Our Mission
International Student Services (ISS) supports the education and development of students and scholars who have spent the majority of their lives learning abroad as well as those navigating the U.S. immigration system. In order to enable them to achieve their academic and professional goals and objectives while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and immigration compliance.
Our Vision
International Student Services provides comprehensive support, advice, programming, and advocacy. Grounded in social justice and commitment to community, we cultivate a welcoming environment, conducive to intercultural awareness via educational, social, and cross-cultural programs.
Our Team

Ninah T. Pretto
Associate Dean of Students / Director of International Student Services
[email protected] | (413) 597-4171
B.A. University of Rochester, Political Science (2005)
M.A. New York University, Education (2015)
As Associate Dean of International Student Services, I am dedicated to promoting global education, diversity, inclusion, and equity in higher education.
I worked briefly in advertising sales and market research in New York City. Not finding fulfillment in corporate America, I decided to travel to Morocco to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). It was in Morocco that I found my true passion for international education. Upon returning to the United States I entered the field of higher education, serving with the New York Film Academy as the Registrar's Assistant. Later I moved to Berlitz Languages in the capacity of Study Abroad Advisor & Designated School Official, where I was later promoted to Director. More recently I worked as the International Admissions and Student Services Coordinator at Bloomfield College and Assistant Director of the Center for Intercultural Advancement at Wagner College.
Beyond my work at Williams, I'm a mom and advocate for working mothers and Lupus Awareness Research.

Mariia Smirnova
Assistant Director of International Student Services
[email protected] | (413) 597-2786
B.A. Linguistic University of Nizhny Novgorod (LUNN), International Studies - Chinese (2020)
As Assistant Director of International Student Services, I provide holistic advising around your international experience, assimilation, immigration, your career development in the U.S. and so much more. Additionally, I serve as a primary contact for the various student groups and organizations, as well as plan and organize various programs and initiatives for the office, and manage our web spaces and social media.
As an international student myself, who came as a J-1 student to the U.S., I am deeply passionate about this work and providing all of the available resources to our community. We might have met before, as I have previously been a part of our own '68 Center for Career Exploration at Williams, where I have worked on managing employer relations and various recruiting events on campus. Prior to that, I worked at the U.S. Department of Labor in Vermont.
I also love(!) traveling and seeing the world is one of my favorite things to do, so if you have any tips and must-visit spots - please let me know!
And...Stella 🐶
As the most valuable member of the team, Stella provides the most compassionate and caring emotional support to everyone who comes into the office.
As a typical pug, she also loves sunbathing in Mariia's office and might even get up to greet you and go for a quick stroll with you!
