Find IFSO staff at McGill Hall Suite 2126 (second floor) of Muir College or contact us at (858) 246-1448.
Visit our "Contact Us" page for office hours, how to schedule an appointment with an advisor, directions to our office, email addresses, and additional information.
Counseling Attorney
Jerry Linkon, a Chicago native, moved to California to pursue a degree in Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. Upon graduating from UCLA, Jerry continued his passion for politics and the law. He attended Southwestern University School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor. After some time practicing law in Los Angeles, Jerry decided to move his private immigration law practice to San Diego. Once he had established his practice at its new location, he was contacted by Mary Dhooge, the former Dean of Global Education. It was at this time that she hired Jerry to provide part-time immigration law services for the international visitors at UC San Diego. Although Jerry is not a
Immigration Advisor
J-1 and H-1B for Scholars with the last name: A - J
Dalia Alshamas was born and raised in San Diego and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master of Arts in Human Behavior from National University. Dalia has had over 10 years of experience working in Education; she has served as the Community Outreach Coordinator at a private university as well as a High School and Community Relations Liaison for a local Community College. As a scholar advisor, Dalia serves university departments and International scholars at UC San Diego. Dalia comes from a diverse background of Middle Eastern and German descent. She enjoys traveling and has lived in Germany and visited Costa Rica and Greece. She speaks Arabic, German, and Spanish and would love to learn another language. Dalia is always eager and excited to meet new people and learn more about different cultures. In her free time Dalia enjoys reading, movies, and swimming.
Senior Immigration Advisor
J-1 and H-1B for Scholars with the last name: K - O
Marie Manlapaz’s passion in immigration-related matters stem from witnessing her grandmother emigrate eleven children from the Philippines to the U.S. Marie has worked in the immigration field for over 10 years. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Sociology, with a minor in Asian American Studies at UC Davis. Prior to joining IFSO Marie was an Immigration Specialist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and also an International Student Advisor at UC Davis and UC San Diego. As an Immigration Advisor, Marie advises scholars and departments on H-1B employment related matters. She enjoys working with international scholars and their families from all over the world. She finds it rewarding to see others fulfill their professional, academic and personal goals. She understands it can be challenging to navigate the U.S.’s complex immigration regulations and wants scholars and departments to know that IFSO is here to assist them. She encourages scholars and their families to explore San Diego and the diverse culture California offers. In her free time, Marie enjoys going to the beach, rollerblading, hiking and salsa dancing.
Immigration Advisor
J-1 and H-1B for Scholars with the last name: P - Z
Lucas Olson serves as an immigration advisor, providing services to international scholars and UCSD departments. He is originally from Michigan and grew up in a family that loved to travel as well as host international au pairs and exchange students. Since then, he has lived abroad for over 5 years in northern Europe, Russia, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine. He has a B.A. in Political Science from Kalamazoo College, an M.Sc. in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam, and an M.A. in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. He has previously worked in international student and scholar services at Stanford University and San Diego State University. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, road trips, tennis, and volleyball.
Employment Based Intake and Compliance Coordinator
Nallely provides administrative support to departments, scholars, and the International Faculty & Scholars Office. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Law and Society from UC San Diego. After earning her Bachelor’s degree, her passion for helping others led her to work as a Paralegal in an immigration law firm. She returned to UC San Diego, where she gained student affairs and course management experience. Nallely looks forward to helping members of the Triton community with their immigration process. In her free time she enjoys practicing her Spanish, hiking, trying new food, and volunteering at the San Diego Food Bank.
Employment Based Immigration Assistant
Danny provides administrative support for the H-1B and Permanent Residency staff as well as IFSO’s front desk. He attended Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts where he studied International Relations and minored in Spanish. The following year he moved to Spain to teach English. Originally from the greater Boston area, Danny comes to us with professional experience in data processing and experience working with international refugees and asylees helping them find employment in the U.S. Having lived in Barcelona for a year, he is also an avid Barcelona fan and enjoys eating pan con tomate, learning different languages, and experiencing diverse cultures. Danny enjoys his work and finds meaning in international relations. In his free time, Danny enjoys playing soccer, being outdoors, and trying different ethnic meals.
Front Desk Coordinator
As Front Desk Coordinator, Aia’s role mainly entails the management and coordination of the Front Desk, and supervision of the Front Desk Student Staff. Aia has been part of Global Education since 2015, where she was employed at International Students & Programs Office mainly supporting the processing of international student employment applications. Aia is also a UCSD alumna of SWANA origin with a degree in Literature/Writing. Prior to returning to Global Education and joining IFSO, she worked as a Paralegal at a Global Immigration law firm. A Southern Californian plagued with wanderlust, Aia enjoys exploring new places and traveling whenever possible. In her free time Aia enjoys connecting with folks, reading books of all genres, writing, attending poetry events, hanging out in bookstores, and going to the beach.
Office Manager
Victoria manages office operations and procedures, oversees correspondence, and supports the International Faculty and Scholars Office. She is also the contact for logistics and inquiries from our various business offices, affiliates, and outside organizations. She has been an administrator at UC San Diego for the past four years, and helped to manage and promote programs that were interdisciplinary. Prior to that, Victoria provided outreach in the nonprofit sector and promoted farmers’ stories, the importance of a local food supply, as well as a collaborative educational program that taught urban children about nutrition. She has a Master’s degree in Education, and an undergraduate degree in Studio Arts. She was also a professional folk dancer and had performed in various cultural festivals throughout California. In her free time, Victoria enjoys reading, leisurely walks, and learning about various cultures through folk dance.
Madeline is a second year Muir student pursuing a major in Communications and a double minor in Education and English Literature. Although Korean-American and originally from Los Angeles, Madeline has lived most of her life overseas in Qingdao, China. While there, she was able to attend an international school, giving her exposure to and a fascination with diverse cultures. This has also fed into her love of traveling, resulting in her having taken about 20 different plane rides within the past two years. Alongside working at IFSO and being a full-time student, she is an assistant editor for the UCSD Guardian, is involved in Korean Campus Missions, and plays on IM volleyball and soccer teams. She also enjoys reading and writing, playing soccer, and trying new foods. Upon graduating, Madeline hopes to go to graduate school and pursue a career in journalism.
Danica is a