NNIC Executive Director: Carina A. Black, Ph.D.

A native of Argentina and a citizen of Switzerland and the US, Carina Black has lived in the United States since 1988. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1997 in Comparative Politics. She is the first Executive Director of the Northern Nevada International Center. Currently, she also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Council for International Visitors. As a faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Black has taught courses in global studies, world politics, comparative politics, democratization, international organizations and Latin American politics. She has also been actively

involved in international education for the local community, and support programs for minority groups. Dr. Black is the mother of four children and is fluent in four languages. (To send Carina Black an e-mail message, click here)

Language Bank and Language Course Coordinator:
Soraya Morz

Soraya Morz joined our staff in January, 2007. Soraya was born in Colombia, South America. She has traveled to several countries in South America and Europe. She worked in the IT industry for several years. Soraya plans to pursue a Master Degree in Business. Her dreams include furthering her knowledge of different cultures, which is why she is excited to be part of NNIC and the wonderful contribution they make in her community. She and her husband Frank live in Reno, NV with her and their 4–year old son, who’s now in pre-K. She enjoys hiking,

International Visitor Leadership Program Coordinator:
Claudia Faviola Castañeda, M.S.W.

Claudia is a community activist and holds a Masters in Social Work from University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and is currently a graduate student of Public Health at UNR. She holds an Associates Degree in Business from ITT Technical Institute and a Bachelor of Social Work from UNR. Born in Winnemucca, Nevada and she is first generation to go to the university. She traveled with a group of Reno activists to Los Angeles, CA for the historic march against HR 4437 on March 25th, 2006. And was an organizer of the marches for immigration reform in Reno on April 10th

and May 1st. She has also been involved in numerous other events and programs serving the Latino community of Northern Nevada. She was a member of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan, a board member for the Nevada Youth Alliance, and helped organize the Hispanic Leadership Summit for four years. (To send Claudia Castañeda an e-mail message, click here)

International Visitor Leadership Program Coordinator:
Michael Graf

Michael interned at the Northern Nevada International Center in the summer of 2006 and has now joined our staff as International Visitor Coordinator. He was born in South Lake Tahoe, CA and raised in Reno. However, being a local resident of Nevada does not stop him from traveling all over North and Central America during the summer from Fairbanks, Alaska to the Yucatan Peninsula. Michael plans to travel to the Czech Republic upon graduation and then considering language school in Cairo for Arabic. He is currently attending the University of Nevada,

Reno. He will graduate in Spring of 2007 with a B.A in International Affairs with an emphasis on the Middle East and speaks both Spanish and Arabic. (To send Michael an e-mail message, click here)

International Visitor Leadership Program Coordinator:
Jenny Bishop

Jenny Bishop is a Senior at the University of Nevada Reno. She is Majoring with General Studies with a duel minor in Italian, and business, and an emphasis in International Affairs. Jenny studied abroad for four months in Viterbo Italia. While over seas she traveled a little around Europe and went to Belgium, England, Switzerland, and Germany. She is intrigued by all of the different cultures and languages of the world and wants to continue learning about them. Hopefully, she will have the ability to study abroad one more time possibly in New Zealand. (To send Jenny an e-mail message, click here)

International Visitor Leadership Program Coordinator:
Joaquin Roces

Joaquin is currently a senior at the University of Nevada Reno majoring in International Affairs with a dual minor in French and Criminal Justice. His focus is in the Middle East. In addition, Joaquin studied Russian language for four years at the UNR under Professor Macura. Joaquin also studied Russian and Soviet tactics while serving as a US Marine from 1985 until 1988 when he was medically discharged for wounds received in the line of duty. Joaquin has served his home state of Nevada in the public sector under the Governor's office and within several commissions. He has been a criminal prosecutor in Indian Country

representing various tribes of Northern Nevada and has been twice appointed as a Special Prosecutor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He is a member of The Our Lady of Snows Parish and is active within his faith community. (To send Joaquin Roces an e-mail message, click here)

Fulbright Arabic Teacher:
Mahmoud Bayoumi Hassan El Sedawy

Mahmoud Bayoumi was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt and has been awarded a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistantship to teach the NNIC's semester Arabic class, levels 1-3 at the University to Nevada, Reno. Mahoumd's visit to Reno is his first time to the United States and it is his hope that his experience here will help advance his career of teaching English as a Foreign language in Egypt. Upon his return to Egypt Mahmoud hopes to take the Cambridge Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) and become a University English

Professor in Cairo. Among Mahmoud's passion for teaching, he hopes to one day purchase a ranch and raise cattle. (To send Mahmoud Bayoumi an e-mail message, click here)

IBET Program Manager: Cheryl Woehr
Intercultural Business Education and Training

Cheryl joined the NNIC staff in 2003 when she began the IBET Program providing cultural awareness and diversity training programs to local businesses and organizations in the Reno area. She grew up in a military family and has traveled much of her life. She has traveled to over 26 countries in 4 continents and lived overseas for 9 years in Spain and Libya. She holds a M.A. degree in Psychology, Counseling and a B.A. in psychology. She has extensive experience conducting training for educational institutions, government agencies, non-profits, professional

associations and small and large companies. (To send Cheryl Woehr an e-mail message, click here)

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NNIC Spring 2008 Intern:
Adrian Zeh

Adrian Zeh is a senior at UNR studying Spanish, French and International Affairs, with an emphasis in Latin America. Adrian spent his childhood in the country of Panama, where his lifelong interest in languages and all things international began. Adrian plans to spend next semester teaching English abroad in either Spain or France, and he hopes to eventually become a professor or work in the international arena.

NNIC Spring 2008 Intern:
Whitney Myer

Whitney Myer is a Junior at UNR studying Spanish and International Affairs with an emphasis in Latin America. Whitney Studied in Madrid, Spain for a semester and while she was there, traveled to the Basque Country, France, England, Holland, and Ireland. She is interested in International politics and language study and hopes to do some work in the future in an international setting.

NNIC Spring 2008 Intern:
Anthony Aranda

Anthony Aranda is studying International Affairs at UNR with an emphasis in Latin America. He plans to study in Costa Rica and travel around South America. He served in the United States Navy where he did two tours of WESTPAC on board the USS Ford 54 and was part of the Visit Board Search and Seizure team (VBSS). He got to see Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, and Diego Garcia. He hopes to travel Europe in the future. Anthony plans to pursue a Master Degree in International Relations and Affairs.

NNIC Spring 2008 Intern:
Anna Maria Desipris

Anna Maria is a senior this year at UNR working towards a major in International Affairs and a minor in Spanish and expects to graduate in 2009. Born to Greek and Italian parents, her upbringing has been full of culture and tradition. She is very blessed to have family on a small island in Greece which she visits often, and is able to understand the real essence of a country. From this she has realized she wants to spend her life traveling, helping people, and working with people of many cultures. Anna Maria is also very active in the local Greek Orthodox Church and other community projects.