SMCCCD Study Abroad

Sonya earned her B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University (Cum Laude); and earned two A.A. degrees in English (Magna Cum Laude) and Communications Studies (Magna Cum Laude) from Skyline College. Sonya began her educational journey at Skyline College and she is also the author of From the Walls Inside: Recorded Conversations with Myself.
popes@smccd.edu
(650) 738-7114

Zaid comes to SMCCCD Study Abroad with a background in international higher education having worked at the University of California Office of the President, University of California, Riverside and Long Island University C.W. Post. He has led admissions delegations internationally and recruited international students in over 25 countries. Born in New York, and studied abroad for most of his life - 15 years in Nigeria and four years in India - his goals for SMCCCD Study Abroad are ambitious and at the heart of it is to make the programs more affordable with merit and need-based scholarships. Zaid believes SMCCCD Study Abroad offers a unique study abroad opportunity for students and while dramatically increasing a student’s cultural competency skills, studying abroad also prepares them to be competitive in their job and career prospects. Zaid earned his Bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta with a major in Business Economics and his Master’s degree from California Baptist University in Public Administration. He enjoys traveling, baking and spending time with his family.
ghoriz@smccd.edu
(650) 738-7099

Kelly holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from San Francisco State University. Kelly is also a Passport Acceptance Agent certified by the U.S. State Department. Originally from China, Kelly immigrated to the U.S. and worked in the legal field for over 7 years. She then transitioned to Community College and worked at Skyline College in the past six years. Kelly most recently worked as the Program Services Coordinator - Degree Auditor in the Enrollment Services Division. She is passionate and dedicated to supporting the success of San Mateo Community College’s diverse students and local communities. Kelly is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys traveling, eating good food, and spending time with her family and pets.
lik@smccd.edu
(650) 738-7159

Manasi manages the International Education Program and oversees the programs and services provided by the Center for Global Engagement at CSM, including the F‑1 international student program, Global Online Learning (GOL), Study Abroad, and Global Internship programs. She came to the U.S. as an international student and has dedicated her career in supporting the success of international students in the past two decades. Prior to leading the international education team at CSM, she worked at Golden Gate University, Menlo College, and most recently at our sister school Cañada College. In her spare time, Manasi loves to travel and experience different cultures and cuisines from all over the world. She also loves spending time with her husband, two beautiful daughters and fur baby Mocha!

Education: B.A. in Economics and Podivtical Science, Bombay University, India; M.A. in Public Administration, Bombay University, India; M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA

Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, French (basic), Spanish (basic);
devdharmanem@smccd.edu
(650) 574-6501

Kathryn has worked in international education for over 15 years and with students from more than 30 countries. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Russian from the University of the Pacific, and her Master’s in Education from Drexel University. She studied abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia and understands how rewarding and challenging it can be to study in a different country. Besides Russia, she lived and worked in Chiba City, Japan for two years on the JET Program as an English language teacher. She loves traveldivng, learning foreign languages, playing the piano, and enjoying the beaches of Pacifica with her two daughters and terrier dog. She is also a foodie and enjoys trying new restaurants in the Bay Area.
kohutk@smccd.edu
(650) 306-3487

Vanessa joins our team after studying abroad in Florence in the Spring semester of 2024. She has spent the majority of her life in Half Moon Bay, California, and graduated from Half Moon Bay High School in 2023. She primarily attends College of San Mateo where she is currently a Cognitive Science major. Although passionate about future plans in the medical field, Vanessa enjoys traveling and is eager to help other interested students begin their journeys abroad. In her free time she enjoys concerts, shopping, going to Poplar beach, and spending time with loved ones!

Kylie has come to SMCCD Study Abroad as a student assistant at the Passport Office in the Global Learning and Services Division at Skyline College after studying in Florence during the Spring semester of 2024. As a student assistant, Kylie provides support to students interested in the study abroad program and aids passport services. She is currently pursuing her B.A. in psychology and is passionate about sharing her experiences abroad and lending a helping hand to future students interested in the study abroad program. During her free time, Kylie loves to travel to new places, go on long hikes, read books, and spend quality time with her friends and family.

As a passionate advocate for global education, Philip serves as a Study Abroad Ambassador at SMCCD Study Abroad Program. Having studied in Barcelona, Spain, Philip believes that exploring the world should be accessible to everyone. Philip is dedicated to helping students find affordable and impactful study abroad opportunities. Through personal experiences and guidance, Philip, strives to make international education both attainable and transformative for all students. "You do not have to be rich to discover the world"

Zwe is an international student studying at Skyline College. He arrived in the U.S. in the Fall of 2022 and is majoring in Computer Science, with hopes of pursuing a career in Video Game Development. As a Student Assistant, Zwe helps with the passport services, study abroad programs, social media and other projects around the office. He also works as a Study Abroad Ambassador at the International Student Program and is the President of the International Student Club, which gives him the experience in working with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. When he's free, Zwe likes to spend his time playing different video games and learning more about the world through the Internet.
kyawzm@smccd.edu