Our conference wouldn't be possible without our knowledgeable presenters!
PRESENTERS
Abby Mensing serves as the International Scholar Coordinator at Loyola University Chicago, advising on J-1 scholars and H-1B faculty and staff. Before joining the Loyola Chicago ISSS team, she spent seven years working primarily with F-1 students at the University of Houston-Downtown and Louisiana State University. Aline Vivirito-Valais Study Abroad Program Manager Aline, an advocate for global education from Northwestern University's Global Learning Office (GLO), started her cross-cultural journey as an au pair in Edinburgh, Scotland. She then specialized in Foreign Cultures, Linguistics, and Literature in English at Nantes Université in France and broadened her academic horizons by spending two years studying abroad at Northern Arizona University and Illinois Wesleyan University. Currently serving as Study Abroad Program Manager, Aline leverages her background in ESL teaching and supporting American exchange students at IES Abroad Nantes to pursue her passion for fostering intercultural skills. Alyssa Schmirler Program Advising Manager at IES Abroad Alyssa Schmirler is a Program Advising Manager at IES Abroad, where she has advised hundreds of students from the moment they open an application until the day they are deplaning abroad. Alyssa studied abroad in India for a semester and earned a master’s degree in the Netherlands. She also taught English in Kyrgyzstan for two years and conducted research in Kenya. Having lived abroad extensively herself, Alyssa is passionate about preparing students for their life-changing adventures abroad!
Amy Nusser Amy is the Lead Immigration Specialist at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and has been an international educator for over 15 years. As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, former ESL instructor, and international student advisor with experience in immigration, student success programming, and retention, her work is always rooted in her passion for the power of international exchange and exploration of cultural identity and belonging. She holds a Master of Arts in applied linguistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a former member of the IEI leadership team, and is a current co-chair of the International Education Council (IEC) of Missouri and Illinois. Amy Soub Director, International Student & Scholar Services at Loyola University Chicago Amy Soub is the Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at Loyola University Chicago. She has over 15 years of experience in international higher education, starting her career overseas, and later returning to the Chicago area where she worked in Study Abroad and ISSS. Her current position as Director of ISSS consists of maintaining compliance for the institution, managing a team of DSOs and AROs, and supporting the international student and scholar population.
Anna Duong-Topp Intake Manager & Student Engagement Counselor at DePaul University In my role at DePaul University's International Student and Scholar Services office, I manage a team of front desk student staff, oversee all frontline inquiries, manage F-1 student health insurance, assist with Global DePaul engagement programming, and fulfill F-1 form requests. My passion for supporting international students and scholars stems from my father’s journey to the U.S. as a Vietnamese refugee and my prior research in East Asian religion, language, and culture.
Becca Yount Assistant Director of Advising and Ambassador Coordinator at IES Abroad Becca Yount is the Assistant Director of Advising and Ambassador Coordinator at IES Abroad. Since joining the organization in 2018, she advised for 10+ locations before moving into a management role. She also coordinates the IES Abroad Ambassador program, which connects recent alums with prospective students. Before IES Abroad, she studied abroad in Limerick, Ireland, and got her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University (including a stint in Eastbourne, England).
Bernard RamosVP and Senior Evaluator at Educational Perspectives Bernard Ramos is the VP and Senior Evaluator at Educational Perspectives, a NACES member and not-for-profit credential evaluation organization in Chicago. He has more than 17 years of professional experience in international education and credential evaluation. He has conducted numerous workshops and training at various educational institutions.
Brock Goldflies Managing Evaluator and Project Coordinator at Scholaro, Inc. I have been a credential evaluator and project coordinator at Scholaro, Inc. since 2019. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2016. In the past, I was a university writing center tutor and I volunteered for the UIC In-Touch Crisis Hotline. My current aspirations as a credential evaluator are to become even more familiar with international education systems and to better understand obscure credentials from around the world.
Brynne ShannonCustomized Program Manager at IES Abroad Brynne works with faculty and study abroad offices to develop customized and faculty-led programs in Central Europe. Prior to joining IES Abroad last March, Brynne previously held positions as a Senior Program Manager and Program Manager at International Studies Abroad (ISA) and The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) by Worldstrides. She has experience working with students traveling to Asia Pacific, Spain, and Costa Rica, guiding them through every step of the application and pre-departure process. She spent a semester studying abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand and a year teaching English in Thailand.
