University Center for International Studies
Belkys Torres is executive director of global engagement at the University Center for International Studies. As a leading member of a team that works to achieve the University of Pittsburgh's global ambitions, she is a primary liaison for administrators, faculty, and staff on international partnerships, education abroad programs, community engagement, international student services, and global operations support. Her responsibilities include: advancing and assessing global learning; improving processes and procedures related to international partnership agreements; and leading the implementation of key initiatives in Pitt’s strategic and global plans. Torres co-chaired the University’s Year of Pitt Global committee (AY 2018-2019) and continues to serve Pitt’s Community Engagement Centers Advisory Council and executive board of the Hispanic/Latino Professional Association. She holds a PhD in English with a specialization in Latinx Cultural Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame and has years of experience coordinating academic initiatives at that institution and directing programs for the University of Miami.
Asian Studies Center
James Cook is currently the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center. James was born and raised in Southeast Asia, until moving to Long Island and San Francisco in his teenage years. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he wrote his thesis on China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. After completing his M.A. in Chinese Studies at the University of California, San Diego, he studied at Peking University. He completed his Ph.D. at San Diego in 1998 in East Asian history. After 13 years at Central Washington University in the Department of History and as Director of the Asian Studies Program, he joined ASC. His research interests include the impact of Overseas Chinese on the development of modern China and the environmental history of northwestern China. He works extensively in China, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. Dr. Cook has just published a new edited collection. Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1789-Present is a teaching textbook for both lower and upper level courses on modern Chinese history and/or modern visual culture.
Office of International Services (OIS)
Kati Von Lehman is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment in the Office of International Services (OIS). In her role as Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment, Kati helps educate the international population and large Pitt community on immigration trends, cultural adjustment, regulations, life in Pittsburgh, and the work done in OIS. She also manages the assessment initiatives in OIS, such as the effectiveness of online presentations, developing needs of the international community, and population growth. During her 8 years working for Pitt, Kati has presented at regional and national conferences on a variety of topics, such as; assessment, online presentations, cross-cultural communication, and educational programming for the international community.
Residence Life
Amanda Ries is the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Academic Initiatives and has been at the University of Pittsburgh since May of 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Westminster College (PA) and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Amanda’s work at Pitt engages her in our Living-Learning communities, our academically enriching programs, and our diversity & inclusion initiatives. Her favorite things about Pitt include the atmosphere and opportunities in Oakland, the amazing access to resources and programs, and the overall community feeling you get while still being in the city. She is so excited to welcome you to Pitt! H2P!
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Bliss Hou is the International Enrollment Services Manager in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, and she previously worked in the Asian Studies Center and the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. She is also a Pitt alumna, received a Master degree of Foreign Language Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been involved in the Pitt to You program since 2017.
Cross Cultural & Leadership Development
Kyoungah Lee is the International Programming Coordinator & Advisor of the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development. In her current role, she advises six different student organizations and coordinates the Global Ties program. Global Ties is designed to support international students with their collegiate experience by providing leadership and working opportunities, workshops for student/staff/faculty, retreat with international and domestic students, and cultural immersion trips. She received her M.Ed. from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and her interest is to bridge the gap between supporting international students and helping all students be internationally competent and globally oriented.
Global Experiences Office
Oksana Stalczynski is an International Programs Manager at the Global Experiences Office. Oksana was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, was an exchange student and Russian Language Scholar at Reed College in Portland, OR and participated in a language program in Dresden, Germany. She holds a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Studies and Masters in Linguistics from St. Petersburg State University. In her role at the Global Experiences office, Oksana manages a portfolio of faculty-led programs and leads intercultural development initiatives for students. Oksana is passionate about intercultural learning and is excited to learn with and from students on Pitt to You program.
Asian Studies Center
Tong Ru is the Pitt to You Program Coordinator at Asian Studies Center, and a second-year Ph.D. student of Administrative and Policy Studies at the School of Education. Before joining Pitt to You, she has started working with ASC colleagues as a Global Asia Intern in 2020. Acquiring a master's degree in economics, Tong Ru aims to use empirical experimental methods to study educational problems. Her research focuses on reducing the rural-urban human capital gap in China.
