Lauder Administration

Dr. Regina Abrami is Chang Sun Term Professor and Faculty Director of the Global Program at the Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies. In addition, she is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science, Senior Fellow of Management at the Wharton School, and Director of the Perry World House’s Graduate Associates Program. Prior to joining the Lauder Institute, she was on the faculty of Harvard Business School where she taught in the MBA, Doctoral, and Executive Education Programs, with a focus on the context of global business, including government-business relations, international and comparative political economy, the origins and global impact of Chinese business, and China’s economic relations with the world.  Her expertise in these areas is combined with a continued passion for curricular design, experiential education, and the practice of strategic foresight and leadership development.

Dr. Abrami is an award-winning teacher and author of Can China Lead? Reaching the Limits of Power and Growth. Her research has appeared in Comparative Politics, Journal of East Asian Studies, Harvard Business Review, and the Oxford Handbook of Asian Business Systems, in addition to media outlets. She serves as an editorial review board member of the Asian Business and Management Journal and advisor to the Management & Business Review. Her research has been supported through various grants and fellowships, including the American Council of Learned Societies, Ford Foundation, Fulbright, Hellman Faculty Fellows Program, the Institute of World Politics, and the Social Science Research Council.  Other honors include the Aspen Institute’s “Ideas Worth Teaching Award” for her course on strategic foresight for future worlds and the HBS Greenhill Award for distinguished service.

Dr. Eileen Doherty-Sil is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Faculty Director of the Core & Africa general Program at the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies. At the Lauder Institute, she is part of the leadership team focusing on interdisciplinary curricular development in support of the University’s joint-degree MBA-MA program in International Studies. Prior to joining Lauder, she was the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in the University of Pennsylvania’s Political Science Department. Dr. Doherty-Sil brings to Lauder over twenty years of experience in executive education with the Doctor of Business Administration program at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, where she has taught courses in Conflict & Cooperation in the Global Arena as well as Theory & Practice of Collective Action.

Dr. Doherty-Sil’s research focuses on international human rights law, especially the role of business & human rights in international relations. She has written and taught extensively on these issues; her current book project focuses on the global governance of business & human rights. Dr. Doherty-Sil earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was an IGCC Ford Foundation Fellow in Multilateral Cooperation. She is the recipient of multiple teaching awards.

Dr. María del Milagro Lozada Cerna, or Mili for short, is Director of the Lauder Spanish Program and Faculty Head of the Lauder Language and Culture Programs.  She is responsible for overseeing the curriculum of the two-year language programs and summer immersions for approximately ten languages and four regional programs.  Mili also developed and runs the Lauder Intercultural Venture (LIV) program, including overseeing faculty members from different disciplines and academic institutions.  As a member of the Lauder Spanish faculty, she is passionate about helping students master languages and understand complex social contexts and cultural diversity.

At the Lauder Institute since 2011, Mili previously taught classes in Spanish language and Hispanic literature and culture at various institutions, including Temple University, the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), and the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests lie primarily in language acquisition and intercultural development, experiential learning, and Latin American detective fiction, narrative, film studies, and cultural studies.

Mili earned a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from Temple University, an M.A. in Communication Sciences from Universidad Católica de Santa María (Perú), and a Marketing Certification from Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Latin American Studies Association (LASA).

As the Director of Admissions Marketing & Financial Aid, Michael plans and executes strategic marketing and communications for Lauder Admissions. In this role, Michael organizes recruitment events and works to maximize candidate yield. Michael also oversees the Institute’s financial aid and awards.

Prior to joining Lauder, Michael served as the Director of Graduate Admissions & Enrollment at the University of Delaware. He was a key liaison for faculty graduate directors in his support of more than 250 graduate programs and over 65 departments. His roles and responsibilities included establishing and communicating the University of Delaware’s graduate admissions policy.

Michael has traveled extensively to foreign countries to recruit the highest caliber students for leading graduate programs. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration (with majors in Marketing and Management Information Systems) and an MBA in International Business from the University of Delaware.

Haimanti joined the Lauder Institute in 2009 where she provides guidance on pedagogy and administrative support for approximately ten academic year language programs and the summer immersion programs. Additionally, she works with Penn’s Office of Risk Management and Student Health Services in her role as the Institute’s point-person for health, safety and security issues related to international travel.

She has been teaching Bengali at Penn since 1995, and has also taught Hindi and English as a Second Language. She was awarded federal grants for language projects in Bengali and Hindi, such as the multi-year International Research and Studies grant and the STARTALK grant, and has developed and supervised the design of Hindi learning materials for project funded by US Department of Education. At Penn, she received the School of Arts and Sciences Staff Incentive Award.

