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Our Offices and Teams

American Language and Culture Institute

The American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) offers programs and workshops designed to help our students meet their English language learning goals.

Staff Information
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International Students & Scholars Office

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) advises international students, faculty, scholars, and alumni on matters relating to immigration.

Staff Information

Study Abroad Office

The Office of Study Abroad and Away connects students with opportunities to study beyond the Worcester campus.

Staff Information

Our Staff

Sarah Lopolito

Sarah Lopolito

Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Global Engagement

1-508-793-7309

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David Joseph

David Joseph

Communication & Events Specialist

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Learn more about Sarah

For as long as Sarah can remember, she wanted to be in the field of education in one way or another. Sarah has been lucky to have fulfilled this career goal in a wide variety of settings from large public schools to small private universities and nonprofit organizations. In each of these locations, she has been able to enact her belief that focused and personalized instruction creates an enriching experience for students.

Sarah’s desire to work in international education started when she studied abroad in Glasgow, Scotland, and deepened when as a fifth-grade teacher, she developed curriculum centered on the book “Talking Walls.” This book looks at different walls located around the world, and served as a catalyst for cultural explorations. This curriculum only fueled Sarah’s own interest in exploring different places and interacting with people from cultures different from her own. Eventually, her career shifted to teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) in higher educational institutions. From there, she transitioned to administrative work as she moved into director roles for English language programs and later into overseeing Clark University’s International Center. In her current role of Assistant Dean and Director of the International Center, she provides mentorship and guidance to the operations and functionality of the International Students and Scholars Office, the American Language and Culture Institute, as well as Office of Study Abroad and Away. She also oversees the development and maintenance of relationships with international partners and liaises frequently with foreign institutes.

Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College and a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from The New School in New York City. She has attended annual conferences at NAFSA Region XI, NAFSA, AIEA, EAIE, TESOL, NNETESOL, and English USA, and presented at NAFSA Region XI, TESOL, and English USA.

Learn more about David

David(he/him/his) is thrilled to be joining the Office of Global Engagement as a Communications and Events Specialist to serve Clark University’s International Students. David is a multimedia and communication enthusiast. David will primarily be taking the lead at coordinating events and marketing events on various platforms.

David grew up in Brockton, MA in a Haitian-American family. Being the son of immigrants and growing up in among Brockton’s big Cape Verdean population, David understands the importance of respecting and appreciating other cultures outside of the U.S. and has mentored and assisted various young students from a variety of backgrounds. He can speak and understand Haitian Creole. Growing up in a church that was predominantly Haitian-speaking, David would often translate information into English for other members. He received his bachelor’s degree in communication studies in 2019 at Bridgewater State University. David has always had a passion for building relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, he is passionate about being able to disseminate information in multiple forms of digital media and written communication. The world will always need to be communicated to, and he is a strong believer that whether written, visual or verbal, healthy communication makes the world go around.

When David is not at Clark University, he enjoys going to concerts, reading a good self-help book, enjoying a relaxing time at a spa, and going to sporting events.

American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI)

Ercan Balci

Ercan Balci

Director, American Language and Culture Institute

1-508-793-7652

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Nicholas Gareca

Nicholas Gareca

Academic Specialist, American Language and Culture Institute

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Learn more about Ercan

Ercan Balci is the Director of ALCI at Clark University. Although he recently started in this role, he has been at Clark in various roles since 2019.

Ercan is originally from Istanbul, Turkey, where he completed his BA, MA, and Ph.D. in Language Studies. Prior to Clark, he taught language, culture, and Global Studies courses and directed programs at the University of Illinois and Brown University. Ercan has been a big fan of collaborating with faculty and staff from various departments and institutions to increase the visibility of international education, languages, and cultures.

Ercan considers himself a Global Citizen, and enjoys learning and teaching the richness of languages and cultures around the world. He has traveled to many countries in Europe, North America, and South America. One day, he wants to visit several countries in Africa and Asia, but he has a homestead with lots of farm animals, making it impossible for him to travel.

Learn more about Nicholas

Nico (he/him/él/-o) is very excited to be joining the ALCI as the Academic Specialist. Having only moved to the area in 2022, he especially looks forward to working with new students so that we may all discover our innah New Englandah.

Nico grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania in an Argentine-American family. Forever a lover of languages, he went to Temple University where studied English, Spanish Literature, and Mandarin Chinese. After completing a yearlong study abroad program at Xiamen University in China, he returned to Asia as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grantee to Taitung, Taiwan. He then went on to complete his Masters of Education in Bilingual Education at the University of Minnesota, and picked up a bit of French along the way. Now happily settled at Clark University, Nico now hopes that Ercan will teach him Turkish.

When Nico is not at Clark University, Nico lives in a farm cooperative where he enjoys shoveling compost, running, baking bread, and playing music. He hopes you will come visit him at ALCI office!

International Students and Scholars Office

Amanda Desai

Amanda Desai

Director, PDSO & RO, International Student and Scholars Office

1-508-793-7357

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Nathan Cruz

Nathan Cruz

Assistant Director, DSO & ARO, International Students and Scholars Office

1-508-793-7339

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Learn more about Amanda

As the Director for the International Students and Scholars Office, Amanda supports and advises the international community at Clark regarding immigration and immigration-related issues, transitioning to the United States, and overall student success as a Clarkie!

Amanda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business Management from SUNY Cobleskill in 2009 and received her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administrative Services from Mckendree University in 2011. Amanda has over ten years of Higher Education and Student Affairs experience, with a focus in Residence Life and International Student Services.