Asian Studies Center
James Cook is currently the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center. James was born and raised in Southeast Asia, until moving to Long Island and San Francisco in his teenage years. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he wrote his thesis on China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. After completing his M.A. in Chinese Studies at the University of California, San Diego, he studied at Peking University. He completed his Ph.D. at San Diego in 1998 in East Asian history. After 13 years at Central Washington University in the Department of History and as Director of the Asian Studies Program, he joined ASC. His research interests include the impact of Overseas Chinese on the development of modern China and the environmental history of northwestern China. He works extensively in China, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. Dr. Cook has just published a new edited collection. Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1789-Present is a teaching textbook for both lower and upper level courses on modern Chinese history and/or modern visual culture.
Office of International Services (OIS)
Kati Von Lehman is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment in the Office of International Services (OIS). In her role as Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment, Kati helps educate the international population and large Pitt community on immigration trends, cultural adjustment, regulations, life in Pittsburgh, and the work done in OIS. She also manages the assessment initiatives in OIS, such as the effectiveness of online presentations, developing needs of the international community, and population growth. During her 8 years working for Pitt, Kati has presented at regional and national conferences on a variety of topics, such as; assessment, online presentations, cross-cultural communication, and educational programming for the international community.
Residence Life
Amanda Ries is the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Academic Initiatives and has been at the University of Pittsburgh since May of 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Westminster College (PA) and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Amanda’s work at Pitt engages her in our Living-Learning communities, our academically enriching programs, and our diversity & inclusion initiatives. Her favorite things about Pitt include the atmosphere and opportunities in Oakland, the amazing access to resources and programs, and the overall community feeling you get while still being in the city. She is so excited to welcome you to Pitt! H2P!
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Bliss Hou is the International Enrollment Services Manager in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, and she previously worked in the Asian Studies Center and the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. She is also a Pitt alumna, received a Master degree of Foreign Language Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been involved in the Pitt to You program since 2017.
Asian Studies Center
Lynn Kawaratani is the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Programming at the Asian Studies Center. In this capacity, she helps create experiential learning opportunities for students including the formation and development of the Pitt to You program. She has worked at the University of Pittsburgh focusing on International Studies for nearly four years. Lynn received her Bachelor of Art in Architecture and Masters of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Cross Cultural & Leadership Development
Kyoungah Lee is the International Programming Coordinator & Advisor of the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development. In her current role, she advises six different student organizations and coordinates the Global Ties program. Global Ties is designed to support international students with their collegiate experience by providing leadership and working opportunities, workshops for student/staff/faculty, retreat with international and domestic students, and cultural immersion trips. She received her M.Ed. from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and her interest is to bridge the gap between supporting international students and helping all students be internationally competent and globally oriented.
Global Experiences Office
Oksana Stalczynski is an International Programs Manager at the Global Experiences Office. Oksana was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, was an exchange student and Russian Language Scholar at Reed College in Portland, OR and participated in a language program in Dresden, Germany. She holds a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Studies and Masters in Linguistics from St. Petersburg State University. In her role at the Global Experiences office, Oksana manages a portfolio of faculty-led programs and leads intercultural development initiatives for students. Oksana is passionate about intercultural learning and is excited to learn with and from students on Pitt to You program.
Asian Studies Center
Tong Ru is the Pitt to You Program Coordinator at Asian Studies Center, and a second-year Ph.D. student of Administrative and Policy Studies at the School of Education. Before joining Pitt to You, she has started working with ASC colleagues as a Global Asia Intern in 2020. Acquiring a master's degree in economics, Tong Ru aims to use empirical experimental methods to study educational problems. Her research focuses on reducing the rural-urban human capital gap in China.
