Our Staff

Meet the MGIS Staff
Dedicated professionals driving our success
Fernando Lopez-Alves
Director
Fernando Lopez-Alves is Professor of Global and International Studies at UC Santa Barbara and CEO of GR Solutions. He previously directed the UC Washington Center in D.C. and has led research centers and think tanks across Latin America and Europe.
Ángela Suarez Collado
Academic Director
Dr. Ángela Suárez Collado holds a BA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Granada, a MA in International Mediterranean Studies and a PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies from the Autonomous University of Madrid.
Iván Llamazares
Academic Committee Member
Iván Llamazares is a professor of Political Science at the Universidad de Salamanca. His main research interests lie in the party-political articulation of sociopolitical divisions and conflicts in Europe and Latin America.
Melody Johnson
Graduate Program Advisor and Registrar
Melody Johnson possesses over 30 years of managerial, supervisory and administrative experience in the field of education. At the University of California she served as Management Services Officer, Program Administrator and, most recently, as Registrar.
Steve Selby
Internship Coordinator in Washington DC
Steve has been an instructor and director of professional development for Michigan State University’s Washington Semester program since 1998.
Jialin Liu
International Partnerships Coordinator
Jialin Liu has worked with public and private institutions in China, the United States, Latin America, and Africa. She holds two PhDs and two Master’s degrees from the University of Salamanca and Hunan University, in the fields of Global Governance and Social Sciences.
Joanna Kozlowski
Career Development Advisor
Joanna Kozlowski is a teacher, trainer, coach, and consultant based in Washington DC. Through her practice (Resolute Consulting LLC), she brings together her first career in teaching and training and her second in marketing and business development.
Andrea Paola Escalera
Alumni and Student Consultant
Andrea Paola Escalera holds a Master’s Degree in Global Studies and International Studies from the University of Salamanca.
Martin Orloff
University of Salamanca, Faculty
Martin Orloff holds a Master Degree in Global Studies and International Studies, with an emphasis in Migration, Climate Change and Environment from the University of Salamanca; as well as a Master’s Candidate in International Studies from the University del CEMA (UCEMA), in Argentina. He has worked, since 2016, in the public sector: as an advisor of the Argentinian Delegation to the Binational Commission for the Development of the Upper Bermejo and Grande de Tarija Rivers Basin; and, for the period 2020-2023, as an advisor to the Undersecretary of Management of the Ministry of Culture. His main research interests focus on transboundary water governance; and Jewish studies in border regions and diasporas.

Meet the MGIS Staff
Dedicated professionals driving our success
Fernando Lopez-Alves
Director
Fernando Lopez-Alves is Professor of Global and International Studies at UC Santa Barbara and CEO of GR Solutions. He previously directed the UC Washington Center in D.C. and has led research centers and think tanks across Latin America and Europe.
Ángela Suarez Collado
Academic Director
Dr. Ángela Suárez Collado holds a BA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Granada, a MA in International Mediterranean Studies and a PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies from the Autonomous University of Madrid.
Iván Llamazares
Academic Committee Member
Iván Llamazares is a professor of Political Science at the Universidad de Salamanca. His main research interests lie in the party-political articulation of sociopolitical divisions and conflicts in Europe and Latin America.
Melody Johnson
Graduate Program Advisor and Registrar
Melody Johnson possesses over 30 years of managerial, supervisory and administrative experience in the field of education. At the University of California she served as Management Services Officer, Program Administrator and, most recently, as Registrar.
Steve Selby
Internship Coordinator in Washington DC
Steve has been an instructor and director of professional development for Michigan State University’s Washington Semester program since 1998.
Jialin Liu
International Partnerships Coordinator
Jialin Liu has worked with public and private institutions in China, the United States, Latin America, and Africa. She holds two PhDs and two Master’s degrees from the University of Salamanca and Hunan University, in the fields of Global Governance and Social Sciences.
Joanna Kozlowski
Career Development Advisor
Joanna Kozlowski is a teacher, trainer, coach, and consultant based in Washington DC. Through her practice (Resolute Consulting LLC), she brings together her first career in teaching and training and her second in marketing and business development.









