The Vancouver Team
Campus Administration and Enrollment
Steve Eccles
Regional Dean and CEO
(he/him)
Steve Eccles brings a unique background to his role at Northeastern, combining corporate C-suite executive experience with postsecondary education innovation and leadership. With a shared values-based approach to building teams and supporting student success, he focuses on education and workforce development strategies that secure positive economic and social outcomes for British Columbia.
Carrie Chassels
Associate Dean and Campus Administrator
(she/her)
As Associate Dean and Campus Administrator for the Vancouver campus, Carrie facilitates the planning and delivery of academic programs in collaboration with faculty and staff from Northeastern's nine colleges. She also plays a significant role in the coordination of student services, experiential learning opportunities, and academic planning, licensure, compliance, and accreditation processes and protocols.
Carrie has been leading transformative change in post-secondary education for more than 20 years. With a Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of Toronto, and a proven track record of educational innovation, Carrie regards social justice and equity as foundations for continuous improvement, lifelong learning, economic prosperity, and wellbeing. Carrie is committed to fostering social and workplace ecosystems that optimize the strength of diversity. She is especially focused on the cultural, experiential and linguistic strengths of Indigenous Peoples and newcomers to Canada.
Prior to joining Northeastern University, Carrie was Vice-Provost of Student Affairs at the University of Guelph, Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs at Vancouver Island University, and she taught in the teacher education program and was Director of the School-University Partnerships Office at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Dominik Beckers
Director of Strategic Partnerships
(he/him)
As the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Vancouver campus, Dominik builds relationships with local industry and community partners to plan and deliver talent pipelines and experiential learning opportunities. He also oversees the account management of various industry and community partners that are embedded in the downtown campus.
Dominik is committed to ensuring that Northeastern University Vancouver is part of the local ecosystems and that partnerships with all stakeholders including industry, government and alumni are outcome-based and will benefit partners and students alike.
Tiffany Duff
Assistant Director of Recruitment and Enrollment
(she/her)
As Assistant Director of Recruitment and Enrollment for the Vancouver Campus, Tiffany oversees enrollment and community partnership development initiatives for Vancouver as part of Northeastern’s Global Campus Enrollment Management Team.
Tiffany’s career started in Financial Services and quickly moved to HR Training while working in a global financial institution. During that time, she found her passion for working with international students. She loves making a positive impact in students' lives by helping them to establish themselves in Canada and guiding them to choose the best education to fit their career paths. Tiffany has worked in private post-secondary institutions and ran her own business enrolling international students in local summer camps. Her expertise includes International Admissions and Business (Growth and) Development.
Tiffany is also heavily involved in the Tri-City community and tech industry in the Metro Vancouver Area. She is the co-founder of a non-for-profit organization that supports those affected by Asian racial injustice. Because she is passionate about higher education, Tiffany often provides entrepreneurial mentorship at local high schools.
Denise Katrak
Director of Marketing, Global Campuses
(she/her)
As the Director of Marketing for Northeastern's global campuses, Denise oversees the operations, execution and supports the coordination of domestic marketing strategies across our Northeastern campus network in Arlington, Charlotte, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Toronto and Vancouver.
Denise has over a decade of experience in marketing, program management and partnership development. Prior to joining Northeastern, Denise worked in higher ed supporting lifelong learning and executive education programs at a university in the lower mainland. She’s also previously worked with Doctors Without Borders in the Middle East and started her career at an ad agency in Dubai. Denise is a marketing alum of the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University (SFU).
Theresa Trinh
Special Assistant to the Dean's Office
(she/her)
As the Special Assistant to the Dean's Office for the Vancouver campus, Theresa provides support to the Dean and their direct reports as well as executing special projects at the Dean's request.
Theresa has over a decade of experience in post graduate education at all levels of administration and student support. Her focus has always been on delivering distinguished and personalised academic programs ensuring students, staff, and faculty have an exceptional experience.
