The USA Higher Education team
The USA Higher Education team provides support to educational institutions and organizations that accept IELTS in the USA. This aim is achieved through on-campus professional development sessions, stakeholder workshops, presentations, webinars, and individual consultative services.
In addition, IELTS USA manages the administration of IELTS test operations throughout the US test center network by providing training and support to official testing centers across the United States. US stakeholders with general IELTS inquiries, Test Report Form verification inquiries, or score delivery inquiries may contact the designated IELTS USA representative.
Test taker inquiries should be directed to the test center where the IELTS test was taken. If you are a stakeholder or test taker outside of the United States, please contact an IELTS representative from your region or submit an online enquiry form.
For more information, please check the staff listing below.
Higher Education team
Gwendolyne Guzmán Rose - Director, Business Development and Outreach
Gwendolyne Guzmán Rose is the Director, Business Development and Outreach with IELTS USA. She is responsible for leading the Higher Education team and growing the adoption of IELTS and its products across the US. Gwen is a seasoned higher education professional who began her career in international higher education in 2005. She has extensive and hands-on experience in business development, international student recruitment, marketing visiting student programs, and creating, managing, and nurturing university collaborations and institutional partnerships. Gwen can be reached at ggrose@ieltsusa.org.
Donna Cameron - Regional Manager, Business Development, Data Integrity and Technology
Donna Cameron serves as the Regional Manager Business Development, Data Integrity & Technology. She is the Regional Representative for the Western US and part of the Midwest. She has worked with IELTS for 10 years, and prior to this position, Donna worked in Admissions as a Director of Admissions Operations and DSO. She worked with International applicants, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Donna can be reached at: dcameron@ieltsusa.org
Bolu Oluwadiya - Regional Manager, Business Development and Communications
Bolu Oluwadiya works with colleges, universities, and secondary schools across the Midwest and Eastern United States to make informed decisions regarding the use of IELTS in admissions and strategic recruitment. She is an experienced international enrollment manager with 10 years of experience recruiting undergraduate international students. You can reach Bolu at: boluwadiya@ieltsusa.org
Marianne Schlickeisen - Graduate Programs and Research Manager
Marianne works with graduate and professional programs at colleges and universities across the United States to help them make informed decisions regarding the use of IELTS in admissions and strategic recruitment. She is an experienced international enrollment manager with over 10 years of experience. You can reach Marianne at: mschlickeisen@ieltsusa.org
Additional contact information
- For general inquiries, contact IELTS USA at: ielts@ieltsusa.org
- For marketing and public relations inquiries, contact the marketing department at: marketing@ieltsusa.org
- If you are a test taker who sat a test in a US test center, contact: testcenters@ieltsusa.org
- If you are from an educational institution, contact: stakeholder@ieltsusa.org
Higher Education Advisory Council
The IELTS USA Higher Education Advisory Council serves as an external review panel for IELTS USA. Council members are leaders in their fields representing secondary schools, undergraduate and graduate education, public and private institutions, and the TESOL profession.
The responsibilities of the Council include but are not limited to:
- informing the Executive Director and staff about trends in higher education that are relevant to IELTS USA
- advising the Executive Director and staff about IELTS USA issues, policies, and strategic plans
- serving as an ambassador for IELTS USA publicly in everyday work situations, and at conferences and meetings
- assisting the Executive Director and IELTS USA staff with introductions to specific non-recognizing institutions
- being available to the Executive Director and staff of IELTS USA for individual consultation
- recommending and recruiting potential Board members.
Christopher Connor
Assistant Dean and Chief Enrollment Officer for Graduate Education
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY)
Chris has been involved in international enrollment management for over 20 years. He holds a B.A. and an Ed.M from the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY).
Jamila Everett
Director of Admission and Financial Aid
The Webb Schools
Jamila joined the Webb Schools in Claremont, CA in 2016 as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid with over two decades of previous admission leadership experience. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Communication Management from USC and a doctorate in Education Leadership from UCLA.
