Biography

Dr. Sammer Saleh Jones is the Director for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she leads the development and management of strategic international partnerships that enhance the university’s global impact. In this role, she provides comprehensive oversight of institutional engagements, international contracts, and high-profile delegation visits. She plays a pivotal role in connecting international partners with campus stakeholders and fostering collaborations that advance Illinois International’s strategic priorities. 

In addition to her extensive work across global networks, Dr. Jones serves as the Campus Fulbright Scholar Liaison, actively promoting Fulbright opportunities and providing protocol guidance for senior university leaders on international travel and engagements. She is also the U21 Officer, responsible for promoting the value of the Universitas 21 (U21) network within the university and facilitating engagement across U21 student, staff, and research opportunities. Additionally, she serves as the Director for the Trilateral Partnership with National Taiwan University and Kyushu University. 

A former Fulbright Administrative Fellow to Germany, Dr. Jones brings a wealth of international experience, contributing significantly to international education and engagement through both leadership and mentoring. Her dedication to teaching was recognized multiple times on the “List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent” at Illinois while she was a doctoral candidate. 

Dr. Jones earned her BS in Pre-Med/African American Studies from Simmons College, MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Boston University, and both her MBA and PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on the nineteenth-century educational history of Liberia, West Africa. With a multidisciplinary background spanning business, health, and education, Dr. Jones has worked in diverse settings across Liberia, South Africa, and the U.S., bringing a global perspective and a commitment to advancing international partnerships. 

Prior to her graduate studies, Dr. Jones contributed to critical projects at the Harvard School of Public Health on violence prevention and at the MetroHealth Center in Cleveland on breast cancer research. 

Biography

Nicole Stivaletta is the Associate Director of Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she supports the development and coordination of international partnerships, agreement management and compliance processes, and global engagement initiatives that advance the university’s institutional priorities.

With more than 15 years of experience in global higher education, Nicole has worked across research universities and international institutions to strengthen partnership governance, faculty collaboration, and institutional internationalization. She began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan and has worked extensively in ESL and international education.

Most recently, she served as Head of International Relations at Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina (UNOESC) in Brazil, where she led internationalization efforts, expanded strategic partnerships, and worked closely with senior leadership to advance the university’s global strategy.

At Illinois, Nicole contributes to senior leadership visits, campus-wide international programs, and global outreach initiatives, and works collaboratively across academic and administrative units to support impactful and sustainable global engagement.

She holds a BA in English from Northeastern University and an MA in Linguistics from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.

Biography

Jason Conley currently serves as Campus Liaison for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to his current role, he worked in U.S.–China bilateral relations, supporting initiatives at the intersection of business, culture, and education, with a focus on managing virtual exchanges and educational programming. Before working in international relations, Jason spent several years teaching English as a Second Language, primarily in international contexts.

Jason is a graduate of The Ohio State University and holds a master’s degree in Advanced Chinese Language and Culture, with a specialization in the Belt and Road Initiative and foreign investment. His thesis examined Chinese foreign policy, the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, and infrastructure development in western Pakistan and the Global South.

In his current role, Jason works to connect various partners with institutional resources that support global engagement, helping to advance international partnerships and educational initiatives. He is dedicated to strengthening global engagement and international relationship building through higher education initiatives.

Biography

Bernadette Silungisile Ntaba Kadyamusuma currently serves as Partnership Coordinator for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to her role, she worked for over 15 years in the diplomatic field, including several years at a Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York where she participated in UN negotiations and worked on the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals.  

She brings a wealth of experience in managing relations with high level delegates from multiple countries and backgrounds. She also brings extensive hands-on experience in coordinating diplomatic visits and delegations, and in navigating international protocols and etiquette. 

Bernadette holds a M.A. in International Studies from Korea University and a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Zimbabwe.  

In her role as Partnership Coordinator for Global Relations, Bernadette is responsible for coordinating incoming and outgoing delegation visits, assisting with coordinating and managing international partnership agreements, and collaborating with campus stakeholders for impactful and effective global partnerships.

Biography

Negar Valizadegan is the Partnership Coordinator for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to assuming her current role, she contributed to Global Relations by supporting international agreements, institutional partnerships, and visiting delegations, and collaborating closely with faculty, administrators, and campus units.

Negar holds a B.S. in Industrial Design from the Art University of Tehran. Before joining Illinois International, she served as Youth Program Director at the Champaign Park District, managing operations, staff, and community programming. Her previous experience also includes teaching English as a second language, working in public relations for international theater groups, and literary translation for Iranian newspapers. She is also an Illinois High School Association basketball official, bringing experience in decision-making, communication, and leadership in high-pressure environments.

In her role as Partnership Coordinator for Global Relations, Negar supports the coordination and management of international partnership agreements, and assist with incoming and outgoing delegations, collaborate with campus and international stakeholders to advance strategic, compliant, and impactful global engagements.