Meet the Academic and Student Services
Seattle Campus
Chiew Jones
Director, Career Development & Experiential Learning
Role at Northeastern: Chiew oversees the delivery of career services and experiential learning for the Seattle campus, collaborating with career and experiential faculty and staff at the Seattle campus, across the Northeastern Global University System and employer partners.
Educational/ Professional background: She has over 16 years of combined experience in higher education, marketing, economic development, fund development and non-profit management. Prior to joining Northeastern University, Chiew served as the Associate Director of Experiential Learning and Lead Instructor of Internship Experience classes for the past 6 years at Bellevue College. Chiew spent 2 years advising international students and teaching the first year college experience class at Green River College. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University and masters in non-profit leadership from Seattle University.
Personal background: Chiew was born and raised in a multi-racial country, Singapore. She moved to Seattle in 2008 to pursue her masters at Seattle University. She is passionate about transforming the lives of young people through education. She loves to travel, learn new languages and experiment food recipes from different cultures. In addition to speaking English, she speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien and basic Japanese. Chiew believes food, music, sports and arts are great ways to connect people from different cultures.
Shatera Davis
Director of Student Affairs
Role at Northeastern: Shatera Davis (she/her) is responsible for the design and implementation of a broad array of programs and services that provide a rich student experience at the Northeastern - Seattle Campus.
Educational/ Professional background: Shatera holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Minor in Organizational Leadership from the University Missouri- Saint Louis and a Master of Science in Higher Education from the University of Kansas. Previously, she worked at the University of Washington-Seattle campus in various Student Affairs positions. Her passion lies in supporting the holistic needs of students through an equity and empowerment focused lens.
Personal background: Shatera was raised in Saint Louis, MO with 6 sisters (twin included). Shatera moved to Seattle for the consistent cool weather and to continue her journey as a Student Affairs professional. She loves going on mini adventures, music, television and her dog.
Danny Arguetty
Wellness Program Specialist
Role at Northeastern: To support student wellness through, one-on-one wellness support, proactive/ preventative wellness programing, and ensure easy access to existing university wellbeing resources.
Educational/ Professional background: Danny is joining NU Seattle after 5 ½ years at UW Seattle where he served as the Mindfulness Manager. He programed their weekly yoga classes/workshop, hired/mentored staff, created and lead yoga teacher training, and taught a quarterly one credit intro to mindfulness course. Prior to UW he was leading yoga trainings and before that working at a retreat center leading yoga classes and wellness workshops.
Personal background: He loves to cook, bike, swim, hike, kayak, dance (Zumba & Bollywood Dance), and is excited to garden this summer in his p-patch plot. Danny is also a huge sci-fi fan, Star-Trek is #1, but give him anything with space and he is happy!
Katrine Viscaya
Assistant Director for Student Recruitment and Enrollment
Role at Northeastern: At Northeastern University, Katrine is the Assistant Director for Student Recruitment and Enrollment. She helps students find their fit in the programs we offer at Northeastern University. Creating community, lending a helping hand, and supporting prospective students in their academic journey towards higher education is what Katrine loves to do the most.
Educational/ Professional background: Katrine has her BA in Business Administration Management and a minor in Sociology from the University of Washington Tacoma. Being a proactive member from her university, Katrine was an orientation leader and was able to fill the role of an Academic Advisor at her alma matter after graduation. Katrine has a passion for helping students seek opportunities in higher education.
Personal background: Katrine is a Washington native growing up in Tacoma, Washington. She has a profound love for her city and has a treasure trove of suggestions for local coffee and parks in the greater Tacoma area. Katrine loves music and has been to over 300 concerts and counting!
Emily Stimac
Career Development Advisor
Role at Northeastern: Emily assists with all things professional development on the Northeastern Seattle Campus including career and co-op advising, and providing experiential learning and professional development opportunities.