Carmen Hernandez Carmen Hernández serves as the Study Abroad Program Manager at Northwestern University's Global Learning Office (GLO), where she manages advising for Portugal, Spain, and the Americas. In this capacity, she actively contributes to Latinx/e initiatives, providing vital resources and innovative programming to support underrepresented students at Northwestern. Carmen was recently honored with the 2023 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education (EDIIE) Rising Star Award. Additionally, she holds the role of Education Abroad Representative within the International Educators of Illinois (IEI).
Chelsea LakdawalaDigital Marketing Manager and Correspondents Program Manager at IES Abroad Chelsea Lakdawala is the Digital Marketing Manager and Correspondents Program Manager at IES Abroad. In her 7 years at IES Abroad, she began as a Program Advisor before joining the Marketing team. She also manages the Correspondents Program, which generates student content from over 300+ students abroad each year. Prior to IES Abroad, she studied abroad with IES Abroad in Granada and earned her bachelor’s degrees in Broadcast Journalism and International Studies from Loyola University Chicago.
Christine Murphy Judson Executive Director of Talent Acquisition at Chicago Public Schools Christine is a senior professional in human resources leading through strong relationships and successfully developing teams with the right staff. She leads strategy design, coaches multiple teams of managers and specialists (in a highly competitive education landscape) and delivers high quality, well-trained candidates to hiring managers, impacting over 500 school teams. She also cultivates pipeline growth by expanding existing relationships and forging new connections with local, national, and global partners. She oversees all hiring for Chicago Public Schools as the Executive Director of Talent Acquisition. Christine earned a double bachelors from Loyola University Chicago in Theatre and History and holds a master's from Dominican University.
Elizabeth Hall Program Manager at DePaul University Elizabeth Hall has been a Program Manager in the Study Abroad office at DePaul University since July 2017. She manages a portfolio of short-term, faculty-led programs offered by the College of Business, College of Communication, and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Prior to her role at DePaul, Elizabeth worked in the study abroad offices at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Central College, and Arcadia University. She received a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies at Kalamazoo College, which included a study abroad experience in Hikone, Japan. She also taught English in Japan as a participant in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.
Emma Howes Global Development Manager at The Cambridge Network Emma Howes has over 10 years of experience in international education, specifically within recruitment and enrollment management. She is the Global Development Manager at The Cambridge Network, a leading provider of international admissions, recruitment, and homestay services. Emma has her Master's in Global Higher Education and is a Ph.D. Candidate in International Psychology, completing her dissertation and program this Spring.
Dr. Geet Vanaik Director, OISS at Northwestern University Dr. Geet Vanaik manages immigration services for students, scholars, staff, and faculty as the Director of OISS at Northwestern University. Previously, she was Dean of International Affairs at Greenville University. She consistently demonstrates commitment to crafting cutting-edge programs for international students and scholars. Her expertise in leadership is rooted in academics with a doctorate in Higher Ed Leadership from Maryville Univ St. Louis and a master's degree in biotechnology management from SIUE.
Haylee Zhou International Student Advisor at Northwestern University Haylee Zhou is an international student advisor at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) at Northwestern University. Haylee advises and supports 1200 F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents. Haylee graduated from Medill, Northwestern in 2016 with a master’s degree in journalism. As a proud past international student, Haylee thrives on actively advocating for and contributing to the international student community.
Dr. Israel EspinozaChair of Psychology Programs at Saybrook University Dr. Israel Espinosa is Chair of the Psychology programs at Saybrook University. He holds a PsyD and MA in Clinical Psychology from Illinois School of Professional Psychology and a BA in Psychology from Elmhurst College. He has worked in the field of mental health and counseling for over 20 years, specifically serving in leadership roles within child welfare, community mental health, and higher education.
Jack Wang Credential Evaluator and Project Coordinator at Scholaro, Inc. I have been with Scholaro, Inc. since 2021. I earned my BS degree in Psychology from Loyola University - Chicago and my MS degree in International Public Service from DePaul University. Previously, I volunteered and worked for various NGOs doing development work domestically and abroad. My goals as a credential evaluator are to broaden my horizons by learning about different education systems around the globe and to conduct some in-depth research projects into more commonly known countries.
