Meet the IGP team
Elena Selezneva
Director
Elena Selezneva has twenty years of experience in international education in different capacities as an international student, a co-director, and a coordinator of faculty-led programs. She has also been an instructor for ESL, Russian language, and Intercultural Competence courses in Europe and the U. S. She served in different roles at Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, and Volgograd State Architectural & Civil Engineering University. Elena has an M.A. in Linguistics and an M.A. in Educational Technology from Michigan State University. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Higher, Adult, and Life-long Education at Michigan State University. Her research interests are international education and its effects on faculty and students in higher education around the globe.
Priscilla “Pri” Palavicini
Assistant Director
Region Lead: French, German & Italian
Pri combines her own background, diversity, and professional experience, to support and empower students in their international education journeys. Pri is committed to further the growth of the IGP ecosystem with a focus on creating a positive impact on students’ well-being and the enrichment of their cultural and academic experiences while participating in their study abroad programs.
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Melinda Marquardt
Coordinator, Sr.
Region Lead: Chinese & Japanese
Melinda passionately believes cultural exchange can bring peace and understanding to nations and communities worldwide. Using her experience working in Japan and her background in intercultural relations, Melinda strives to encourage her IGP students to use cultural awareness and empathy in their everyday lives and future global careers.
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Mira Petersen
Coordinator, Sr.
Region Lead: Spanish
Mira supports students with exploring their life & career opportunities through the experiences they have while in college. From her background of interdisciplinary degrees, Mira sees the world as an interconnected place that holds so much opportunity for positive transformation. With this lens, she encourages her students to view the world as a place to learn and grow in order to serve as global citizens.
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Sina Mirzaei
IGP Part-time Coordinator
Sina assists the IGP team by managing student materials, handling communications, and supporting IGP projects. He is currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at Northern Arizona University, with a background in Business Administration and International Relations. Sina is fluent in many languages. He loves to be in international, diverse environments and, with his international experience, enjoys helping students navigate their academic journey and promoting a global perspective within the IGP community.
IGP Faculty Coordinator
IGP works closely with a Faculty Coordinator that represents the academic colleges of NAU that make up IGP. Their role is to integrate NAU’s curricular components while promoting the interdisciplinary thinking unique to IGP.