Asian Studies Center
James Cook is currently the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center. James was born and raised in Southeast Asia, until moving to Long Island and San Francisco in his teenage years. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he wrote his thesis on China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. After completing his M.A. in Chinese Studies at the University of California, San Diego, he studied at Peking University. He completed his Ph.D. at San Diego in 1998 in East Asian history. After 13 years at Central Washington University in the Department of History and as Director of the Asian Studies Program, he joined ASC. His research interests include the impact of Overseas Chinese on the development of modern China and the environmental history of northwestern China. He works extensively in China, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. Dr. Cook has just published a new edited collection. Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1789-Present is a teaching textbook for both lower and upper level courses on modern Chinese history and/or modern visual culture.
Office of International Services (OIS)
Kati Von Lehman is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment in the Office of International Services (OIS). In her role as Assistant Director of Outreach and Assessment, Kati helps educate the international population and large Pitt community on immigration trends, cultural adjustment, regulations, life in Pittsburgh, and the work done in OIS. She also manages the assessment initiatives in OIS, such as the effectiveness of online presentations, developing needs of the international community, and population growth. During her 8 years working for Pitt, Kati has presented at regional and national conferences on a variety of topics, such as; assessment, online presentations, cross-cultural communication, and educational programming for the international community.
Residence Life
Amanda Ries is the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Academic Initiatives and has been at the University of Pittsburgh since May of 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Westminster College (PA) and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Amanda’s work at Pitt engages her in our Living-Learning communities, our academically enriching programs, and our diversity & inclusion initiatives. Her favorite things about Pitt include the atmosphere and opportunities in Oakland, the amazing access to resources and programs, and the overall community feeling you get while still being in the city. She is so excited to welcome you to Pitt! H2P!
Asian Studies Center & Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures
Bliss Hou is the Pitt to You Program Coordinator at Asian Studies Center, and the Chinese Instructor at Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. She received a Master degree of Foreign Language Education at University of Pittsburgh in 2017. She has been coordinating Pitt to You program since the year of 2017, and teaching first-year Chinese language classes since 2018 fall.
Asian Studies Center
Lynn Kawaratani is the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Programming at the Asian Studies Center. In this capacity, she helps create experiential learning opportunities for students including the formation and development of the Pitt to You program. She has worked at the University of Pittsburgh focusing on International Studies for nearly four years. Lynn received her Bachelor of Art in Architecture and Masters of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Cross Cultural & Leadership Development
Kyoungah Lee is the International Programming Coordinator & Advisor of the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development. In her current role, she advises six different student organizations and coordinates the Global Ties program. Global Ties is designed to support international students with their collegiate experience by providing leadership and working opportunities, workshops for student/staff/faculty, retreat with international and domestic students, and cultural immersion trips. She received her M.Ed. from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and her interest is to bridge the gap between supporting international students and helping all students be internationally competent and globally oriented.
Office of Admissions & Financial Aid
Qianyi ‘Channie’ is currently an Enrollment Services Manager at the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. She grew up in Chengdu, China, went to college in Chongqing, and before coming to Pitt for her Master’s degree in Higher Education Management. She has been studying, working and living in Pittsburgh since 2008. As an Enrollment Services Manager, she communicates with prospective students, applicants, high school counselors and parents, manages the Pitt Admissions WeChat account, serves as a committee member for both domestic and international admissions, and recruits both in the U.S. and in China. She is also a member of the PittStart team. In her spare time, Channie enjoys playing the piano, watching movies, reading books to her daughters, traveling, and eating good food. She is excited to come back to China to meet with incoming students and their parents. She is fond of sharing her knowledge and experience about Pitt and the city of Pittsburgh both as a current Pitt employee and as a previous international student
Asian Studies Center
James Cook is currently the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center. James was born and raised in Southeast Asia, until moving to Long Island and San Francisco in his teenage years. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he wrote his thesis on China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. After completing his M.A. in Chinese Studies at the University of California, San Diego, he studied at Peking University. He completed his Ph.D. at San Diego in 1998 in East Asian history. After 13 years at Central Washington University in the Department of History and as Director of the Asian Studies Program, he joined ASC. His research interests include the impact of Overseas Chinese on the development of modern China and the environmental history of northwestern China. He works extensively in China, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. Dr. Cook has just published a new edited collection. Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1789-Present is a teaching textbook for both lower and upper level courses on modern Chinese history and/or modern visual culture.
