Today’s sessions are for beginners in the field or people looking to learn more about a new area.

F-1 Basics Workshop

This workshop covers basics of the F-1 student status from initial status acquisition and maintenance to employment and practical training authorizations. This is not a NAFSA CEP but offers audience members an overview of core concepts and regulations for F-1 students.

• Maria Jenkins, Director, The Boston Architectural College
• Max Crumley-Effinger, Assistant Director, Emerson College
• Danielle Beaupre, International Student Advisor, University of Maine

Date & Time: Monday, March 24th, 8:30am - 12pm 

Foundations of J-1 Student Advising 

A session geared for new AROs who have limited experience with advising J-1 students.
A foundational crash course that will touch on the differences and similarities to the F-1 student status, U.S. Department of State regulatory requirements, and advising parameters for J-1 students.

• Jessa Karki, Associate Director of Comprehensive Advising, OGS, Northeastern University, MA
• Sonja Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student Services, Brown University, RI
• Kas Singh, Assistant Director, International Student & Scholar Services, Middlebury College, VT
• Nadine Boudissa, International Adviser, University of Connecticut, CT 

Date & Time: Monday, March 24th, 1pm - 2:15pm

A Beginner’s Guide to the H-1B Visa

This beginner-friendly session will guide attendees through the entire H-1B visa petition process, from determining eligibility to maintaining compliance after approval. Participants will learn key steps, including selecting the best SOC code, preparing the Labor Condition Application (LCA), assembling required documents, and filing the petition with USCIS. The session will also cover common pitfalls, such as RFEs and compliance issues, and how to avoid them. Attendees will gain insights into employer responsibilities, Public Access File requirements, and ongoing compliance obligations to ensure smooth sponsorship. By the end of the session, participants will have a clear roadmap to successfully navigate the H-1B process from start to finish.

• Mary Walsh, Partner, Iandoli Desai & Cronin PC
• Kaitlin Dornenburg, HR Specialist, UConn Health International Office
• Makiko Wada, Senior Advisor to International Scholars, MIT
• Sarah Curry, Senior Assistant Director - International Center, Tufts

Date & Time: Monday, March 24th, 2:30pm - 3:45pm

Today's sessions are focused on international student advising and F/J student topics.

RFEs for You and Me

This session will discuss recent OPT and STEM RFEs with case examples and offer best practices on how to respond.

• Ducis Viard, Assistant Director of Comprehensive Advising, Northeastern University
• Kathy Kautz de Arango, Executive Director, University of New Haven
• Erin Gustafson, Senior Adviser, Yale University

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 25th, 9am - 10:15am

When Things Fall Apart: Troubleshooting Issues Gone Wrong

Students and their advisors frequently encounter strange and unusual situations while being unsure how to proceed. Join this session to learn more about advising students with travel issues, missing/incorrect EADs, reinstatements, and more!

• Katie Ahlman, Senior Immigration Advisor, UMass Amherst
• Claire Seely, International Students & Scholars Advisor, Smith College
• Mirabelle Tseng, Asst. Dean of International Students, College of the Holy Cross

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 25th, 10:30am - 11:45am

International Students@Work: Cross Campus Collaboration

This session will provide an overview of how International Student Offices work collaboratively with campus partners.  Using concrete examples, we will discuss partnerships in regards to the student work advising process. Some of the topics we will cover include tips on how to collaborate with the Human Resource Department and Campus Career Center, streamlining the onboarding process, and frequently asked questions we get from students.

• Adrea Papadopoulos, Associate Director, International Students and Scholars Office, Brandeis University
• Maggie Shirland, International Student Advisor, International Education Center, Massachusetts College of Art & Design
• Xiaoyi Zhang, Career Counselor, Hiatt Career Center, Brandeis University
• Margaret Naughton, Human Resources Consultant, Massachusetts College of Art & Design

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 25th, 1pm - 2:15pm

Coming and Going in Status: Strategies for Preparing Incoming and Outgoing International Students to F-ollow Rules and Plan for the F-uture

Explore best practices to help international students understand and follow the rules of maintaining status and utilizing benefits of their nonimmigrant visa, specifically focusing on this topic vis-à-vis transitions, such as pre-arrival outreach/online orientations and in-person orientations for incoming students, as well as support with planning for post-completion options for outgoing international students.

• Heather Mazorow “Maz” ; Assistant Dean of Conduct & Residence Life/PDSO, University of Maine at Presque Isle
• Alyssa Bulpett (she/her), Associate Director of Incoming International Student Services at Office of Global Services (OGS), DSO/ARO, Northeastern University
• Morgan Keller, Director, International Student Services, Wesleyan University
• Maria Jenkins, Director of International Student Services, PDSO, Boston Architectural College

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 25th, 2:30pm - 3:45pm

Today’s sessions are focused on more advanced topics, including sessions specific to international scholars and employment-based statuses.

J-1 Scholar Tricky Topics and Key Considerations

In this session, we will discuss some of the tricky issues encountered by international scholar advisors and J-1 researchers, highlighting recent developments and ongoing challenges. Topics to be covered include understanding the revised Exchange Visitor Skills List; 212(e) and future planning; waivers; institutional policies on DS-2019 issuance; bars on repeat J-1 program participation; and J-2 considerations. We will focus on Research Scholars, Professors, and Short-term Scholars.

