Office of International Services

Associate Vice President for International Services
cveirs@indiana.edu

Dr. Viers has more than twenty years of experience in international higher education administration.  He came to Indiana University in July of 2002, and has oversight responsibility for the provision of international student and scholar programs and services on the eight campuses of the University.  Prior to joining IU, Dr. Viers served as Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars at Wayne State University, Director of the Office of International Education at Central Michigan University, and as an International Student and Study Abroad Advisor at Ohio State University.

Dr. Viers earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Wheaton College; a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Ohio State University; and a doctorate in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University.  In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Viers teaches graduate coursework in international higher education administration at IU as an Assistant Adjunct faculty member in the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs.  He has also held a number of national and international leadership roles within the field, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of NAFSA: Association of International Educators; and as the 10,000 member association’s Vice President for Education and Professional Development.  Dr. Viers is married, and has two daughters.

Financial Manager
pabutler@indiana.edu

Paul is a Bloomington native and a graduate of the Kelley School of Business with a BS in Accounting and Management.  He began his career with Indiana University in 2001 in the Finance Office of the Vice Provost of Information Technology and Research, joining the Office of International Services team in October 2007.  Paul and his wife Sara enjoy reading, watching NFL football (go Colts!) and spending time with their three dogs.  They are the proud parents of Rowan, born yesterday!

Office Services Assistant Sr.
fdchrist@indiana.edu

Frank Christenberry, with a BA in criminal Justice from Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences is the Senior Office Services Assistant for International Services.

Previously Frank worked in the Construction and Building Materials industry.

Frank’s duties are myriad and far reaching. From payroll and HR to campus wide Add New Person Approval, to SIS troubleshooting and purchasing.

Office Services Assistant
mcwalsh@indiana.edu

Megan was born and raised in Indiana.  She attended Indiana University from 1998 to 2003, double majoring in Classical Civilizations and Art History and also minored in Medieval Studies and Anthropology.  She is beginning the pursuit of an MPA from SPEA in the field of Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management in Fall 2008.

Director, International Student and Scholar Advising IUB
lschrade@indiana.edu

Lorenda (Rendy) Schrader has worked in the field of international education for over 25 years.  After completing degrees in Political Science and French from Indiana University, she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked at the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs for 16 years.  When her twins were born, the family moved back home to Indiana, where they intend to stay.  At IU, she has worked for the Center for International Education and Development Assistance (placing mid-career African nationals in short-term internships), the Career Development Center (designing services for international students seeking employment) and the Office of International Services.

Assistant Director for Scholar Services
snyder1@indiana.edu

Joanna has more than 10 years of experience in the field of International Education including time spent advising both international students and international scholars.  She received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University in English.  Her master’s degree is in Cross Cultural Studies.  While an undergraduate she spent a summer in Bangkok, Thailand teaching English.  She has traveled in Thailand, Barcelona, the Netherlands, Germany, Korea, and Vietnam.  When away from the office, Joanna spends time with her husband and four children.

Scholar Advisor
elkeppel@indiana.edu

Erin studied abroad in Montpellier, France in 2003.  She then graduated from Ball State University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Secondary Education.  In 2006 after serving for two years as an intern at the Office of International Services at Indiana University, Erin graduated from Indiana University with a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs.  She then immediately began work as the H-1B International Scholar Advisor for the Office of International Services.  Erin has been a member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators since 2004 and regularly attends local and national conferences.  Personal interests include spending time with her husband and golden retriever, learning about other cultures by developing international friendships, trying new healthy cuisines, and participating in outdoor activities such as swimming, biking, and running.

Scholar Advisor
jeashcra@indiana.edu

Jennifer Ashcraft joined the Office of International Services as the J-1 Scholar Advisor in October 2007.  She is a native of Indiana and completed her B.A. in Sociology at IU.  She obtained her Master’s degree in Higher Education at the University of Massachusetts.  Her previous work experience includes academic advising at IU, interning in International Development Services at the University of Newcastle in Australia, and study abroad advising at North Carolina State University.  She enjoys music, photography, reading, sports, travel, and spending time with family and friends.  Jennifer is happy to be back in Bloomington, and enjoys welcoming new scholars to IU.

Scholar Advisor
mwailes@indiana.edu

One of the advisers on the “Scholar” side of the office, Martha currently deals primarily with permanent residence (green card) questions and applications.  She has been actively involved with NAFSA: Association of International Educators in regional and national presentations, and has helped in the development of NAFSA workshops on J Exchange Visitors and the NAFSA Adviser’s Manual.  You may see this long-time Bloomington resident riding her bike to work through campus.

Assistant Director for Student Services
jabowen@indiana.edu

Jenny Bowen has worked at the Office of International Services since September 1996.  She earned her Bachelor’s (Germanic Studies, Political Science) and Master’s (West European Studies) degrees at Indiana University.  Jenny is active in NAFSA: Association of International Educators, serving in various regional and national roles.  Jenny was a “military brat” in Germany for her freshman and sophomore years in high school, and returned to Germany for a year of university during her undergraduate degree.  She enjoys traveling, languages and sports.

