The International Center Announces Two New Staff Members

(INDIANAPOLIS – November 1, 2022) – The International Center welcomes two new employees: Neelam Patel and Mariya Plichta.

As International Visitor Program Manager, Patel will oversee the International Visitor Leadership Program, an exchange program led by the U.S. Department of State that allows participants to experience the Hoosier culture shadowing their professional counterparts. She joins The International Center as a recent graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Science in International Studies and Near Eastern Languages & Cultures. She most recently served as an intern for Olive Oil Farm & Co-op of Sidi Mohammed in Meknes, Morocco. Patel was also an intern with The Center in 2018.

As the new Development and Engagement Manager, Mariya Plichta will be responsible for the strategy and execution of fund development and donor engagement activities on behalf of The International Center. A native of Ukraine, Plichta has over ten years of experience in customer service, most recently serving as the Retail Relationship Banker for BMO Harris Bank. She received her Associates Degree of Business Administration and Human Resources Management from Ivy Tech Community College.

Martin Baier, President and CEO of The International Center, said, “I am looking to forward working alongside Neelam and Mariya. With their extensive list of educational and professional experiences, I believe they will contribute diverse perspectives to The Center and further our mission of promoting Indiana’s international growth.”