Professional Staff
Jeanne d’Arc Gomis
Director
(949) 824-6343
jagomis@uci.edu
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 Ulloa
International Risk and Operations Manager
(949) 824-6343
arulloa@uci.edu
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.
Catherine Jonas
Enrollment and Operations Coordinator
(949) 824-6343
jonasc@uci.edu
Catherine Jonas has been passionate about international travel since she was in high school and was able to go on a school sponsored trip around Europe for the summer. Her time abroad unlocked a love of experiencing other cultures and seeing how people live all over the world. While an undergrad at UCI earning her B.A. in Theater Arts, she spent a semester studying in the United Kingdom. Since graduation she has traveled to over 20 countries across six continents including Antarctica. She hopes she can help inspire others to take the first step in finding a lifetime of exploration.
Ricardo Franco
Interim Operations Analyst
(949) 824-6343
ricardo.franco@uci.edu
Ricardo Franco serves as the Interim Operations Analyst for the Study Abroad Center, driven by a passion for international education programs. His commitment to the field stems from visiting universities during his travels across Mexico, Canada, and Europe. Ricardo aims to enrich students’ academic experiences by encouraging them to explore educational opportunities abroad.
Prior to this role, Ricardo was the Interim Enrollment and Operations Coordinator for the Center. He recently earned a Master’s Degree in Higher Education from California State University, Fullerton, and has spent the past two years exploring various European countries, immersing himself in their history, culture, and education systems.
When not traveling, Ricardo enjoys visiting art and history museums, studying languages and spending quality time with his dogs. He is fluent in Spanish and French and has conversational proficiency in German.
Bonnie Hooes
Lead Outbound Study Abroad Advisor
(949) 824-6343
bchooes@uci.edu
Advises for Europe, the Americas, and Multi-Country programs
Bonnie Hooes is a seasoned advisor, administrator, supervisor, speaker, and educator with over 24 years of experience in international education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology & social behavior from the University of California, Irvine, a master’s degree in counseling from California State University, Long Beach, and is a California Certified Mediator. She has extensive educational and travel experiences around the globe, in particular in Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, and Japan. As the daughter of immigrants from Argentina and Ecuador, Bonnie has a passion for cultural exchange and cultural competence, recognizing their invaluable benefits on individuals and entire societies. Her own undergraduate study abroad experiences in Italy significantly influenced her career path, and she is grateful to work in a field that impacts others’ lives meaningfully.
Chrissy Schmid
Outbound Study Abroad Advisor
(949) 824-6343
schmidca@uci.edu
Advises for Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Virtual programs
Chrissy Schmid has over 14 years of student services and student affairs experience at the University of California, and is passionate about international education and cultural exchange. Her international travel experience started when she was just a baby, living with her family in Scotland for a year and a half. Since then, she has visited 31 countries across 5 continents. Her dream is to visit all 7 continents in her lifetime. She received her bachelor’s degree in “International Security and Conflict Resolution” from San Diego State University, and her master’s degree in “Organizational Leadership” from Concordia University Irvine. She holds certificates in Business Administration and Personal Financial Planning from UCI Division of Continuing Education and is a California Certified Mediator. During her undergraduate program, she studied abroad on the Gold Coast of Australia, and finds it especially thrilling to help students embark upon their own life changing adventures! She enjoys serving students from diverse cultures and backgrounds, trying new cuisines, and exploring new places and traditions.
Casie Bonstein
Inbound and Custom Programs Advisor
(949) 824-6343
cbonstei@uci.edu
Advises for Faculty Led, Bilateral Exchange, UCEAP Reciprocity and Custom programs
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
Marketing and Outreach Specialist
(949) 824-6343
nghamami@uci.edu
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.