Lily Andrules has been in the international education field for 10 years. After a pivotal study abroad experience during her undergraduate studies at Temple University she dedicated her career to promoting students to think and live globally through having international experiences. Prior to joining the Arcadia Abroad team, 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. She is an alumna of NAFSA Academy Class 14, the President for International Educators of Illinois, and has been on the Lessons from Abroad Chicago Leadership Team since 2016.
Thomas Arkell
Thomas J. Arkell exclusively practices immigration law. He is the senior partner in the Dunn Law Firm, LLP in Bloomington, Illinois, which was founded in 1915. The firm was proudly selected as part of the IPHEC RFP process for immigration law. Mr. Arkell earned both his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He has been licensed to practice law for over twenty-five years. During that time, he has quietly developed an extensive network throughout the world, and he has successfully represented Fortune 500 clients, start-up companies, and many of the most prestigious state and private universities in the United States with very complex immigration matters. Mr. Arkell was a F-1 international student and then a permanent resident before obtaining his U.S. citizenship. He has extensive expertise in filing National Interest Waiver (NIW) immigrant visa petitions for institutions of higher education, college and university faculty, physicians, researchers, qualified Ph.D. students, and scientists in a wide variety of disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, aerospace, nanotechnology, medicine, engineering, materials science, sociology, law, finance, economics, aerospace, and genetics.
Dane Brinkmeier
I have been working in international education for five years, working in both ISSS and international admissions. I am passionate about international education and assisting international students, prospective or current, to the best of my abilities
Gwen Brits
Gwen Brits is an experienced international student advisor and educator with a Master of Arts in TESOL from Brigham Young University. She has taught English as a second language in South Korea, the Czech Republic, and the United States. Her admiration for the resilience and work ethic of international students inspired her transition to advising, where she now serves as an advisor for F and J visa students.
Jim Brosam II
Jim Brosam II. is a 25-year veteran in the field of international education. In 2015, he founded Jameson Global, an international education consulting company that operates “J-Check” a nation-wide testing service that assists universities with documentation of English proficiency of incoming J-Scholars. He also frequently consults with universities on issues of campus internationalization, international student recruitment and retention, and international advancement. While working on several university campuses during his career, Brosam has directed international student recruitment and domestic study abroad programs in over 40 countries. In addition to international education, Brosam has an extensive background in communication and marketing. His area of interest and research is global fundraising and international alumni engagement. Brosam is an active member of NAFSA and has served on the Member Engagement Committee (MEC) and Leadership Development Committee (LDC). He is currently the co-coordinator of the International Educators of Illinois Mentorship program.
Stephanie Brown
Stephanie 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.
Elizabeth Cocke
Elizabeth has extensive experience with employment-based visas, havjng worked at a tech consultancy, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and several law firms. She is currently a Scholar Advisor at Northwestern University.
James Coghlan
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Javier Duarte
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Steven Duke
Steven Duke has worked with short-term and semester-long faculty-led programs for the last 20 years. He has directed three study abroad offices and loves working with faculty. He has taught history and international studies courses at four institutions.
Alicia Emerich
Alicia Emerich currently works as a Senior Program Advisor at IES Abroad. During her undergraduate career at UW Madison, Alicia was lucky enough to complete two study abroad programs in Cuba and South Korea. She also taught abroad in South Korea after graduation. In her current role, Alicia prepares students for success through the predeparture visa application process by providing resources and conducting one on one and group advising sessions. She is passionate about making study abroad accessible to all and is excited to collaborate with her peers in the field.
Nereida Encina
Nereida Encina is the Director of International Enrollment at Dominican University, as well as a DSO. She has 14 years of experience in higher education and over six years of experience in international education. Nereida is a board member of IEI and Study Illinois and has experience in both the IEM and ISSS components of IE.
Victoria Goodman
Mx. Victoria Goodman is the Associate Director of DePaul University’s International Student and Scholar Services office, which serves over 4,500 F and J students and scholars. They have been working in the field of International Education since 2016, from welcoming international students in the U.S. in Mississippi to teaching abroad in Morocco. They transitioned from the classroom to the ISS Advisor chair in July of 2021 and is proud to support a diverse learning community that intentionally centers community, equity, and justice within higher education.
Miranda Goosby
Miranda advises two study abroad programs: the Global Engagement Studies Institute (GESI) and DIS Abroad. Through these programs, she builds community, oversees international internships, and develops globally centered initiatives in Uganda, Vietnam, Thailand, Denmark and Sweden. She has successfully developed and implemented innovative programming including co-curricular programs like the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs’ Global Engagement Coalition.