Theresa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia.
Academic and Student Services
Nina Liu
Associate Director – International Student Services – Canada
(she/her)
As a lifelong learner, Nina is passionate about supporting international students in pursuing their educational goals, and provides immigration compliance support to current Northeastern international students regarding studying and working in Canada. As part of the Office of Global Services (OGS) Canada team, Nina supports Vancouver student inquiries related to study permits, student co-op and work permits, and other student inquiries within the scope of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations.
Prior to joining Northeastern University, she practiced Canadian Immigration Law with a focus on international students. She received her Master of Economics in International Trade and her Bachelor of Economics in Finance, and she is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in good standing since 2016.
Ankita Goyal
International Student and Scholar Advisor
(she/her)
Ankita is a distinguished International Student and Scholar Advisor at Northeastern University, bringing a wealth of knowledge and academic achievements to her role. She graduated as a valedictorian in the Certificate in Immigration: Law, Policies, and Procedures program at UBC, solidifying her expertise in the field of immigration.
Her educational background includes a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Family Business, where they also achieved the honor of being a valedictorian. Prior to that, Ankita completed a Master's degree in Sciences, Information Technology, and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications from Panjab University in India which is ranked one of the top universities in India.
Ankita served as an Associate Admissions Advisor at The University of British Columbia, determining access and placement for hundreds of applicants, and also worked in immigration advising, providing high-level support to students and stakeholders. Her expertise in immigration matters and academic advising allowed her to address concerns and provide guidance on a wide range of immigration-related issues developing a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by international students.
Ankita's multidisciplinary background enables her to provide well-rounded guidance to international students and scholars, ensuring they have comprehensive support in navigating the complexities of immigration regulations. She not only actively participates in continuous professional development (CPD) events but also serves as a distinguished speaker. She contributes her expertise and knowledge to CPD events, sharing insights and best practices with fellow professionals in the field of immigration.
Through her academic achievements and commitment to excellence, Ankita demonstrates her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth. Her educational accomplishments serve as a testament to their commitment to providing the highest level of service to the international student community at Northeastern University.
Serena Conlon
Associate Director of Student Services
(she/her)
A native Vancouverite with an extensive background in International Student Services and student life, Serena is the primary contact for student services support at Northeastern in Vancouver.
She has a BA in Political Science and International Relations with a minor in First Nations Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia. She also has more than a decade’s experience working in post-secondary student services and organizing events.
Amber Zhou
Assistant Director of Student Accounts and Canadian Financial Aid
Victoria Williams
Wellness Program Specialist
(she/her)
As Wellness Program Specialist, Victoria works to foster student well-being through individualized support, wellness programming, and resource referral. She approaches her role from a trauma-informed, intersectional, and anti-oppressive lens that recognizes the unique perspective of each student.
Prior to this role, Victoria worked as the Wellness and Advocacy Coordinator for the BCIT Student Association, where she ran a wide range of programming and food security initiatives. Through her ongoing volunteer work with the Canadian Mental Health Association she is well connected to available supports within the community, and advocates for the health and well-being needs of all British Columbians.
Joseph Clark
Global Learner Support Specialist
(he/him)
As the Global Learner Support Specialist at the Vancouver Campus, Joseph provides language, cultural and academic support to students in Vancouver and across Northeastern’s global campus network.
Joseph has many years of experience teaching English both in Canada and overseas; he taught English at Tokyo City University and Business English for corporate employees in Japan before moving back to Canada. During his time in Japan, he also led workshops on cultural adaptation for people relocating to Canada. Joseph’s graduate thesis at the University of Victoria focused on educational reform policies for the globalization of education.
Joseph loves teaching English learners at all levels and learning about different cultures from his students. In his spare time, he writes, reads, paints, snowboards and plays basketball.
