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Meet our Team

IERF has a multinational and multilingual staff, many of whom have studied outside the United States. Our employees have a demonstrated knowledge of over twenty languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Bamanankan, Basque, Bengali, Belarussian, Bulgarian, Cantonese Chinese, Catalan, Croatian, Filipino, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Macedonian, Mandarin Chinese, Marathi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Taiwanese, and Ukrainian.

Board of Directors

• Elaine Wheeler, Chair

  Retired. Formerly Director of California College Prep initiative, University of California System

  Ms. Wheeler has 25 years of management experience in the higher education arena, particularly within the University of California System. Her most recent position was that of founding director of the University of California College Prep Initiative (UCCP), which is a statewide, academic initiative of the University of California designed to deliver online college preparatory courses to California high school students by means of distance-learning technologies. Previous responsibilities have also included serving as Director of the Academic Senate Office at UC Santa Cruz, Associate Executive Director of the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) at UC Irvine and Senior Assistant Registrar at UC Santa Barbara. 
   
  Ms. Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Ecology (cum laude) and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Her publications include, inter alia, the co-authorship of a chapter in a handbook on “Disaster Preparedness and Recovery in a Records Management Environment” in Students Records Management.

  
  
• Satpal Nagpal, Treasurer

  Principal, Green Hasson & Janks LLP

  Mr. Nagpal holds a Master of Commerce degree from the University of Mumbai in India as well as a Master in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He currently serves as the Principal at Green Hasson & Janks, the oldest independent accounting firm on the west side of Los Angeles. With over ten years of public accounting experience providing audit, accounting and general business consulting services, he is an integral part of the firm’s nonprofit practice. Mr. Nagpal is also active in the field in other areas. In addition to having lectured at Hebrew Union College and at the Riordan Volunteer Leadership Development Program, he has also been a participant at the round table conference for students from the Master of Accounting and Taxation program at the University of Southern California. He is a member of the California Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

  
  
• Leo A. Van Cleve, Secretary

  Director, International Programs, California State University System

  Mr. Van Cleve holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in History from Eastern Illinois University. Since 1995, he has been associated with the California State University System, from 1995-97 as Associate Director of International Programs and, since 1997, as Director of International Programs. His responsibilities include the oversight and management of study abroad programs in 18 countries with 50 universities. Under his directorship, new programs were developed with Chile, China, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Previously, Mr. Van Cleve was the Director of International Education at Central College, as well as Program Officer at the Institute of European/Asian Studies (now IES). 
   
  He has presented numerous papers in international education. His publications include the co-authorship of “Marketing, Promotion, and Publicity” in NAFSA’s Guide to Education Abroad for Advisors and Administrators (2005) and “Program Designs and Strategies” in NAFSA’s Guide to Education Abroad for Advisors and Administrators (2005). 
   
  He is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Fulbright International Education Administrators Award in 1997.

  
  
• Debra Bean

  Associate Provost, National University, La Jolla, California

  Ms. Bean holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Fine Arts and in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As Associate Provost at National University, the second-largest, private, non-profit institution of higher learning in California, Ms. Bean is responsible for assessment, WASC educational effectiveness preparation, curriculum liaison with the Graduate and Undergraduate Councils, and administrative support to the Center for Teaching Excellence. Prior to her present position, Ms. Bean served as Associate Dean at the School of Media Arts at Columbia College in Chicago and as Dean of the School of Media and Communication at National University, La Jolla, California. She has much industry experience in the field of media advertising and marketing, also having held the positions of Director, Vice President and President at VSA Partners, Inc, Leapnet and Editel, respectively.

  
  

Executive Director

• Susan Bedil

  Executive Director

  Susan joined IERF in 2002. She is from Johannesburg, South Africa and has over 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors of higher education. Susan was one of the founders of both the Midrand Campus Group and Educor (Education Investment Corporation), the largest private education group in southern Africa, founded in 1990 and 1996, respectively. Prior to 1990, Susan held a full-time position as lecturer in the school of law at the University of Witwatersrand. Later, while working with the Midrand Campus Group, Susan held numerous academic and management positions, including Lecturer, Director of Studies and Chief Executive Officer. After resigning from her full-time position with the Midrand Campus Group, Susan served as Education Management Advisor to Educor. In this principal consulting role, she provided advice on developments and trends in private and public higher education, Department of Education and state regulatory issues. Susan has published and presented numerous papers on topics on law, education and the rights of the child and the disabled, both in South Africa and abroad. She has served in various capacities (Executive Director, Non-Executive Director and Chairman) on many boards (non-profit organizations, private for profit companies, as well as on the board of the publicly traded Educor). She currently serves on various educational and professional advisory boards in the United States; she also has a special interest in and has been involved with numerous community outreach projects.

