Region VII Leadership Team
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2024 Region VII Election
The 2024 Region VII Election is now open! If you are a NAFSA member, please take a moment to cast your ballot.
Deadline: Friday, November 8, 2024
Rachel Hendrix
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University of West Florida
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...
Jenifer Ruby
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Rollins College
Past-Chair, Region VII
Jenifer Ruby (she/her) embarked on her international education journey 30 years ago in Japan, teaching English with the Japan Exchange & Teaching Program. After a decade in New York City's international student advising scene, she found her home at Rollins College in 2006, where she now serves as...
Sarah Stevens
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University of North Alabama
Chair-Elect, Region VII
Sarah Stevens (she, her) is the Assistant Director, International Services & Compliance at the University of North Alabama, where she is the PDSO and an ARO. UNA serves 500+ F-1 and J-1 international students in language training, undergraduate and graduate coursework. Sarah's responsibilities...
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...
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...
Charlotte Roulet
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Emory University
Communications Coordinator, Region VII
Charlotte Roulet is a Program Associate in the ISSS Office at Emory University. She joined Region VII in 2020 after graduating with an M.A. in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Priory to joining Emory University, she worked as an Assistant...
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...
Kathie Stromile Golden, PhD
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Mississippi Valley State University
HBCU/MSI Representative, Region VII
Kathie Stromile Golden is Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, where she previously served as Director of International Program/Assistant to the President’s Office and Professor of Political Science, Associate Vice-President for...
Mariel Goble
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Auburn University
Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EAKC) Liaison, Region VII
Mariel Goble, is the Director of Auburn Abroad at Auburn University. She has been in the field since 2012 and worked at Northern Arizona University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, and The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies. Mariel’s focus within study abroad has always been on helping create...
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...
Stephanie Sieggreen
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University of Tennessee Knoxville
International Enrollment Management (IEM) Knowledge Community Liaison, Region VII
Stephanie Sieggreen serves as the inaugural Director of International Recruitment at University of Tennessee Knoxville. In her role, Stephanie and her team serve as university ambassadors developing global connections and sharing UT’s academic opportunities worldwide. Having studied, lived and...
Ashley Johnson
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University of Georgia
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Knowledge Community Liaison, Region VII
Ashley Johnson is the Associate Director for student casework and an International Student & Scholar Advisor at the University of Georgia. While advising International Students, Student-Interns, and Visiting Scholars, she has participated in various state International Education and NAFSA programs...
Adianez Garcia Campos
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University of North Florida
Local Arrangements Co-Chair, Jacksonville
Luisa Joyce
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University of North Florida
Local Arrangements Co-Chair, Jacksonville
Dr. Luisa Martinez Joyce is the Director of University Study Abroad & Compliance at the University of North Florida. She has 26 years of Higher Education experience, 14 of those years in the area of international education. However, for the last four years her position has grown to focus on the area...
Leslie Reynolds
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International Student Insurance
Local Arrangements Co-Chair, Jacksonville
Leslie is currently the University Relations Manager for International Student Insurance. With 10 years of experience on the institutional side of international education, Leslie brings a unique immigration and study abroad advisor perspective to the insurance role. Previously, Leslie served as a...
Kelly Poppen
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Miami Dade College
2-Year College Representative, Region VII
Kelly Poppen is the Director of International Student Services at Miami Dade College. 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 James Madison University, Central...
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...
Linnea Tighe
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Johns Hopkins University
Regulatory Ombudsperson for Student Issues, Region VII
Linnea Tighe has worked in the field of International Education for over ten years gaining experience in both Immigration Services and Education Abroad. She has worked in a variety of settings including a large public university, a small technical college, and a large private institution. Linnea is...
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...
Akali Fulmer
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Alabama-Korea Education and Economic Partnership
Alabama State Representative, Region VII
Christine Voigt
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University of Florida
Florida State Rep, Region VII
Christine Voigt is a Florida native who has been with the English Language Institute at UF since 2012. Christine holds an MEd in bilingual/bicultural education from UF and a BFA in theatre arts from Jacksonville University. She is currently working on her EdD. Before coming to UF, Christine taught...
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...
Lokesh Shivakumaraiah
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Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi State Representative, 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...
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...