ABOUT OUR STAFF
Courtney Giordano
Senior Director, Strategic Global Initiatives
Courtney Giordano is the Senior Director of Strategic Global Initiatives at UC San Diego. She is an experienced leader in comprehensive internationalization, with strengths in developing innovative programs and partnerships to support UC San Diego’s academic and research enterprise. In her role, Courtney provides leadership for international partnerships and agreements, strategic engagement efforts and Study Abroad. Courtney was the lead author on UC San Diego’s American Council on Education Internationalization Report which recommended strategies to advance campus internationalization efforts. With nearly 20 years of experience, Courtney has demonstrated strengths in partnership and program development, having co-developed UC San Diego’s dual and collaborative degree programs, and numerous modalities for faculty, scholar, and staff mobility across the globe. She has served on numerous National Science Foundation Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) review panels, sits on the UC San Diego J. Yang Family Foundation Steering Committee, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego and the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County, Inc. Scholarship Committee and other campus and community organizations.
Courtney began her career in Washington, D.C. administering professional exchange programs under the auspices of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. She earned a master’s degree in history from San Diego State University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from UC San Diego.
Elizabeth Langridge-Noti
Director, Global Research and Academic Programs
Elizabeth Langridge-Noti is the inaugural Director of Global Research and Academic Programs in Global Initiatives. She serves as a holistic and collaborative liaison for global engagement to faculty in all areas of their portfolios, especially as benefits the student experience, and as a dedicated bridge to global research. As part of her portfolio, she contributes to the collection and dissemination of data to elevate the impact of UC San Diego’s global engagement, contributes to aspects of international risk compliance, and works to embed global learning into the curriculum.
Prior to arriving at UC San Diego, Dr. Langridge-Noti was the inaugural Director of Faculty Engagement, Global Affairs at UC Davis where she managed global seed grant programs, helped manage the international partnership and international agreement processes, and created, coordinated and co-led a number of global curricular efforts including international virtual course collaboration. Dr. Langridge-Noti has presented and published regularly on faculty global engagement, including co-authoring the section on global learning for UC Davis’ Just-In-Time-Teaching guide and a co-authored chapter in NAFSA’s Guide to International Partnerships.
Dr. Langridge-Noti was previously a professor of the ancient world at the American College of Greece, Degree in Athens, Greece, teaching courses about the ancient world across the disciplines of archaeology, art history, history, and literature. She continues to excavate in Greece and present and publish about ancient Greek pottery. Dr. Langridge-Noti has a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.
Tanja Goerig
Project Analyst
Tanja is an experienced administrative professional who started her career in the hospitality industry in Germany where she was born. Being a welcoming and inclusive host, who loves to travel the world and create memorable experiences for everyone around her, has always been part of her DNA. Therefore, she decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in International Tourism Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Heide, Germany including an internship at a destination management agency in Barcelona, Spain before starting a successful career in the event industry which took her to Austria, Switzerland, France and the UK.
Leveraging her coordination and organization talent, she moved on to support an international real estate company as Executive Assistant before moving to the United States in 2018. Working for a healthcare tech start up and the higher education system now, she understands how to best support offices, teams and senior leadership by using her communication and problem-solving skills to ensure efficient operations, foster connections, and identifying innovative ways to drive productivity. Outside of work, you can find her out in nature hiking, staying active with yoga and dance classes, picking up new languages, and listening to podcasts.
Max Reinke
International Agreements & Communications Analyst
Max Reinke is the International Agreements & Communications Analyst for Global Initiatives. In his current role, he drafts and executes international MOUs and agreements for General Campus and uses his technological acumen to streamline processes and develop marketing and communications strategies.
Max started at UC San Diego in 2019. Previously, he worked for the Australian public service in the fields of immigration, ministerial visits, and in the program and events office for the Premier of New South Wales. Max is a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, but lived in Washington, D.C. Santiago, Chile and Sydney, Australia prior to making San Diego his home. Max is a true product of international education; he studied abroad in Spain, Sweden and Estonia while pursuing his B.A. in Geography at West Virginia University. He also completed a transatlantic dual M.A. degree program that awarded him master's degrees in History and International Relations from West Virginia University and Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, Poland. He speaks English and Spanish and is currently learning Italian.
Baylee Taylor
Events Specialist
Baylee is an Events Specialist for Global Initiatives at UC San Diego, where she supports the execution of impactful events that foster international collaboration and engagement. Prior to this position, she gained valuable experience in events and administrative work across various settings.
At California State University San Marcos, Baylee pursued a degree in Communication while actively engaging in student life, which ignited her desire to help others navigate their educational paths. Her journey in higher education began as an orientation team leader, where she welcomed new students and facilitated their transition to college life. She later served as chapter president of an honor society and as an event marketing student assistant for the school's Arts and Lectures program, organizing events that celebrated academic and artistic excellence and promoted community engagement and mentorship. Additionally, she assisted with marketing and event coordination at concert venues for iHeartMedia's San Diego-based radio stations, supporting over 50+ promotional events and refining her skills in logistical coordination and on-site support.
Baylee’s journey has been deeply intertwined with her passion for creating engaging, inclusive events and helping others succeed. She looks forward to fostering connections with the UC San Diego community and other communities across the globe. When she is not at work, students and coworkers may find her enjoying a concert or music festival or exploring new places in Southern California.
Kara Walls
Event Manager
Kara is an events and communications professional with more than 10 years of dedicated experience planning and producing events for universities and nonprofit organizations. She started her career as an itinerary builder for a tourism agency, specializing in school field trips and corporate retreats. She then expanded her events portfolio to include major fundraisers, galas, weddings, large-scale community events, and more. She enjoys the coordination part as much as the facilitation, and prides herself on being able to work on the nitty gritty while also focusing on the big picture.
Kara obtained her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Communications and Theatre. She continued her education to obtain a Graduate Certificate in Liberal Studies, three teaching certifications, and a certificate in project management. When not working directly in event production, Kara held positions in marketing and communications for private organizations, including a construction company and a summer camp and retreat center. As a highly organized individual, Kara has a passion for color coding and office supplies. She also enjoys dabbling in graphic design and desktop publishing.
Originally from Northern Pennsylvania, Kara has led a nomadic life, living in six states before setting in Southern California where she plans to develop deep roots. She has enjoyed supporting local playhouses in her spare time, holding a variety of positions including set designer, director, and hair/makeup designer. Kara hopes to continue participating in community theatre in the San Diego region.