  Susan recently served for six years as the chair of NACES® - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. This organization is committed to formulating and maintaining ethical standards in the field of foreign educational evaluation.

  
  

Evaluation Staff

• Liana Amelova

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Linguistics, Moscow State Pedagogical University (Russia)
  Master of Business Administration, Woodbury University

  Prior to joining IERF in 2010, Liana taught at the Los Angeles Unified School District and worked as a Center Director at an educational organization in Los Angeles. She has extensive teaching and educational management experience, including organizational administration, development and implementation of educational programs, curriculum development and personnel management.

  Liana grew up in Moscow, Russia. She is fluent in both Russian and Spanish; she studied French and Latin and has a working knowledge of Armenian, Ukrainian, Italian and Pilipino. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and specializes in the educational systems of Eastern Europe and Asia.

  Liana contributed to IERF's publications, The New Country Index Volume II (2011) and the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  She also contributed to NAFSA’s Online Guide to Educational Systems around the World publication.

  
  
• Andrea Ben Zion

  Senior Evaluator

  Zweites Juristisches Staatsexamen (Second Legal State Exam) (Germany)

  Prior to joining IERF in 2006, Andrea worked at the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation in Los Angeles, working on translations and contributing to the Foundation’s searchable thesaurus.

  Andrea is a native of Germany and grew up there. She is fluent in German and has a working knowledge of Spanish and Hebrew. She has traveled in Europe and the Middle East and has lived in Japan. Andrea specializes in the educational systems of Central Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

  Andrea contributed to IERF’s publication, the Index of Educational Terms (2012), a handy reference used for evaluating academic records from around the world. It provides a guide on the most commonly found educational terms in ten major languages.

  
  
• Rachel Wenli Chien

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts with double majors in Cultural Anthropology and International Development Studies, University of California, Berkeley
  Master of Arts in English Language and Literature, San Francisco State University
  Master of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature, Nanjing University, China

  Prior to joining IERF, Rachel served as a Chinese and English lecturer and instructor in the US, China and Singapore. She also has previous work experience as a translator/interpreter, counselor/advisor, and research assistant.

  Rachel is a native of Taiwan. She is fluent in Chinese and English and has lived and worked in several countries. She has traveled extensively throughout Asia and South America.

  
  
• Matthew Fisher

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, American University

  Prior to joining IERF, Matthew interned at the Hudson Institute's Center for Political-Military Analysis where he conducted research on security-related issues. He also assisted with and edited various policy papers and publications.

  Matthew has a working knowledge of Arabic and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East. He spent a semester at the American University in Cairo, where he studied Modern Standard Arabic, Egyptian colloquial Arabic, and Muslim politics and society.

  Matthew contributed to IERF’s publication, the Index of Educational Terms (2012), a handy reference used for evaluating academic records from around the world. It provides a guide on the most commonly found educational terms in ten major languages.

  
  
• Carole Khoury

  Senior Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Loyola Marymount University
  Master of Arts in Psychology, Pepperdine University

  Prior to joining IERF in 2001, Carole worked as a counseling aide at the International Education Counseling Center at Santa Monica College and as a graduate assistant at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University.

  Carole is a native of Lebanon and lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for fifteen years. She is fluent in Arabic and French, conversant in Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Portuguese. She has traveled extensively, spending time in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America.

  Carole specializes in the educational systems of Latin America and the Middle East.

  She has co-presented a poster session on Peru at a NAFSA – Association of International Educators national conference.

  Carole contributed to IERF’s publication, The New Country Index (2004). This is a reference frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  
  
• Kathrin Larson

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Lehigh University

  Prior to joining IERF, Kathrin gained professional experience in the areas of editing, journalism, customer service and communications. As a previous Fulbright scholar, she also spent time at the University of Pittsburgh/Moscow State University. Before that, she studied abroad in Strasbourg, France.

  Kathrin is fluent in Russian and is proficient in French. She has also traveled extensively throughout Europe.

  
  
• I-Hsing Lin

  Senior Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in Japanese, Soochow University (Taiwan)
  Master of Arts in Linguistics, California State University, Northridge

  Prior to joining IERF in 1999, I-Hsing worked at CSUN’s ESL program as a student advisor, assisting international students with issues related to the U.S. educational system and culture. Additionally, she taught English conversation at CSUN and Japanese at Santa Monica College.

