and Academic Services
After spending several years living and working in China, Gillian moved back to her native New England and began working at Brandeis in 2009. As the ‘face’ of the ISSO, Gillian is the main contact for international students. She also supports the entire ISSO staff and is responsible for running the undergraduate and graduate student host programs. Gillian is also the coordinator for Academic Fellowships and the Lerman-Neubauer Fellowship Program in Academic Services. Gillian holds a BA in Anthropology and Asian Studies (with a concentration in Chinese), as well as a TEFL Certificate for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. A food enthusiast, Gillian also loves to travel and hopes to visit as many countries as possible in the coming years.
Ruth Brigham: International Students Advisor, ISSO
Ruth joined the Brandeis community in 2001 with extensive international experience and education. Prior to Brandeis, she was the director and a teacher in an ESL program for an organization called ACCESS in Boston’s Chinatown. She also taught ESL classes for a summer in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and, while there, enjoyed traveling in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. She recalls her most amazing adventure as doing relief work in Colombia for three months. With a BS in French and minor in Spanish, and a MA in TEFL and Intercultural Studies, Ruth advises international students concerning travel and employment, and also organizes workshops for the ISSO. To add to her international experience, Ruth lived in various European countries for over 8 years.
Lindsay Bruce: Assistant Director, Student Support Services
A native of Chicago, IL, Lindsay has been involved in higher education since 2005, and came to Brandeis in 2007. In addition to advising SSSP students, Lindsay runs the SSSP Peer Tutoring Program, Workshops, new student assessment, and the SSSP Student Leadership Board. Prior to her work at Brandeis, Lindsay worked at an inner-city high school, where she recruited students for professional training in the arts and helped them prepare for college. Lindsay holds a BA in English and an EdM in Higher Education, has lived in both England and France. Additionally, she has been playing the piano since she was three years old, and is proud to say that she once won an eating contest!
Sheilah Coleman: Director of Academic Fellowships
A native of Michigan, Sheilah has been involved in higher education since 1995 and joined Brandeis’ team in 2007. With a BA in Comparative Literature and Film and a MFA in Creative Writing, Sheilah oversees academic fellowships including Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, and Truman, as well as a number of internal research opportunities. She particularly enjoys working with students to shape their initial ideas into full research proposals, and loves meeting students in every discipline—from the arts to the sciences to all fields in between. Outside of work, Sheilah enjoys playing classical guitar and has also rescued three Rhodesian Ridgebacks over the years. Sheilah is also the author of two unpublished novels, and is hopeful that the next one will be “the one”!
PJ Dickson: Senior Academic Advisor, Coordinator of First Year Academic Programming
PJ grew up in Saugus, MA, and has been working in higher education since 1995. He came to Brandeis in 2002 as a graduate student and began working in his current position in 2007. PJ assists students whose last names begin with the letters L-Q. He also supervises the Roosevelt Fellows to provide peer-to-peer academic advising, and works to design and implement programs to improve the experiences of first year students on campus. He is also proud to be the mentor to the Brandeis Posse 8. PJ holds a BA in Sociology and African American Studies and two Master’s Degrees—one in African American Studies and one in American History. He is currently working on his PhD dissertation which focuses on the history of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, specifically examining continuity and change at the prison in the wake of the federal court's intervention in the governance of the prison.
David Elwell: Director, International Students and Scholars Office
David’s roots in higher education run deep, as both of his parents worked as faculty and staff at a university in his home state of New Hampshire. David himself has been working in higher education since 1992, and began working at Brandeis in 2000. With a BA in Political Science and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture, and a MPA in Public Administration (Intercultural Communication/Human Resources Management), David has extensive international experience. His main responsibilities include providing advising and programming support to the approximately 900 international students and 175 international scholars/professors/researchers at Brandeis, and helping international population adjust to life in the U.S. He also serves as Brandeis’ designated school official to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State. His favorite Brandeis memory was traveling to New Orleans with a group of Wien Scholars to aid in relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. His interest in all-things-international was spurred on as a teen when David first traveled abroad to Europe as a member of American soccer team. He now enjoys traveling to new places with his wife and daughter.
Gerardo Garcia-Rios: Director, Student Support Services Program
A native of Mexico, Gerardo has been working in higher education since 2003, and joined the Brandeis community as Director of SSSP in 2005. His primary role is to oversee the enrollment, advising, management, and supervision of the program, and to offer support to first-generation college students throughout their time here. With a BA in Psychology and Philosophy, and a MSW in Clinical Counseling, Gerardo was the first person in his family to attend college, where he was also an avid soccer player.
