Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Julnar Msalam

Julnar Msalam

Lincoln,CA

Summary

Dynamic International Student Housing Program Coordinator at San Mateo County Community College District, skilled in stakeholder communication and program coordination. Successfully matched over 400 students with host families, enhancing cultural integration and community engagement. Bilingual in Arabic and English, I excel in conflict resolution and building lasting partnerships.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

International Student Housing Program Coordinator

San Mateo County Community College District
01.2016 - Current
  • Manages host families and international students in the Homestay Referral Program
  • Matches students with host families according to their requirements
  • Conducts home visits and processes background checks of host families
  • Develops pre-departure and in-person orientation materials for students
  • Attends meetings with various housing programs, management, and faculty and staff from three colleges
  • Assists students with finding other housing opportunities outside of homestay
  • Meets with potential business partners to identify current and future housing opportunities, and to develop suitable housing options for international students
  • Builds relationships with people in the community to recruit them for the program
  • Meets with government agencies and business representatives to exchange information and services
  • Resolves issues between host families and students as they arise
  • Manages and routinely updates the homestay database
  • Fully develop the Homestay program at SMCCD topics, goals, and activities, planning agendas, coordinating with content providers, facilitating discussions, using technology to engage audiences, and occasionally presenting content
  • Identify, develop relationships with, and secure the participation of members and partners as needed to deliver effective programming
  • Manage communication with members about program offerings
  • May lead staff or supervise day-to-day work of student and/or temporary workers, including scheduling, assigning, and prioritizing workloads, setting appropriate deadlines, reviewing work for quality and timeliness, and providing performance review input
  • Update and maintain Homestay Orientation and Host Family booklets and information
  • Undertake activities to build and maintain a quality pool of Homestay Host families
  • Communicate with prospective Homestay Host families
  • Assess suitability for inclusion as Hosts, including Police checking
  • Provide Host families with information on school, Code of Practice, students and cultural requirements
  • Visit all Homestays termly
  • Provide in-person and online orientation information and activities for incoming students
  • Meet students on arrival at their host's homes
  • Meet all students at least termly outside Homestay environment
  • Promotes the Homestay Program in the Bay Area through multiple ways (Daily journal advertisement, brochures, flyers, media, CSM Radio station, etc…)
  • Develops an application process for interested homestay families
  • Recruits, screens and interviews new families, initiates the criminal record search process and maintains copies of completed forms and custodian/guardianship letters
  • Performs site visits to prospective host families, completing a full Site Inspection, documented and with photos on each home visited
  • Conducts comprehensive interviews and home inspections of all current families participating in the program
  • The interview covers topics such as family lifestyle, family members, preferences, pets, capacity, availability, and guidelines
  • The home inspection includes things such as house location, transportation options, as well as bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, overall cleanliness and safety, to verify that the home meets the minimum required amenities
  • Maintains full records on each host family
  • Matches +400 students with +500 homestay families
  • Works with the students and families to assist with the cultural, social and emotional integration of the homestay situation
  • Deals effectively with conflict situations and assists with the communication process
  • Conducts home visits hundred times per year
  • Provide the families with the information about the student(s) arriving to their home
  • Communicate any new information to the families and student regarding the program, changes of schedule, new student arrival, etc
  • Be available to hear any issues or concerns by student or family about the living situation and maintain neutrality and professionalism
  • Relocates a student to a different homestay family in a case of incompatibility
  • Acts as a liaison between SMCCD international staff, parents and host families and corresponds directly with these parties via telephone, in person, zoom, or email
  • Solicits and provides feedback from hosts and students monthly
  • Tracks the expenses of the homestay program
  • Provides orientation to new students coming into the homestay program
  • Coordinates trainings and networking meetings for homestay families, on-going
  • Participates and assists in monitoring students throughout their homestay journey
  • Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with all stakeholders including the Director of International Students, Department Staff, Agents, Homestay Hosts, Parents and Students
  • Prepare and maintain records of Homestay families and placements of students
  • Provide appropriate documentation of all activities
  • Assist with the planning and leading of virtual meetings, learning group calls, trainings and workshops (generally via Zoom or similar platform)