Mahya Payamshad
Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services
(she/her)
As the Graduate Student Services Coordinator for Khoury programs in Vancouver, Mahya is the primary contact for all academic inquiries for the Khoury College of Computer Sciences including questions related to academic advising for current students, course planning, and graduation.
Mahya is passionate about assisting students in developing academic plans, including options for majors/minors and study abroad opportunities. She holds an MEd in Education, with a concentration on curriculum, teaching, and learning from the University of Manitoba.
Camila de Campos Miranda
Academic and Professional Advisor, College of Professional Studies
(she/her)
As the Academic and Professional Advisor for the College of Professional Studies for the Vancouver campus, Camila supports MPS in Analytics' students with program related inquiries, course planning and graduation.
Camila is an Academic Advisor with over a decade of experience in the field of education - both inside and outside the classroom. She's passionate about helping students build a successful academic journey that supports their career and life goals.
Camila holds a BA in Sociology and Anthropology (PUC-Campinas), a Career and Life Coaching certificate, and an MA in Education from Simon Fraser University, where she researched the cultural impacts of internationalization of education.
Antonio Fadda
Academic Advisor and Program Manager, College of Engineering
(he/him)
Antonio is deeply committed to supporting students in navigating their higher education and career paths. He has extensive experience as an educator, student advisor, and career consultant for domestic and international students. Antonio holds two Master’s degrees, including a Master of Philosophy from the University of Rome and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia. Central to his approach is creating an educational environment that celebrates and embraces diversity. Antonio also volunteers with non-profit organizations to support newcomers' integration into Canadian society.
Antonio is an avid musician in his free time who loves playing the guitar and a unique instrument known as the Sardinian Triple Clarinet.
Elif Emiroglu
Graduate Student Services Coordinator
Elif Emiroglu is an academic coordinator at the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. She earned her bachelor’s from Uludag University, Türkiye. Prior to joining Northeastern, she worked as an academic support to diverse students.
She enjoys collaborating with the students to help them pursue their academic and professional goals.
Career Development and Experiential Learning
Dinuka Gunaratne
Director, Career Development and Experiential Learning
Amy Smith
Assistant Director of Co-op and Career Services
(she/her)
Amy joined Northeastern Vancouver from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). She has worked in post-secondary Career and Student Services for ten years, serving students through career coaching, workshop design and facilitation, and industry engagement. Her industry focus is on the tech sector, and she has gained expertise in supporting international students and newcomers to Canada in navigating the Vancouver job market.
Amy has volunteered for five years with the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) as Chair of the Competencies Committee. Recently, Amy won the 2022 Award for Outstanding Achievements from CACEE for her volunteer efforts and speaking contributions at the CACEE national conference. A life-long hobby of Amy is writing, and she has contributed to several publications such as the Centre for Educational Research in Counselling (CERIC) and Career Options Magazine. Outside of work, Amy volunteers with HugABull Rescue Society fostering dogs, loves going to comedy shows, and is frequently starting (but not always finishing) DIY craft projects.
Siyi Cheng
Assistant Cooperative Education Coordinator, College of Engineering
(she/her)
Siyi lives her passion for bridging student development to human flourishing. She possesses diverse experiences in international higher education and with immigrant engineers in Canada. Siyi provides person-centred support paired with an understanding of co-existing opportunities and conflicts for transnational students. She proudly employs strengths-identifying and capacity-building approaches in her teaching and advising. In her role, Siyi supports cooperative education program in the College of Engineering at Northeastern University Vancouver through employer partnership development, co-op curriculum teaching, and individual student advising.
Prior to joining Northeastern University in Vancouver, Siyi also served New York University’s global portal campus in Shanghai, China. Siyi is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Studies, focusing on student development in higher education internationalization and global migration. She received an M.A. in Pacific & Asian Studies and holds two bachelor's degrees in English and Sociology.
Siyi is bilingual in English and Mandarin and is on her way to mastering French. She is a curious lifelong learner and a clumsy bubbly dancer.
