International Student & Scholar Office (ISSO)
About International Students and Scholars
 The ISSO supports a population of more than 1,000
non-immigrant students in degree-seeking, exchange, English
language, and non-degree or enrichment programs. We also
provide services for about 35 foreign faculty, exchange
scholars, and visiting faculty each year.
Approximately 75 percent of international students are here
for two to four years, working on an undergraduate or graduate
degree. The additional students are enrolled at the English
Language Center, are on an exchange semester or year from one
of our international partner universities, or are
participating in one of the Summer in Maryland language
and culture programs.
International students and scholars comprise approximately five percent of the total
student enrollment at Towson University . (Seven percent of
the full-time student population.) The number of international
students at Towson doubled from 1995 to 2000, and tripled from
1991 to 2001.
International students come to Towson from more than 100
nations.
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Who are international students & scholars?
International student is a popular term for the more precise, foreign student – a student who is in the United States as a “non-immigrant,” i.e., with a temporary visa. The term does not technically include the many students at Towson who are foreign-born U.S. Permanent Residents or citizens, who add to the cultural diversity and “internationalization” of our campus.
International scholars are foreign nationals who are officially invited by the university as visiting faculty, researchers, guest lecturers or artists. The term scholar also refers to the faculty of the university who are foreign nationals, in non-immigrant status or in the process of obtaining U.S. Permanent Resident status.
.......................................................................................................................................... TU International Population Statistical Reports:
2004-05 academic year (PDF)
2003-04 academic year (PDF)
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The ISSO
The major purpose of the ISSO is to contribute to the retention and success of international students.
The ISSO offers assistance in the following areas:
- visa applications and immigration related matters;
- cross-cultural orientation and adjustment;
- mediation of cross-cultural misunderstanding;
- success in the U.S. academic environment;
- understanding and following University regulations;
- using University services;
- complying with federal law concerning temporary-visa holders;
- referrals to community resources;
- requests from the community for contact with TU's international population; and
- emergency situations involving international students or scholars.
Staff are also in regular contact with other University offices and departments, education officers at foreign embassies in the U.S. , non-governmental sponsoring agencies, Social Security Administration, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and other scholarship/sponsoring agencies. In relationship with these offices, ISSO staff serve as advocates for students' concerns and needs.
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Services
The International Student & Scholar Office at Towson University is engaged in many aspects of academic and student life. The following are some of the functions performed by the ISSO on a regular basis:
- Provides documents and legal expertise which make possible the enrollment of nonimmigrant students, the hiring of foreign faculty, and the invitation of visiting international faculty and scholars.
- Provides the advising services necessary for those international students and scholars to attain and maintain legal status while in the United States , to be legally employed, and to understand applicable federal government regulations and university policies.
- Designs and presents programs that assist international students in their transition to life in the United States and provides them with tools for success in the American academic environment.
- Advise students regarding personal, academic, legal, career, intercultural communication, and cross-cultural adjustment issues.
- Acts as liaison to and advocates for students with government agencies and university offices.
- Coordinates programs and provides ongoing services aimed at enhancing the international student's social life here, encouraging their interaction with American students and community members, and promoting ways that they can become involved and appreciated for their unique cultural perspectives.
- Assists in coordinating appropriate services for international students in legal, medical, and family emergency situations.
The ISSO also publishes the ISSO News , a quarterly newsletter to communicate immigration information, recreational opportunities, and other news for or about the international population on campus. When new international students begin studying at Towson University , they are required to provide the ISSO with a valid email address. The ISSO sends them emails through an e-mail distribution list which publicizes ISSO events and services, announces job and travel opportunities, quickly communicates important news about immigration matters, and serves as a bulletin board for students. In addition, the ISSO has created over 70 informational handouts on topics such as banking options, getting a driver's license, international mail, cultural adjustment, tips for academic success, and immigration regulations and benefits.
To advocate for student and scholar concerns and needs, the ISSO is in regular contact with many agencies:
- Education officers at foreign embassies in the United States
- Visa officers at U.S. Consulates overseas
- Scholarship and sponsoring agencies
- Social Security Administration
- Maryland 's Motor Vehicle Administration
- The three immigration bureaus of the Department of Homeland Security: U.S. Citizenship & immigration Services, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and Customs & Border Protection
- U.S. Department of State
- Foreign student advisors at other universities and colleges
- NAFSA: The Association of International Educators
- Members of the U.S. Congress, to advocate for legislation favorable to international exchange
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Staff
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 Janene Oettel, Director
joettel@towson.edu
- Sets policies for international students and scholars
- Directs ISSO goals, programs and services
- Provides immigration services for foreign-national faculty and visiting scholars
Janene 's interest in international education grew from an undergraduate degree in international relations, the study of foreign languages, a study abroad program, working in ethnic restaurants, foreign roommates, and basic curiosity. She taught English as a second language and obtained a master's in English with the goal to work abroad.
After graduate school she went to northeast China to work for the People's Bank, teaching American language and culture in a training seminar for its employees, and teaching English as a foreign language at Harbin Finance College . Upon return to the U.S. , she continued teaching ESL at the Rochester Institute of Technology. In 1989 she took a new direction by becoming the International Student Advisor then eventually Assistant Director of the International Students and Scholars Office at Cornell University . Now at Towson University , she coordinates foreign student and faculty services as Director of the International Student and Scholar Office.