Retention Specialist - Associate's to Bachelor (A2B) Program

Cañada College
09.2015 - 12.2015
  • Provided transfer support to Cañada College students who are interested in majors offered through the University Center
  • Provided academic support to students taking classes at the University Center
  • Gave guidance to students who needed assistance with transfer requirements, navigating academic resources, and scheduling appointments with counselors
  • Assisted students to determine transfer eligibility and preparedness
  • Referred students to counselors, instructional programs, and other college offices
  • Modified, retrieved, and maintained student off/online data, and compiled and formatted a variety of data for reports
  • Served students in the A2B transfer program and various instructional and student services departments

Office Assistant - Counseling

College of San Mateo, Counseling Center
05.2011 - 05.2015
  • Assisted community members and students in person and on the phone by answering a variety of questions and scheduling appointments for academic and career counseling
  • Managed three phone lines for the department, routed calls, and took messages
  • Prepared documents and files for counseling/career department by scanning, emailing, copying, and printing materials
  • Maintained and organized important electronic and original documents
  • Entered a variety of confidential information into the database on the daily
  • Assisted in the Transfer Center and the Career Center
  • Helped prepare for academic success and transfer workshops

Translator/Interpreter - Arabic

05.1998 - 09.2000
  • Provides language interpretation services between departmental staff, clients, and their families
  • Translates foreign language documents and correspondence received by staff from clients, employers, foreign governments, etc., into English
  • Translates forms and notices from English into other languages
  • Writes correspondence in a foreign language to clients as directed by staff
  • Performs generic translating services for agency/departmental programs
  • Performs routine tasks related to maintaining translation records
  • Files correspondence and other documents in alphabetical and/or numerical filing system order
  • May read forms to clients and assist clients with completing the forms correctly
  • May provide basic information to facilitate client understanding
  • May travel off site to provide translation services, such as at community meetings or during client visits

Education

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature

University of Jordan
Amman, Jordan
05-1999

Associate of Science Degree - Administration of Justice

College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA

Skills

  • Customer service
  • Microsoft Office
  • Database Systems
  • Electronic Scheduling Systems
  • Bilingual (Arabic and English)
  • Translation
  • Deadline Management
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Team player
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Rapport building
  • Database management
  • Program coordination
  • Conflict resolution
  • Cultural integration
  • Stakeholder communication
  • Partnership development
  • Data analysis
  • Orientation facilitation
  • Community engagement
  • Background checks
  • Training development
  • Project management
  • Team leadership
  • Policy and procedure improvements
  • Facility management
  • Self motivation
  • Transmissions equipment
  • Program evaluation
  • Task prioritization
  • Asset creation
  • Excellent communication
  • Networking skills
  • Data management
  • Team oversight
  • Relationship building
  • Scheduling proficiency
  • Community building
  • Goal setting
  • Props selection
  • Event coverage
  • Financial administration
  • Public speaking
  • Effective leader
  • Media relations
  • Analytical skills
  • Network management
  • Needs analysis
  • Market research proficiency
  • Communication equipment
  • Marketing materials
  • Content development
  • Program improvements
  • Campaign development
  • Performance management
  • Video production
  • Program leadership
  • Expense tracking
  • Problem-solving aptitude
  • Generating schedules
  • Crisis management
  • Idea development
  • Multitasking
  • Community outreach
  • Written communication
  • Broadcasting equipment
  • Media management
  • Data verification
  • Multimedia programming
  • Sales partnership development
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Event coverage planning

Timeline

International Student Housing Program Coordinator

San Mateo County Community College District
01.2016 - Current

Retention Specialist - Associate's to Bachelor (A2B) Program

Cañada College
09.2015 - 12.2015

Office Assistant - Counseling

College of San Mateo, Counseling Center
05.2011 - 05.2015

Translator/Interpreter - Arabic

05.1998 - 09.2000

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature

University of Jordan

Associate of Science Degree - Administration of Justice

College of San Mateo

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Julnar Msalam