Engineering. Leadership. Global.

ClarkLEAD Onboarding Curricular Leadership Experiences Global Opportunities & Study Abroad Contact Us

Contact Us

The Office of Global Engineering Leadership in the A. James Clark School of Engineering provides a range of services and programs to students and faculty members interested in global engineering leadership.

We are located in the Clark School of Engineering Student Affairs and Academic Support Services Office in Glenn L. Martin Hall.

A. James Clark School of Engineering

1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall Bldg. #088

4298 Campus Drive

University of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742-3011
General Inquiries: globalengr@umd.edu
Fax: 301-314-9867

Office of Global Engineering Leadership

	Mr. Ramsey Jabaji (he/him/his) Director (301) 405-0234 \| rjabaji@umd.edu Ramsey Jabaji directs the Office of Global Engineering Leadership and is a lecturer in the A. James Clark School of Engineering where he oversees Clark Abroad programs, the Clark in Madrid program, Minor in Global Engineering Leadership, and TerrapinSTRONG/ClarkLEAD undergraduate onboarding initiatives. Ramsey is responsible for the oversight and strategy of one of the largest engineering study abroad portfolios in the country which includes 20+ exchange partners, the Clark in Madrid program, and 5+ short-term study abroad courses annually. He has 15+ years of teaching experience in leadership and higher education administration at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University in locations such as Australia, China, France, The Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. Ramsey holds a master's in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland and a bachelor's in Sociology and Environmental Studies from Franklin & Marshall College. He is a former board member of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, he served a 6-month appointment as special assistant to the president to launch UMD's TerrapinSTRONG onboarding initiative, and he currently serves as an Aspen Institute Impact Fellow. He is the recipient of multiple national awards from ACPA: College Student Educators International & NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society & Phi Kappa Phi National Leadership Honor Society at the University of Maryland. He holds a Leadership for Diversity Institute Certification from the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and a CliftonStrengths Certification from the Gallup Organization.
	Mr. Brian Dillehay (he/him/his) Associate Director (301) 405-8921 \| dillehay@umd.edu Brian Dillehay is the Associate Director in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership and oversees operational aspects of our global, leadership, and onboarding initiatives. He has been working and teaching courses in the A. James Clark School of Engineering for over five years and has an extensive background in international education and global programming. Brian joined the University of Maryland from AMIDEAST where he administered Fulbright students from the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, he has experience teaching and working abroad, primarily in Taiwan. He received his MA in International Training and Education from American University in 2016 and his BA in International Affairs from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2006.
	Dr. Darren Pierre (he/him/his) Senior Lecturer & GEL Minor Advisor (301) 405-6828 \| dpierre@umd.edu Darren Pierre, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. Pierre is a thought-leader within higher education, authoring a book, book chapters, journal articles, and presenting at numerous conferences on topics centered on leadership, identity development, and student engagement. In 2020, he led a team in developing one of the nine strategic priorities developed to inform the 2020-2025 National Leadership Education Research Agenda (NLERA). Dr. Pierre received his Ph.D. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.
	Ms. Katherine Schwarzentraub (she/her/hers) Program Manager, Maryland Engineering Global Experiences (301) 405-0786 \| ktraub@umd.edu Katherine Schwarzentraub is the Program Manager, Maryland Engineering Global Experiences in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. Katherine joined the OGEL team in December 2021, after initially working as the General Advisor in Education Abroad. As the Program Manager for Global Experiences, Katherine works with Engineering students to find programs that align with their major, goals, and interests. She also supports Incoming ENGR Exchange students during their time at UMD and Clark faculty members who lead short-term study abroad programs. Katherine is a proud Terp and received her MA in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland, and BA in Government and German with an Art History minor from Wofford College. During semesters abroad in London and Vienna, she furthered her interest in British culture and German language. Since 2017, Katherine has served as a resource in various roles on campus to encourage UMD students to pursue study abroad opportunities, and she is excited to help them explore ways to incorporate global learning opportunities into their Maryland experience!
	Ms. Aralia Ramirez (she/her/ella) Program Manager for Experiential Learning (301) 405-3857 \| aramir14@umd.edu Aralia Ramirez is the Program Manager for Experiential Learning. She joined our team from California in June of 2022. Aralia oversees and supports a number of experiential learning opportunities in Maryland Engineering which help develop students' inclusive leadership and intercultural capacities. She manages the ClarkLEAD onborading initiative and Maryland VIPs (Vertically Integrates Projects), oversees and facilitates our intergroup dialogue courses, and provides leadership training for Engineering student organizations and student societies housed in the Clark School. Prior to joining us, Aralia worked at California State University, Chico (Chico State) and Duke University supporting onboarding and leadership programming primarily for first-year students and students in STEM. She earned her Bachelors in Sociology from Chico State and her Masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa. Aralia's research interests are leadership development, student development, equitable supervision practices, and ways to create equitable campus environments. Outside of work, Aralia enjoys playing Pickleball, hiking, baking, and spending time with her family.
	Dr. Léna Kavaliauskas Crain (she/her/hers) Lecturer lkavalia@umd.edu Léna Crain, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. She has instructed undergraduate and graduate courses, including programs in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, the Netherlands, and Australia, and has lived and worked in France. These experiences contributed to her research, which examines the relationship between culture, pedagogy, and cognition (how culture influences the way we teach and learn), and the influence of cultural dimensions on conflict and resolution. In her broader career in higher education, Dr. Crain has been recognized by ACPA as a Diamond Honoree and Annuit Coeptis Scholar. Dr. Crain received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.

