CONAHEC Board

VOTING MEMBERS

CANADA

Haroon Chaudhry
Associate Vice-President (International) and Chief International Officer (UR ILO),
University of Regina

Mr. Haroon Chaudhry has been appointed to the position of Associate Vice-President (International) and Chief International Officer. His permanent appointment commenced on January 1, 2023. An alumnus both of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the City University of New York and of the University of Regina, Mr. Chaudhry holds a BA as well as a master's degree in public administration. His relationship with the University of Regina spans fifteen years, from graduate studies to UR International roles including Director, Global Education Services, and acting Associate Vice-President (International). Mr. Chaudhry's strategic vision of sustainable, student-focused internationalization at the University of Regina comes from over two decades of experience in higher education in Canada and the United States, including the New York City government and the City University of New York. Throughout his student and professional life, Mr. Chaudhry has been dedicated to ensuring positive academic and student supportive post-secondary experiences. His commitment to international education and student retention has earned him numerous awards and accolades. Under his leadership, UR International will continue to thrive.

Bonny Ibawoh
Vice-Provost, International Affairs
McMaster University

Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh is a professor of history and global human rights at McMaster University, Canada. He is the author of several acclaimed monographs, including Human Rights in Africa, Imperial Justice, and Imperialism and Human Rights. Dr. Ibhawoh is a member of the College of Scholars of the Royal Society of Canada and Chairs the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. He has taught in universities in Africa, Europe and North America and has been invited by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to facilitate high-level workshops on "Governance in Africa" involving former heads of state, senior diplomats, and policymakers. In 2018, he received the Nelson Mandela Distinguished Africanist Award from the University of Texas at Austin "in recognition of sustained and distinguished contribution to research and the promotion of African affairs." Dr. Ibhawoh writes a blog on human rights, social justice, and peace.

David McGuire
Associate Vice President, International
University of the Fraser Valley

Mr. David McGuire is currently the Associate Vice President, International at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in British Columbia, Canada. Prior to this position, he served as the Executive Director of UFV International from June 2013 to January 2020. Before joining UFV, Mr. McGuire held the role of Associate Director of International Recruitment and Admissions at Wilfrid Laurier University and worked in various capacities at Saint John College at the University of New Brunswick. He has over a decade of experience living and working in South Korea, where he served as the Coordinator of the University English Program at Inha University. Mr. McGuire holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Thomas University and a Master of Applied Linguistics degree from the University of Southern Queensland. Outside of work, Dave enjoys spending time outdoors, engaging in activities such as golfing, kayaking, and taking walks with his dog, Lily.

Leslie Palson
Dean of International Education and Development
Georgian College

Leslie Palson is Dean of International Education and Development at Georgian College where she oversees the service delivery for all international students and is responsible for the planning of the college’s international projects, partnerships and initiatives. Throughout her 25 years in international education, Leslie has been a strong advocate for all forms of internationalization. Her educational leadership roles have spanned across Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. During her time at Georgian she has supported international student enrollment, overseen a variety of key international academic partnerships, increased student global engagement and awareness and established international strategic pillars in support of the growing diversity within the college communities. Leslie is an active member of her community, serving as a Simcoe County LIP Board member , International relations committee member, Centre for Social Justice and Well-being member and Electricity HR Canada-Welcoming Skilled Newcomers steering committee member. She holds a Masters of Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of British Columbia and is currently exploring her passion for promoting global citizenship for positive social impact through her enrollment in the Education and Social Justice PhD program at Lancaster University.

Carlos Iván Moreno
Chief Academic and Innovation Officer
University of Guadalajara

Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the CUCEA of the University of Guadalajara, and holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He has completed programs in innovation and governance at Harvard University and MIT. His research focuses on topics such as governance in universities, comparative public policy, and organizational change. He has served as coordinator of various departments at the University of Guadalajara and has worked in the governmental and international fields, notably as an advisor to the Undersecretary of Higher Education at the SEP. He currently works as General Academic and Innovation Coordinator at the University of Guadalajara.

Carlos Natarén Nandayapa
President
Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas

Dr. Natarén is a distinguished scholar in Mexican legal studies. He founded and was the first director of the Institute for Legal Research at the Autonomous University of Chiapas. He has published extensively on topics related to criminal procedure law, constitutional law, and the protection of fundamental rights. He has served as a visiting professor in various postgraduate programs of the Superior Courts of Justice of the Entities of the Federation and in Autonomous Universities and Institutions of Higher Education in the States. He coordinated the working group that prepared the Model Criminal Procedure Code in 2008 for the National Commission of Superior Courts of Justice of the United States of Mexico (CONATRIB). He was appointed Rector by the Honorable Governing Board of the Autonomous University of Chiapas in 2018.

Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre
President
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California

Native of the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), a master's degree in digital systems, and a Ph.D. in computer science. He is the author of more than 25 articles in specialized international journals. His areas of interest are computer networks, wireless sensor networks, ubiquitous computing, and digital signal processing. Since 1999, he has been a professor at UABC, where he served as director of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (2010-2019), general coordinator of Student Services and School Management (2019-2023), and currently, rector for the period 2023-2027.

Roberto Pozos Cuellar
Coordinator of the International Education Center
Universidad de la Salle

Roberto is a Communications and Electronics Engineer from the National Polytechnic Institute, who has a Specialty in Marketing and Advertising from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Universidad La Salle. He has held different management positions in national and international companies, in the Consumer Electronics, Multimedia and Information Technologies sector. He was an entrepreneur for 14 years in the business consultancy and advisory sector. He joined the Universidad La Salle as a subject teacher in 2000; he was coordinator of Computer Science at the School of Administrative Sciences from 2002 to 2006. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Information Technology Education Institutions (ANIEI) from 2006 to 2018. He has taught for 19 years at bachelor, specialty and masters levels. He held the position of Academic Secretary at the School of Business from 2006 to 2018 and he is currently the Coordinator of the La Salle International Education Center since March 2018.

Mary Fanelli Ayala
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Eastern New Mexico University

Mary Fanelli Ayala is a Hispanic American who was raised in Philadelphia by her adoptive parents, of Italian descent.  She has a doctorate in Latin American Literature from Temple University and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Colegio de México, Mexico City. In 2001, she was named Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year, New Mexico. Currently she is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Professor of Latin American Literature at Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico.

Hector Arturo Barrio
Assistant Vice-President for International Relations
University of Texas, El Paso

Arturo Barrio is Assistant Vice President for International Relations at The University of Texas at El Paso. He previously held the roles of director of collaboration and stakeholder development, senior advisor to the president on Mexico and Latin America, executive director of international programs, and special assistant to the president on external affairs. Before joining UTEP in 2015, Barrio served in various leadership positions for the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs leading up to his service at the Mexican Mission to the Organization of American States, where he oversaw Economic and Cooperation Affairs. During his tenure at the Mexican Ministry, he served as director general of the Mesoamerican Integration and Development Project, deputy director general of social, human and sustainable development of the Mesoamerica Project, and director for border and advisor to the undersecretary for North America. Barrio’s past affiliations include serving as president of the Camino Real Rotary Club of El Paso. He currently serves as Assistant Governor for Rotary’s District 5520 and assistant rotary public image coordinator for rotary zones 26 and 27. He was appointed chair of the City of El Paso’s Committee on Border Relations from 2018 to 2021. Barrio received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UTEP and his master’s degree in applied public policy from the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamerica de Administración y Politicas Publicas de Madrid.

Antonio Esqueda Flores
Senior Director, Division of International Student Services
City University of Seattle

Antonio Esqueda Flores is an experienced higher education administrator with a focus on international education. He is currently serving as the Senior Director for the International Student Services Division at City University of Seattle, where he leads the institution's efforts to expand global partnerships and increase international student enrollment. Mr. Esqueda has a wealth of experience in the field of international education, having served in various leadership roles at universities and organizations in the United States and abroad. He has expertise in international student recruitment, program development, cross-cultural communication, and partnerships. In addition to his work at City University of Seattle, Mr. Esqueda is also active in professional organizations such as the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Asociacion Mexicana para la Educacion Internacional (AMPEI), Businet Global Higher Education Network in the EU. Mr. Esqueda holds a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management from CityU, a Master of Education in Student Affairs Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in American Cultural Studies from Western Washington University. Mr. Esqueda did a study abroad in CONAHEC’s new member in Mexico, URSE.

Kari Knutson Miller
Dean of Extended and International Education
California State University, Stanislaus

Dr. Kari Knutson Miller is Dean of Extended and International Education, Senior International Officer, and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State). Stan State serves approximately 10,000 students in the Central Valley of California (approximately 1.5 hours from the San Francisco Bay area). Stan State is designated a Minority Serving and Hispanic Serving Institution. Seventy three percent of enrolled students are first generation, 57% Hispanic/Latinx, 60% historically underrepresented minorities, and 60% Pell eligible. Stan State is nationally recognized as a transformative institution committed to access and affordability and noted for academics and social mobility. The university offers 45 undergraduate and 14 graduate programs. As SIO, Dr. Knutson Miller leads international initiatives that emphasize systematic outreach, engagement, and partnership in support of comprehensive internationalization including internationalization at home. International programs and global engagement are intentionally situated in and relevant to the institution and the region – that is, connect global and local. Dr. Knutson Miller previously served on CONAHEC and Diversity Abroad advisory boards.

