SUNY COIL Advisory Council
The SUNY COIL Center is guided by an advisory council, which convenes on a regular basis (typically four times each calendar year) to communicate work from subcommittees and steer the direction of the SUNY COIL Center. Council appointments are made by the Director of the SUNY COIL Center in consultation with current Council members and a designee from the host campus.
Tracy Allen
Dean of the School of Sciences, SUNY Oneonta
United States
Learn more about Tracy Allen
Tracy H. Allen is the founding dean of the School of Sciences and has served as dean or interim dean at SUNY Oneonta for nine years. After earning a Ph.D. in Geosciences at Oregon State University, his path to becoming an academic leader started as a faculty member, Environmental Science Program Director, and later as a long-term Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability. Dr. Allen’s passion for teaching merited him the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Innovative Uses of Instructional Technology Award. As an administrator, he is committed to facilitating high impact experiential learning and teaching and creating opportunities for global connectedness, community engagement, science outreach, and sustainability. Throughout his career he has partnered with Global Education, leading nearly 400 students to 15 different countries, and advancing COIL initiatives.
Abigail Bryant
Director of EOP Student Success, SUNY System Administration
United States
Learn more about Abigail Bryant
Abigail Bryant is a Brooklyn native with a master’s degree in Sociology with a concentration on Race, Class & Gender. Abby, as she likes to go by, has a decade of experience in Higher Education. She specializes in student success which she defines as self-actualization through deep learning with respect to community cultural wealth, and radical hope. At the core of Abby’s work and education is to be an agent of social change, influencing students to strive towards excellence. She possesses extensive experience in promoting opportunity and access to students who are from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. She currently serves as the Director of EOP Student Success at SUNY System Administration. There she coordinates with 55 campuses to create the necessary conditions for students to thrive throughout their educational journey. Abby is fueled by first-hand experience of the inequities and pitfalls that exist in our current education system.
Francesca Cichello
Senior Executive Director, Center for International Education, SUNY Empire State University
United States
Learn more about Francesca Cichello
Since 2006, Francesca Cichello has worked to serve the unique needs of international students at Empire State University. She leads a global network of students, faculty, and staff in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Cichello has championed access-based virtual learning and has expertise in hybrid teaching and learning models that blend international distance learning and classroom-based instruction. Her research interests include the internationalization of higher education and American education within the global context. Cichello has served on various international task forces devoted to linking the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to educational programming.
Chiara De Santi
Associate Professor of Modern Languages, Farmingdale State College
United States
Learn more about Chiara De Santi
Chiara De Santi (she/her/hers) is Associate Professor of Modern Languages at Farmingdale State College, where she is the COIL Coordinator and the Chair of the COIL Advisory Council and of the COIL Review Board, after having led the Provost COIL Task Force in 2021-2022. As a faculty, her COIL collaborations have been with Chile, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and South Africa. She is also the advisor of the Global Learning: COIL Microcredential and of the Global and Cultural Awareness Microcredential. For COIL at Farmingdale, click here.
Kathleen Feit
Director of Finance, SUNY Oneonta
United States
Learn more about Kathleen Feit
Kathleen graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a bachelor’s degree in business economics. She has worked at SUNY Oneonta since 2017, holding various financial roles before being promoted to the Director of Finance in March 2024. Kathleen ensures accurate management of revenue, cash flow, fund balances, expenditures, and related transactions in compliance with federal, state, SUNY, and local policies. She works closely with many offices within the university, the SUNY Controller’s Office, and the Office of the New York State Comptroller. Kathleen also supervises the Accounting Office and assists with revenue projections that contribute to multi-year financial plans and strategies for the university.
Eva Haug
Educational Advisor for Curriculum Internationalisation and COIL/VE, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
The Netherlands
Learn more about Eva Haug
Eva Haug serves as the international education specialist at the Amsterdam UAS and provides professional development for faculty and other staff. She’s an elected member of the EAIE Thematic Committee for Teaching, Learning & Curriculum. In 2024 Eva received the EAIE and AMPEI awards for Outstanding Contribution to the field of IoC. Eva’s also a research fellow at the University of the Free State (SA) and an advocate for inclusive and decolonized COIL/VE.
Eva has built a sustainable COIL practice at the AUAS, offering thousands of students the opportunity to experience international and intercultural teamwork. She has presented about COIL at many conferences and is regularly invited by universities to provide professional development for IoC and COIL.