Allyson W. Goose: Study Abroad Advisor
Allyson started her work in the Office of Study Abroad in June 2008, bringing with her extensive experience in international and experiential education. Prior to coming to Brandeis she served as an advisor and resident coordinator, delivering leadership development programs, organizing community service projects and counseling students on job skills. In addition, she has taught English in Unoke, Japan and Cuenca, Ecuador. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and a B.A. in Anthropology. As a student, she studied abroad in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Netherlands. Allyson is responsible for advising first years and sophomores, coordinating summer study abroad and managing tuition payments.
Eowyn Louise Greeno: Associate Director of Study Abroad
Eowyn holds a B.A. in Sociology and certificate in International and Intercultural Studies and a M.A. in International Education. Prior to coming to Brandeis in 2005, Eowyn worked for the Pitzer College Programme in Zimbabwe, the Institute of International Studies at UC Berkeley, and the International Policy Studies Program at Stanford. Eowyn has studied and/or worked in the Soviet Union, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Taiwan and Mexico. She currently serves on the Arcadia University Center for Education Abroad's National Advisory Board.
Erica M. Gross: Department Coordinator
A native of Germantown, Maryland, Erica began working at Brandeis in August 2009. Erica provides support to the Dean and Assistant Dean of Academic Services, while also assisting with the Posse Scholars Program and the Office of Study Abroad. Previous to joining the Academic Services team, Erica double majored in Spanish and Government during her undergraduate career, and also lived in Israel and worked with the UNHCR in Jerusalem. Erica counts French and Spanish among the languages in which she is fluent.
Shohreh Harris: SEVIS/PASS Coordinator, International Students and Scholars Office
Previous to joining the ISSO staff in January 2007, Shohreh worked in higher education as a software consultant and database programmer. At Brandeis, Shohreh is primarily responsible for generating visa documents, keeping track and ensuring the accuracy of students’ SEVIS records, and generating reports for both internal ISSO purposes and external informational queries. Originally from Tehran, Iran, she has also lived in Spain, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, and Germany. Shohreh holds a BA in Communications and a MS in Computer Science.
Sarah Hoenig: Manager, Lerman-Neubauer Fellowship Program
A professional in higher education since 2002, Sarah has significant experience in admissions, advisement and programming. She also has collaborated extensively with community-based organizations, and recently developed a Drama Reentry Program for men and women who have been incarcerated. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family in Maine and on Cape Cod, sampling new flavors of food and watching professional and college sports. Although she was a swimmer through college, she now spends her mornings before work running and training for races ranging from 5K to half and full marathons. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and theater and a Master of Arts degree in education.
Judith Hudson: Director, Pre-Health Advising
Judith joined Brandeis in 2009, although her career in higher education began in 1980. She particularly enjoys advising students and hearing about their academic and career goals. Judith also brings with her a wealth of educational experience, with a BA in English Education, a MA in Student Personnel Administration, and an EdD in Social Justice Education, with a research concentration on professional teachers who taught in Mississippi Freedom Schools during Freedom Summer, 1964. Aside from her commitment to social justice, Judith is also an avid advocate for the arts. She has lived and traveled in Europe and the Far East, and recently returned from Korea, where she participated in a reunion of former Peace Corps Volunteers. Judith also enjoys hiking, swimming, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing, as well as visiting her two sons who live in Vermont.
Jennifer Kim: Senior Academic Advisor, Coordinator of Independent Interdisciplinary Majors (IIM) and Sophomore Year Experience
Jennifer’s favorite year in college was her sophomore year, so she feels especially fortunate to be the Coordinator of the Sophomore Year Experience. A member of the Brandeis community since 2005, Jennifer enjoys talking with students about their plans, interests, and goals. She serves as the primary contact for students with last names beginning with F-K, and works to support and connect them to the appropriate resources that will help in their academic success at Brandeis. She is a representative of the Sophomore Year Experience (SYE) team and collaborates to provide events and programs specific to the needs of the sophomore class. Additionally, as the Coordinator of Independent Interdisciplinary Majors (IIM), she publicizes and coordinates this unique opportunity for students to design a major that does not currently exist at Brandeis. Originally from Bergen County, New Jersey, Jennifer brings with her a BA in Media and Society, with a minor in Asian Studies, and recently began coursework toward her MA in Sociology at Brandeis. A self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ who loves to go on restaurant crawls, Jennifer also greatly enjoys watching ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lost.’ Stop by her office sometime to see her growing snow globe collection, which are all souvenirs of places she has traveled since 2004.
