Meet our Team
Parinaz Zartoshty, Ed.D.Senior Director, Global Programs and Services
#WhatsForLunch Parinaz loves all international cuisine, especially Japanese, Mexican and Korean. She also loves her dessert and appreciates any sweet delights. |
Suzanne PendergrassAssociate Director, International Student & Scholar Services
#WhatsForLunch For their versatility, Suzanne enjoys sandwiches. Her favorite cuisines are Mexican and Mediterranean. |
Keri Toma Loehrer, Ed.D.International Programs Manager and Communications Specialist
#WhatsForLunch Usually a salad, but she’d love to have a homemade bento everyday. |
Khim LokSenior International Student Services Coordinator
#WhatsForLunch Some of Khim’s favorite places to grab lunch near campus are: HOM for Korean, Agave Mexican Grill for Mexican; and Pizza My Heart (for pizza). Khim believes strongly that ice cream can be substituted for any meal, cake is best at breakfast, and wearing nail polish at all times is a must. Go Warriors! |
Lena MeadowsInternational Student Advisor
#WhatsForLunch Lena enjoys all kinds of foods but Asian cuisine is her favorite. However, she prefers sandwiches for lunch because they are quick and easy to make in the morning. |
Victoria HudakInternational Student Advisor
In her free time, she loves listening to music, knitting, and geeking out over all things Harry Potter and Stranger Things. #WhatsForLunch Victoria loves all kinds of noodles: Ramen, soba, udon, spaghetti, linguine, mac and cheese...you name it! But she also loves a cold bowl of saltibarscai (cold beet soup) on a hot summer day. |
Elisa YanagihashiInternational Student Advisor
#WhatsForLunch Elisa can’t turn down a good dumpling or soup. Always on the lookout for new flavors, Elisa loves seeking out new restaurants, pop-ups, and tea shops. |
Evelyn TsaoSystems Analyst and SEVIS Coordinator
#WhatsForLunch Evelyn's favorite places to grab lunch near campus includes Lee's Sandwiches, Agave Mexican Grill, and Back A Yard Caribbean Grill. She loves all international cuisine. |
Kenneth IngInternational Data/SEVIS Records Coordinator
#WhatsForLunch Usually, leftovers from yesterday’s dinner: Pan-fried Chicken and veggies, Cottage Pie, Japanese Curry, and Soy-Dijon Chicken and Sweet Potatoes are typical staples. Oh, and cookies. |
Parinaz is originally from Tehran, Iran and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell
University in Government/International Relations and her Master’s degree in International
Relations from Boston University. She earned her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership
from SJSU. Parinaz entered the field of international education after having worked
for Amnesty International, UNICEF and other smaller nonprofits, both in the US and
internationally. She speaks several languages including Farsi, French and German.
Parinaz studied abroad in Paris, France. Having gone through the US immigration process
and the acculturation process several times, she enjoys and finds fulfillment in facilitating
the process for others.
Suzanne is originally from Northern California and earned her Bachelor's degree from
Biola University in Business Administration and her Master's degree in International
Education from New York University. Suzanne entered the field of international education
at the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in Admissions and Recruiting.
She started as an International Student Advisor in New York at The New School and
St. John's University, then further up in New Hampshire at Dartmouth College. She's
lived and worked abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer for 2 years in Bulgaria and 6 months
in East Timor, as well as studied abroad for 3 months in the Czech Republic. Suzanne
is happy to be back in California after a 20 year hiatus. She enjoys traveling, listening
to music, watching movies and reading.
Originally from Maui, Hawaii, Keri earned her Bachelor’s in Asian Studies and East
Asian Languages & Literature from the University of Oregon and both her M.A. in Teaching
Foreign Language and M.A. in International Education Management from the Monterey
Institute of International Studies (MIIS). Her doctorate in Educational Leadership
(Ed.D.) is from SJSU. Keri has a decade of experience teaching in higher education,
where she worked with students to ensure academic success in the classroom. In recent
years, she has enjoyed working with international students and scholars outside of
the classroom through peer mentorship programs, leadership development programs, and
events designed to bring together the international community. Having lived abroad
in Japan, Keri understands what it’s like to adjust to and live in a new culture.
She was welcomed and well-supported by her community in Hiroshima, and hopes to do
the same for international students and scholars here at San Jose State.
Khim is from Union City / Milpitas, California and is an SJSU alum, having earned
her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development. Khim inadvertently entered the field of
international education during her freshman year at SJSU when she worked as a Student
Assistant and has since remained in the field. As a first generation immigrant and
the first in her family to attend college, she understands some of the difficulties
international student experience both academically and culturally. In addition, she
has had to help her family navigate the immigration process when they first came to
the U.S. She has a strong interest in geopolitical issues and believes we live in
a “small world”. She enjoys international travels whenever possible.
Lena is from Napa, California and graduated from SJSU with a double major in Global
Studies and Japanese. As an undergraduate student, she studied abroad in Japan for
a year at Waseda University in Tokyo. After coming back from Japan, she worked as
a Student Assistant at the ISSS office and has remained in the international field
ever since. She enjoys working with international students to help create a welcoming
international community. She is fluent in Japanese and her hobbies are reading books
and watching football.
Victoria is a self-described “Navy Brat.” She was born overseas in Yokosuka, Japan,
grew up between the east and west coast of the U.S., and spent a few years living
in Naples, Italy. She majored in Spanish Language and Literature at Hollins University,
and studied for 6 months at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina. Naturally,
she chose to work in international education. She returned to Japan to teach English
for five years, before getting her Master’s in International Education Management
from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA. Since then,
she has worked to welcome and support international students and scholars at UCSF
and UC Santa Cruz, and hopes to do the same for international students and scholars
here at San Jose State.
Born in Japan, Elisa moved to the U.S. in elementary school. She earned her Bachelor’s
degree from the University of Wisconsin in Economics & International Studies and her
Master’s degree in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute
of International Studies. She has lived in Japan and Slovakia and knows firsthand
the trials and rewards of living in a new place. Prior to SJSU she held positions
at Santa Clara University and Foothill College. In her free time Elisa enjoys exploring
the Bay Area and spending time with her dog, Momo.
Evelyn is from Hebei, China. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Education
from Hebei Normal University and her M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Leadership
from The State University of New York at Buffalo. Evelyn grew up in China and came
to the U.S. in 2007 for her graduate program in Educational Administration and Leadership.
As she was an international student herself, she understands the academic difficulties
and cultural shock that many international students encounter both physically and
mentally. Her passion for her work comes from helping international students adapt
to the American culture and thrive in their educational goals here in the United States.
In her advising, she always aims to simplify the complexities of the immigration regulations
for international students to increase their understanding and knowledge. Evelyn's
hobbies are reading books and watching documentaries related to history. She also
enjoys international travel because she gets an opportunity to see and learn about
the history, cultures, and experiences in the various parts of the world.
Kenneth is a native of Florida and graduated from the University of Miami with a double
major in Ecosystem Science & Policy and Geography. After graduation, he spent five
years working in Japan as part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, before
returning to the States. He also worked as a Disability Adjudicator for the State
of Florida and the Social Security Administration before making his way over to the
west coast.ISSS Global Leaders
Global Leaders are ISSS student assistants who support international students and foster a welcoming and inclusive community for all Global Spartans. Global Leaders assist ISSS events and programs, providing support and a friendly environment for all Global Spartans.
Contact Us
San José State University
One Washington Square
Student Union - CPGE
San Jose, CA 95192-0135
Office Hours
Monday-Friday 9am – 4:30pm