International Education

Meet the team

We have a full range of staff dedicated to making your experience at Okanagan College the best possible. The Student Services team is here to help with everything from education advising to immigration. Education Advisors are available to assist international students plan their academic program, choose courses to meet their educational goals, register for ESL and academic courses and learn about course requirements for transferring to other universities. Cultural Liaisons are there to assist with all aspects of studying in Canada. Our Cultural Liaisons are native speakers of many different languages.

General inquiries

Have questions? Contact the International staff through these main e-mail contacts based on your needs:

Book an appointment with an Education Advisor or Cultural Liaison

Administration Team

  • Director, International Education
  • Executive Assistant

Marketing Team

  • Recruitment
  • Business Development

Cultural Liaisons

  • Answer questions
  • Discuss concerns
  • Create connections

Student Services Team

  • Student Settlement and Support
  • Education Advising
  • Immigration

Administration Team

Gordon Shuster

Director, International Education
Office: E Building 121
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4543
Gordon Shuster International Director

Leanne Foster

Administrative Coordinator
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4502
Leanne Foster Executive Assistant to the International Director

Marketing Team

Jade Bethune

Marketing Recruitment Specialist - Malaysia, Middle East, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea
Office: E Building 120
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4251
Jade Bethune, Marketing Recruitment Specialist

Sakura Hirata

Marketing Recruitment Specialist - Japan and Africa
Office: E Building 119
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4508
International - Sakura Hirata

Louis Hu

Marketing Recruitment Specialist - China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Indonesia and Caribbean
Office: E Building 111
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4866
International Department Marketing Recruitment Specialist Louis Hu

Melanie Wasilenkoff

Marketing Recruitment Specialist - Mexico, South America, USA and Europe
Office: E Building 116
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4947
Melanie Wasilenkoff International Marketing Recruitment Specialist

Amir .

Marketing Recruitment Specialist - India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Nepal
Office: E Building 115
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4246
Amir International Student Recruitment

Education Advisors

Heather Thomson

International Education Advising
Office: E Building 114
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6305

Nayoung Kim

International Education Advising
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4883
Nayoung Kim - International Education

Student Services

Skye Chataway

International Student Settlement
Office: E Building 118
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4670

AR Mistry

Immigration Advisor
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4914

Geri Nishi

Student Services Assistant
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4240
Geri Nishi International Division Assistant Fall trees in the background

Karen Tessier

Student Services Assistant
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4503

Isabel Su

Student Services Assistant
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4162
Isabel Su head and sholders  photo outside Okanagan College

Gurleen Kaur

Retention Officer
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4282
Gurleen with fall trees and bushes in the background

Brenda Cortes Vargas

Student Liaison
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4637
Brenda Cortes in the Library at Okanagan College

Cultural Liaisons

Kiran Arora

Cultural Liaison - September to April
Office: Ashnola Building 142B
Campus: Penticton
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 2960
International Department staff member Kiran Arora

Gina Lee

Cultural Liaison
Office: E Building 110
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-862-5443 ext. 4735
photo of Gina

Fanny Chapman

Cultural Liaison
Office: Main Building C307
Campus: Vernon
Phone: 250-545-7291 ext. 2246
Fanny with lake view behind