  I-Hsing is a native of Taiwan and grew up there. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese. She has traveled extensively throughout Asia. I-Hsing specializes in the educational systems of Asia and the Middle East.

  She has presented numerous papers at national and regional conferences on various topics relating to international education. Included in these conferences are those held by NAFSA – Association of International Educators, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and the Pacific American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO). She has also attended conferences overseas.

  I-Hsing, who is member of IERF’s team of trainers, has provided extensive training for university admissions professionals, both in the U.S. and abroad.

  I-Hsing contributed to IERF’s publications, The New Country Index (2004), The New Country Index Volume II (2011) and the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  She also contributed to NAFSA’s Online Guide to Educational Systems around the World publication.

  
  
• Andrej Molchan

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and German, University of Redlands

  Prior to joining IERF, Andrej worked as an English-Teaching Assistant at a vocational high school in Leipzig, Germany, under a Fulbright Grant. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad for one semester in Berlin, where he completed a marketing internship at a local biomedical firm.

  Andrej is fluent in German and has a working knowledge of Russian, Slovak, and Spanish. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe and specializes in educational systems found throughout Asia and Europe, as well as the British-based systems.

  He recently presented at a regional conference held by NAFSA – Association of International Educators. The session was entitled, "Sprechen Sie Deutsch - How Not to Be Overwhelmed by Credentials in German"

  Andrej also contributed to IERF’s publication, the Index of Educational Terms (2012), a handy reference used for evaluating academic records from around the world. It provides a guide on the most commonly found educational terms in ten major languages.

  
  
• Matthew Ng

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics, California State University, Northridge
  Master of Science in Economics, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

  Prior to joining IERF, Matthew worked as a paralegal focusing on immigration law for 11 years. He has also previously served as a recruitment coordinator and student advisor at CSUN's Intensive English Program, assisting international students with issues related to the U.S. educational system and culture.

  Matthew is a native of Hong Kong and grew up there. He is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. He has also traveled extensively throughout Asia.

  
  
• Irene C. Romo

  Evaluator

  Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, Santa Monica College
  Completed further studies at California State University, Los Angeles

  Irene has been with IERF for over 13 years. Prior to occupying an evaluator position, she managed the Client Service Department for 6 years.

  Irene is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Portuguese. She has traveled throughout Mexico. Irene specializes in the educational systems of Latin America, Canada, Anglophone Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

  She has made presentations on the educational systems of countries in Latin America, including at a regional conference held by NAFSA – Association of International Educators.

  Irene contributed to IERF’s publications, The New Country Index Volume II (2011) and the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  
  
• Amy Santiago

  Senior Evaluator

  Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, Santa Monica College
  Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles

  Amy joined IERF in 2006 as an Executive Assistant before transitioning to an evaluator in 2007. She has held previous positions in customer service and youth-outreach programs.

  Amy is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Italian, Portuguese and Pilipino. She has traveled throughout Mexico. Amy specializes in the educational systems of Asia, Latin America, Canada, Egypt, Italy, and Nigeria.

  She has made presentations on the educational systems of countries in Latin America, including at a regional conference held by NAFSA – Association of International Educators.

  Amy contributed to IERF’s publications, The New Country Index Volume II (2011) and the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  She also contributed to NAFSA’s Online Guide to Educational Systems around the World publication.

  
  
• Alice Tang

  Senior Evaluator and Information & Research Coordinator

  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles

  Prior to joining IERF in 2005, Alice had extensive experience in customer service and education, including that of participating in adolescent outreach and immigrant literacy development programs.  Before assuming her current position of evaluator, she successfully held the position as the Allied Health Evaluation Coordinator at IERF.  

  Alice has studied several languages and has a working knowledge of Chinese, French, Russian and Armenian. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. Alice specializes in the educational systems of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Anglophone Africa, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

  She has presented numerous papers on various topics relating to international education at national and regional conferences. Included in these conferences are those held by NAFSA – Association of International Educators and the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP).

  Alice contributed to IERF’s publication, The New Country Index Volume II (2011). She also served as co-editor to the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  She also contributed to NAFSA’s Online Guide to Educational Systems around the World publication.

  Alice was selected to participate in the 2011 Baden-Württemberg Seminar, sponsored by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts in Germany.