• Elizabeth Capuano, Assistant Director, Harvard International Office
• Amanda Doran, Assistant Director, MIT International Scholars Office

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26th, 9am - 10:15am

Lions, ICE Visits, Tigers, Audits, and Bears... Oh my! – A Compliance Overview

The scope and number of recent changes in the world of immigration extend beyond the daily operation of most international offices. Current events have the potential to impact campus police operations, front desk staff, patients at teaching hospital, and also employees on work visas. Impacted campus partners include human resources, patient safety offices, and the office of general counsel. This panel will provide an overview of key compliance areas ripe for site visits, audits, or enforcement actions in 2025 and beyond. Panelists will address I-9s, site visits, Department of Labor issues, and the growing concerns around ICE. The session will also cover policy considerations, tips for building internal collaborations, and best practices for compliance in uncertain times. 

• Miki Kawashima Matrician, Esq., Partner, WR Immigration, Chair, New England Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Laura Nagavelli, Esq., Assistant General Counsel – Immigration Office of the General Counsel, Northeastern University
• Tejal Patel, Esq., Associate Counsel, Office of General Counsel, UMass System
• Anthony D. Pawelski, JD, Senior International Advisor, Office for Global Professionals and Scholars, Mass General Brigham (Chair)

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26th, 10:30am - 11:45am

The Immigration "Bermuda Triangle": Navigating Challenges between ISS and HR Offices

In this session, we will discuss the sometimes complex relationship between International Student & Scholar Offices and Human Resources. Topics to be covered include challenges with institutional structure, lack of training, compliance issues, and technical issues. We will also review the results of a regional survey on this topic, citing certain real-life examples as case studies. The goal of this session is to provide some insights into the challenges that arise between these two offices, and examine some possible ways to improve upon them.

• Kaitlin Dornenburg, HR Specialist, UConn Health International Office
• Caitlin Szymkowicz, Associate Dean for International Students & Scholars, Smith College
• Susan Ellison, Director of the Office of Visa and Immigration Services, Dartmouth College
• Patrick Trouve, HR Immigration & Compliance Specialist, UMass Lowell

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26th, 1pm - 2:15pm

Today’s sessions focus on issues that touch on the experiences of our clients in maintaining their status in the US, but are not strictly regulatory.

First 100 Days: Immigration Landscape

This session will provide an overview of the first 100 days in terms of executive orders and key changes in the immigration landscape for P/DSOs, A/ROs, and other campus partners. We are joined by Richard Iandoli from Iandoli, Desai, and Cronin P.C. and there will be a chance for participants to submit questions in advance , and ask during the open question and answer period. This session will not be recorded. 

• Richard Iandoli, Iandoli, Desai, and Cronin P.C.
• Jessa Karki, Associate Director of Comprehensive Advising (DSO), Northeastern University
• Maggie Shirland, International Student Advisor, International Education Center, Massachusetts College of Art & Design

Date & Time: Thursday, March 27th, 9am - 10:15am

A Guide to Nonresident Taxes

Perfect for those who are new to the field (or for those not so new to the field), “A Guide to Nonresident Taxes” covers tax filing obligations for international students and scholars, looks at cases studies from three different institutions in New England and provides support and access to external tax resources. At the end of this session participants should be able to answer the basic tax questions that nonresidents might ask you as well as understand the implications of not filing or misfiling a tax return.

• Colleen Callahan-Panday, Director International Student Life, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Arthur Galinat, Director ISSS, University of Connecticut
• Elvera King, Account Manager, Sprintax
• Mireille Le Gal, International Student & Scholar Advisor, University of Maine

Date & Time: Thursday, March 27th, 10:30am - 11:45am

When Travel Plans Hit a Snag

International travel is typically routine but what happens when your student or scholar notifies you of an unexpected problem? This session will cover how advisers can support students, scholars, and institutions in the face of rising travel issues including visa revocations, renewal requests being denied, port of entry refusals, and visa booking obstacles. 

• Ken Reade, Executive Director of Immigration Services, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Elizabeth Goss, CEO, The Law Office of Goss and Associates

Date & Time: Thursday, March 27th, 1pm - 2:15pm

Today is a time to connect in a less structured way with others around certain interest areas. These roundtables will be hosted by a GRAC member and are a time to come with outstanding questions and current issues.

Scholar & Employment-Based Emerging Issues Roundtable

Join colleagues for an open discussion on emerging issues that are affecting processes for international scholars and employees on our campuses. Bring a cup of tea and your questions, tricky cases, and experiences to share.

• Emma Huse, International Scholar and Employee Program Manager, University of Vermont
• Jessica Heffernan, Assistant Director, Harvard International Office, Harvard University

Date & Time: Friday, March 28th, 9am - 10:15am

Student Support Roundtable Discussion

What does holistic support look like for students when the immigration landscape is shifting and uncertain? When travel and immigration are uncertain, it inevitably increases the amount of support international students may need in all areas of their lives. How do you keep abreast of changes, and then go about making appropriate changes to all the subsidiary parts/programs? . We hope to discuss and brainstorm effective approaches, and provide mutual support in addressing the needs and successes of students in the learning environment.

• Caitlin Szymkowicz, Associate Dean for International Students & Scholars, Smith College
• Adrea Papadopoulos, Associate Director, DSO/ARO, Brandeis University

Date & Time: Friday, March 28th, 10:30am - 11:45am

Campus Readiness in the Second Trump Administration

Come share thoughts, ideas and concerns with colleagues on how campuses could, and should, prepare for and react to the barrage of executive orders to come. We will discuss everything from what is too little or too much communication to campus stakeholders, ICE raids, campus protests, and more.

• Mary E. Walsh, Esq., Iandoli Desai & Cronin, PC

Date & Time: Friday, March 28th, 1pm - 2:15pm