Jody Dixon
Assistant Director, International Education
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

Jody Dixon is the assistant director of international education and global initiatives at AASCU. Prior to working at AASCU, she recruited and advised prospective graduate students for the School of Education at American University in Washington, D.C. She received her M.A. in international training and education from the same institution. Jody also holds a B.Sc. in geography from The University of the West Indies, Mona. Dixon is a native Jamaican who resided in Japan for five years prior to relocating to the U.S. While in Japan, she worked as a TESOL-certified assistant language teacher and teacher trainer in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). She is an experienced intercultural facilitator and project manager who is particularly skilled in developing and facilitating professional development and education abroad experiences for students, faculty, administrators, and executives. At AASCU, several of the programs she manages include the Japan Studies Institute, the China-U.S. Rising Star Student Study Tour, and the Senior International Officer Institute.

Cesar Gutiérrez Jurado
President
Mexican Association for International Education (AMPEI)
and Director of International Programs
Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua

César has been the President of the Mexican Association for International Education (AMPEI) since 2020. He is also the Representative and Coordinator for Mexico within the Latin American Initiative for the Internationalization of Higher Education (INILAT). César serves as Director of International Programs at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (2014-2021), as well as full-time professor at the School of Philosophy and Letters of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH) and member of the Disciplinary Group of the School of Philosophy and Letters of the UACH. His international and intercultural vision has broadened through his education. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) with a degree in Organizational and Corporate Communication in the United States. He also obtained a master's degree in Higher Education from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua.

Jesús López Macedo
General Director for International Cooperation
National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions of Mexico (ANUIES)

Jesús López Macedo is the General Director for International Cooperation at the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions, where he previously served as Director of Prospective Studies and General Director of Academic and Strategic Partnerships. Mr. López Macedo held several managerial positions in the Federal Ministries of Education and Social Development of Mexico from 1992 to 2005, and worked as communication specialist for the World Health Organization in Washington D. C. from 2005 to 2009 and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in New York from 2009 to 2014. Mr. López-Macedo received a B.A. in Economics from the Mexican Autonomous Institute of Technology (ITAM), a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and Master’s in Business Administration and Finance from City University, London, U.K.

Scott Venezia
Dean for International Affairs
CETYS University System (Representing CETYS as Former CONAHEC Board Chair)

Scott Venezia is Dean for International Affairs and Chief International Officer at CETYS University System (Mexico). He holds an undergraduate degree in Management, an MBA with a concentration in Finance and a Doctoral Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Strategic Management. He is co-author of two books and has participated in events, projects and initiatives related to his work in Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, India, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, and USA. Scott is an American Council on Education Fellow (USA) Class of 2010-11, a graduate of NAFSA’s International Academy, and a graduate of USA’s American Council on Education’s ‘Institute for Leading Internationalization’.

Sean Manley-Casimir
Former Executive Director
CONAHEC

Sean Manley-Casimir served as executive director of the 501c3 nonprofit Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) from 2013-2024. CONAHEC connects over 130 member higher education institutions of various types, sizes and profiles, all sharing interest and actively engaged in collaborating with North American higher education institutions. This includes Affiliate Members institutions from outside the North American region in addition to a strong core of members in the USA, Mexico and Canada. CONAHEC serves as a vehicle through which they can collaborate to address humanity’s most important challenges; internationalize while strengthening their local and regional relationships; and provide high quality and continuously improving the opportunities to their students and communities through study, teaching and learning, and research and extension activities.

Jose Celso Freire
President
Brazilian Association for International Education (FAUBAI)
and Associate Provost for International Affairs
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Demarée Michelau
President
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

Demarée K. Michelau is the president of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Located in Boulder, CO, WICHE is a regional interstate compact that partners with states, territories, and postsecondary institutions to share knowledge, create resources, and develop innovative solutions that address some of our society’s most pressing needs. From promoting high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to helping states get the most from their technology investments and addressing behavioral health challenges, WICHE improves lives across the West through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy. Prior to her role as WICHE’s president, Dr. Michelau was WICHE’s vice president of policy analysis and research, a role in which she managed WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit and oversaw externally-funded projects related to projections of high school graduates, closing postsecondary attainment gaps, and the development of a multistate longitudinal data exchange. The author of numerous reports and policy briefs, she has experience in a variety of higher education policy issues, including those related to equity and attainment, strategic planning, adult learners, articulation and transfer, accelerated learning options, college affordability, workforce linkages, and K-16 reform. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Previously, she held positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures and with former Colorado Congressman David Skaggs. Michelau received her bachelor’s degree in public law from Northern Illinois University and her master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.