SMCCCD Study Abroad

Russell Waldon, JD
Dean of the Global Learning Programs and Services Division
Skyline College

Russell serves as the Dean of the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at Skyline College, which includes SMCCCD Study Abroad under his leadership. Russell graduated from the University of Miami (Florida) with a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in International Finance and Marketing followed by a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame where he participated in the Concannon Programme for International Law at their London, England law center. He is a member of the Florida Bar and was previously admitted to practice before the Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. His background includes time spent as a former assistant general counsel and Bureau Chief for Civil Rights for the Florida Department of Transportation and later of counsel for the law firm of Inumerable and Inumerable where he worked on civil rights and international trade matters. Russell has worked extensively with small businesses having spent 14 years as an international trade consultant at the Citrus College Center for International Trade Development/California-Mexico Trade Assistance Center. He then pursued a career in education becoming a faculty member at College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita Community College District) in 2000 where he has taught Business, Business Ethics, Business Law, International Trade, and Negotiation and Conflict Resolution courses. He is also the co-founder of the College’s Institute for Ethics, Law, and Public Policy.

Zaid Ghori, MPA
Director of Special International Programs, SMCCCD Study Abroad
Skyline College

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.

Stephanie Wells, MA
Program Services Coordinator, SMCCCD Study Abroad
Skyline College

Stephanie comes to SMCCCD Study Abroad with an array of experience in International Education. She graduated from San José State University with a B.A. in Global Studies and a minor in Spanish. She studied abroad in Guatemala as an undergraduate student and subsequently lived in Central America, working with non-profits and community cooperatives. She returned to the U.S. to complete an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from San Francisco State University and worked as an ESL instructor in various community colleges in the Bay Area, including the College of San Mateo. During this time, Stephanie also partnered with local teachers in Guatemala to develop Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs through San Jose State University, giving her the opportunity to once again witness the profound impact studying abroad can have on students' identities and worldviews. Her vision for study abroad is one that is immersive, impactful, inclusive, and accessible for any student who wishes to participate.

Aubrey Kuan Roderick, M.A., M.S.
CSM Study Abroad Liaison and International Education Program Manager
College of San Mateo

Aubrey came to the U.S. as her study abroad destination after college. She now manages the International Education Program and oversees the programs and services provided for the Center for Global Engagement at the College of San Mateo. Over the past two decades, she has dedicated her career in supporting the success of international students. Prior to leading the International Education team at CSM, she worked at the Johns Hopkins University, Mills College, Middlebury Institute for International Studies and MiraCosta College. Aubrey also taught Chinese language and culture courses in both online and face-to-face settings for 10 years. In her spare time, Aubrey enjoys traveling, scrapbooking and doing Zen yoga. Her favorite international travel destinations so far include Cork, Ireland, London, England, Pompeii, Italy, Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

Kathryn Kohut, M.Ed
Cañada Study Abroad Liaison and International Education Program Manager
Cañada College

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 travelling, 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.