Office of Residence Life
My name is Kayla Dunn and I am an Area Coordinator in the Office of Residence Life. I received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Social Studies Education and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. I have worked at the University of Pittsburgh for 5 years. Over my time at Pitt I have served as the Resident Director for Forbes Hall and Tower B. In my current capacity, I serve the residential communities of Bruce, Brackenridge, McCormick, Holland, Amos, and Nordenberg. My favorite thing about the University of Pittsburgh is the people- I am fortunate to work with amazing professionals and serve phenomenal students!
Asian Studies Center & Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures
Bliss Hou is the Pitt to You Program Coordinator at Asian Studies Center, and the Chinese Instructor at Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. She received a Master degree of Foreign Language Education at University of Pittsburgh in 2017. She has been coordinating Pitt to You program since the year of 2017, and teaching first-year Chinese language classes since 2018 fall.
Asian Studies Center
Lynn Kawaratani is the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Programming at the Asian Studies Center. In this capacity, she helps create experiential learning opportunities for students including the formation and development of the Pitt to You program. She has worked at the University of Pittsburgh focusing on International Studies for nearly four years. Lynn received her Bachelor of Art in Architecture and Masters of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Cross Cultural & Leadership Development
Kyoungah Lee is the International Programming Coordinator & Advisor of the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development. In her current role, she advises six different student organizations and coordinates the Global Ties program. Global Ties is designed to support international students with their collegiate experience by providing leadership and working opportunities, workshops for student/staff/faculty, retreat with international and domestic students, and cultural immersion trips. She received her M.Ed. from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and her interest is to bridge the gap between supporting international students and helping all students be internationally competent and globally oriented.
Office of Admissions & Financial Aid
Qianyi ‘Channie’ is currently an Enrollment Services Manager at the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. She grew up in Chengdu, China, went to college in Chongqing, and before coming to Pitt for her Master’s degree in Higher Education Management. She has been studying, working and living in Pittsburgh since 2008. As an Enrollment Services Manager, she communicates with prospective students, applicants, high school counselors and parents, manages the Pitt Admissions WeChat account, serves as a committee member for both domestic and international admissions, and recruits both in the U.S. and in China. She is also a member of the PittStart team. In her spare time, Channie enjoys playing the piano, watching movies, reading books to her daughters, traveling, and eating good food. She is excited to come back to China to meet with incoming students and their parents. She is fond of sharing her knowledge and experience about Pitt and the city of Pittsburgh both as a current Pitt employee and as a previous international student
Asian Studies Center
James Cook is currently the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center. James was born and raised in Southeast Asia, until moving to Long Island and San Francisco in his teenage years. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he wrote his thesis on China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. After completing his M.A. in Chinese Studies at the University of California, San Diego, he studied at Peking University. He completed his Ph.D. at San Diego in 1998 in East Asian history. After 13 years at Central Washington University in the Department of History and as Director of the Asian Studies Program, he joined ASC. His research interests include the impact of Overseas Chinese on the development of modern China and the environmental history of northwestern China. He works extensively in China, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. Dr. Cook has just published a new edited collection. Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1789-Present is a teaching textbook for both lower and upper level courses on modern Chinese history and/or modern visual culture.
Office of International Services
As the Associate Director, Sara leads a team of specialists to assist international students and academic departments with various immigration related requests and to provide advising, programming and related services. She also manages various special projects and administrative functions of the office.
