Shideh Hanassab has been named the new director of Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS) following a nationwide search. Hanssab has been serving as interim director of the center since the retirement of its former director, Bob Ericksen, last June.
Hanassab began her undergraduate work as an international student at UC San Diego before coming to UCLA for her master's degree and Ph.D. While still a graduate student, she served as an international student and scholar counselor and program coordinator at UCLA's Office of International Students and Scholars, as the Dashew center was known at the time. In 1999, she became assistant director, serving under two leaders in the field of international education, Larry Gower and, later, Ericksen.
"We are most fortunate to be able to bring Shideh into our leadership team at this time, as UCLA expands its outreach to international undergraduates," wrote Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero in her April 9 announcement of Hanassab's appointment. "Shideh’s background provides us not only with the best possible 'hands-on' experience through her long history with the Dashew Center, but with extensive involvement in research related to the experiences, needs and aspirations of international students and scholars.
"With this combination of administrative and academic specializations, she brings to DCISS the readiness to serve as a primary guide in developing programs that provide UCLA with opportunities to experience the increasingly global context in our campus," Montero wrote.