The Community College Initiative (CCI) Program is a U.S. Department of State-sponsored program that provides participants from underserved areas and underrepresented groups with a one-year, non-degree academic program at a U.S. community college. The program is designed to build participants’ technical skills in applied fields, enhance their leadership capabilities, and strengthen their English language proficiency. The program also provides opportunities for professional internships, service learning, and cultural exchange through community engagement activities.
CCI participants contribute to their host communities by helping U.S. community colleges internationalize their campuses. After completing the program, participants return home with a deeper understanding of U.S. culture and new skills to help them contribute to the economic growth and development of their countries.
2023/2024 College of DuPage CCI Cohort
- Rubaba Aburuya, Ghana
- Bakhtiyor Alovuddinov, Tajikistan
- Dielleza Berisha, Kosovo
- Julia Cassitas, Brazil
- Nuray Fatalizade, Azerbaijan
- Jose Garcia Montoya, Colombia
- Murat Karabulak, Turkey
- Zhumagul Kulbaeva, Kyrgyzstan
- Masuda Moutushi, Bangladesh
- Rrita Mulaj, Kosovo
- Emmanuel N'guessan, Cote d'Ivoire
- Sude Ozturk, Turkey
- Ade Pontoh, Indonesia
- Ahmad Rumangu, Indonesia
- Samira Sabataeva, Kyrgyzstan
- Zafar Sadiev, Tajikistan
- Ilknur Seydamirova, Azerbaijan
Program History
Since the establishment of the CCI Program in 2007, 75 community colleges have hosted over 3,000 participants from 21 countries. College of DuPage became a member of the Community College Consortium in 2012. The college welcomed its first CCI cohort for the 2012/2013 academic year with Sue Kerby as the program coordinator. From 2013 through 2017, Nicole Plumtree headed the CCI Program at COD. Since the fall of 2017, Kayla Chepyator has taken on the role of program coordinator.
Previous College of DuPage CCI Cohorts
- Ganjala Abbasova, Azerbaijan
- Nursen Askarbekov, Kyrgyzstan
- Said Muhammad Asoev, Tajikistan
- Jahongir Azizov, Tajikistan
- Adem Bislimi, Kosovo
- Shabnam Duzenji, Azerbaijan
- Orkhan Gayibov, Azerbaijan
- Vlad Hirchuk, Ukraine
- Hoji Hojievm, Tajikistan
- Sahobakhon Juraeva, Tajikistan
- Albinota Krasniqi, Kosovo
- Mariia Kukshyna, Ukraine
- Florentina Lipovica, Kosovo
- Ismail Malikov, Azerbaijan
- Grese Sermaxhaj, Kosovo
- Anat Sharipov, Kazakhstan
- Sezim Soodanbekova, Kyrgyzstan
- Vlera Zymeri, Kosovo
- Mounika Behara, India
- Santi Edo, Indonesia
- Mathe "Stephanie" Gnango, Cote d'Ivoire
- Mariama Karim, Ghana
- Emmanuel Ntefuni, Ghana
- Maria Nuhu, Ghana
- Santiago Ortiz Franco, Colombia
- Muhammad Putra, Indonesia
- Alejandro Ramirez Moncada, Colombia
- Mahdi Saragih, Indonesia
- Mmaphefo Seseni, South Africa
- Bonisiwe Sithole, South Africa
- Joao Sousa Caetano, Brazil
- Mulanga Thovhakale, South Africa
- Rehab Abdelkhalek, Egypt
- Nathaniel Ahao, Kenya
- Khadija Ali, Egypt
- Muhamad Mirza Annas, Indonesia
- Dahlia, Indonesia
- Jose Duran Del Rosario, Dominican Republic
- Ugur Gecer, Turkey
- Lebohang Khanye, South Africa
