ISSS

Kang Shang

Kang Shang will leverage Iowa education to expand family business globally

Monday, March 20, 2023
Kang Shang is a marketing major from China. Learn more about his UI education and future plans as a global entrepreneur through this Q&A piece.  
Atif Qureshi

UI admissions process sealed the deal for biomedical engineering student Atif Qureshi

Monday, March 13, 2023
Atif Qureshi, a first-year student originally from Kenya, talks about why he chose the UI and related experiences in this Q&A piece. 
Oksana

Oksana Hirchak awarded Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship for Ukraine students

Thursday, March 9, 2023
The award helps Ukrainian students continue their studies, educate global peers on the fragility and importance of democracy, and inspire the world to stay engaged. 
Sawsan Daws

UI encouraged alumna Sawsan Daws to continue leading in STEM

Monday, February 20, 2023
Originally from Saudi Arabia, Daws chose to pursue her undergraduate studies in STEM at the UI because she was intrigued by the research facilities and resources the UI offered to its students. 
Dongwang Liu

Dongwang Liu

Title/Position
Advisor
International Student & Scholar Services
Associate Director, Center for Asian & Pacific Studies
Dongwang Liu serves as Associate Director of the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies (CAPS) as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Department of Anthropology. He is assisting ISSS as a liaison for newly admitted students, helping support our pre-arrival webinars and taking on some orientation coordination duties. Dongwang earned his doctorate degree in human development and family studies at Iowa State University. He taught English as second language in China for seven years before his graduate study in the U. S. He is an all-weather bike rider and table tennis player.
Shuhui Lin

Shuhui Lin

Title/Position
International Education Program & Student Affairs Advisor
International Student & Scholar Services
Lin focuses on the support and retention of international students through outreach and engagement. She also provides assistance with intercultural training and a first-year seminar course. Lin provides support on international education efforts more broadly, such as co-chairing the International Education Week committee and more. Lin earned her bachelor's degree in communication studies, and Master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa. She is from Guangzhou, China, speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, and is now learning Korean.
Pauline Beazer James

Pauline Beazer James

Title/Position
Senior Advisor
International Student & Scholar Services
Pauline is a native of the Caribbean who grew up in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. She completed the B.A. in Sociology at the University of South Florida in Tampa and also holds two master’s degrees. The first is the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. During her most recent studies at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio Texas, she completed the M.A. in Education with dual emphases: International Education and International Entrepreneurship. Pauline is a veteran of the United States Military and has proudly served in the U.S. Army Active Duty, U.S. Air Force Reserve, and U.S. Army Reserve. In addition to personal and military travel in Europe, North America, and the Caribbean, Pauline completed a six-month graduate internship in South America at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile where her Spanish language skills played a significant role. The first internship segment was with the U.S. Department of State, Economic and Political Affairs and the second segment with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Foreign Commercial Service. In addition to standard ISSS advising duties, Pauline shares responsibility for the office email account, processes Social Security employment verification letters, and produces new I-20s when changes of majors occur.
Kevin Roiseland

Kevin Roiseland

Title/Position
Senior Advisor
International Student & Scholar Services
In addition to standard student and scholar advising duties, Kevin coordinates the non-resident tax program each spring, overseeing the workshops providing tax assistance and the online Windstar tax program. He also oversees some SEVIS reporting duties including OPT employment reports and I-20s for students returning after an absence. He serves as the ISSS liaison to the organizations Friends of International Students, the International Women's Club, and the Iowa City Area Development group. Kevin holds a B.A. in Spanish from Luther College and an M.A. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Iowa. Kevin has a passion for travel and for learning about the cultures of the students he works with. He has traveled broadly throughout Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Brandon Paulson

Brandon Paulson

Title/Position
Associate Director
International Student & Scholar Services
Besides advising duties, Brandon's area of specialization includes intercultural training, where he oversees the Building Our Global Community certificate series, Engaging Across Cultures certificate program, the Bridge program, and special requests for individualized training sessions. Brandon serves as orientation coordinator, arranging content and schedules for orientation programs. Brandon holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and a Master's in Education with an emphasis on Student Affairs Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  He has studied in the United Kingdom, has studied Spanish, and has spent time in Costa Rica, Canada, Ireland, Spain, England, and Scotland.
Michael Bortscheller

Michael Bortscheller

Title/Position
Director
International Student & Scholar Services
Michael oversees the iHawk database program, developing the online Pre-Arrival Checklist for incoming students and E-Form applications, and monitoring daily immigration record alerts.  He serves as Responsible Officer for J-1 programs, specializing in scholar regulations and processes.  He works closely with ITS, the Registrar, Admissions, and other offices to ensure student and scholar data flows smoothly and accurately, and is responsible for training and overseeing staff use of iHawk.  He is responsible for international student enrollment data and statistical reports including Open Doors, and assessment of the international student fee and undergraduate orientation fee.  Michael has Bachelor’s degrees in Linguistics and Spanish and a Master’s in Linguistics with an emphasis on Teaching English as a Second Language, has studied Spanish in Spain, and has spent time in Canada, England, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, and Nebraska.