Jacob Schoofs Senior Program & Technology Manager at Northwestern University Jacob Schoofs (he/him) serves as Senior Program & Technology Manager at Northwestern University’s Global Learning Office (GLO). Jacob has held previous positions at Loyola University Chicago and AFS-USA. He serves as coordinator of the International Educators of Illinois Mentorship Program. Jacob has lived, studied, and worked abroad in Germany throughout various points in his life. He holds a BA from Lake Forest College and an MA/MSc from the Europa-Universität Flensburg.
Jim Brosam President & CEO at Jameson Global Jim Brosam II. is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. His area of research is engagement of international alumni and global fundraising. Brosam is an international educator who has worked on several university campuses as well as with the international education service provider side. He has directed international student recruitment and domestic study abroad programs in over 40 countries. Brosam is the founder and President of Jameson Global as well as J-CHECK. J-Scholar Testing. He is an active member of NAFSA and IEI.
Karin Christoph Executive Director & Senior Evaluator at One Earth International Credential Evaluations Karin Christoph Brown is a world traveler, researcher, and devoted international educator. She founded One Earth International Credential Evaluations in 2010. With more than 20 years of experience in international student recruitment, university admission and credential evaluation, Karin is expertly qualified to guide students, faculty, staff and employers.
Kate Gosson Program Advising Manager at IES Abroad Kate Gosson is a Program Advising Manager at IES Abroad, working with students through the predeparture processes. Earning her undergraduate degree at Canisius College, Kate studied abroad in Australia. After graduating, she sought more opportunities abroad as an au pair in Paris for a year. Since those transformative experiences, Kate has earned a master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration and began working in different aspects of campus internationalization initiatives.
Kate PopeDirector, English Language Institute at North Central College Kate Pope is the founding Director of the English Language Institute (ELI) at North Central College. Over the last ten years as the program director, she has collaborated with her colleagues in international recruitment to leverage student stories, develop unique scholarship opportunities, and maximize online platforms to promote various programs offered by the ELI.
Katherine Haan Director, Global Engagement Office at Chicago State University Katherine Haan is the Director of the Global Engagement Office (GEO) at Chicago State University. She is an experienced Higher Education professional with a demonstrated history of working in the international higher education industry with a specialization in F and J regulation enforcement. In her current position as Director of GEO, she oversees international student services, education abroad, and cultural programming.
Kelly Pilleux-Petronia Kelly Pilleux-Petronia joined SEVP in 2014 and serves the Chicago territory as well as currently covering a part of Wisconsin. Prior to joining SEVP, she taught ESL in Ohio and Washington D.C. at the higher education and K-12 levels, and then spent 14 years working as P/DSO in higher education in Ohio and Illinois. She holds a bachelor’s degrees in Spanish, and a master’s degree in linguistics from Ohio University.
Laura Hosford-Yunker Director of International Enrollment at Lewis University I am the Director of International Enrollment at Lewis University, a mid-sized private university that serves approx. 1,500 active F-1 students from 60 different countries. Previously I worked as the International Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist at Elgin Community College which served approx. 100 international students from 20 different countries. I have also worked as a high school global coordinator, a travel consultant and a foreign language instructor and I teach citizenship classes.
Lily Andrules University Relations Manager, North America at Arava Institute Lily is a Chicago based professional with over 10 years of international higher education experience. Prior to joining her Arava Institute, she worked as a regional director and program manager for students traveling to programs in Asia Pacific. Much of her personal work in international higher education has been focused in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice including building out informational resources for both educators and students.
Lindsay Fullerton Senior Immigration Attorney at Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. Lindsay is an Immigration Attorney representing clients in all immigration matters, including employment-based, family-based, naturalization, citizenship, and asylum. Lindsay previously served as an Asylum Officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and was awarded a U.S. Department of Justice, Honors Attorney clerkship at the Chicago Immigration Court. Lindsay holds a J.D. from American University and a Bachelor’s in Hispanic Studies from the College of William & Mary.