Amanda has a passion for supporting and serving international students while collaborating with the International Center team to create a positive and student-centered International Student experience at Clark University.

Learn more about Nathan

Nathan comes back to Clark as an international student advisor. He works to advise international students regarding immigration and immigration-related issues, issue immigration documents, and maintain student records.

As an undergraduate at Clark, Nathan realized he could use his love for learning about different countries and cultures by working in immigration. This led him to study abroad in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, as well as complete internships working with migrant communities at his Congressman’s office in Lynn, Massachusetts and at Ascentria Care Alliance in Worcester. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Latin American studies, he worked at a corporate immigration law firm, completing immigration processes for both the United States and more than a dozen other countries.

When not working, Nathan likes to spend his time planning travel and finding the best new music from around the world.

Ninette Abourjeily

Ninette Abourjeily

International Student Advisor, DSO, International Students and Scholars Office

1-508-793-7362

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Catherine Zamarro

Catherine Zamarro

International Student Advisor, DSO, International Students and Scholars Office

1-508-421-3807

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Learn more about Ninette

As a student advisor, Ninette is here to counsel international and foreign students and provide both guidance and advice on a wide range of immigration and intercultural matters.

Before joining Clark, Ninette’s career spanned different fields, including Events and Marketing manager and Office Manager/Executive Assistant to the CEO of a major conglomerate in the Middle East.

Ninette wanted to expand her problem-solving skills as well as her ability to formulate tactical plans and use them to benefit the younger generation. That goal is what led her to Clark.

Having lived in both The United Arab Emirates and Lebanon, Ninette has been exposed to a variety of different cultures throughout her lifetime. While also being fluent in French, Arabic, and English, she sees this as the perfect tool needed to speak to students from all over the world who have an interest in Clark.

Learn more about Catherine

Catherine is excited to be a part of the Clark International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) as an International Student Advisor. Catherine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Before joining Clark University, Catherine worked for Brandeis University in its International Students and Scholars Office.

Catherine grew up in Worcester, MA and has always enjoyed traveling and meeting new people from all over the world. During her childhood, Catherine’s family hosted several visiting students/professionals through the Italian American Cultural Center in Worcester. After she graduated from college, Catherine spent three years teaching English as a second language to primary-age students in Valencia, Spain. During her time in Spain, Catherine immersed herself in the Spanish language, culture, and food! These life experiences have taught her about the importance of understanding different perspectives and cultural diversity.

The experience of living and working abroad is what inspired Catherine to pursue a role in international education. Catherine is excited to be back in her hometown and helping to support international students during their experience at Clark. In her free time, Catherine enjoys practicing yoga, going to the beach, hiking, painting, and traveling to new places with her friends and family.

Study Abroad Office

Alissa Briggs

Alissa Briggs

Director, Study Abroad and Away

1-508-793-7354

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Colton King

Colton King

Assistant Director, Study Abroad and Away

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Learn more about Alissa

Alissa serves as the Director of Study Abroad and Away Programs here at Clark.  Her main responsibilities include working with her team to advise Clark students through all aspects of the study abroad process and maintaining an office portfolio of over 50 approved study away programs.  She is also responsible for maintaining budgets, updating and executing health and risk management policies, monitoring academic quality and safety issues; institutional relationships and developing and implementing new programs to meet evolving needs of students. Alissa is a member of the NAFSA Association for International Educators and is currently Chair of the NAFSA Region XI Leadership Team. She is also a member of the Forum Standards of Good Practice, Diversity Abroad, and the CIEE Academic Consortium.

Alissa received her double Bachelor’s degree in Social Thought & Political Economy and Germanic Languages and Literature from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she studied abroad as an exchange student at the Karls-Eberhard-Universität in Tübingen, Germany.  Realizing that she could make study abroad a career, Alissa furthered her education by getting her Master’s degree in Intercultural Relations and International Higher Education from Lesley University.  She has since worked for ISEP Study Abroad in Washington, DC and Boston University Global Programs in Boston, MA and Brussels, Belgium.

Learn more about Colton

A local of Worcester County, Colton (he/him), is thrilled to be joining the Office of Study Abroad. Having studied and worked around Worcester as a teenager and beyond, he enjoys talking about the many hidden gems of Worcester in addition to finding new ones.

Colton embarked on a transformative journey at seventeen through the LABO Japan Exchange Program, sparking his passion for Japan and international exchange. He pursued a dual degree in Japanese Language & Literature/Hospitality & Tourism Management at UMass, Amherst, studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai during that time. After graduating, he participated in the JET Program in Osaka, Japan, teaching English to middle school students for three years and engaging with community initiatives. Following that, he transitioned to a role at Keihan Hotels and Resorts as a translator for The Thousand Kyoto Hotel in Kyoto. He returned to the US during the global pandemic and worked with JFC International, a Japanese food distribution company and child of Kikkoman Soy Sauce. He thrives in a setting of bridging cultural gaps and fostering connections through diverse experiences drawn from his time in Japan.

During free time, Colton enjoys going to live concerts, playing music, watching horror movies, riding motorcycles, scuba diving, and playing a number of tabletop games. He hopes to assist you in making your study abroad ambitions a reality in the near future!

Clark Poland and Clark China Programs

Contact Information

Office of Global Engagement

Office Location

International Center at Corner House
142 Woodland Street
Worcester, MA 01610