Educational/ Professional Background: Emily did her undergraduate degree at Montana State University in political science and my M.S.Ed. in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to working at Northeastern she was working at the University of Washington Foster School of Business doing graduate advising and student services. She also has experience working in career and student development at Drexel University. Her passion lies in working alongside students to support them in their personal, professional, and academic journey to ensure they receive the support they need to be their most authentic selves.
Personal background: Emily's family lives in Lake Tahoe, Nevada where she frequently visit to ski and hike with her family.
Jennifer Ross
Career Development Advisor
Role at Northeastern: At Northeastern University, Jennifer is a Career Development Advisor. She advises students in career development which includes career and co-op advising, and providing experiential learning and professional development opportunities.
Educational/ Professional background: Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Washington. She spent over 14 years at the University of Washington in various student facing roles. Most recently she was a Graduate Advisor for four different online professional masters programs. She really enjoys getting to know students, and helping them achieve their academic and professional success.
Personal background: Jennifer has lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of her life. Originally born in Michigan, she moved to Seattle at a very young age and has called Seattle her home ever since. She loves all things outdoors (hiking, kayaking, camping, snowboarding to name a few) and also enjoys cooking, baking and watching k-dramas.
Global Learner Support
Jeremy Walter
Director, Global Learner Support
Role at Northeastern: At Northeastern University, Jeremy serves as the Director of the Global Learner Support (GLS), which provides learners, faculty, and staff with language, cultural, and academic support across the global campus network. This support is provided through a variety of workshops, cultural programming, non-credit courses, and tutoring services. In addition to overseeing GLS, Jeremy enjoys engaging with NU learners by facilitating workshops and teaching academic and communication courses. As a lifelong learner and lover of cultures, he appreciates being able to continuously engage and learn from the community at Northeastern.
Educational/ Professional background: Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies from Illinois State University, a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from Newcastle University, and a Doctorate of Education from Northeastern University. Before coming to Northeastern, Jeremy taught English in various capacities to both young and adult learners in South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Personal background: Jeremy is originally from the Midwest, has lived overseas for 10 years, and now calls Seattle home. In his free time, he can be found enjoying all the Pacific Northwest has to offer!
Office of Global Services (OGS)
Desiree Waits
Associate Director of International Student Services, U.S. Regional Campuses
Role at Northeastern: Based in Seattle, Desiree oversees international student advising services at Northeastern's U.S. regional campuses. She aims to ensure that international students studying at our regional campuses receive equitable advising services in immigration, advocacy, and personal concerns during their time at Northeastern.
Educational/ Professional background: BA in International Studies with an East Asian Studies emphasis from the University of Missouri - Columbia MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of South Florida Forensic Psychology Certificate from Washington University in St. Louis. Desiree has worked in the field of international education for nine years, including advising at the International Center for Study Abroad at the University of Missouri - Columbia and Washington University in St. Louis. International education advocacy has been the focus of her work in the field. She thinks it is a pleasure to get to know and advise international students during such an exciting time in their lives. She feels inspired by their personal growth from orientation to graduation and the amazing projects and opportunities they go on to engage in locally and around the world.
Personal background: Desiree grew up in the Midwest in Missouri, studied abroad in Brazil, and lived in sunny south Florida. She loves living on the coast, so moving to Seattle has been an exciting new journey. There is so much to explore outdoors, and the area is rich with history and culture. She is enjoying getting to know the new city.
Khoury College of Computer Sciences
Ujwala Ramakrishna
Assistant Director of Graduate Advising & Student Services
Role at Northeastern:
Ujwala helps support students throughout the entire application process for multiple Khoury College of Computer Sciences programs offered the Seattle campus. She hosts events and works with students one on one to help them see their transition to computer science.
Educational/ Professional Background:
Ujwala attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, where she received a BA in Environmental Studies. She later received a Master’s of Science and Policy from the University of Delaware.
Personal Background:
As a child of a United Nations diplomat, Ujwala grew up all over the world. She has loved creating communities wherever she goes and is very excited to be in Seattle meeting new people and building a new home. Ujwala loves helping people see their potential and explore careers they never thought were possible.
