Recent Staff Changes and Arrivals

(L - R): Julia Keith, Marisa Silva, Marva Bernard-Saunders

The International Center is pleased to announce some recent additions and changes to our team!

In April 2022, Julia Keith joined us as our new Program Coordinator. In this role, Julia helps to coordinate several key programs, including our International Peer Mentor program and our GO Pre-Orientation program. She also supports several other programs including the Intercultural Conversation Program. A native of Massachusetts, Julia holds a Bachelor’s degree in French and Comparative Literature from Bryn Mawr College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Boston University. She has worked at Boston University's Office of Study Abroad and later transitioned to secondary language education as a high school French teacher. Julia has spent extensive time traveling, living and volunteering in several francophone countries including France, Morocco, French Polynesia, Haiti and Senegal. She loves capturing her travels through photography.

In May 2022, Marva-Bernard Saunders joined us as the new International Center Coordinator. As Coordinator, Marva is based primarily at the Center's Medford / Somerville office. However, she provides administrative and customer service support to International Center staff and visitors across all of our offices. Marva was born and raised in Jamaica. She holds an Associate degree from Bay State College in Applied Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica in International Relations. She has worked as a coordinator for the first Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program in Jamaica for senior and middle managers. She also coordinated the largest African Language program in the US at Harvard University, and had previous appointments with the Office of International Affairs and the Office of Faculty Affairs at the Tufts Medical School. Marva is an avid gardener, enjoys cooking and DIY projects.

In June 2022, Marisa Silva transitioned from her role as International Center Coordinator to International Student & Scholar Advisor. As an advisor, Marisa advises undergraduate students in Arts & Sciences (last names A - M), supports a variety of international student events and programs, and more. Marisa holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston in Criminal Justice and minor in Spanish language. Marisa is trilingual in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, and has worked as an interpreter serving the Lusophone and Latino communities.

Join us in welcoming Julia and Marva to the team and congratulating Marisa on her new role with the International Center!