- Denny Villalobos Martinez, Colombia
- Reneilwe Matlala, South Africa
- Rusli Puni, Indonesia
- Naledi Selemela, South Africa
- Hery Siahaan, Indonesia
- Ohee Tahrim, Bangladesh
- Evelyn Yankson, Ghana
- Lou Esther Zamble, Ivory Coast
- Muhammad Alfathsya, Indonesia
- Mahesh Anand, India
- Cynthia Awini, Ghana
- Burak Efe, Turkey
- Pedro Umana Garzon, Colombia
- Syed Kazmi, Pakistan
- Mohammad Shahbaaz Khan, India
- Samuel Lopez Chavez, Dominican Republic
- Mmabatho Moshoeshoe, South Africa
- Immanuel Njabulo Nzima, South Africa
- Kowsalya Rajkumar, India
- Origanus Ramfate, South Africa
- Rabia Sertlek, Turkey
- Sadia Tarique, Pakistan
- Sri Artha Togatorop, Indonesia
- Muhammad Waqar, Pakistan
- Asma Abdul Majeeth, India
- Lucky Abiemo, Ghana
- Danar Handoko, Indonesia
- Erniatun Hartini, Indonesia
- Moegamat Ismail, South Africa
- Saima Karim, Pakistan
- Maria Clara Leal de Alencar, Brazil
- Sameh Mostafa Mahmoud Salama, Egypt
- Bongiwe Nkomo, South Africa
- Mohammed Abdulla Noman, Bangladesh
- Komal Parvez, Pakistan
- Akash Prasad, India
- Andolf Rincon Castillo, Dominican Republic
- Ballerina Ntsoane, South Africa
- Elcin Sancakli, Turkey
- Aziza Yasmeen, Pakistan
2015/2016
- Edem Agbosu, Ghana
- Maria Harir, Pakistan
- Eugenia Aryee, Ghana
- Nerilene Pereira, Brazil
- Amina Kazungu, Kenya
- Eslam Mohamed, Egypt
- David Seduane, South Africa
- Umer Aslam, Pakistan
- Sanjoy Mondal, India
- Artur Borges, Brazil
- Salman Qazi, Pakistan
- Christopher Manamela, South Africa
- Syed Hossain, Bangladesh
- Wazir Ahmad, Pakistan
2014/2015
- Zahida Parveen, Pakistan
- Jamila Halidu, Ghana
- Ruth Dayme, Indonesia
- Ahmed Teleba, Egypt
- Ahsan Javaid, Pakistan
- Gore Goli Bi, Ivory Coast
- Walberto Aguilar Asprilla, Colombia
- Liza Yulizar, Indonesia
- Priskilla Samanta, Indonesia
- Ntwanano Mabasa, South Africa
- Adriana Bolivar Romero, Colombia
- Marwa Abdelmegid, Egypt
- Sunder Ramchandani, Pakistan
- Anas Mohammed, Ghana
- Marlon Kambuaya, Indonesia
- Luis Diaz Mesa, Colombia
2013/2014
- Harpreet Sekhon, India
- Aldonna Purba, Indonesia
- Fatima Ali, Pakistan
- Elsie Maniagasi, Indonesia
- Mpho Mokonyane, South Africa
- Najma Parveen, Pakistan
- Vijaya Chandrasekar, India
- Tabrez Khan, India
- Karim Shaarafeldin, Egypt
- Nourdine Ouattara, Ivory Coast
- Thabiso Manala, South Africa
- Theophilus Asiedu, Ghana
- Yusuf Diker, Turkey
- Gauthaman Odavil Prasad, India
- Brian Carolissen, South Africa
2012/2013
- Vincentia Adjetey, Ghana
- Rashida Amin, India
- Tshediso Berries, South Africa
- Pablo Rocha Bezerra, Brazil
- Vishwa Dewan, India
- Luciana Furtado, Brazil
- Sarwar Hussein, Pakistan
- Youssef Ismail, Egypt
- Imran Muhammad, Pakistan
- Shahab Muhammad, Pakistan
- Felix Tomfeah, Ghana
- Lisa Wijayani, Indonesia
The CCI Program is administered by Northern Virginia Community College in cooperation with the Community College Consortium, of which College of DuPage is partner institution. To learn more, visit nvcc.edu/ccip.
Contact information
Kayla Chepyator
CCI Program Coordinator
College of DuPage
Phone (630) 942-2564
FAX (630) 942-2323