Biographies - Abroad
| Ms. Meryem Alpagu | Mr. Robert Balkin | Dr. Vadim N. Ptitsyn |
| Ms. Katie Lansford | Ms. Adriana Jiménez | Dr. Olga Zinovieva |
| Mr. Ben Balkaya | ||
Office in Mexico
Mr. Robert Balkin, Director, Mexico Office
Robert Balkin is a journalist, political analyst and attorney. He has written and lectured widely on electoral campaigns, legislative-press relations and freedom of information issues. Since 1998, Mr. Balkin has worked as Director of SUNY's office in Mexico, where he coordinates SUNY academic programs with various Mexican universities and institutions. He is an adjunct professor of Communications and History at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Santa Fe.
Ms. Adriana Jiménez, Program Assistant in México
Adriana Jiménez came to SUNY in 2007, after having worked five years at the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologÃa (CONACYT), Mexico's National Science Foundation. At the CONACYT, Adriana edited scientific journals, and earlier as administrative staff, she assisted Mexican research scholars abroad, attended to CONACYT agreements with foreign universities, and helped coordinate special events. She received her degree in Marketing from the Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Center on Russia & the United States
Dr. Olga Zinovieva, Center on Russia and the United States Program Manager
Olga Zinovieva has been working in international educational programs for 17 years, managing programs and providing consultations for universities in Great Britain, the US, Denmark and elsewhere. She also has extensive experience in organizing conferences, exhibitions and training courses for businesses. Dr. Zinovieva has been representing SUNY in Russia since 1999. She also served as a faculty member and Vice-Rector for cultural affairs of Moscow Telecommunication University. A native of Moscow, Dr. Zinovieva received her master's degree at Moscow State University of Foreign Languages.
Dr. Vadim N. Ptitsyn, Office Manager
Vadim Ptitsyn is a graduate of Moscow Physical Engineering University and Moscow Power Engineering University. He specializes in telecommunications, system control, electronics and computer science and worked in research and development at Zhukovsky Aviation Institute and in private telecommunication companies. He joined the SUNY-Moscow State University Center for Russia and the United States in 2001 to provide technical support and general coordination. His efforts also focus on distance learning programs and technologies.
Office in Turkey
Mr. Ben Balkaya, Program Director in Turkey
Yigit (Ben) Balkaya became assistant director in July 2006. He comes to us from Binghamton University, having most recently served as a research analyst in the Office of Enrollment Management. He also worked for two years in the Undergraduate Admissions Office, at least half of that time as assistant director. He earned his MBA from Binghamton in 2003. Prior to that, in his native Turkey, he completed undergraduate studies in economics at Bilkent University.
Ms. Katie Lansford, Associate Program Director in Turkey
Katie joined the Ankara, Turkey staff in September of 2008. She began her career with the State University of New York at SUNY Delhi in 2002 as an enrollment counselor and international student advisor. In 2005 she joined the Binghamton University admissions team where she spent 3 years as a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, serving as the national recruiter. Katie received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Binghamton University in 2001.
Ms. Meryem Alpagu, Office Manager
Meryem Alpagu began her duties as office manager in May 2006. Meryem most recently worked in Washington, D.C. for nearly three years as a jewelry designer and sales representative for a Turkish jewelry shop. She has more than ten years of office experience in private firms in Ankara, including Gama Construction, one of the largest international construction companies in Turkey. Meryem graduated from the department of Bureau Management and Secretarial Training at Bilkent University and attended business administration courses at Strayer University in Washington, D.C.