José Luis Jiménez-Figarotti
Associate Researcher and COIL Coordinator, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello
Venezuela
Learn more about José Luis Jiménez-Figarotti
José Luis Jiménez-Figarotti, an accomplished educator, researcher, and innovator, shapes the future of virtual engagement as a VE/COIL coordinator at UCAB Venezuela. His extensive teaching career spans institutions like the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and Nova Southeastern University. A seasoned author and researcher, Prof. Jiménez-Figarotti focuses on equity, human rights, and harnessing VE/COIL for cultural understanding. His work bridges global perspectives and promotes inclusive learning. His dedication extends beyond research, with projects like the UN’s “Caring for the Earth” video and the innovative UF’s “Welfare to Work” program showcasing his commitment to impactful initiatives.
Divinia Jithoo
Manager: International Education and Partnerships, Durban University of Technology
South Africa
Learn more about Divinia Jithoo
Dr. Divinia Jithoo currently serves as a Specialist in International Education at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Her work at DUT focuses on fostering global partnerships and advancing internationalisation strategies through the International Education and Partnerships (IEP) Office. With a strong commitment to DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy, Dr. Jithoo has been involved in creating a vibrant global learning community that values intercultural awareness and inclusivity.
At DUT, Dr. Jithoo plays a key roles in initiatives such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), leveraging virtual platforms to enhance cross-border academic collaboration. Her efforts aim to break down traditional barriers in higher education by promoting equitable access to internationalisation opportunities. She has also contributed to research on intra-African higher education collaboration, advocating for stronger partnerships within the continent to harness indigenous knowledge and drive sustainable development through African scholarship.
Complementing her work at DUT, Dr. Jithoo is the Co-Chair of the South African UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence at Stellenbosch University. In this role, she collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to address global challenges through intercultural dialogue and scholarship. The UNESCO Chair focuses on peacebuilding, climate action, and gender equality, aligning with Africa-centric perspectives and practices. Dr. Jithoo has been actively involved in initiatives like UNESCO Story Circles, which foster empathy and mutual respect through storytelling, as well as conferences that amplify African voices on intercultural competence.
Dr. Jithoo holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the University of the Western Cape and has developed specialized expertise in curriculum internationalisation. Her research highlights global structural dynamics in academic collaborations. Through her roles at DUT and UNESCO, Dr. Jithoo continues to shape the landscape of higher education internationalisation and intercultural competence development across Africa and beyond.
Christina Heyon Lee
Director of Global Education and International Services, Monroe Community College
United States
Learn more about Christina Lee
Christina Heyon Lee (she/her) serves as the Director of Global Education and International Services at Monroe Community College, where she leads efforts to build strategic partnerships and design curricular programming with a global lens. Her work integrates perspectives on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice, ensuring that students engage with global learning in ways that are culturally responsive and inclusive.
At MCC, Christina is the immediate past co-chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability (IDEA) Council, co-leads MCC’s Global Roundtable, and mentors students through the Global Union Student Association and Phi Theta Kappa. In the broader community, she is Vice President of the Brighton Central School District’s Board of Education, serves on the board of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Association of Greater Rochester, and is a new trustee at WXXI Public Broadcasting.
Christina is a graduate of the United Way of Greater Rochester’s Asian Pacific American Leadership Development Program, an alumna of the SUNY SAIL Institute for Strategic, Academic, and Innovative Leadership, and an inaugural fellow of the SUNY Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Leadership Institute. She was recognized in City and State magazine’s 2025 Asian Trailblazers issue for her leadership in building inclusive communities.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Christina immigrated to Rochester as a child. She earned degrees in cultural anthropology from SUNY Buffalo and University of Colorado, Boulder, and completed her EdD at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester (2024). Her doctoral project focused on increasing a sense of belonging for Asian American students at MCC.
Her academic and community work continues to center on creating belonging through culturally responsive dialogue, events, and advocacy that builds supportive and equitable spaces for all.
Michelle Lopez
Director of Global Education, SUNY Oneonta
United States
Learn more about Michelle Lopez
Michelle Lopez graduated from the University at Buffalo with an MA in Caribbean Studies. She has been the Director of Global Education at SUNY Oneonta since December 2022. Overseeing the university’s mission to globalize the campus, she assists students and faculty in pursuit of global connections (COIL, fellowships, exchange, international internships, etc.). Michelle has spent time studying and working in Cuba, studying in Mexico (Yucatán), studying in Spain, working in Costa Rica, and has traveled to Japan, Guyana, Argentina, Colombia, Canada, Morocco, and western Europe.
James M. Pasquill II
Director of International Programs, SUNY System
United States
Learn more about James Pasquill
As Director of international Programs James Pasquill (Jim) oversees and coordinates the support provided by OGA to SUNY’s 64 campuses, including system-wide international initiatives, campus internationalization, study abroad, overseas academic programs, international student recruitment, and partnerships for collaborative research, and oversees SUNY’s representative offices in Turkey. Jim came to Global Affairs from the University at Albany where he worked in the education abroad for 29 years, the latter 12 years as Director of Education Abroad.