Mary Trimarco
Business and Outreach Director
Role at Northeastern:
The primary goal of her role at Northeastern is to connect our students with industry and create a range of opportunities for our corporate partners and students to build relationships that ideally lead to employment. The opportunities in computer science are vast and continue to grow, which is why it’s important to introduce students from a wide range of backgrounds into the field. Mary loves creating an environment of opportunity for students.
Educational / Professional Background:
Mary started her career in commercial banking after graduating from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in finance. She worked for a decade as a commercial television producer in New York and the Washington, D.C. region, and also as a film commissioner to bring film projects to Washington. Prior to Northeastern, she worked for the State of Washington in economic development, leading a great team in attracting investment into the state and in expanding international trade opportunities for Washington-based companies.
Personal Background:
She grew up in Dundee, Illinois, and spent these defining years outdoors running around or riding her horse through neighboring fields – not something that would be easy to do today.
Austin Escalera
Graduate Student Services Coordinator
Role at Northeastern: As a Graduate Student Services Coordinator, Austin is here to support graduate students through academic advising and program development/support.
Educational/ Professional background: Austin completed his BA in communications at the University of Washington Tacoma, and is currently a graduate student at Seattle University. His Master's program is specifically geared towards developing his knowledge and skill sets in and around the student affairs setting. His most recent role was serving as an Assistant Area Coordinator for Seattle University's Housing and Residence Life (HRL).
Personal background: Austin was born on the island of Guahan (Guam), but moved to Washington with his family when he was still rather young. Although his true home will forever be in the Pacific, Washington is his home away from home. His partner and himself love to go for hikes here in the PNW and enjoy taking in everything that the Washington outdoors has to offer.
Megan Winter
Graduate Student Services Coordinator
Role at Northeastern: At Northeastern Seattle, Megan does academic advising and event planning for Khoury Computer Science students.
Educational/ Professional background: Megan has Bachelors from Central Washington University in IT Masters from Seattle University in Education.
Personal background: Megan was born and raised here in Seattle, specifically in the Snoqualmie area. She loves doing art and playing video games when she is not at work or exploring new coffee shops and local restaurants!
Timothy Greer
Graduate Admissions Counselor
Educational/ Professional background: Timothy comes to Northwestern University after serving three years at Saint Martin’s University working in the Office of Graduate Admissions charged with the enrollment & recruitment responsibilities of admissions for graduate students. Timothy has also served as an adjunct professor at Saint Martin’s University.
Personal background: Timothy comes from a family history of military service and is a big supporter of service members & their families. This upbringing allowed Timothy to see the world and he continues his passions of engaging other cultures by traveling the world with his family. Timothy is a Disney & Star Wars fanatic; he even has a Old English Bulldog by the name of Kenobi. Timothy has lived in WA for 20 years over the course of his lifetime earning his Bachelor's & Masters Degree at Seattle University.
College of Engineering
Adrianna Plavetsky
Academic Advisor and Program Manager
Role at Northeastern: Academic Advisor and Program Manager for the College of Engineering graduate students on the Seattle Campus.
Educational/ Professional background: Adrianna received her bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of Massachusetts and her master's degree in education from Northeastern University. Since relocating to Seattle, she has worked at the University of Washington in student services and human resources and looks forward to using this knowledge to support COE students.
Personal background: She is originally from Boston and relocated to Seattle to be closer to nature. Adrianna enjoys hiking with her dog in her free time, trying new foods around the city, and gardening.
Yingqian “Terri” Gu
Assistant Cooperative Education Coordinator
Role at Northeastern: Terri is excited to transit into the new role as the second Assistant Cooperative Education Coordinator for COE at Seattle, supporting the students with their career development and creating a meaningful learning experience together. She will be teaching the Career Management for Engineers courses and support COE students with career development and employment outreach.