Lucy Bruno Global Engagement Coordinator at Elmhurst University Lucy is the Global Engagement Coordinator at Elmhurst University where she works in both the Study Abroad and International Student Service worlds. She received her BA in Anthropology and Spanish from Wheaton College as well as a certificate in Human Needs and Global Resources. While she does love travel, most of her global experience comes from working with international communities within the United States, particularly with immigrants and refugees in rural Colorado and Chicagoland.
Mariah Thomson US Director of Marketing at The Cambridge Network Mariah is the US Director of Marketing for Cambridge Network! She has worked in the international education market for almost four years and is the co-host on an international education podcast called the Cambridge Insider! She has her master's in organizational leadership and has a passion for aiding organizations to growth!
Matthew ParisiProfessional Service Manager Supervisory Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Matthew Parisi is the Professional Service Manager for the Area Ports of Chicago where he serves as the Liaison with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen relationships and collaborate with the highest levels of city government and international consulates. Prior to Supervisor Parisi’s current role, he held the Acting Chief position for the Tactical Terrorism Response Team and supervised the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team, Hologram and Global Entry program, and the Secondary Immigration Unit for the Chicago Port office. Supervisor Parisi started his CBP career at the land border Port of Calexico, CA.
Michael Bock CBP Officer CBP Officer Michael Bock is currently assigned to the Chicago Field Office where he serves as a program manager within the Field Office’s Border Security Division overseeing the implementation and sustainment of a variety of CBP initiatives. Officer Bock’s primary oversight role is as a subject matter expert on Title 8 immigration laws and regulations, CBP’s admissibility processing policies, and general passenger processing programs at the airports of entry throughout the Midwest region. Prior to joining the Chicago Field Office, he was a CBP Officer assigned from 2003-2021 to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. He is a 2002 graduate of Loyola University Chicago where he earned a bachelor of arts in history. Dr. Michelle S. KimExecutive Director at USA Language Institute Dr. Michelle S. Kim is the Executive Director of USA Language Institute, a multi-national organization that hosts workshop series and sessions centered on academic research in Higher Education and Second Language Teaching and Learning. She earned her PhD in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education from the Ohio State University. She spent twenty years as an EFL/ESL teacher, professor in higher education, and academic researcher, publishing and serving as editor for numerous journals.
Mouna Bounouader PhD Candidate at Illinois State University Born and raised in Morocco, Mouna had her first IE experience when she spent a semester abroad at Baylor University. She then decided to pursue an M.S. in Applied Statistics at Illinois State University in 2017. The love for cultural diversity, making people’s experience overseas enjoyable and giving back to the world is what shaped her decision to join the IE field after graduating. Mouna is now completing her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration at Illinois State.
Norvell WattsProgram Manager at Northwestern University A native Chicagoan, Norvell’s interest in international education was sparked during educational trips abroad as a Chicago Public School student. Norvell’s background includes work in residential life and international exchange nonprofits. Norvell would further his involvement in international communities by first moving to Bangkok, Thailand then to Montreal, Canada to teach English. Norvell now works at Northwestern University in the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.
Paola Carrera Program Manager for International Teachers and Staff at Chicago Public Schools Paola has a background in higher education and event management. She is the current Program Manager for International Teachers and Staff at Chicago Public Schools and oversees multiple visa programs, such as J-1 and H-1B. She obtained a double Bachelors in Sociology and Spanish Literature, as well as a Masters in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago.
Priya Shah Associate Director, International Recruitment at North Central College Priya Shah is currently the Associate Director of International Recruitment at North Central College. She was the Lead Instructor in the English Language Institute at North Central College for 2 years. In addition to international recruitment, Priya also works in outreach to the local Indian American community in the Chicagoland area with the goal to build a relationship between North Central College and the Indian American community.
Rachel Krein Associate Director, OISS at Northwestern University Rachel Krein works as the Associate Director of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Northwestern University, which includes overseeing advising and managing daily operations. Before Northwestern, she worked in ISSS as PDSO/RO at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Illinois State University (ISU) and in IEM at Bradley University. She has a BA from Augustana College and an MS in College Student Personnel Administration from ISU. She is a proud NAFSA Academy alum.
