About Us

Mission

UCI’s excellence and impact are multiplied through valued international collaborations. The Office of Global Engagement supports UCI’s teaching, research and service around the world.

UCI Global Engagement:

Works with UC Irvine leadership to forge a strong global strategy.
Serves as a resource to UC Irvine divisions, schools and departments for planning their international academic strategies.
Assists departments, schools and centers with international program development, relationship building, negotiations, and agreement preparation and finalization.
Works with the university’s administrative leadership to ensure processes for international activities are effective and efficient.

Meet the team

Leadership Team

Lily Wu

Interim Senior International Officer/Faculty Assistant to the Chancellor

lwu@uci.edu
949-824-4613

Dr. Lily Wu is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Irvine. She currently serves as the Interim Senior International Officer/Faculty Assistant to the Chancellor in Global Engagement and as Faculty Director for International Programs at the Samueli School of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Materials and Manufacturing Technology from UC Irvine. Her research focuses on engineering education, with particular emphasis on project-based learning, collaborative learning and the impact of experiential learning on diverse student populations. Dr. Wu also has extensive experiences in developing and overseeing international programs and partnerships to promote and advocate for STEM education.
Hye-Won Shin, Ph.D.

Director of Korea Engagement

hyewons@uci.edu
949-824-9550
949-824-0016 (fax)

Dr. Hye-Won Shin serves as the international liaison for Korean and Asia relations. She is involved in departmental, college, and university level initiatives that promote UCI’s vision of becoming a global leader in education and innovation. Her role is to facilitate collaborative relationships with educational, governmental, and private industrial entities in Korea and other Asian countries. As a biomedical scientist with a chemical engineering background and clinical translational science experience, Dr. Shin is responsible for connecting UCI's K-12 educational programs with public and private schools in Asia. In addition, Dr. Shin leads UCI’s Korean Alumni Chapter, the very first international alumni chapter at UCI.
Monica Hughes

International Agreements Officer

monicach@uci.edu
949-824-2119

Monica Hughes manages the development and execution of international agreements. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional. Monica has a background in international studies and over 15 years of experience as a legal professional, which includes working knowledge of UC policies. Monica previously managed international agreements for the UC Education Abroad Program and was instrumental in the development of its policy and data privacy compliance program.
Christine Shieh

Executive Assistant

cshieh2@uci.edu
949-824-9705

Christine Shieh is an experienced executive assistant with a strong background in administrative support, operations, and project management. Currently serving as the Executive Assistant to Global Engagement Office at UC Irvine since 2020. She has extensive experience in managing executive calendars, coordinating events, and handling strategic initiatives. Her career spans various industries, including healthcare and intellectual property law, with roles at Stanford Children's Health and Schox Patent Group. With a keen ability to streamline operations, manage cross-functional projects, and support high-level executives, Christine excels in organizational efficiency and leadership support.