Educational/ Professional background: Terri came to Los Angeles in 2012 to attend the University of California - Los Angeles and graduated with a BS in Economics in 2016. That same year, she moved to Seattle to complete her Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington. After graduating, Terri joined WholeRen Education Group, a private higher education institution that focuses on serving the international student community in America. She worked as an Academic Tutor and Counselor to drive academic support, tutoring, and mentorship for college students. Terri started as an Academic Advisor for the College of Engineering in May 2020, with her primary responsibility to support the rapid growth of COE at the Seattle Campus and on the West Coast and got promoted last year as a Senior Academic advisor.
Personal background: Terri was born and raised in Beijing, China.
Kathy Wong
Assistant Coop Coordinator
Educational/ Professional background: Kathy came from University of Washington with experience in a variety of roles and offices, from academic advising to immigration advising to recruiting & admissions. She has diverse experience working with undergraduate, graduate, international students in disciplines ranging from STEM to business and everything in-between. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Washington and a Master of Education in Student Development Administration at Seattle University.
Personal background: Kathy is a Seattle native, born and raised. She likes to explore new places with friends or a tour group to get out of her comfort zone. She also enjoys cooking and eating as well as spending time with her Shih Tzu, Mr. Bailey (aka Mr. B).
College of Professional Studies
Megan Sykes
Associate Director, Academic Advising & Program Operations
Role at Northeastern: Megan serves as the Associate Director, Academic Advising & Program Operations at CPS , supporting program development on the west-coast.
Educational/ Professional Background:
Megan has an educational background in sociology, anthropology, and higher education administration. She received her master’s degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs from University of San Francisco and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University. With her past experience in student-facing roles, she enjoys working on systems-wide programming and initiatives that are grounded in improving the student experience.
Personal Background:
Megan was born and raised south of Seattle, where she grew up exploring the different corners of the Pacific Northwest by hiking and camping with her family. After some time in San Francisco, she returned to Seattle in 2016 to be closer to family again. She can be found happily expanding her garden, cooking, and listening to music.
Paula Grow
Academic and Career Advisor
Role at Northeastern: Paula works as an Academic and Career Advisor for the Ed.D. program.
Educational/ Professional background: Paula has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, a Master of Science Degree in Education, and a Master of Adult Learning and Leadership. Her experience ranges from teaching at the high school level to teaching adults. She has also been an academic advisor for the Department of the Army. She has spent the last 14 years working with adults at institutions of higher education, helping them to pursue their dreams through education.
Personal background: Paula began her career teaching high school science. She moved into working in higher education and served schools in Colorado, Mississippi, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Washington. She is also a certified mediator and assist in peaceful resolutions with local dispute resolution centers. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.
Jiaqi Li
Academic & Professional Advisor
Role at Northeastern: Jiaqi is an Academic & Professional Advisor with College of Professional Studies at Seattle campus.
Educational/ Professional background: She graduated in 2016 from Shanghai Ocean University with a bachelor's degree in English and then received a master's degree in multicultural education from University of Washington in 2017. Before she joined Northeastern, she was working as a Student Services Advisor at a coding bootcamp called Epicodus.
Personal background: Jiaqi was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and moved to Seattle in 2016 for grad school. She enjoys traveling, cooking, doing K-pop dance covers, and spending time with her husband, friends, and cats, QiuQiu and DanDan.
College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Ann Lesperance
Director of CSSH Programs
Role at Northeastern: At Northeastern, Ann promotes and raises awareness for the Security and Resilience programs and Urban Informatics masters and certificate programs. She also promotes other CSSH degree offerings that may be a part of what is available at the Seattle campus. She is impassioned by meeting people who are interested in this exciting and diverse program, and she enjoys helping them strategize on how the program can help them with their long-term career goals.
Educational/ Professional Background:
Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin (Madison). She received a master’s in public health, focused on environmental health, from UCLA.
Personal Background:
Ann grew up on a farm in Wisconsin before heading off to college, and then Germany, the Peace Corps in Ecuador, Atlanta, Los Angeles and finally the Pacific Northwest. Growing up in a small town not only taught her about resilience and dedication, but also about being prepared to be mobile and to tackle new challenges and environments.