Sara McGuinn Senior Study Abroad Program Manager at Northwestern University A proud alumna of Northwestern, Sara studied abroad for a full year in Seville, Spain as an undergraduate and received her BA in Spanish. After completing her MA in Applied Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts Boston, she tutored Spanish and taught English as a second language (ESL) for several years before returning to Northwestern as a staff member. When not at work, she spends time with her husband and kids, playing games, listening to live music, watching sports, and reading.
Saskia Hofman Field Representative Saskia Hofman joined SEVP in 2015 and serves the far southside of Chicago, outlying suburbs, and the greater Illinois territory. Prior to joining SEVP, Saskia worked as P/DSO for 20 years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, DePaul University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, and in the healthcare sector, recruiting H-1B professionals. She holds bachelor’s degrees in international studies and French from Miami University of Ohio, and a master’s degree in multicultural communication from DePaul University. Scott Ozaroski Associate Director of Program Management at DePaul University Scott Ozaroski is Associate Director of Program Management in the Study Abroad office at DePaul University. He helps oversee the 50+ faculty-led programs offered each year, coordinating all the FY@broad programs designed for first-year students, as well as a handful of other programs across different colleges. He received his undergraduate degree in Theatre, Education, and Mathematics from SUNY Potsdam in New York, completed his master's degree in Theatre and a Professional Certificate in International Studies and Global Leadership at Northwestern University, and is a Certified Education Abroad Professional through The Forum on Education Abroad. Scott started at DePaul University in 2015, after working for the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Hawai'i Pacific University, and Up with People—where he spent six years traveling the world with a suitcase and backpack, visiting 20 countries on four continents, and living with over 200 host families along the way.
Shanté Fencl Study Abroad Advisor at Loyola University Chicago Shanté has been a study abroad advisor at Loyola University Chicago since November 2022. Before this position, Shanté spent 2 years in Morocco working as an English Teacher and 1 year in Costa Rica working with high school study abroad students. Originally from Ohio, Shanté got a taste for travel at a young age. She studied abroad for a year in Mantova, Italy during high school and for a semester in Rabat, Morocco during her undergraduate.
Stephanie BrownStephanie Brown (she/her/hers) is the Director of International Student & Scholar Services at Northern Illinois University. Stephanie has been working in the field for over 12 years and previously served as Chair of IEI from 2015-2017. She has extensive experience advising F-1 students on a wide variety of status concerns. She is the PDSO at NIU and processes the H-1Bs for the university. Stephanie earned a master’s degree in Human Rights & International Relations from Roehampton University in London. She has a passion for connecting her studies in human rights to her work in International Affairs through advocacy and student programming. Stephanie Cisneros Stephanie Cisneros (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Director for Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management International Student Services team, a partner office of the OISS. Over the past 10 years, she has supported thousands of international students, across all academic levels and disciplines, throughout their visa lifecycle at Northwestern University. Stephanie is a proud Northwestern University Alum, receiving a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies focusing on Tibetan Buddhism in 2016. She welcomes any conversation involving print photography, dogs, outdoor gardening, and sloths.
Tony Marotta Director of Global Engagement at Elmhurst University Tony is currently the Director of Global Engagement at Elmhurst University, a role that encompasses International Student Services, Study Abroad/Away, and overall internationalization of campus. In the past, Tony also had roles in International Admission, Housing, DEI, activities/events, and leadership. A global citizen and international educator at heart, Tony focuses his efforts on connecting and supporting students and institutions across the globe.
Mx. Victoria Goodman ISS Associate Director at DePaul University Mx. Victoria Goodman is the Associate Director of DePaul University’s International Student and Scholar Services office. She has been working in the field of International Education since 2016 and transitioned from the classroom to the ISS Advisor chair in July of 2021.
Dr. Yurimi GrigsbyProfessor at Concordia University Chicago Dr. Yurimi Grigsby is Professor of ESL Education at Concordia University Chicago. She holds a BA degree in Spanish and MAT in Secondary Education from East Tennessee State University. She completed her PhD in Literacy, Language, and ESL Education at the University of Tennessee. Her professional experience includes teaching Spanish at the high school and ESOL at the elementary levels, as well as managing ELL and TESOL graduate programs.