Joy assumed the position of Director of Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange in February 2018 after having joined the office in 2013. She collaborates closely with both on campus academic departments and international partners abroad to identify and develop education abroad programming that aligns with and complements academic learning goals.  Previously, Joy worked at the City University of New York (CUNY) in New York, NY, and developed a variety of education abroad policies for the university system. She has a background in refugee and immigrant services in government and non-profit sectors, and studied abroad for an academic year in India. Joy earned her B.A. in Religious Studies and Asian Studies from Kenyon College and M.A. in Sustainable Development from the SIT Graduate Institute, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2019, Joy was elected to the Forum Council of the Forum on Education Abroad.

Boswell joined Illinois International in November 2021. As the assistant director for media and marketing, he serves in an embedded role in IAGE to collaborate on communications with campus study abroad offices and Illinois International units. Prior to IIP, Boswell served as a communications specialist for the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was tasked with communicating both broadly for the Center and as the external relations manager with the National Science Foundation-funded XSEDE Project. He holds a B.A. in Classics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, during which time he studied abroad at University College London.

Brandy joined IAGE in 2015. She manages the IAGE business office and is responsible for the financial oversight and operational planning of the IAGE office. She and her business team oversee all financial aspects of the office; including but not limited to student billing, programs budgets, international travel insurance, foreign banking and contracts/purchasing. Brandy has been with the university since 2000 and has worked her way up from an entry level accounting position in OBFS Accounts Payable. Most recently, she worked as a business manager in the Illinois International executive office where she focused mainly on the financial management of Title VI grants and a large endowment. In her spare time, she loves live music and doing Sudoku puzzles. She is a proud mother of 1 adult son and looks forward to grandchildren someday.

Andy joined IAGE in August 2016 and is in charge of programs in the Middle East, northern Africa, and several programs in mainland Europe. Previously, Andy worked in Career Services at Baker College, taught ESL at the University of Florida, and organized programming activities for international students at Indiana University. He earned his B.S. in International Business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and M.A. in Public Affairs and East European Affairs at Indiana University. He studied abroad for a year in Aix-en-Provence, France, interned in Montreal and Warsaw, and started a small language business in Gdansk, Poland. As an Education Abroad Coordinator, Andy hopes to inspire students to go abroad and have their own life-changing experience.

Carolina is an experienced cultural educator who champions internationalization and learning abroad (traditional, experiential, and work study). She is interested in expanding access to transformative learning opportunities abroad. Before coming to IAGE, Carolina was Spanish faculty at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she advised students studying Spanish and planning to learn Spanish abroad. She also spearheaded the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Limerick (Ireland) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Liverpool University. Previously Carolina led a group of U of I students to study abroad program to Buenos, Aires. Carolina has a Master and PhD from the University of Texas Austin.

Thomas joined IAGE in November 2018. He has a background in university financial and enterprise data management, providing IAGE with support in financial reporting, analysis, and in developing business and systems solutions for study abroad programs and operations. Thomas spent four years living and studying in Ireland, travelling extensively across Europe. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin.

Ernesto provides direct technical and analytical support for international mobility and partnerships software applications, and supports the development, restructuring, implementing, and training of new and existing data and information management systems solutions to support international programs and operations. Ernesto brings decades of experience in managing database and computer systems across a variety of roles and sectors. Most recently, Ernesto worked for the University of Illinois system offices as a Data Analyst and Enterprise Systems Coordinator. Ernesto holds a M.S. degree in Management of Information Systems from University of Illinois Springfield, and a B.S. in Computer Science Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM, or Tec Monterrey), Mexico.

Ali assumed the role of Interim Director of ACES Study Abroad in July of 2020 after having joined the team in July of 2019. Previously, Ali worked with the Institute of American Universities (IAU College) to support study abroad programming in France, Spain, and Morocco. Ali has a background in International Education and Foreign Language and studied abroad on Illinois programs in Costa Rica and France as an undergrad. Ali earned her BA in Spanish Language & Literature with a minor in French from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MA in International Education from the George Washington University.

Roxanne is a 2022 graduate of ACES in HDFS and Community Health, participated in a first-year study abroad program to the Dominican Republic, and was an engaged student leader here in ACES serving as MANRRS president among many other roles. In her new full-time role, Roxanne will be supporting outbound study abroad students and study abroad outreach initiatives, co-advising MANRRS, and assisting with ACES pre-college summer programs.