Lindsay Gentile
Director of Graduate Admissions
North Carolina State University
Lindsay has worked in international higher education for more than 18 years. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology and an M.A. in International Studies from East Carolina University.
Aaron Ghirardelli
Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions and Visiting Associate Professor
LMU Loyola Law School
Aaron teaches international law topics and supervises graduate programs at LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He holds his law degree from University of Milano - Bicocca, Italy and an LL.M. degree from UC Hastings, California.
Kate Hellmann
Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Washington State University
Kate serves as Director of International Student and Scholar Services at WSU where she oversees a suite of retention services from ESL to immigration.
Kayla Landers
Language Specialist, ITA Liaison, and Instructor
Lehigh University
Kayla has been teaching ESL since 2009. She holds a B.S. from Slippery Rock University and an M.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Maggie Lucas
Dean of College Counseling
Marlborough School
Maggie has over 15 years of admissions and college counseling experience. She holds a B.A. from Rowan University and an M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Brenda Reid
Director of International Student Services
Cedarville University
Brenda has nearly 10 years' experience in international education. She holds a BA in both History and Comprehensive Social Science and an M.Ed., from Cedarville University. She specializes in high retention and culturally responsive programming to support student adjustment, engagement, and academic success.
Christy Riddle
Executive Director, International Student Services & Student Success Center
Delta State University
Christy has 24 years of higher education experience, including 10 years in international education. She holds a BBA, MBA, and MSCD from Delta State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Andrea Stiefvater
Director, International Admissions
Ball State University
Andrea has been involved in international education for almost 15 years. She holds a BA from Goucher College, and MA and Ed.D degrees from University of Cincinnati.
Ashley Tankersley
Manager, International Recruitment
Hillsborough Community College
Ashley specializes in international student recruitment and has worked in international education for over 10 years. She holds a B.S. from Florida State University and an M.A. in International Education from the SIT Graduate Institute.
Dean Tsantir
Director of Graduate Admissions
University of Minnesota
Dean has experience in international student recruitment, educational technology research, and overseas ministries of education. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and an M.A. from the University of Minnesota.
Gil Villanueva
Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Rhodes College
Gil J. Villanueva is the Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.
Emilija Zlatkovska
Director of IEP & Executive Director, Center for International Programs
University of Southern Indiana
Emilija has been active in the field of international education for about 15 years. She holds an MSc and PhD in language education, EFL/ESL from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Former Higher Education Advisory Council members
Patriece Campbell-Palmer
Director of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Management
University of Louisville
Patriece has more than 15 years of experience in international education. She holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan-Flint, an M.P.A. from Michigan University in Ann Arbor, and a Ph.D. from the University of New England.
April Crabtree
Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management
University of San Francisco
April has worked in admission since 2008. She holds a B.A. from Eckerd College and an M.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Andrea Felder
Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Admissions
American University
Andrea has been involved in international education for close to 15 years. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.Ed. from North Carolina State University; and Ed.D. from North Carolina State University.
Becky Konowicz
Dean of Undergraduate Admission
Santa Clara University
Becky has worked in enrollment management since 2004. She holds a B.A. from DePauw University and an M.Ed. from Grand Valley State University.
Maria Luis Landry
Director of Admission
Tulane University
Maria counsels prospective L.L.M. and S.J.D. students through the application process. She holds a law degree from Universidade Catolica de Lisboa – Faculdade de Direito and an L.L.M. from Tulane Law School.
Krista LaVack
Associate Director of International Admission
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)
Krista has worked in international education for over 20 years. She earned a B.A. degree from Trent University in Canada and a M.S.Ed. degree from SUNY Potsdam.
Costas Solomou
Vice President for Enrollment
The State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo
Costas has worked in international education for more than 15 years. He holds a B.A from St. John Fisher College and an Ed.D. in Higher Education from the University of Rochester.