Student and Academic Services

Sabine Gerlach is an experienced higher education professional and Chartered Marketer who brings about change by building trusting relationships with partners, stakeholders and students to deliver the best student experience.

Her expertise is in International Student Mobility, Strategic Development and Pedagogy, underpinned by academic qualifications in management, marketing and education. Before joining Lancaster University Leipzig, she was Assistant Professor in Marketing at Lincoln University, where she currently commences her doctoral studies.

Marie-Christine Borowiak joined Lancaster University Leipzig as Academic Office Manager in July 2022. She has previously worked and studied in France, Germany and Scotland. She is particularly interested in the continuous improvement and promotion of international studies, research and teaching.

Josefine Fitchett joined Lancaster University Leipzig in April 2022 as a Career and Engagement Manager. Her role is to prepare students for their entry into the labour market by training them in CV and cover letter writing and supporting them in defining their career goals and what it takes to reach them. To support students in their pursuit of having a successful career, Josefine also works to establish a network of regional partners from Leipzig’s varied company landscape. Her goal is to match students and graduates with regional companies in need for well-educated, motivated people that contribute to companies’ success and ultimately add to the success of Leipzig and Saxony.

Being originally from Leipzig and holding a Master’s degree from the University of Bristol in Gender and International Relations, Josefine has a deep first-hand understanding of both, German and British work and study cultures. Josefine is an expert building strong professional and interpersonal relationships to attain business goals.  She previously worked as operations manager for BaseCamp Student where she established strong partnerships with local universities and corporations like Porsche, Helios Clinic, Deutsche Bahn and Amazon. Before that she was manager student affairs for MSc students at HHL. Beyond that she is trained as a life coach and a freelance writer for local and regional magazines.

Elena Rotaru works as the Academic & Student Services Officer with a focus on retention and compliance at Lancaster University Leipzig, where she plays a key role in supporting students through the visa application process, settlement in Germany, and administrative dealings with German authorities. With a background in Business Economics and Marketing from the University of Strathclyde, UK, she brings valuable expertise in customer service, marketing, and compliance to her role. Fluent in English, Romanian, Russian, and German, Elena is determined to make the transition of students into German life as smooth as possible.

Iryna Kalmykova is delighted to serve as your Academic and Student Services Officer. With her diverse language skills – English, German, Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish – she is well-equipped to support international students with a wealth of knowledge and understanding to assist them in navigating their university journey. In addition to her role, she is also pursuing her own studies at the university Leipzig, giving herself invaluable insight into the student experience.

As an Academic and Student Support Officer at Lancaster University Leipzig, Thalia focuses on enhancing the student experience through effective administrative management and support for student social events. With experience working with international students both in Germany and abroad, she is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and engaging campus environment.

Thalia is committed to building a vibrant community that encourages personal growth and intercultural understanding among all students. Her background in education and cultural studies, combined with a strong foundation in customer service, allows her to effectively support students in their academic journeys.

Anamika Bhaduri holds a Master’s degree in public policy from Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, Germany. This course has given her exposure in leadership and management skills. She has worked at Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam as a student assistant where her work entailed co-ordinating online education programmes and curating courses for students.

Prior to moving to Germany, she worked as a lawyer in India. Her specialisation during the Bachelor’s degree was in Intellectual Property Rights and she also holds a Master’s degree in law with specialisation in International Trade and Investment Law.

While pursuing her studies at Willy Brandt School, she was part of the Examination and Admission Committee which allowed her to work on the recruitment and admission of students into the university. Studying in an international environment, she puts to use her interpersonal and communication skills to deal with student matters. At Lancaster University Leipzig, she holds the position of Student Services Officer, where she hopes to address student issues with understanding and empathy.

Laura Forrestal is the Departmental Officer for the School of Computing and Communication. Her role is to assist with planning and managing academic processes as well as enhancing student experiences.

Before moving to Leipzig, she worked in an Irish University as the Incoming Erasmus Coordinator. Her interest in international education came from completing a study abroad semester during her undergraduate degree. During this semester abroad she developed a keen interest in intercultural communication.

Rana Shihabi, originally from Jordan, holds an MA in European Studies and International Relations from Heinrich Heine University as a DAAD scholar and a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Jordan. With a background in international education and business development, she has coordinated impactful programs and projects focused on youth empowerment through roles with both international and Jordanian organizations and universities. Rana is fluent in English and Arabic. Besides her professional interests, Rana is an avid coffee enthusiast, always searching for the perfect espresso, and is dedicated to sports, finding energy and balance through fitness.