Dr. Allison Witt is the Director of International Programs in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she teaches Global Studies in Education and is the Program Leader for the International Education Administration and Leadership program. Allison is a former Assistant Director of Academic Affairs at the Illinois Board of Higher Education, where she contributed to state higher education policy in Illinois. She is the author of Shifting Tides in Global Higher Education (2011) published by Peter Lang. Allison earned a Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has worked in international education for over 20 years, now with particular interest in internationalizing teacher education.

Dr. Wei Liu is the Associate Director of International Programs. Dr. Liu teaches CI 499 and EDUC 499 study abroad courses. These courses introduce comparative education inquiry and provide space to consider the cultural, political, and ethical implications of engaging in education travel and research in cross-cultural, global contexts.

Dr. Nicole Turner is Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and International Education for the College of Fine & Applied Arts. She provides leadership for international programs and assist faculty and units to develop global strategies for student abroad experiences. Nicole studied Mediterranean ecosystems while abroad in Ortigia, a small island just off the coast of Sicily, Italy.

Rebecca Páez-Rodríguez is the Associate Director for International Programs at the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

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Dr. Kate Abney is the Director of International Programs at the Grainger College of Engineering (IPENG). Kate was trained as a medical and social anthropologist. She earned her BA at Boston University, and her Honours, MA, and PhD at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her research explores infectious diseases and their social implications; with a specific focus on people being treated for Tuberculosis. She has spent the majority of her adult life in South Africa and has extensive international life and work experience. She taught Corporate Business English in Prague, Czech Republic. She helped build the Organization for Tropical Studies Global Health in South Africa Program. She was the Society and Culture professor for the International Honors Program (SiT); a comparative social justice program in Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Ahmedabad, Hanoi, NYC, Sao Paolo, and Barcelona. She taught at the University of Cape Town HUmanities Faculty and Health Sciences Faculty, University of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, CIEE, and Quest University in BC, Canada. She was the Resident Director for the Cape Town-based UIUC, ACES, HDFS program for service-learning before moving to the UIUC campus at the end of 2019. Formerly she held the role of Associate Director of Intercultural and Global Learning in the College of LAS and led efforts to reimagine the LAS 291/292 Global Perspectives course. She sits on the iCAP Education advisory team and is a member and chair of multiple working groups and ad-hoc committees campuswide. She has been the Director of IPENG since November 2023, and tries to do the thing she loves most (teaching) when time allows.

Jana has been a dedicated member of the International Programs in Engineering team since July 2009. Currently serving as the Associate Director, she plays a key role in overseeing the development of education abroad programs, managing partnership agreements, and maintaining exchange balances. In addition, she provides leadership to international program coordinators and support staff, ensuring effective implementation of office policies and procedures. She manages the incoming exchange student application and administrative processes. In addition, Jana is also responsible for budget management and compliance with university regulations related to procurement.

Kim is the International Programs in Engineering office manager and has been with the office since 1999. She also plans and coordinates events as well as creates site visit itineraries for international visitors coming to campus through the IPENG office. Additionally, she is the Grainger Undergraduate Programs Office (UPO) course scheduler and coordinates the IPENG scholarships.

Erika Brewer serves in the International Programs Office for the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as an Academic Advisor & Coordinator of ZJUI Programs. In her role, she facilitates outgoing programs to Asia and Australia and facilitates incoming exchange students from the dual-degree partnership known as the Zhejiang University and University of Illinois Joint Institute. Additionally, she strengthens the partnership by providing support for students enrolled in the ZJUI program as they engage and fulfill their requirements on the UIUC Campus. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Augustana College where she studied abroad in Vietnam and Hong Kong and earned her master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University.

Hannah Dougherty is an Academic Advisor and Senior Coordinator of International Experiential Learning in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She coordinates programming for short-term faculty-led programs, global classrooms and other virtual programming, and international internships. She additionally supports Grainger’s RSO’s undertaking international competitions, conferences, and projects. She holds a BS and a MS from UIUC where she studied abroad in both semester and faculty-led programs in Europe and Latin America. In 2019, Hannah completed a Fulbright U.S. Graduate Award at the University of Waikato in New Zealand.

Katie Kubitskey is an Academic Advisor and International Program Coordinator in the International Programs in Engineering Office (IPENG). In addition to advising current and prospective study abroad students, she coordinates an extensive European portfolio of education abroad programs. Katie earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, German, and Sociology from the University of Michigan where she studied abroad a total of three times in faculty led and semester long programs. After living in Germany for a year, she returned to the United States to earn her master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University prior to joining the IPENG team.