  
  
• Alina Trofimova

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts with double majors in French and Slavic Languages & Literatures, University of California, Berkeley

  Prior to joining IERF, Alina has gained administrative and clerical experience working at the Berkeley Language Center and at the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies. She also worked for Los Angeles Unified and Berkeley Unified School Districts, participating in literacy development and youth outreach programs. As an undergraduate student, Alina spent two semesters abroad studying French culture at the University of Lyon, and European history and language translation at the University of Bordeaux, France.

  Alina is a native of Minsk, Belarus and grew up there. She is fluent in Russian, proficient in French, and has studied Belarussian and Spanish. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe.

  
  
• Emily K. Tse

  Director of Evaluations

  Bachelor of Arts in Classics, University of Pennsylvania
  Master of Philosophy in Classics, Cambridge University (England)

  Prior to joining IERF in 2000, Emily taught at the postsecondary level, both in the United Kingdom and the United States.

  Emily has studied several languages and has a working knowledge of French, Spanish, German, Sanskrit, Chinese, Latin and Classical Greek. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia.

  She has presented numerous papers at national and regional conferences on various topics relating to international education. Included in these conferences are those held by NAFSA – Association of International Educators, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). She has also presented at conferences overseas.

  Emily, who spearheads IERF’s training services, has provided extensive training for university admissions professionals, both in the U.S. and abroad.

  Emily has also held various positions within NAFSA. For the last four years, she has served as the Credentials Co-editor of wRAP-UP, NAFSA's newsletter for the admissions and recruitment community. She is currently the Chair Designate of NAFSA's Subcommittee for Information Management (SIM).

  Emily received the Pioneer Research Grant for a project which led to the publication of the Index of Secondary Credentials (2010). Emily also contributed to IERF's other publications, The New Country Index (2004) and The New Country Index Volume II (2011). Additionally, she also served as co-editor to the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  She also contributed to NAFSA’s Online Guide to Educational Systems around the World publication.

  
  
• Alvin Yin

  Senior Evaluator Specialist

  Bachelor of Arts with double majors in Asian Studies and Law & Society, University of California, Santa Barbara
  Juris Doctor with a specialization in International Law, Golden Gate University School of Law

  Prior to joining IERF in 2001, Alvin interned at an immigration law office, where he drafted legal motions, served as a Chinese interpreter and translator, and assisted in legal research.

  Alvin is a native of Hong Kong and grew up in there.  He is fluent in Cantonese Chinese and Mandarin Chinese.  He has traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe. Alvin specializes in the educational systems of the United Kingdom, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

  He has presented numerous papers on various topics relating to international education at NAFSA – Association of International Educators regional conferences.  

  Alvin contributed to IERF’s publications, The New Country Index (2004), The New Country Index Volume II (2011) and the Index of Educational Terms (2012). These are references frequently used for interpreting the educational backgrounds of those who have studied outside the United States and who need statements of educational equivalencies in order to enter the U.S. educational environment and work force.

  He also contributed to NAFSA’s Online Guide to Educational Systems around the World publication.

  
  
• Nina Zhao

  Evaluator

  Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Chinese, University of California, Los Angeles

  Prior to joining IERF, Nina worked in social security disability law, assisting clientele of various backgrounds in obtaining their benefits. While in college, Nina also studied abroad in South Korea at Yonsei University.

  Nina is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has studied several languages, including Japanese, Korean and Spanish. She has traveled extensively throughout Asia.

  Nina contributed to IERF’s publication, the Index of Educational Terms (2012), a handy reference used for evaluating academic records from around the world. It provides a guide on the most commonly found educational terms in ten major languages.

  
  

Allied Health Specialists

• Jolie Pon-Yo Chen

  Physical Therapy Evaluation Specialist

  Doctor of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University
  
  Jolie Pon-Yo Chen obtained her Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan. She subsequently obtained her Master of Science in Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University in the US. Ms. Chen is a licensed physical therapist in both countries and has extensive experience in geriatric, orthopedic and neurological disorders. She is also an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)-credentialed clinical instructor. She currently works at Arcadia Adult Day Health Care Center in Arcadia, California.

  
  
• CeCe L. Chin

  Physical Therapy Evaluation Specialist

  Doctor of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University

  CeCe Chin (DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT) received her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree with Honors from Loma Linda University. She became certified in Neuro-Dynamic Therapy in 2003 and a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist in 2004. That same year, CeCe became a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. In addition to working as a physical therapist, her job responsibilities have included the development of in-service education, mentorship for physical therapy orthopedic residents and clinical instruction and supervision. She currently works at Evergreen Physical Therapy Specialists in Pasadena, California.