University Center of International Studies
Jason joined Institutional Advancement in February 2012 as the Director of Constituent Relations based out of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS). In this role, he works on leadership travel abroad, alumni relations outside of the US, institutional partnerships outside of the US and advises deans on international travel. His experience with the fundraising profession started in the stewardship office at Duke University in 2004 and then moving on to George Washington University where he served as the Director of Endowment Administration. In 2008, Jason was afforded the chance to return to Pittsburgh through the role of Assistant Director of Development at the Tepper School of Business. Jason holds several degrees including a Bachelor of Arts in History from Pitt, followed by a Master of Arts in History from Slippery Rock and a Master of Public Management with a specialization in Higher Education Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Cross Cultural & Leadership Development
Kyoungah Lee is the International Programming Coordinator & Advisor of the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development. In her current role, she advises six different student organizations and coordinates the Global Ties program. Global Ties is designed to support international students with their collegiate experience by providing leadership and working opportunities, workshops for student/staff/faculty, retreat with international and domestic students, and cultural immersion trips. She received her M.Ed. from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and her interest is to bridge the gap between supporting international students and helping all students be internationally competent and globally oriented.
Residence Life
Jonathan Richards joined the University of Pittsburgh’s Residence Life office in 2016 and is currently serving as the Resident Director of Tower A which is a First Year co-ed residence hall. Jonathan received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University in Resort and Hospitality Management and his Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University. Outside of his work in Residence Life, Jonathan also serves as an Emerging Leaders facilitator, Alternative Break Trip Advisor, and an advisor for the Pitt Dance Marathon.
Office of International Services
Richard Sherman joined the Office of International Services (OIS) in 2012. He advises undergraduate and graduate international students about international travel, employment authorization, and other U.S. government regulations. Before arriving at Pitt, he was an Assistant Director of Admissions at California University of Pennsylvania, and also worked at a non-profit immigration law clinic in Portland, Maine. Richard earned his bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish from Bowdoin College and his Masters of Arts in Latin American Studies from Indiana University. Richard loves Pittsburgh, but he still cheers for his hometown Boston Celtics.
Asian Studies Center
James Cook is currently the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center. James was born and raised in Southeast Asia, until moving to Long Island and San Francisco in his teenage years. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he wrote his thesis on China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. After completing his M.A. in Chinese Studies at the University of California, San Diego, he studied at Peking University. He completed his Ph.D. at San Diego in 1998 in East Asian history. After 13 years at Central Washington University in the Department of History and as Director of the Asian Studies Program, he joined ASC. His research interests include the impact of Overseas Chinese on the development of modern China and the environmental history of northwestern China. He works extensively in China, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. Dr. Cook has just published a new edited collection. Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1789-Present is a teaching textbook for both lower and upper level courses on modern Chinese history and/or modern visual culture.
Office of International Services
As the Associate Director, Sara leads a team of specialists to assist international students and academic departments with various immigration related requests and to provide advising, programming and related services. She also manages various special projects and administrative functions of the office.
Office of Residence Life
Eddie moved to Pittsburgh from Miami, Florida. He studied Biology at Southern Polytechnic State University and subsequently completed his MBA where he continued to work in Higher Education at Florida International University. Passionate about working with students at a unique university, Eddie accepted a position at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016. He currently works as an Area Coordinator for the Office of Residence Life where he oversees Holland Hall, Nordenberg Hall, and the Quad. In his free time Eddie enjoys exercising, playing the guitar, and visiting the local parks in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.
Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development
Sarah is the Program Manager for the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development (CCLD). In her role, Sarah is responsible for managing the Hesselbein Global Academy including the annual Hesselbein Student Leadership Summit, a four-day program for college student leaders from all over the world hosted each summer at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, Sarah serves as an instructor for the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences as well as the School of Education teaching introductory, leadership, professional development, and action research courses. Prior to joining the CCLD family, Sarah worked in the Office of First Year Experience at Pitt where she supervised the First Year Mentors and provided programs to help new resident, transfer, and commuter students in their transition to Pitt. Sarah also previously coordinated Leadership Programs at the University of Arizona. Sarah received her M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland, College Park, her B.A. in Advertising/Public Relations from Penn State University, and she is also an alumna of Semester at Sea. Sarah is currently working toward her Ed.D. at the University of Pittsburgh and her research interests include first year college student resiliency and college student leadership development. In her free time, Sarah loves to cook, read, travel, and practice yoga.