Clark in Madrid & Madrid Exchange Programs

Ms. Julia Blatchford (she/her/hers)
Clark in Madrid On-Site Coordinator
jblatchf@umd.edu

Julia serves as the On-Site Coordinator and primary advisor for the Clark in Madrid Program and Madrid exchange programs. She advises and supports all UMD students planning to and taking part in our programs in Madrid, Spain. In addition, she supports incoming exchange students from our partners in Madrid considering an exchange experience with Maryland Engineering. Prior to these roles, Julia worked as an International Student Advisor to European students heading to the USA for undergraduate or graduate degrees, as an English Language and Culture Instructor in K-12 bilingual schools in Madrid and as a Spanish language teacher in her home state of Vermont. Julia earned her B.A. from Beloit College with a double major in Cultural Anthropology and Spanish Language & Literature, her teaching certification from Champlain College and then went on to pursue Master’s degrees in International Education and Global Higher Education from the Universidad de Alcalá. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, keeping her houseplants alive and exploring new corners of Madrid. Julia is excited to share her love of Spain with UMD students going abroad.

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	Mr. Ramsey Jabaji (he/him/his) Director (301) 405-0234 \| rjabaji@umd.edu Ramsey Jabaji directs the Office of Global Engineering Leadership and is a lecturer in the A. James Clark School of Engineering where he oversees Clark Abroad programs, the Clark in Madrid program, Minor in Global Engineering Leadership, and TerrapinSTRONG/ClarkLEAD undergraduate onboarding initiatives. Ramsey is responsible for the oversight and strategy of one of the largest engineering study abroad portfolios in the country which includes 20+ exchange partners, the Clark in Madrid program, and 5+ short-term study abroad courses annually. He has 15+ years of teaching experience in leadership and higher education administration at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University in locations such as Australia, China, France, The Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. Ramsey holds a master's in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland and a bachelor's in Sociology and Environmental Studies from Franklin & Marshall College. He is a former board member of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, he served a 6-month appointment as special assistant to the president to launch UMD's TerrapinSTRONG onboarding initiative, and he currently serves as an Aspen Institute Impact Fellow. He is the recipient of multiple national awards from ACPA: College Student Educators International & NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society & Phi Kappa Phi National Leadership Honor Society at the University of Maryland. He holds a Leadership for Diversity Institute Certification from the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and a CliftonStrengths Certification from the Gallup Organization.
	Mr. Brian Dillehay (he/him/his) Associate Director (301) 405-8921 \| dillehay@umd.edu Brian Dillehay is the Associate Director in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership and oversees operational aspects of our global, leadership, and onboarding initiatives. He has been working and teaching courses in the A. James Clark School of Engineering for over five years and has an extensive background in international education and global programming. Brian joined the University of Maryland from AMIDEAST where he administered Fulbright students from the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, he has experience teaching and working abroad, primarily in Taiwan. He received his MA in International Training and Education from American University in 2016 and his BA in International Affairs from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2006.
	Dr. Darren Pierre (he/him/his) Senior Lecturer & GEL Minor Advisor (301) 405-6828 \| dpierre@umd.edu Darren Pierre, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. Pierre is a thought-leader within higher education, authoring a book, book chapters, journal articles, and presenting at numerous conferences on topics centered on leadership, identity development, and student engagement. In 2020, he led a team in developing one of the nine strategic priorities developed to inform the 2020-2025 National Leadership Education Research Agenda (NLERA). Dr. Pierre received his Ph.D. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.
	Ms. Katherine Schwarzentraub (she/her/hers) Program Manager, Maryland Engineering Global Experiences (301) 405-0786 \| ktraub@umd.edu Katherine Schwarzentraub is the Program Manager, Maryland Engineering Global Experiences in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. Katherine joined the OGEL team in December 2021, after initially working as the General Advisor in Education Abroad. As the Program Manager for Global Experiences, Katherine works with Engineering students to find programs that align with their major, goals, and interests. She also supports Incoming ENGR Exchange students during their time at UMD and Clark faculty members who lead short-term study abroad programs. Katherine is a proud Terp and received her MA in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland, and BA in Government and German with an Art History minor from Wofford College. During semesters abroad in London and Vienna, she furthered her interest in British culture and German language. Since 2017, Katherine has served as a resource in various roles on campus to encourage UMD students to pursue study abroad opportunities, and she is excited to help them explore ways to incorporate global learning opportunities into their Maryland experience!
	Ms. Aralia Ramirez (she/her/ella) Program Manager for Experiential Learning (301) 405-3857 \| aramir14@umd.edu Aralia Ramirez is the Program Manager for Experiential Learning. She joined our team from California in June of 2022. Aralia oversees and supports a number of experiential learning opportunities in Maryland Engineering which help develop students' inclusive leadership and intercultural capacities. She manages the ClarkLEAD onborading initiative and Maryland VIPs (Vertically Integrates Projects), oversees and facilitates our intergroup dialogue courses, and provides leadership training for Engineering student organizations and student societies housed in the Clark School. Prior to joining us, Aralia worked at California State University, Chico (Chico State) and Duke University supporting onboarding and leadership programming primarily for first-year students and students in STEM. She earned her Bachelors in Sociology from Chico State and her Masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa. Aralia's research interests are leadership development, student development, equitable supervision practices, and ways to create equitable campus environments. Outside of work, Aralia enjoys playing Pickleball, hiking, baking, and spending time with her family.
	Dr. Léna Kavaliauskas Crain (she/her/hers) Lecturer lkavalia@umd.edu Léna Crain, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. She has instructed undergraduate and graduate courses, including programs in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, the Netherlands, and Australia, and has lived and worked in France. These experiences contributed to her research, which examines the relationship between culture, pedagogy, and cognition (how culture influences the way we teach and learn), and the influence of cultural dimensions on conflict and resolution. In her broader career in higher education, Dr. Crain has been recognized by ACPA as a Diamond Honoree and Annuit Coeptis Scholar. Dr. Crain received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.