Kaori Nakama
Director
Kaori has over 8 years of experience in international education with 3 of those years being with the GWC Center for Global and Cultural Programs. As an immigrant herself, Kaori is dedicated to serving students from diverse cultural and immigrant backgrounds. Additionally, she is a committed student, having earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership at University of Hawai’i Manoa and is now pursuing a MS degree in Counseling – Student Development in Higher Education at CSULB. When she is not studying, Kaori enjoys going on a run, exploring coffee shops, and spending time with her family.
Contact Information:
knakama1@gwc.cccd.edu
714-780-2384
Zainab Umarji
International Student Counselor
Zainab has over 5 years of experience working in higher education at various California Community Colleges, as well as at UCLA and CSULB. She earned her BA degree in History from UCLA, after which she taught English to middle school students at a small private school. After a few years of teaching, Zainab realized that while she loved working in education, her true passion was working with college students. She recently graduated with her MS degree in Counseling - Student Development in Higher Education from CSULB. Whilst completing her graduate degree, Zainab had the opportunity to work with a vast array of students, including student-parents, reentry students, student-athletes, and students from various multicultural backgrounds. She is passionate about empowering her students to pursue their passions and achieve their dreams. In her free time, Zainab loves to drink coffee and visit local coffee shops, read all sorts of books, embroider intricate designs, and spend time with her family and friends. She also loves to travel and has visited Mauritius, Türkiye, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Canada and hopes to add many more countries to the list!
Mirna Bitar
Program Facilitator
Mirna grew up in Lebanon before moving to the United States to continue her education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship and has since built a career supporting international students. Before joining Golden West College in 2015, she worked at UC Riverside and ELS Language Center, gaining experience in both student services and language education.
Now serving as a Program Facilitator and Immigration Advisor, Mirna enjoys working closely with students from all over the world. Having navigated the international student experience herself, she understands the challenges and rewards it brings—and finds it meaningful to help others feel supported and at home in a new environment. She values the welcoming, inclusive community at Golden West College, which reminds her of what made her own college experience special.
Outside of work, Mirna enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Contact Information:
mbitar1@gwc.cccd.edu
714-892-7711 Ext. 55202
Hop Nguyen
Student Services Specialist Senior
Hop is passionate about international education. With a B.A. in International Studies from University of California, Irvine and an M.S. in Higher education from Cal State University, Fullerton, she also studied abroad in South Korea at Yonsei University and in Japan at Meiji Gakuin University. Hop’s curiosity and desire to learn about other cultures has led her to establish connections all over the world. Her international exploration also includes Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, Vietnam, and more. Additionally, Hop is a linguist enthusiast who continues to study languages and cultures in her free time. When not abroad, Hop loves to explore and attend various community events in Orange County and Los Angeles, try new restaurants, and of course, discover new boba spots.
Contact Information:
hnguyen688@gwc.cccd.edu
714-892-7711 Ext. 58961
Perla Beainy
International Student Assistant
Perla is a second year student at Golden West College, majoring in Digital Arts and hoping to pursue a degree in Medical Illustration. She is an international student from Lebanon who loves meeting new people and learning new languages. Her dream of travelling the world pushes her to work with international students in order to discover hidden world gems. Perla fills up her free time by playing tennis, trying new recipes, creating art, and watching movies.
Contact Information:
isp@gwc.cccd.edu
714-895-8146