Katherine Haan
Katherine Haan, Director of the Global Engagement Office, is d/Deaf, and has a BA in English Literature from Purdue University Northwest, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from Chicago State University Katherine Haan has been CSU’s primary Administrator for Global Engagement Office Programs since 2022 and has over 15 years of experience working in international student and scholar support, education abroad, grant writing, EDIA work, disability advocacy work, and visa program management. Mrs. Haan is CSU’s Primary Designated School Official and expert on nonimmigrant visa programs and serves as the college’s primary liaison with the US Department of Homeland Security. Katherine Haan also serves as member of the Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism with the ICISP Study Abroad Consortium as well as the co-chair for International Education for Persons with Disabilities MIG with NAFSA since 2023.
Jim Hacking
Jim Hacking is the founder of Hacking Immigration Law, LLC, a full-service immigration law firm with offices around the country. Jim is the author of Staying Here, a book detailing how international students can stay permanently in the U.S. Jim has been practicing law since 1997.
Elizabeth Hagstrom
Elizabeth Hagstrom is a Senior Global Enrollment Management Specialist at IES Abroad, where she manages admissions and visa processes to ensure equitable access to international education. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Elizabeth’s passion for global education was sparked by her study abroad experience in Toulouse, France. She has led initiatives to redesign admissions processes for fairness and transparency and has spearheaded visa support services for students studying abroad in Spain. Elizabeth is committed to advancing the field of international education and is eager to share her expertise and insights with the broader community.
Carmen Hernandez
Carmen Hernandez, a Mexican-American and first-generation college student, earned her BFA and a minor in Spanish Literature from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds master's degrees in Higher Education Leadership and Linguistics. Carmen studied abroad in Rome and Santiago, focusing on film, art history, and photography. Before joining Northwestern, she worked as a Financial Aid Coordinator, promoting financial literacy.
Nicole Hutchinson
Nicole Hutchinson serves as a Manager within the Global Enrollment Management Department at IES Abroad. Nicole earned her degree in East Asian Studies with a concentration in Korean Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During her undergraduate career, she participated in transformative study abroad experiences at Lund Universitet and Yonsei University. Motivated by her experiences, Nicole is dedicated to advancing research initiatives aimed at making study abroad more accessible to all students. In her current capacity, she conducts in-depth research on visa trends and oversees the visa assistance programs offered to students enrolled in Italian and Spanish IES Abroad programs. She is enthusiastic about sharing her insights with the broader international education community.
Laura Johnson
Laura Johnson is the Marketing & Communications Manager for Northwestern University’s Global Learning Office (GLO). In this role, Laura leads the marketing and communications strategy, website, events and the GLO Ambassador Program. Previously, Laura served as Marketing Specialist for TBA Credit Union, where she built brand awareness and community relationships. She also worked as Marketing Assistant at Northwestern Michigan College. Laura earned her Master of Science in Marketing degree from the University of Edinburgh Business School and her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Davenport University. In her free time, Laura enjoys baking, hiking, reading and traveling.
Caitlin Kaparaz
Caitlin Kaparaz has over twenty years of experience in education, her focus being on international education in the US and abroad for much of that time. With a background in TESOL, she taught English in Spain, China, and the United States before transitioning to administration and advising. She currently works as an international student advisor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, advising F-1 and J-1 student visa holders.
Michaela Kendall
Michaela Kendall works as the Systems Optimization Manager finding technological solutions for program- and systems-related issues for the Academic Affairs & Operations department at IES Abroad. She earned her BA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in International Studies and Anthropology with a concentration on European countries and a minor in Spanish, and her MA from SIT Graduate Institute in International Education with her thesis focusing on Program Planning and Design.
Rachel Krein
Rachel Krein, M.S., is the Director of Strategic Communications and Operations in the Office for International Students and Scholars at WashU, where she works in website development, communication planning, budget management and operational procedures. She has held positions in ISSS and IEM as PDSO and RO at Northwestern Univ, Bradley Univ, Southern Illinois Univ Edwardsville and Illinois State Univ (ISU). Rachel is a proud alum of the NAFSA Academy and a past leader for IEI and NAFSA Region V.
