Kim Lovaas

For more than 26 years, Kim Lovaas has helped advance the University of Washington’s international student experience by shaping international student enrollment, expanding access for students from around the world, leading international regulatory compliance, and building an inclusive campus where international students thrive. 

From her early work in International Admissions to my current role as Director of International Student Services (ISS) and Principal Designated School Official (PDSO), Kim's focus has been steadfast. She has worked to remove barriers, uphold compliance, and create supportive structures that enable international students to learn, contribute, and graduate as globally minded leaders. 

Kim began served as a Coordinator of the Foreign Teaching Staff for Obunsha language schools and publishing company in Tokyo, Japan after completing her Bachelor's degree at Western Washington University. She then moved to Boston, MA to pursue a Master’s degree in Intercultural Relations at Lesley University. Kim was hired as the International Admissions Counselor for Emmanuel College in Boston, where she oversaw international recruitment, application review, foreign credential evaluations, and assisted with issuing immigration documents. 

In January 2000, Kim returned to Washington to begin a new position at the University of Washington in Undergraduate Admissions as an International Admissions Coordinator, advancing to Assistant Director of International Admissions in 2005. She became the Associate Director of International Admissions and Student Services in 2009 when she began overseeing International Student Services. 

With the formation of the Enrollment Management Division in 2013, Kim became the Director of International Student Services. International student enrollment at UW increased significantly during this time with 2,647 F and J students in 2007 to the current enrollment of 8,000 undergraduate and graduate international students. Kim has been a longtime member of NAFSA, as well as AACRAO, Council of International Schools, NACAC, International ACAC, NAFSA Region 1, and AWISA. In 2021-2022, Kim worked with Terra Dotta to help develop, train, and launch UW’s MyISSS immigration platform. This platform is used by all of the immigration advisors and Designated School Officials at the UW to review, process, manage, and create immigration documents or authorize F-1 and J-1 benefits. Kim also serves on the ISSS Power User Group for Terra Dotta.