NAFSA is proud that our RISE Fellows come from nearly all our regions across the United States.
Meet the current cohort of NAFSA RISE Fellows and learn more about who they are.
NAFSA RISE Fellows 2025-2026
Jodi Ahmedou
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Cottey College
RISE Fellow
Jodi Ahmedou is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. Her first overseas experience was as an Au Pair Mädchen in Hamburg, Germany, which ignited her lifelong passion for exploring the world beyond her borders. Deeply committed to International Education, Jodi approaches her work with empathy, always...
Gina Amico
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Yale University
RISE Fellow
Gina Amico is a Fellowship Coordinator at The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University. In this role, she manages programs such as the Fox International Fellowship and Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program to support...
Ti Bedunah
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West Virginia University
RISE Fellow
Ti Bedunah (he/him) serves as an Education Abroad Coordinator at West Virginia University, collaborating with students to plan long-term study abroad experiences. He earned a bachelor's degree in French Literature before serving as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa, from 2016 to 2019...
Brittany Hill
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University of Washington - Seattle
RISE Fellow
Brittany Hill (she/her) is currently an International Student Advisor at the University of Washington, Seattle where she works with over 10,000 international students and alumni along with the rest of the UW ISS team. She has spent time living and teaching in Thailand, Spain and South Korea where...
Megan Huston
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Walsh University
RISE Fellow
Megan Huston serves as the Director for Culture & Belonging at Walsh University, where she champions diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives while supporting international and multicultural students and overseeing study abroad programs. With a strong background in counseling and human...
Tiffany Komon
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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
RISE Fellow
Tiffany Komon (she/her) is an International Programs Advisor/Coordinator with International Programs in Engineering at the University of Michigan. At U-M, Tiffany supports both outgoing and incoming students as they pursue their goals globally. Tiffany’s goal is to increase access to global...
Patricia Manga
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
RISE Fellow
Trish Manga (she/her) serves as a Global Experiences Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a first-generation African descendant and former international student, Trish brings a distinctive voice to her work. With a Master's in Educational Administration, she's passionate about...
Julie Maxwell
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Duke University
RISE Fellow
Julie Maxwell (she/her) is the Program Manager of the von der Heyden Global Fellowship at Duke University. Her previous position at Duke was Program Coordinator of the Duke Islamic Studies Center and Academic Advisor to 1st and 2nd year students. Julie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in...
Daniela Mirabal
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Sam Houston State University
South Texas State Representative; RISE Fellow
Daniela Mirabal is an accomplished higher education professional specializing in international student services, global engagement, and inclusive programming. As the Assistant Director of International Student Services and Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) at Sam Houston State University...
Isaac Morales
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California State University - San Bernardino
RISE Fellow
Isaac Morales (he/him/his) is currently entering his third year in the international education field, and his ninth year in the broader immigration landscape. He is the Immigration Lead Specialist at California State University, San Bernardino's Center for International Studies and Programs. From an...
Bianca Sylvain
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St. John's University
RISE Fellow
Bianca Sylvain is a dedicated international education professional with over seven years of experience in the field. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Outbound Student Services at St. John’s University, where she is passionate about fostering equitable access to global learning...
NAFSA RISE Fellows 2024-2025
Alisa Batchelor
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Alisa Batchelor began her career in international education at Montana State University Billings after living two years abroad in China and Japan. Since then, she has earned a Master's degree in International Educational Leadership from the University of Montana. As part of a small, highly versatile...
Angela Luedke
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Angela Luedke (she/her) is an Education Abroad Advisor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. After both studying and working in France and Morocco, Angela earned her Master's of International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. She uses her...
Hiromi Narita
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Hiromi Narita advises students on the short-term, semester, and other study aboard programs. She is committed to promoting international education, global citizenship education, and study abroad programs. One of her values is that "everyone possesses infinite potential, and education is the tool to...
Jessica Chandarlis
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Jessica Chandarlis (she/her) serves as the Associate Director of the Office of International Programs at the University of Texas at Tyler, where she has played a pivotal role in building the university's study abroad culture. Her approach is marked by a strong commitment to collaborative faculty...
Jonathan Carmona Marrero
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Jonathan Carmona Marrero (he/him/his) is currently in his sixth year of professional work in International Education. He serves as the Assistant Director for International Engagement in the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) at George Mason University. In this role, Jonathan...
Mimi Tran
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Mimi Tran is currently the Program Coordinator at the University of Idaho's International Programs Office. In this role, Mimi is passionate about raising leaders and equipping international students and scholars with the skills and knowledge to give them ownership to enrich their educational...
Nick Oo
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Although he has been traveling internationally since he was an infant, Nick’s career in International Education began during his time as an undergraduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst when he served as an Education Abroad Peer Advisor in the International Programs Office for...
Rachel Brown
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Rachel Brown has worked with International Student Exchange Programs for nearly 2 1/2 years, currently serving as the Student Services Officer for the Asia Region. She advises hundreds of students across of a network of 300+ universities every semester, and offers one-on-one support before, during...
Romeo Luevano
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Romeo Luevano (he/him/él ) received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in Latin American Studies from Swarthmore College. Luevano is a 2024-2025 RISE Fellow.
Tendai Kachingwe
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Tendai Kachingwe (he/him) is an International Education professional who is motivated by his goal of increasing participation in education abroad programs by students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. Tendai's career in the profession started with studying abroad for an academic...
Vera Bell
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2024-2025 RISE Fellow
Vera earned their Bachelor's degree in English in 2020 prior to joining the Global Learning Hub at UC Davis as an Enrollment and Operations Officer in November of 2022. However, Vera considers themselves to be more of a storyteller than a scholar or professional, one interested in how we can turn...
NAFSA RISE Fellows 2023-2024
- Kuylain Howard
- Malikka Hutchins
- Maria Melendrez
- Myrna Najera Perez
- Phoebe Nishimoto
- Keyana Pugh
- Hannah Thomas
- Vaughn Thornton
- Yang Zhang
NAFSA RISE Fellows 2022-2023
- Alexandro Gonzalez-Calvillo
- Ariana Stuhl
- Aurian Eghbalian
- Dionne Daniels
- Jaron Hightower-Mills
- Jordan Anderson
- Sandy Wang
- Tessa Lane
- Tiff Hayes
- Timothy Bryson
NAFSA RISE Fellows 2020-2021
- Adán De La Paz, The College of Idaho, Region I
- Robb McCollum, Southern Utah University, Region II
- Chris Huh, University of Missouri, Region IV
- Tia VanHester, Illinois Central College, Region V
- Caitlin Johnson, University of Kentucky, Region VI
- Nicole Inclan, University of Central Florida, Region VII
- Hermella Tekle, Institute of International Education, Region VIII
- Ogonna Owu, Towson University, Region VIII
- Emilie Buse, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Region X
- Loren Scott, Middlebury College in Vermont, Region XI
- Eric Izaguirre, The University of California, Los Angeles, Region XII