I am originally from South Korea and lived in Canada going to school and working for a while. I moved to Pasadena about 5 years ago with my husband and our son. After being a part of this amazing community for the past 5 years, I am very excited and honored to be the president. I would love to continue to provide a warm and supportive community as it always has been for me. I hope to meet all of you. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding CISC.

Hi, my name is Tjolina. I moved from the Netherlands to Pasadena in January 2022 with my husband (Caltech-JPL) and our first daughter. CISC quickly became an important community for us, and I started the Chat & Play group to support families with young children. After serving as CISC President for three years, I now coordinate CISC Connect & Support—a volunteer service that helps international spouses, partners, and families with practical questions before arrival and during their stay in Pasadena.

My name is Isabella. I moved from the UK in October 2025 with my husband and have been incredibly grateful for the kindness and support from everyone at CISC while settling in. I’m now delighted to be the Events Coordinator and organising happy hours for our community. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, share stories, and enjoy friendly faces, especially when many of us are so far from our families. My background is in the creative arts where I studied drama. In my spare time, I enjoy art, baking and trying out local cafes.

Hello! My name is Yuri Choi, and I’m excited to take over the gardening at CICS following Qiong’s wonderful work. I look forward to tending the garden with care and making it a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy. I hope to meet many of you soon and share the different plants we’re growing!

Hello! My name is Radosveta, Radost for short, and I'm from Bulgaria. I moved to Pasadena in 2024 with my husband who is a PhD student at Caltech. Primarily I'm an artist, though most of my career has been focused around event organisation. In my free time I like playing video games, reading and journaling. I'm excited to become the new treasurer for CISC and extend my help and support for the club. Best, Radost

Hi, I’m Laura! I’m originally from France but have been living abroad for over 15 years. I moved to Pasadena in 2022 for my husband's work at JPL, and we now have two boys (ages 3 and 1). I’m an interior architect working as a freelancer, juggling mom life and creative projects. Being part of the CISC community has been such a source of support during early motherhood and a wonderful way to meet amazing people. I’m so happy to give back by organizing playdates and meetups at the Casita.

Hi, my name is Shan, I’m the CISC social climbing organizer. I have been living in Pasadena for over 5 years, I am a stay home mom of a lovely 3 year old boy. Outside of indoor climbing, I enjoy a lot of outdoor activities as well, such as hiking, running etc. I’m eager to meet more people through climbing social group and hope to meet you soon and hang out on the ‘climbing wall’!

Hello, my name is Özge Yanık, and I am originally from Türkiye. I moved to Pasadena in March 2024 with my husband, who works at Caltech. Since then, I have been enjoying life here as a stay-at-home mom with our toddler son. Much of my time is spent exploring Pasadena’s parks and playgrounds. In my free time, I enjoy quiet activities like making puzzles, journaling, and learning about parenting psychology. I’m also exploring new hobbies such as singing and playing piano that I can enjoy alongside my little one. I’m happy to contribute to the Caltech International Spouses Club as the new Membership Manager, helping gently foster connections and support within this wonderful community.

Hi, my name is Marie-Alexine but I go by Marie. I’m from France but we have been living in Switzerland since 10 years. I moved to Pasadena in August 2025 to follow my husband , who is a visiting professor in Caltech. We have 2 kids ( 15 and 10 years old). I’m an architect. Since few weeks, I’ve been responsible for editing the newsletter and sending emails to CISC members. I’m really looking forward to meeting you all soon!

Hi everyone! I’m Maki, the organizer of the Coffee Meetup. My journey in the U.S. began in 2021 when we moved from Japan to Louisiana. In 2024, my husband and I relocated to Pasadena for his work at Caltech. In our meetup, we visit charming local cafes around the city to enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee together. It’s a very relaxed space, perfect for practicing English or just finding a friendly face to chat with. Whether you're new to the area or have been here a while, we’d love to have you join us!

We are always welcoming volunteers to help with current activities/events or start new ones! Don't be shy and share your interests or hobbies with us as a group leader :)