Region VII Leadership Team
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Sarah Stevens
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Georgetown University
Chair, Region VII
Sarah Stevens (she, her) is the Immigration Specialist at Georgetown University’s Office of Global Services. Sarah’s case load includes supporting new international students during the pre-arrival time period and international alumni after graduation, in addition to advising special cases...
Rachel Hendrix
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University of West Florida
Past-Chair, Region VII
Rachel Hendrix has been active in the area of international education for more than 19 years and serves as a regional leader with NAFSA: Association of International Educators and past chair for the Florida Association of International Educators. She currently is a board member with Gulf Coast...
Lokesh Shivakumaraiah
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Mississippi Valley State University
Chair-Elect, Region VII
Dr. Shivakumaraiah is the Executive Director of International Relations and Assistant to the Provost at Mississippi Valley State University. He has over 17 years of professional experience in the area of international education and student affairs at public land grant, private and HBCU institutions...
Nicole Stelter
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University of Central Florida
Conference Planner, Region VII
Nicole has been with the University of Central Florida since January 2021 as an International Program Advisor. She began her first full time role in international education as the International Student Advisor at Truman State University in 2017. She also held the position of FAIE 2022 Conference...
Akali Fulmer
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Alabama-Korea Education and Economic Partnership
Conference Planner Apprentice, Region VII
Akali Fulmer has worked with diverse organizations and institutions, helping to design and implement programs that connect students, educators, and professionals across borders. Her expertise spans international student recruitment, study abroad program development, and education policy advising...
Beth Lorenz
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Clemson University
Treasurer, Region VII
Beth Lorenz joined Clemson University as the Director of Global Engagement in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business in September 2023. She has worked in the field of international education for over 15 years and started her career in Region VI with her first role as the Study Abroad...
Györgyi Mihályi
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Cumberland University
Communications Coordinator, Region VII
Born and raised in Hungary, Dr. Györgyi Mihályi is the Director of the Palla Center for International Programs and serves as the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) at Cumberland University. She holds degrees in Education from the University of Szeged and in Business and Marketing from Kent...
Josh Petter
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LewerMark Insurance
Sponsorship & Strategic Partnership, Reg VIII; Treasurer, Reg VI; Development, Reg VII
Josh Petter, who has a master’s degree in management, is a Consultant for Student Programs at LewerMark Student Insurance. Josh is responsible for NAFSA Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI and for advising existing and new schools on risk management and insurance for inbound and outbound students. He...
Lauren Stikeleather
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Davidson College
Registrar, Region VII
Lauren Stikeleather is the Associate Director of Education Abroad & Away at Davidson College in North Carolina, where she happily coordinates faculty-led programs, develops on-campus programming, and collaborates on exciting updates to study abroad materials and processes. Her previous experience...
Marie Vanderford
Millsaps College
Local Arrangements Co-Chair (LAC), 2025 Conference, Region VII
Kelly Poppen
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Florida International University
2-Year College Representative, Region VII
Kelly Poppen is the Director of International Student & Scholar Services at Florida International University. She has worked in the field of international education for nearly 20 years, with positions in both study abroad and international student services, at institutions including Miami Dade...
Kathie Stromile Golden, PhD
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Mississippi Valley State University
HBCU/MSI Representative, Region VII
Kathie Stromile Golden, Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mississippi Valley State University, has more than 40 years of experience in higher education. During her tenure at MVSU she has served as Director of International Programs/Assistant to the President’s Office, Professor...
Marissa Chandler
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Belmont University
Education Abroad (EA) Knowledge Community Liaison, Region VII
Dr. Marissa Chandler is the Director of Study Abroad and Belmont USA at Belmont University, where she oversees the operations and management of these areas. Prior to coming to Belmont, she was employed at Austin Peay State University for 27 years, where she provided leadership for International...
Ingrid Galinat
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Jacksonville State University
International Enrollment Management (IEM) KC, Region VII; Member at Large, Member Engagement Comm.
Ingrid Galinat is the Director of the Jacksonville State University (JAX State) International House and Programs in Alabama. She is an International Educator with over 20 years of experience, a relationship builder for international recruitment, partnerships and exchanges, global engagement...
Kristin Tokic
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Queens University
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Knowledge Community Liaison, Region VII
Kristin Tokic is the Assistant Director for International Student Services at Queens University of Charlotte. With nearly two decades of experiences in education, she has spent the last five years dedicated to international student and scholar services. Kristin oversees visa processing for...
Yongling Gorke
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University of North Carolina Charlotte
Teaching, Learning & Scholarship KC and International Education Leadership KC, Region VII
Dr. Yongling Gorke is the assistant director in the Office of International Programs and an adjunct professor of Chinese in the Department of Languages and Culture Studies at UNC Charlotte. She has taught various Chinese courses at UNC Charlotte and led multiple short-term study abroad programs such...
Radhika Reddy
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Vanderbilt University
Regulatory Ombudsperson for Scholar Issues, Region VII
Radhika Reddy began working for Vanderbilt University’s International Student & Scholars Services (ISSS) in 2005. Presently, Radhika serves as an International Student & Scholar Adviser working with F-1 and J-1 students and scholars and financial advising for the Iranian Student Association and...
William Vittetoe
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The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Regulatory Ombudsperson for Student Issues, Region VII
William serves as the Director of International Student and Scholar Services at the University of Tennessee. He has worked in multiple areas of campus internationalization. His approach emphasizes a perspective that values campus partnerships, synergy of efforts, and the utilization of technical...
Christine Voigt
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University of Florida
Florida State Rep, Region VII
Christine Voigt currently works at the University of Florida English Language Institute, where she is the Student Life and Special Programs Coordinator. Since starting there in 2011, Christine has also held the roles of instructional faculty, curriculum coordinator, and DSO. In addition to working...
Marisa Atencio
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Oglethorpe University
Georgia State Representative, Region VII
Dr. Marisa Atencio has a 20+ year career with roles at both private and public institutions across IE functional areas. In 2018 she shifted from ISSS leadership roles and return where her IE journey started. As the inaugural Assistant Dean and Director for Global Education at Oglethorpe University...
Robert J. Van Pelt
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Western Carolina University
North Carolina State Rep, Region VII
Robert J. Van Pelt is the Assistant Director for Education Abroad and Exchanges in the Office of Global Engagement at Western Carolina University. He holds an M.A in International Higher Education from Boston College and a B.A. in Economics from Guilford College. He has been working in International...
Sofía López-Ferrer
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Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Puerto Rico Rep, Region VII
Sofía López-Ferrer is the Coordinator of Student Mobility and Internationalization of the Center for Professional and International Experiences (CEPI) at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she is also the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO). She has...
Carrie Taylor
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Coastal Carolina University
South Carolina State Rep, Region VII
Carrie Taylor is the Senior Director, International Recruitment, Admissions, and Student and Scholar Services and PDSO/RO in the Center for Global Engagement at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from...
Chasity Drew
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East Tennessee State University
Tennessee State Rep, Region VII
Chasity Drew is the Associate Director and PDSO/RO of Intl. Enrollment & Services at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), where she brings over a decade of experience in international education and eight years specifically in the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) field. A...