Alejandra M. Pickett
Director of Online Teaching, SUNY Online
United States
Learn more about Alejandra M. Pickett
Alejandra M. Pickett is the director of Online Teaching for SUNY Online, at the system-level of the State University or New York (SUNY). She is the former the director of the Open SUNY Center for Online Teaching Excellence, and the former associate director of the award-winning SUNY Learning Network (SLN). Today she develops openly-licensed and freely available tools and resources to assist campuses, faculty, and instructional designers improve online teaching and learning. She consults and speaks regularly on effective online teaching and learning, large-scale online faculty development, online course quality, badging, online community building, online instructional design, and leveraging technology to enhance instruction online. Click here to visit the SUNY Online Online Teaching webpage, or click here to contact Alexandra.
Christopher Price
Director of Educational Development, SUNY Center for Professional Development
United States
Learn more about Christopher Price
Christopher Price is the Director of Educational Development for the State University of New York (SUNY) Center for Professional Development (CPD). At the CPD, Chris designs and implements professional development programs for faculty and staff both in and outside SUNY. He is an active member of the Professional and Organization Development (POD) Network serving as a member of the Core Committee in 2020-2023, Chair of the Professional Development Committee in 2018-19, and Chair of the 2017 Institute for New Faculty Developers. Prior to his position at the CPD, Chris was Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at SUNY Brockport for 12 years. He started working at Brockport after receiving his PhD in Political Science from the University at Albany in 2004. Chris continues to teach online for Brockport as an instructor in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. He has been invited to give a keynote address or presentation over twenty times at conferences and campuses across the U.S. Teaching, learning, and educational development workshops and presentations Chris has conducted include discussion-based teaching, communicating effectively with students, collaborative learning, academic integrity, teaching with technology, course design and using critical reflection to improve teaching and learning. In 2013, he received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.
June L. Prieto
Director of Internationalization and Linkages, San Pedro College
Philippines
Learn more about June Prieto
Dr. June is a visionary and accomplished leader with a proven track record in internationalization and the strategic implementation of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). As the Director of Internationalization and Linkages, she drives the institution’s global strategy, forging impactful international partnerships and providing expert oversight for innovative COIL projects. Her extensive experience as a long-standing COIL Coordinator is evidenced by her successful orchestration of over 100 curriculum-based and interdisciplinary COIL projects, including direct engagement in more than 25 collaborative online initiatives. Dr. June’s global perspective is further enriched by her engagements as a visiting professor and global lecturer at universities in the USA, Europe, and Asia.
Annette Richie
Director of Global Academic Programs, University at Albany
United States
Learn more about Annette Richie
Dr. Richie oversees COIL, Global Distinction, the International Studies Minor and Peace Corps Prep.
Chilton Reynolds
Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching, Learning & Scholarship, SUNY Oneonta
United States
Ex officio, non-voting member
Learn more about Chilton Reynolds
Dawn Whitehead
Vice President of the Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community and Careers, American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
United States
Learn more about Dawn Whitehead
Dr. Dawn Michele Whitehead is the Vice President of the Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community and Careers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Her office focuses on advancing practices and strategies to integrate and advance equitable participation in global learning, integrative learning, community-based learning, and experiential learning across curricular and co-curricular initiatives to prepare students for life, work, and citizenship. She also serves as the program director of AAC&U’s Annual Meeting and draws on the broader work of AAC&U members and contemporary issues in higher education to create a compelling and timely meeting.
At AAC&U, Whitehead’s work centers on integrative global learning with an emphasis on thematic local and international experiences that provide students with a variety of global learning opportunities across their educational experiences. She also works on projects that integrate high-impact practices across general education and the majors to provide students with consistent, high-quality liberal learning, and engages and collaborates across offices at AAC&U on curricular transformation. Dr. Whitehead has presented and published nationally and internationally on global learning, community engaged learning, curricular change, and engaged learning. She was named an inaugural member of the Institute for International Education’s National Academy for International Education. Whitehead also serves as vice chair of the board of directors for The Forum on Education Abroad.
Dr. Whitehead earned a Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies with concentrations in African Studies and International and Comparative Education from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Hope Windle
Director of the SUNY COIL Center
United States
Ex officio, non-voting member
Learn more about Hope Windle
Hope Windle is the Director of SUNY COIL (State University of New York Collaborative Online International Learning), leading with 19 years of instructional design acumen. Empowering 225+ global member institutions, providing professional workshops, connecting institutions, professors and 60,000 students annually in 32 countries on 6 continents. She speaks internationally on the value of culturally focused, student team-based projects enacting social change locally and globally.