Meet Our Team!

INSTRUCTORS 

Allison Walter - Instructor
Allison began her teaching career in Paris, France, where she used film and news stories to improve students’ pronunciation and comprehension of the English language. After earning her TEFL certificate from Cambridge University, Allison created an English program at ING Sviluppo SpA, in Milan, Italy, teaching exclusively to analysts and stockbrokers using current financial news and authentic materials. Her return to the United States began another journey of pedagogy and study at the University of California, Irvine, where she earned a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English and French as well as her Master’s and Ph.D. in French Literature and Philosophy. Upon completion of her degrees, Allison continued teaching at UCI International Programs and is now happy to be part of IEC's instructors.

Kristin Armstrong - Instructor
After Kristin graduated from the University of California San Diego with a B.A. in Linguistics and Psychology along with a TEFL certificate from UC San Diego Extension, they taught English abroad in Japan for 7 years. When they returned stateside, they attended Cal State Fullerton to obtain their Master of Science in Education with a concentration in TESOL and began working at IEC@OCC thereafter. They live in Orange County and can often be seen hiking, playing video games or board games, or looking for new cafes to go to.

Sarah Zakraoui - Instructor
Sarah showed an interest in teaching since she was a teenage girl. Growing up bilingual, she used to teach French to her grandmother for fun. Little did she know that she’d follow that career path. Sarah is a proud alumna of SFSU, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business. While working with a diverse population in the Bay Area, Sarah has developed interests for cultural awareness and foreign languages. Her experience in the tourism industry inspired her to shape new professional goals and to pursue the Master program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at SF State. While in grad school, Sarah designed a vocational English course and a career-readiness program for the immigrant population of Oakland, California. When she is not teaching, cooking, or hiking, Sarah enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

ADMISSIONS/STUDENT SERVICES AND RECEPTION

Noriko Gotschall - International Student Counselor
Noriko is an OCC International Counselor. She helps OCC international students achieve their educational goals by making sure they understand degree and university transfer requirements and helping them choose classes. Noriko came to the US on an F-1 visa after graduating from high school in Japan. She first attended an intensive language program before going to college. She has a BA in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MS in Counseling from California State University, Long Beach.

Thu Nguyen - Student Advisor
Thu graduated from Orange Coast College and will finish her BA in Management this Fall 2017. She grew up in Saigon, Vietnam, and came to the U.S. after graduating high school. Thu would like to pursue a Master's Degree in Counseling and work as an International Student Advisor. She enjoys traveling, shopping, dancing, and cooking. In her free time, she travels and dances Zumba.

Stephanie Phonsiri - Staff Aide
I received my BA from Vanguard University in Organizational Management and my MBA from Redlands University. I worked at Coast Community College District since 1990 and for Orange Coast College since 2006. I love working with and meeting students from all over the world. I can speak four languages: Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, and English. When I'm not at work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children. I enjoy outdoor activities and love running. 

Greg Buie - Program Facilitator
Greg serves as the Program Facilitator for the Global Engagement Center supporting international students during their time studying at IEC / OCC. He brings to his role over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit international development sector on providing health and education services to vulnerable populations. Greg holds a BA in Political Science: International Relations from the University of California, San Diego, and an MA in International Studies & Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is passionate about travel, learning languages, living a plant-based lifestyle, and spending time with his 2 children. 

MARKETING/RECRUITMENT

Naoki Hirota - Marketing Director
Naoki came to the US as an international student and majored in International Relations at the University of Kentucky, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1997. He has been with IEC since its opening in 2000. He travels internationally throughout the year, meeting partner institutions and prospective students around the world. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the drums (a pair of drumsticks are his icon!). If you see an IEC employee doing a presentation at a fair/exhibition, it will likely be Naoki.

Kristoffer Toribio - Assistant Director of International Admissions and Recruitment
Kristoffer is the Assistant Director for the Global Engagement Center and is responsible for driving the admissions and recruitment of international students. Kristoffer was born and raised on the island of Kaua'i and is a proud graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. He has worked in international undergraduate admissions for nearly 9 years and has traveled to nearly 40 countries. In his spare time, he enjoys the beach, staying active, traveling, learning about different cultures, and playing with his corgi, Koji. His hidden talent is memorizing nearly every world capital and national flag. 

ADMINISTRATION

Shane Liliedahl - Director, IEC@OCC
Shane is the Director of the International Education Center. He taught English in Japan, and has even worked with Japanese singers from the boy band “King and Prince”. Shane grew up in Los Angeles and has his Master’s in Teaching Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Southern California. He loves to sing, study Japanese, and his loud voice can often be heard singing from the classrooms next door.

Nathan Jensen - Associate Dean, Global Engagement
As Associate Dean, Nathan is responsible for oversight of the Global Engagement Center which includes services for international students, study abroad programs and services, the Multicultural Center, and IEC@OCC intensive English program. Nathan has worked in international higher education for nearly 15 years. Nathan likes to explore the world with his wife, attend church, play music, and go to art museums. Nathan has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in music from CSU Long Beach.

Joshua Kurzweil - Curriculum Coordinator
Josh began his teaching career in 1990. He has taught and trained in Japan, Spain, the Republic of Georgia, and the United States. He received his Master's degree in teaching from the SIT Graduate Institute and also holds the Cambridge CELTA and DELTA. Josh has been a trainer with the Peace Corps and has designed teacher development programs for labor unions and higher ed. He is the author of Understanding Teaching Through Learning, which was published by McGraw-Hill in 2006. His particular areas of interest include the Science of Learning, reflective practice, and learning design. In his free time, you can usually find Josh playing pool, studying foreign languages, or traveling.