Janene enjoys cooking, skiing, dancing, swimming, folk and "world" music, and foreign films.
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 Gail Gibbs, Associate Director
ggibbs@towson.edu
- Lead staff member on F-1 regulations and policy
- Point person on F1/F2 SEVIS reporting
- Advises and supports international students on immigration, academic, cultural adjustment, and personal matters
Gail was born and raised in the beautiful Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. After high school, she moved to the United States to begin college and a new exciting life in Baltimore. After earning her Associate’s degree in Humanities at the Community College of Baltimore, Liberty Campus, Gail earned her Bachelor’s degree in Jurisprudence (history of law) at the University of Baltimore.
During her senior year at UB, Gail worked in the Center for Student Involvement where she enjoyed working closely with students, getting to know them, and contributing to an important aspect of their college career. Gail’s career goals began to change, and she decided to devote her life’s work to higher education. She went back to school for her Master’s degree in College Student Personnel at the University of Rhode Island. After earning her degree, Gail worked in Philadelphia for six years as the Assistant Director at the international student office at Drexel University.
Gail is thrilled to now be working at Towson University, and fully embraces the opportunity to return to her second home. She is looking forward to getting to know the wonderful students at Towson University, and help them to be successful in their studies and to make the most of their time in the U.S.
In her spare time, Gail enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling and meeting new people, and especially enjoys trying various traditional cuisines.
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 Scott Pierson, International Student Advisor
spierson@towson.edu
- Coordinates social and cultural programs
- Serves as liaison to Division of Student Affairs
- Advises and supports international students on immigration, academic, cultural adjustment, and personal matters
Scott grew up in Medford , New Jersey . He received a bachelor's degree in rhetoric and communication studies, with minors in business administration, Spanish, and studio art, at the University of Richmond in May of 2001. While a student at Richmond, Scott had the unique opportunity to study abroad twice; he spent one summer in Costa Rica and another in Ecuador . His interest in learning foreign languages and interacting with people from different cultures began to grow. During his senior year, Scott worked for the Office of International Education as president of the Ambassador Club.
After graduation, Scott went to Toyama-ken, Japan, where he taught English to Japanese high school students on the JET Program for two years. He returned to the United States in August 2003, and began working for Towson University as an International Student Advisor in January 2004.
In his free time, Scott enjoys running, soccer, tennis, skiing, and traveling.
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 Katerina Salas, Visa Services Specialist
ksalas@towson.edu
- Leads staff members with SEVIS registration
- Manages office operations in regard to core international student visa services and oversees the production of immigration documents
- Provides routine-level advising to international students
- Supervises student assistants and coordinates office budget
Katerina was born in the vibrant Andean city of Quito, Ecuador. After she graduated from high school in South America, the French Government awarded her a full scholarship for outstanding academic achievement. This educational grant allowed her to move to Nice, France where she spent six wonderful years as an international student working towards her master’s degree in business management at Ecole Des Hautes Etudes Commerciales, one of the leading business schools in Europe.
Her passion for international education programs developed as a result of the experiences she had while studying abroad and traveling throughout Europe. Katerina believes that international education is a powerful experience and she is delighted to have joined the International Student and Scholar Office.
Katerina enjoys speaking foreign languages and has spent many years of her life becoming fluent in French, English, Italian, and Spanish. Her other interests include classical piano, photography, international cuisine, and dancing to Latin music.
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Sue Auzmendi , Administrative Assistant
sauzmendi@towson.edu
- Provides routine secretarial & clerical support
- Assists with specific tasks & activities related to visa services, as well as to ISSO programs and publications, using the office and university information systems and desktop publishing software
Sue spent nearly half of her life
growing up in Bristol, Connecticut and
graduated as a National Honors Society
Member with dreams of joining the
Peace Corps and becoming an
ambassador. However, falling in love
with her soul mate Eduardo, from
Montevideo, Uruguay, changed all
those plans and was totally unexpected
and impulsive.
While my husband attended Old
Dominion University in Norfolk,
Virginia, earning his BS in Civil
Engineering, Sue worked full-time at the
Department of Academic Counseling & Testing, attending classes part time,
majoring in Elementary Education and
Political Science. Eduardo's work took Sue and her family to
California, New Jersey and then finally
to Maryland where they settled. They are
proud parents of a daughter, Christina, a
recent graduate of Eastern University in
St. Davids, Pennsylvania, with a BA in
Elementary Education, and a son,
Christopher, a freshman attending the
University of Maryland majoring in
Business/Finance. In the summer of
2006 Sue and her husband celebrated their 25th Wedding
Anniversary cruising the Mediterranean.
Sue is so excited to be part of TU and the
ISSO! Each morning she hops on the
beltway from Reiserstown to TU. She
enjoys traveling, arts & crafts, music
from around the world, and spending
time with my family. Being an advocate
for education, she looks forward to meeting
Towson University international students in order
to provide support and guidance so that
they can obtain all of their
goals!
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Student Workers
Yudi Kerbel, Graduate Assistant
Duc Le Ngoc, Help Desk Specialist
Ben Schweitzer, Publications Assistant
Shawn Su , Help Desk Specialist
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