  
  
• Grace E. Hardie

  Nursing Evaluation Specialist

  Doctor of Philosophy, Nursing/Pulmonary Physiology, University of California at San Francisco

  Dr. Hardie (RN, PhD) recently served as Associate Professor at the School of Nursing, Graduate Program in San Francisco State University. She received her doctorate in Nursing and Pulmonary Physiology from UCSF, and later became a post-doctoral fellow at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco. In addition to being licensed as a Registered Nurse and a Pulmonary Clinical Nurse Specialist, Dr. Hardie is also a Certified Pulmonary Function Technician and a Certified Methacholine Challenge Technician. Dr. Hardie has received numerous research grants and awards in recognition of her work, including those from the National Institute of Health, American Nurses Foundation, and the American Lung Association. Active in the field, she has presented papers worldwide, including at conferences held by the European Respiratory Society, American Thoracic Society - International Conference, and the National Institute for Case Management. Dr. Hardie has also written many articles, which can be found in such publications as the Journal of National Medical Association, the Journal of Asthma, the European Respiratory Journal, Chest, Heart and Lung, the Journal of Palliative Medicine, Neurology, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

  
  
• Sharon K. Johnson

  Nursing Evaluation Specialist

  Master of Science in Nursing, California State University, Fresno
  Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, University of California, San Francisco

  Dr. Sharon K. Johnson (RN, FNP, PhD, APRN, BS) previously served as the Director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Santa Rosa Junior College. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner, FNP) from California State University, Fresno and a doctoral degree in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Johnson has previously held positions as Associate Professor and Coordinator of FNP Programs at California State University, Dominguez Hills and San Francisco State University. Her expertise in nursing has enabled her to serve as a consultant in various domains such as software computer programming for physical assessments and in legal cases involving nurse practitioners. Dr. Johnson has held memberships and served in various positions in a number of organizations, including the California Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Dr. Johnson has also written articles which have appeared in publications such as the Journal of Transcultural Nursing and has presented at conferences such as the American Association of Higher Education and the Western Institute of Nursing Research. Dr. Johnson has also lectured at many hospitals and clinics in China.

  
  
• Liz Nguyen

  Physical Therapy Evaluation Specialist

  Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mount St. Mary’s College
  
  Liz Nguyen (PT, DPT) received her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles and has completed the Orthopaedic Residency and Fellowship Program in Sports Rehabilitation at Kaiser Permanente. She currently works at Symmetry Physical Therapy and Wellness in Calabasas, California and teaches part-time at Mount St. Mary’s College. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

  
  
• Shannon E. Perry

  Nursing Evaluation Specialist

  Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Psychology with a specialization in Child Development, Arizona State University

  Dr. Shannon E. Perry (RN, Ph.D., FAAN) is Professor Emerita at the School of Nursing, San Francisco State University. She received her doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Child Development from Arizona State University, and was subsequently a post-doctoral fellow in Perinatal Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Perry was also a visiting fellow at the Department of Nursing Studies of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and has led groups of students on educational trips and courses in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Ghana, Italy and Thailand. Dr. Perry previously served as Coordinator of the Child and Adolescent Development Program in the Marian Wright Edelman Institute and as Director of the School of Nursing at San Francisco State University. She has also lectured at colleges, universities and nursing schools and served as a nurse in hospitals in as many as seven states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin). She is licensed as a registered nurse in these states as well as a medical-surgical nurse in the country of Kenya. Having done extensive research in the field, Dr. Perry has presented papers nationally and internationally and published numerous articles, which have appeared in journals such as the American Journal of Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, Journal of Nursing Administration and Journal of Nursing Education. Moreover, she has co-edited three nursing textbooks. Exceptionally active in the profession, Dr. Perry has served on committees for organizations such as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Nurses' Association, the American Academy of Nursing, the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). She co-chairs the Joint NLN/NLNAC Task Force on Creating a Global Nursing Education Community. Most recently, Dr. Perry was presented with the President’s Award for her work as a global health volunteer by the Global Caring Nurses Foundation.

  
  
• Amy Takazaki

  Physical Therapy Evaluation Specialist

  Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Southern California

  Amy Takazaki (PT, DPT, OCS) received her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Southern California and has completed the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Residency Program in 2009 and the Movement Science Fellowship Program in 2010 at Kaiser Permanente. She currently works at Kaiser Permanente in Downey, California and specializes in orthopaedics. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.