Lucero Garcia-Villegas (She/her/ella) is an Academic Advisor and International Program Coordinator in the International Programs in Engineering Office (IPENG). Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, she holds a Master of Education in the same field and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a focus on Human Rights.
Deeply committed to supporting BIPOC and First-Generation students, Lucero’s work at UIUC centers on empowering these communities to navigate academic and international opportunities. Her international experiences, including fieldwork in Morocco, France, South Africa, and Jordan, enhance her approach to advising, encouraging space for diverse narratives and global perspectives beyond the colonial lens.
As a dedicated educator, Lucero has served as a teaching assistant for various courses, facilitating discussions on cultural diversity and identity. She has actively contributed to research on community-based immigrant-serving nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic and has designed workshops aimed at enhancing the well-being and success of BIPOC and First-Generation students.
Lucero is passionate about advocating for liberatory education systems and creating inclusive spaces for all students around the world.

Steffi Xu is a Records and Program Coordinator of Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI). She provides coordination and support benefiting students enrolled in ZJUI through The Grainger College of Engineering. She also provides central coordination of academic administrative aspects of the ZJUI program through the Grainger UPO. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Beijing Normal University in China. She moved to the United States from China in 2000 and earned her master’s degree in College Student Affairs at Eastern Illinois University.

Nikia Brown is a Philadelphia native with an unyielding passion for people and places. Growing up in a Caribbean household kindled within her a strong desire to build bridges between people of diverse cultures. After teaching English as a second language in South Korea, she obtained her first master’s degree in sociology at Sungkyunkwan University where she researched the identity negotiation of youth born to multicultural families. Upon her return to the States, she worked in youth development and civic engagement and completed a subsequent master’s degree in intercultural and international communication at The American University School of International Service in Washington, D.C. In Nikia's current role as the Associate Director of Intercultural and Global Learning –International Student Experience, she supports international students in their transition to UIUC and develops intercultural programs that unite domestic and international students. In addition to being a travel and brunch enthusiast, she is passionate about creating platforms that enable individuals to become agents of their own change.

Dr. Roman Friedman works as an Global Learning Specialist, helping facilitate the internationalization of the curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Prior to his work in international education, Roman received a BA in Economics and worked as a public school History teacher while pursuing his MA in Social Studies Education from Rutgers University. He recently completed his Ph.D. in Education Policy studies with a focus on Philosophy of Education at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Kyle Schmude oversees LAS International Programs advising, incoming exchange student programming and administration, and international agreements. Prior to joining LASIP, Kyle worked in Vienna, Austria as a Program Coordinator and Lecturer for the Illinois in Vienna Program and taught German to adult learners. Kyle is also an instructor of advanced German in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures and coordinates the Business and Commercial Studies concentration of the Germanic Studies major/minor. Make an appointment with Kyle to learn more about the programs he advises on, or to talk about language learning and international exchange more broadly. LAS Faculty and Staff can also reach out to Kyle with questions about international agreements.

Advising Portfolio: Illinois Program in Paris, Summer Honors in Paris, Illinois in Spain: Spanish Studies in Granada, Heidelberg University in Germany, Institute for Field Education, Illinois in Athens, PS 392: International Organizations and Regionalism in Vienna, all LAS incoming exchange students

Victoria Prince is an Academic Program Advisor for Education Abroad in LAS International Programs. Victoria is a two-time UIUC alum having completed her Bachelor's degree in Global Studies and Master’s in European Union Studies. Her undergraduate degree concentrated on Governance and Conflict Resolution, an area studies field of China and East Asia, and she spent a semester abroad in Beijing pursuing fluency in Mandarin Chinese. She returned to the University to pursue the MAEUS degree and completed research on the relationship between China and the EU. In addition to her year in Poland on a Fulbright Fellowship, she has traveled extensively around the world. She is very passionate about international education and is happy to discuss your interest in study abroad!

Her program portfolio includes all LAS Short-Term Faculty-Led programs and the following semester-long programs: American Councils - Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program; American Councils - Eurasian Regional Language Program; Bogazici University in Turkey; CIEE Amman, Jordan - Middle East Studies; CIEE Rabat, Morocco - Language & Culture; IAU-College Aix-en-Provence in France; Jagiellonian University in Poland; MSID Senegal - International Development; National Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rothberg; Queen Mary University London; Sijal Institute for Arabic Language and Culture in Amman, Jordan; Tel Aviv University; University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom; University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom; University of York in the United Kingdom.