Katherine Kozlik
Kat is a short-term, faculty-led Study Abroad Program Manager at DePaul, where she is also an alumna. She studied at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland during her Junior year of college. After graduating from DePaul and leaving her student worker position in the Study Abroad office as a Peer Advisor, she went on to teach English to high school students, then worked in both the Enrollments and Academics departments at IES Abroad in Chicago. Kat is extremely passionate about working to extend higher education and general international education opportunities to underrepresented students.
Tony Marotta
Tony is currently the Director of Global Engagement (ISS, Study Abroad/Engagement) & PDSO at Elmhurst University. In the past, Tony also had roles in International Admission, DEI, and all over Student Affairs. In addition, Tony is currently the Vice President of International Educators of Illinois. A global citizen and international educator at heart, Tony focuses his efforts on connecting and supporting students and institutions across the globe.
Jennifer Mok
Jennifer Mok is an international advisor at Northwestern University. She has over a decade of experience in international education and currently spends her time supporting international faculty and staff on their work visa adventures. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, artistic pursuits, advocating for DEIJ/B initiatives, and sticking her head in a very good book.
Robert Morley
Robert Morley is the Director of International Services and Governors State University. Prior to working for Governors State University, Robert spent four years as the Director of International Student Affairs at Moraine Valley Community College. Before working for Moraine Valley, he spent three years as the International Admission Coordinator at University of St. Francis and seven years in Bangkok, Thailand as an instructor and recruitment manager. He has a BA from DePaul University, an MA in International Relations from Webster University Thailand, and an EdD in Higher Education Administration from Governors State University.
Kelly Pilleux-Petronia
Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Kelly Pilleux-Petronia joined SEVP in 2014 and serves the Chicago territory. 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 master’s degree in linguistics from Ohio University.
Bernard Ramos
Bernard Ramos is the Vice President and Senior Evaluator at Educational Perspectives in Chicago. He has presented at numerous conferences on international education, sharing his broad expertise in various systems of education, developing tailored systems for evaluating credentials, and addressing theoretical concepts such as the interpretation and assessment of failing grades.
Jacob Schoofs
Jacob Schoofs (he/him) is the Assistant Director for Program & Data Management at Northwestern University. His portfolio is Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Balkans along with leading the data and technology initiatives and processes. He serves as Education Abroad Representative for the IEI. 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.
Brynne Shannon
Brynne is a Customized Program Manager for IES Abroad in Chicago, IL, working with schools to develop customized and faculty-led programs in Central Europe. Brynne has also held positions as a Senior 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 pre-departure process.
Kevin Tribe
A Chicago native, Kevin graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2014 with a BA in American Studies. During his time as an undergraduate student, Kevin studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland studying Irish literature and Irish history. Kevin then spent two years obtaining his master’s degree in Education from Notre Dame in 2016. After multiple years of teaching, Kevin obtained another master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University in 2020.
Danielle Vogel
Danielle Vogel is Associate Director for Student Services in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Northwestern University. She advises F or J students, maintains department relationships, and assists with policy and compliance management. Previously, She has also advised J-1 scholars and Alien Physicians, managed H-1B petitions and lead large-scale cultural programs. She received a Master's degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Illinois State University.
Hongji Wang
Hongji is originally from a small town located in Hunan, China. Hongji’s decade-long experience as an international student fostered a profound passion for international education, leading him to pursue careers in fields such as International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), international enrollment, and international relations. Hongji holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising and Promotion from Missouri State University and a Master of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Loyola University Chicago. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership at DePaul University. He loves to read children’s books and jot down his thoughts in his diaries.
Sean Yerkey
Sean Yerkey is the Assistant Director of International and Off-Campus Programs at Augustana College in Rock Island. Prior to Augustana College, Sean held various student support roles at Black Hawk College and Iowa State University, and she lived and worked in southern Japan. In 2023, she held a position on the Illinois Council for Continuing Education and Training executive board. Sean is an alum of Bradley University and Western Illinois University with a background in sociology.
Haylee Zhou
Haylee Zhou is an International Student Advisor at Northwestern University’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS). In this role, she advises and supports 1200 F-1 and J-1 international students and their dependents. Prior to joining OISS, Haylee wrote stories, raised two children, and co-founded a small online business. She earned her second Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern Medill and her first Master of Arts in Journalism and Communication from Northwest University in Xian, China. As a proud alumna and former international student, Haylee is dedicated to advocating for the international student community and contributing to the international educators’ network. In her spare time, Haylee enjoys reading, exploring new restaurants, and learning to play the violin with her sons.