Profile snapshot of travelers visiting universities in India:

Dr. Bhabani Misra

Associate Dean
University of St. Thomas School of Engineering

Dr. Misra received the Minnesota High Tech Association 2017 Tekne Lifetime Achievement Award on
November 15th, 2017.
Dr. Bhabani Misra, Associate Dean at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering has been one
of the key drivers of the Graduate Programs in Software Engineering for nearly 30 years. Today Dr.
Misra is responsible for all 900 graduate students at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering,
which is made up of both graduate software and graduate engineering students. He has engaged deeply
with his Strategic Advisory Board consisting of CIO’s, CTO’s, and VP’s from the most well-known
companies in the region. Listening to his corporate partners, he has been instrumental in the innovation
and transformation of cutting-edge programs that have produced more than 4,000 master’s degree
students in the fields of Software Engineering, Data Science, Information Technology and Software
Management.
Taking the reins from program founder Dr. Bernice “Bernie” Folz in 2002, Dr. Misra has successfully led
the Graduate Programs in Software Engineering Department at St. Thomas for the past 15 years through
a tremendously volatile market. Today, the Graduate Programs in Software Department is one of the
largest and longest running Software Engineering programs in the nation with more than 650 master’s-
level students currently enrolled. It is a great Minnesota story, and a powerful workforce engine in our
economy.
Dr. Misra’s commitment to this community and service to the University of St. Thomas is an exemplar for
academicians. He was instrumental in working with the US federal government in securing the
legislative directed funds to build the Frey Science and Engineering Complex at St. Thomas. He has
served on the MHTA Higher Education Committee, as well as on the Minnesota IT Workforce
Collaborative. He has personally advised over 50 master’s theses.
Dr. Misra holds a PhD in Computer Engineering and an MS degree in Computer Science both from North
Dakota State University. His bachelor’s degree is in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of
Technology in India. Prior to working at St. Thomas, Dr. Misra worked at Larsen and Toubro Ltd. in
India. He also worked as the Vice President of Information Technology at RBC Dain Rauscher in
Minneapolis.
 Mackenzie M. Albach
Assistant Director, Graduate Marketing and Recruiting
School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS)
George Washington University
Washington, DC

"Mackenzie Albach is currently the Assistant Director of Graduate Marketing and Recruiting for the
School of Engineering and Applied Science at the George Washington University. She is responsible for
creating and maintaining all marketing efforts set forth by the graduate admissions team and actively
recruits prospective students both domestically and abroad. She has traveled to many countries but this
will be her first time to India - a country that she has always wanted to explore.

Before her role at GW, Mackenzie spent over five years at two different colleges in Cleveland, Ohio.
Working for the university admissions offices at both Ursuline College and Cleveland State University,
Mackenzie was responsible for a number of initiatives including perfecting personal territory management
and planning, coordinating a complete overhaul of the tour guide program, creating innovative means of
data tracking and analysis, and implementing an alumni recruiting network. She has also participated in a
number of conferences and events and spent two years as Vice Chair of the Ohio Association for College
Admission Counseling Summer Institute training conference.

Mackenzie received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Bowling Green State University and a Master
of Urban Planning, Design, and Development from Cleveland State University, where she also obtained a
master’s certificate in urban geographic information systems.
 Liani Ramos
Graduate Admissions Officer
NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Liani Ramos is the Graduate Admissions Officer at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Graduate
Enrollment Management and Admissions office in Brooklyn, New York. She is responsible for both
domestic and international recruitment, meeting with prospective students as well as conducting
information sessions for students interested in studying in the United States.

Liani received her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the University of
Central Florida in 2010 and has been in the higher education administration field for 7 years. She is a
member of several committees at NYU Tandon, including the Women @ Tandon committee, which
strives to provide resources and information for female identifying students. In addition to attending
several professional higher education conferences, she presented on the topic of Conducting Effective
Student Orientations (with a focus on international students) at the Education USA Forum in July 2017.
Team visiting from Gen Next Education:

Sheela Thyagaraj
Director, Center for Global Education
Gen Next Education

Sheela oversees the day-to-day operations of the center and provides leadership and
direction to the staff in India. In addition, she continues to build on graduate recruiting
efforts. She also facilitates broader internationalization efforts between U.S. and Indian
universities.

Sheral Kumar
Manager Academic and Internship Programs
Gen Next Education

Sheral develops and manages our community development efforts, with high schools,
Colleges, corporations and housing environments. She also leads our inbound
programs.