Campus Operations
Chandra Stalker
Director of Operations
(she/her)
As Director of Operations for Northeastern University in Vancouver, Chandra ensures that campus operations and services support the needs of all faculty, staff and students to deliver an exceptional experience. Chandra has over 20 years of progressive experience in higher education; providing leadership in areas of campus operations, human resources, and strategic planning. Her multi-disciplinary skill-set includes financial planning, budget and capital management, advisory services, human resource and project management.
Chandra’s education includes a Business Management Diploma from Thompson Rivers University, Management Certificate in Human Resources and one in Management Studies from BCIT, and Foundations of Leadership from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Chandra continues to pursue educational opportunities part-time and volunteers in her community to support youth in sports.
Emily Lacanilao
Campus Operations Specialist
(she/her)
As Campus Operations Specialist, Emily ensures efficient, safe, and effective day-to-day operations to enhance staff, faculty, partners, and student experience. She liaises events, ensuring the space meets all needs of internal and external community partners. She promotes campus wellness and safety initiatives, and strives to continuously improve operational processes, onboarding, inventory procurement, and facilities management.
Prior to Northeastern, Emily ran operations at the BCIT’s Marine Engineering and Nautical Sciences specialized campus. In addition to her 10+ years experience in business administration, Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an Executive Assistant certificate from Vancouver Community College.
Outside work, she enjoys bonding with her toddler, hiking, biking, brunching with friends, travelling and staycationing in beautiful BC.
Aashika Babu
Campus Operations Assistant
(she/her)
As a University Campus Operations Assistant, Aashika brings administrative support, event planning, and student services expertise. Her passion for higher education and commitment to creating a positive campus experience drives her to efficiently manage daily tasks and effectively communicate with students, faculty, staff, and others. She is committed to the University's mission and is dedicated to ensuring a seamless campus experience.
Previously Aashika worked as a US IT Bench Sales Recruiter; she also holds a bachelor's Degree in Computer Science.
Morgan Liang
Campus Operations Specialist
(she/her)
As a Campus Operations Specialist at Northeastern University, Morgan is dedicated to ensuring the seamless and efficient functioning of daily operations that enhance the experiences of industry partners, faculty, staff, and students. She manages a diverse range of operations, including office administration, health and safety, and event planning, and works in close collaboration with campus leadership to achieve operational excellence throughout the institution.
Prior to joining Northeastern University, she gained experience in both volunteer and professional capacities, excelling in providing support to international students in the post-secondary education sector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a minor in Special Education from the University of British Columbia. Her educational background and professional experience have equipped her with an environmentally-conscious and special needs-focused perspective that informs her approach to her work. Her goal is to promote an accessible and sustainable learning environment for all groups at Northeastern University.
Muhammad Huzaifa Khalid
IT / AV Specialist
As the IT / AV Specialist for the Vancouver campus, Huzaifa supports computer systems, classroom technology and networks as part of Northeastern’s Global IT services team.
With more than two years working in IT and operations related roles, Huzaifa previously worked as a technical analyst for a Burnaby-based managed services provider. Prior to that, he worked in an operations-related role for Apple. Huzaifa is currently also expanding his education, completing a Software Systems Development program.
Patrick Diaz
AV / IT Support Specialist
Patrick is an IT Professional with a background in Telecommunications, UX Strategy, Audio Engineering & Art Directive. As the AV/IT Specialist at Northeastern, Patrick focuses on maintaining AV equipment and fostering an open environment for technical resolution for students and faculty alike.
His true passion is taking strategic direction and translating it into technical action.
He loves developing experiences for users; whether it be in tech form, space design or auditory stimuli.
Patrick has made deciphering codes, symbols, and meanings part of his life outside of the office. He is a semiotician & artist at heart, fields which he explored in depth at the University of Toronto, and Berklee College of Music.
Patrick is continuing his studies in Cybersecurity, specializing in Microsoft Azure support.