Student Advisor
dpotorti@indiana.edu

Domonic Potorti is an International Student Advisor and has been working at the Office of International Services since 2003.  Domonic earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Maine in 2002 before coming to IU to pursue a Master’s Degree in Central Eurasian Studies (specializing in Turkish Studies).  He lived in Turkey for a semester during his undergraduate career.  He lives in the quiet countryside outside Bloomington with his partner in a home he has filled with books and artifacts from all over the world.

Student Advisor
mmetzcar@indiana.edu

Mindy Metzcar has been an International Student Advisor at the OIS since May 2008.  She graduated from the Higher Education and Student Affairs Master’s program at IU in 2008.  During her master’s program she worked at the Latino Cultural Center, La Casa, as a Graduate Assistant.  Mindy graduated in 2004 from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in Spanish.  Mindy has traveled to Spain and Canada and is interested in doing more world traveling soon.

Student Advisor / Orientation Coordinator
pratwatt@indiana.edu

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Tehanee came to the U.S. as an undergrad in 1996.  She went on to get her BA in Business and Economics, from Wilson College, PA in 1999; an MBA, from Western Kentucky University in 2001, and an MA in Student Affairs and Higher Education, from Western Kentucky University, in 2005.

Tehanee has worked at four different institutions through her career and enjoys working with students in various student affairs roles.  Leadership development is an area of interest, and Tehanee has been part of several workshops at the various campuses at which she has worked.  Tehanee’s other areas of interest include marketing, international affairs, and residence life on which she has presented at conferences and authored several articles.

Tehanee enjoys hiking, walking, biking and hanging out with her husband and two dogs.

Assistant Director for Client Services
srwalsh@indiana.edu

Sally is an Indiana University graduate with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Secondary English Education.  She has taught at both high school and post secondary levels.  In 1997, she came to IU part time to work with the student insurance office while her youngest child was still at home.  She became a part of the Office of International Services in the year 2000.  She and her family enjoy travelling in the U.S. and abroad.  Her favorite leisure time activities include reading, swimming, and watching IU basketball.  She and her husband, Dennis, have three daughters: Megan, Keelyn and Kelsey.

Graduate Assistant
aaarnold@indiana.edu

Originally from Franklin, Indiana, Alicia recently completed her undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C.  After spending the majority of four years in D.C. and a semester in Madrid, Spain, she received her BA in Law & Society and Psychology.  Now, she is pursuing a Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University.

Graduate Assistant
amycockr@indiana.edu

Amy is from Edgewood, Kentucky which is right outside of Cincinnati.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Spanish from Hanover College.  She is now pursuing her Master’s Degree through the HESA program at Indiana University.  While she is in school, she will be a Graduate Assistant for the Office of International Services.  She loves working here because of the opportunity it gives her to interact with people from all over the world.  Two experiences have inspired her to want to work in Higher Education with an international emphasis: study abroad in Leuven, Belgium and Paris, France.  According to Facebook, she has visited 10% of the world, so only 90% to go!

Director, Leo R. Dowling International Center IUB
sbritton@indiana.edu

Sandy Britton is originally from Panamá, came to the U.S. as an international student, and has been a Bloomington resident for a number of years.  She has a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the IU School of Education and has been a staff member since 2002.  Sandy enjoys her job and the opportunity to meet so many international students every year.  She has two children and loves living in Bloomington.

International Center Assistant
dkshanks@indiana.edu

Dawn grew up in southeastern Virginia, and attended the College of William and Mary, where she obtained a BA in Global Studies, specializing in East Asian studies, in 2007.  She moved to Bloomington in Fall 2007 with IU MFA Brian Kelley, where she began working as an assistant at the International Center, helping coordinate office and programming activities.  Outside of the office, she is the Managing Editor for the local alternative culture magazine Cultureweek and enjoys her pets, being outdoors and restaurants on Fourth Street.

Director, Information Services
jlbaumga@indiana.edu

Jason Baumgartner has worked for the Office of International Services since 1999.  He is the lead software developer of the iOffice application suite, which is a comprehensive immigration case management solution to enable staff to proactively assist international students and scholars in maintaining their lawful stay without interruption.  This software is utilized by international offices throughout the IU system and licensed to other universities throughout the country.  He is a member of NAFSA.  He developed the current algorithm and conducts the annual analysis (since 2000) for the NAFSA Economic Impact of International Students.  He has a Master’s in Information Science from Indiana University.

Systems Analyst / Programmer
jaawarne@indiana.edu

Jacob has lived in the Bloomington area for all but the first two months of his life.  He attended Indiana University, where he obtained his BS in Informatics specializing in Cybersecurity with a minor in Information Technology.  He is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction Design through the School of Informatics.  He accepted a position with the Office of International Services in January 2008.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys playing music.  He currently plays the bass guitar and piano.  He has performed at several locations around the state and will perform at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina this fall.

Computer Coordinator
tclimis@indiana.edu

Tim grew up in Connecticut and got his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.  He came to Indiana to study math education and started working at OIS in October 2006.  After taking some time off for school, he came back in his current capacity in October 2008.  In his free time he coaches IU’s club rowing team and bakes pies.