Steven Martin: Department Coordinator
Originally from Madison, NC, Steven began working at Brandeis in 2007. As Department Coordinator, he provides support to the Class Advisors and the Transitional Year Program(TYP), and also handles Dean Certifications. With a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and a Master of Music in Opera Performance, Steven loves performing in operas. His other hobbies include watching horror movies and trying new (and spicy!) food.
Megan Penyack, '99: Academic Advisor, Coordinator of Junior and Senior Academic Programming
An alum of Brandeis, Megan came to work at the University in 2008. Prior to her return, Megan taught English as a Second Language in California and Boston and developed curricula for an ESL teacher training program. She has also advised graduate students in Public Health and undergraduates in Management. Megan is responsible for advising students whose last names begin with A-E. She also plans events related to Juniors and Seniors, such as Honors Thesis Information Sessions, and represents students’ petitions at the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Committee on Academic Standing (COAS). She particularly enjoys speaking with students about their career and educational goals. With a BA in French Language and Literature and an EdM in Higher Education Administration, Megan also studied abroad in Paris for an academic year while at Brandeis, and still loves to travel. A proud native of Northern New Jersey (and an even prouder fan of Bruce Springsteen!), Megan now resides in Swampscott, MA.
Beth Rodgers-Kay: Director, Disabilities Services and Support
A native of upstate New York, Beth came to Brandeis in 2005, and has been working in higher education since 1989. Beth holds a BA in English and an EdM in Reading, Language and Learning Disabilities, and was a high school English and Language Arts teacher for five years. At Brandeis, she determines accommodations and services to ensure that students with disabilities are supported to compete and achieve their full potential on our campus. She also provides individual support to many students and works to increase the level of knowledge about disabilities on campus. Beth has expanded her work to the international arena, and, for one year, did voluntary service in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she worked with school-age kids and their families.
Erika Smith: Director of the Transitional Year Program
Since 2004, Erika Smith has served as the Director of the Transitional Year Program. As such, she oversees the development and delivery of the program's curriculum, and advises students through and beyond their time in the program. Erika holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering, where she matriculated as a Posse scholar, an EdM in Education Policy and Management, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Social Policy here at Brandeis. On the program's staff since 2000, Ms. Smith has also held posts as the TYP Program Coordinator, and as a math instructor in the program. Erika originally hails from Staten Island, New York, and now lives in Hyde Park, MA.
Alessandra Veiga: Department Coordinator, Student Support Services Program
Alessandra was born and raised in Dorchester, MA, although her family is originally from the Cape Verde islands. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. As the Program Coordinator for SSSP, Alessandra organizes the peer mentoring program, arranges many cultural enrichment activities for the students, and manages a small caseload of first year advisees. Alessandra enjoys eating foods such as sushi, chocolate chip cookies, and black raspberry ice cream, and also loves spending time with her Chihuahua. Outside of work, Alessandra is an avid dancer who has practiced many different forms of dance over the past 16 years.
Emily Walsh: Academic Advisor, Coordinator of Brandeis Undergraduate Group Study
Emily came to Brandeis in 2008 after working in Residential Life for five years. Originally from Mont Vernon, NH, and now residing in Watertown, she brings with her a BA in Anthropology and Sociology and an EdM in Counseling. As an Advisor to students with last names beginning with R-Z, Emily ensures that all Brandeis students are aware of the resources they need to be successful in the classroom. She provides regular, intensive advising to students, and also heads up the BUGS tutoring services and WEB seminars. In her spare time, Emily enjoys taking pictures and traveling.
Elena Wilson: Senior Department Coordinator- TRIO Student Support Services Program
Elena began working at Brandeis in June of 2004. She coordinates the SSSP Scholarship, the Laptop Loan program, the Reference Library and Textbook Loan Resources, among other duties. Before her arrival to Brandeis she served as the Counseling Coordinator and Critical Thinking Instructor for Student Support Services. She credits Student Support Services and McNair as influential programs that guided her through her own undergraduate degree in Mass Communications. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's Degree in Sociology here at Brandeis, where she is researching gender, race, and class inequality and reconciliatory efforts to promote equity. For the past 8 years, her passion for working with students makes coming to work every day worthwhile. When she is not at work, she volunteers with a New England regional non-profit organization promoting spiritual health and well being for college students. Aside from being a tech fanatic, shopping, watching movies, eating out, and listening to music are hobbies she enjoys in her spare time.
Shari Zingle: Senior Department Coordinator
Shari came to Brandeis in 2006, after spending much of her professional career writing editorial and managing the Web site for the Detroit Jewish News. As a Senior Department Coordinator, she offers support for Pre-Health Advising, Disabilities Services and Support, and Academic Fellowships. A native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Shari has a BA in Communications/Journalism, and recently began a Master’s program in Sociology at Brandeis.