About Us

Our Mission

The International and Exchange Student Center fosters the educational success of international students by facilitating their engagement with the campus community and ensuring their access to key resources, information and the guidance needed to effectively meet the challenges of studying in a foreign country and remaining in approved visa status. The IESC also actively promotes international study and domestic exchange opportunities for all students at CSUN.

This work is achieved through the provision of specialized advising, programs and services that supports students’ involvement at CSUN and at institutions across the globe. The IESC actively encourages students’ academic and co-curricular achievements, creative abilities and professional competencies by creating gateways to an international curriculum and education. By innovatively encouraging participation in cross-cultural programs, we provide all students with the opportunity to thrive in an interdependent world while developing their international understanding and becoming cultural ambassadors.

The International and Exchange Student Center engages and collaborates with CSUN faculty, staff, students and international community partners to achieve our mission, encourage the development of global citizens, and to enhance CSUN’s reputation at home and abroad.

The underlying values that further the mission of the IESC are student success and development, diversity, excellence, innovation, responsibility and accountability, leadership, and collaboration.

Jessica Skanes, Department Coordinator
jessica.skanes@csun.edu
(818) 677-4177

International Student Advisement Staff

Michelle Garcia, International Student Advisement Specialist
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication, Michael D.
Eisner College of Education
michelle.garcia@csun.edu
(818) 677-4145

Brenda Acosta, International Student Advisor
College of Engineering and Computer Science
brenda.acosta@csun.edu
(818) 677-4144

Cynthia Alvarez, International Student Advisor
David Nazarian College of Business and Economics and College of
Health and Human Development
cynthia.alvarez@csun.edu
(818) 677-4141

Nicole Goddard, International Student Advisor
College of Science and Math and College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Humanities
nicole.goddard@csun.edu
(818) 677-3499

SEVIS Coordinator Staff

Apisda Konkankit, SEVIS Analyst/Involvement Coordinator
apisda.konkankit@csun.edu
(818) 677-6731

Qi Wang, SEVIS Coordinator
qi.wang@csun.edu
(818) 677-7990

Study Abroad and Exchange Programs Staff

Eleanor Wolgast, Global Engagement Coordinator
eleanor.wolgast@csun.edu
(818) 677-4520

Rebecca Spector, Study Abroad and NSE Advisor
rebecca.spector@csun.edu
(818) 677-2877

For China Scholarship, Fulbright Student, and SPICE programs, please contact Rebecca Spector at rebecca.spector@csun.edu

For Exchange Student on a J visa, please contact Eleanor Wolgast at eleanor.wolgast@csun.edu and Marta Lopez at marta.lopez@csun.edu.

Dr. Marta Lopez, Director
International and Exchange Student Center
marta.lopez@csun.edu
(818) 677-4142

As the director of the International and Exchange Student Center,
Marta Lopez provides direction and leadership for international
programs and services focusing on international and exchange students’ success and promoting student as well as campus engagement.

She has worked in the field of international education for 20 years and is dedicated to student success and enhancing cross-cultural communication. Dr. Lopez earned her doctorate in educational leadership and management from the University of La Verne, and her international studies include attending Technische Universitat in Vienna, Austria perusing the field of chemistry.