Professional Staff

Jeanne d’Arc is UCI Director of Study Abroad. She brings over 20 years of experience working with partner universities and creating linkages for student mobility. She has held leadership positions at various institutions in the U.S. and abroad. She has served as Director of Africa and the Middle East at ISEP and previously the Study Abroad Director at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro.

Jeanne d’Arc started her career in International Education in Senegal, West Africa, serving as Assistant Director at the West African Research Center,  and managing short and long-term study abroad programs. The life-changing stories of international students in the programs and their engagement with the locals solidified her desire to serve more in the field to further global exchange and understanding. She is passionate about sharing culture through food.

Jeanne d’Arc is fluent in six languages, including French, English, Spanish, Wolof (a language of Senegal), Creole, and Mandjack (other languages spoken in Senegal, Guinee Bissau, and the Gambia).

Allison spent the last seven years in global security working for private sector global entertainment companies, The Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures, analyzing worldwide crisis incidents and assisting company travelers in emergencies abroad in a 24/7 Global Security Operations Center. In her last role at Disney, Allison served as program lead managing Disney’s travel safety program and training program at corporate where she developed policies and implemented procedures for her team engaging in crisis response. Allison is passionate about global security issues and conducting training related to security and safety. She has received training and completed the Private Sector Overseas Seminar Certification from the U.S. State Department on overseas safety and security risks to American travelers. While a native to Southern California, Allison has lived in West Virginia and Washington, D.C. while she completed her undergraduate degree. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice at California State University, Fullerton. She spent a semester living in Washington, D.C. interning for a California Congressman and this was truly the beginning that sparked her interest in global issues. Allison is a current graduate student studying International Relations at American University. In May 2024, she studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium where she conducted research on NATO and international peace and security.Allison spent the last seven years in global security working for private sector global entertainment companies, The Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures, analyzing worldwide crisis incidents and assisting company travelers in emergencies abroad in a 24/7 Global Security Operations Center. In her last role at Disney, Allison served as program lead managing Disney’s travel safety program and training program at corporate where she developed policies and implemented procedures for her team engaging in crisis response. Allison is passionate about global security issues and conducting training related to security and safety. She has received training and completed the Private Sector Overseas Seminar Certification from the U.S. State Department on overseas safety and security risks to American travelers. While a native to Southern California, Allison has lived in West Virginia and Washington, D.C. while she completed her undergraduate degree. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice at California State University, Fullerton. She spent a semester living in Washington, D.C. interning for a California Congressman and this was truly the beginning that sparked her interest in global issues. Allison is a current graduate student studying International Relations at American University. In May 2024, she studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium where she conducted research on NATO and international peace and security.

With over a decade of experience in education abroad, Nina Castro has worked directly with thousands of students. While her roles may have shifted, the focus always stays the same, students. Nina has made use of all that she learned during her year abroad in China, along with her immigrant past to better prepare students for their opportunities abroad. Nina deeply believes in the transformative experience of spending time abroad with different people, cultures, and languages. Through her pursuit of her Master’s in Higher Education Administration, she has been able to better understand the student experience and utilize her new knowledge to facilitate student learning within the international education field. Nina understands that you are never too old to learn, you never know everything, and you can’t do it all, which is why she continuously pursues knowledge in her personal and professional life.

Casie Bonstein’s love for travel began in high school after studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany with Rotary International. As a former exchange student herself, she is ecstatic to now be working with the UCI Study Abroad Center as their new Inbound and Custom Programs Advisor. Reporting to the Director of Study Abroad, Casie is responsible for managing a comprehensive portfolio of educational opportunities for inbound international exchange students and custom study abroad programs for outbound UCI students. Casie also serves as the new liaison for the Global Start Program.

Casie recently earned her master’s degree in International Affairs from California State University Long Beach (CSULB) and spent the past academic year working as an Intake Advisor with the UCI International Center. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) where she studied abroad in Bologna, Italy (2019-2020). Upon her return, she served as a Peer Advisor for the UCSB Study Abroad Office for a year. Casie is excited and honored to continue serving both the domestic and international communities at UCI in this new role. Casie speaks Italian and Spanish and enjoys attending live theatre performances.

Nikki Ghamami has joined the UCI Study Abroad Center as the Marketing and Outreach Specialist.

She brings extensive experience in digital marketing, content strategy, and community engagement. As an Anteater who is passionate about her alma mater, Nikki is excited to elevate the visibility of the Study Abroad Center, aiming to increase student participation in international programs. She looks forward to using her skills to highlight UCI’s global opportunities and share the transformative benefits of study abroad with the campus community she loves.