Prior to joining Lauder, she was the Assistant Director at Penn’s South Asia Center. She received an M. Phil. in English Literature from Delhi University (India) and subsequently completed her graduate work and PA certification in Elementary Education at Penn’s Graduate School of Education. She is ACTFL ILR certified tester-rater in Bengali and a member of the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

For more than 30 years, Marcy has been overseeing admissions, alumni relations and the coordination of special events for the Lauder Institute. Born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, Marcy earned her B.A. in English from Mills College and her Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Kim is the Career Advisor for the Lauder Program’s students and is based out of New York City. She regularly meets with and guides students in regard to their career and internship plans acting as an additional resource to Wharton’s career management office.

Stephanie McWhite is based in Philadelphia and has many years of non-profit and higher education experience, including as a former Coordinator for Admissions & Student Affairs at Lauder, as Events Manager for Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), and as Associate Director for the Executive MBA program at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.  Stephanie works with admissions on diversity recruitment including hosting events and nurturing applicants throughout the admissions cycle on a part-time basis.

As Senior Associate Director for Lauder External Affairs, Carolyn engages Lauder Institute constituents in meaningful relationships and secures philanthropic commitments to ensure Lauder’s distinction as a leader in global business education. Prior to joining the Lauder Institute, she served as the Associate Director of Development for Penn’s Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid and Penn First Plus. Carolyn holds a B.A. from Cornell University.

As the Travel Manager at the Lauder Institute, Jen Mintzer oversees the arrangements and logistics for all curricular and extracurricular student travel to international destinations (Lauder Intercultural Ventures, Culture Quest and Summer Immersions). Jen has extensive experience in teaching, the management of study abroad programs, oversight of international travel and tours, and intercultural communication. One of the more memorable travel experiences she has had was serving as a professor on Semester at Sea where she got to travel around the world on a ship for three and a half months visiting the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Asia with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on board during the entire voyage.

Jen completed her Ph.D. coursework in Mass Media and Communication at Temple University and holds an M.F.A. in Film and Electronic Media from American University and a B.A. in English and Communication Arts with a minor in German from Ursinus College.

In addition to teaching on Semester at Sea, she has experience teaching at Temple University, Drexel University, Arcadia University, Pine Manor College, Ursinus College and Neumann University where she has taught media/communication studies and film/video production classes in addition to classes focused on international topics such as “Intercultural Communication,” “Cinema and National Identity” and “Mass Media Systems Around the World.”

As Assistant Director for International Studies, Anna oversees aspects of the Africa General, Global, and Core programs, supporting faculty affairs, expense reimbursement, Canvas sites, and immersion travel.  Previously, she managed a fellowship program at University of Pennsylvania’s Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. Anna is originally from Massachusetts, and holds a B.A. in Politics, Ethics, and Aesthetics from Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

Katie joined the Lauder Institute in 2014. As Program Coordinator, her responsibilities include: supporting faculty, staff, and students with any administrative needs that may arise; scheduling and proctoring the students’ Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs); and scheduling and maintaining the Lauder Institute’s database of classrooms and academic courses. Katie was born and raised in Philadelphia, and earned her B.S. in Interior Design from Philadelphia University. Prior to joining the Lauder Institute, she was the Administrative Assistant and Production Manager for both Eventricity and The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants.

Since he came to Lauder in 2004, Ed has been responsible for managing the financial and budgetary affairs of the Institute. Prior to joining Lauder, he was the Business and Communications Manager for the Wharton Financial Institutions Center and Program Manager for the Wharton International Forum, an executive education program held in various countries around the world for heads of global companies. He holds a B.A. in Modern Languages from the University of Pennsylvania.

As Executive Assistant and Communications Manager, Lauren supports the Lauder Institute’s Director, Co-Director, and Managing Director, and manages the Institute’s website, social media channels, and communications. Prior to joining Lauder, Lauren worked at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago and then as Executive Assistant to the Dean of University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences. A native of Australia, Lauren earned her B.A. in Film and Anthropology at the Australian National University and attended Penn as an international exchange student.

Sydney Wilson-Roberts is the Lauder Institute’s Event Manager overseeing the arrangements and logistics of a 12-month portfolio of events for the Lauder Program. Sydney is a proud Philadelphia native. After matriculating through the Philadelphia School District, she received her BA in Strategic, Legal & Management Communications from Howard University. Before joining the Lauder Institute in 2022, she was an Event Sales Manager with the Schulson Collective and a Programs & Events Specialist at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.