International Education Advisory Board
Wendy Alexander, vice principal, (international), University of Dundee 
Wendy Alexander is vice principal, (international) at the University of Dundee and Scottish Government International Trade Envoy for Higher Education. She is a member of UK Government’s DIT/DfE Education Sector Advisory Group and the British Council’s Higher Education Sector Group. She is an advisory board member of the UK National Committee on China, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a patron of Social Investment Scotland, a member of Scottish equity partner LLP Investment Advisory Board, a former board member of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Board for Enterprise and Skills and former Trustee of the Leadership Foundation (now Advance HE).
Prior to her current executive role, she was a member of the leadership team at London Business School leading their degree programmes. As a Member of the Scottish Parliament (1999-2011), she served in the first three Scottish Cabinets, including as minister with responsibility for further and higher education, holding the enterprise and lifelong learning, transport and communities portfolios and also served as Scottish Labour Leader in the Scottish Parliament. She holds honourary degrees from University of Strathclyde and University of the West of Scotland.
David Pilsbury, chief development officer, Oxford International Education Group
David Pilsbury is chief development officer at Oxford International Education Group. He was formerly deputy vice chancellor, international at Coventry University, a position he held since 2008. He was responsible for all international activities including joint ventures, recruitment, collaborative delivery, curriculum internationalisation, mobility and enhancement. He implemented an ambitious agenda involving a more than six-fold increase in recruitment; established the UK’s largest overseas collaborative delivery programme with over 20,000 students in ~30 countries; and developing the world's largest international enhancement programme which has ranked No.1 for overseas mobility since records began.
He has won many awards including a Queen’s Award for Enterprise and the premier award of EAIE. He holds a number of board level positions including with JISC, China-Britain Business Council and Emirates Aviation University and advisory positions with IDP Connect, StudyPortals, EURIE, NARIC and the Hainan Provincial Government. He chairs the UUK International Pro-Vice Chancellors Steering Group on the future of Global Engagement and is a HK VTC Honorary Fellow. He was the founding CEO of the Worldwide Universities Network, Head of Research Policy for HEFCE and Assistant Director R&D at Cambridge University Hospital. Pilsbury spent a number of years in strategic consultancy and investment banking after a DPhil and postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Fanta Aw, executive director and chief executive officer, NAFSA
Dr Fanta Aw has been a dedicated member and leader at NAFSA since 1996 and currently holds the position of executive director and chief executive officer. From 2013 to 2016, she served as NAFSA's president and board chair. Dr Aw is a recognised and respected figure in the fields of international education and higher education administration.
She was formerly vice president of campus life and inclusive excellence at American University in Washington DC, where she provided senior executive leadership for 15 campus life departments. Aw was also responsible for leading, coordinating, monitoring, and assessing institutional work related to strategic plans for inclusion, diversity, and equity. In addition, she worked with university leadership on student engagement and campus internationalisation, and co-chaired the Covid-19 taskforce.
As senior professorial lecturer at AU’s school of international service, Dr Aw taught graduate courses related to immigration, higher education internationalisation, and international higher education policy. She received the 2013 University Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Position.
With over 30 years’ experience in higher education administration, Dr Aw has led workshops and trainings for numerous organisations, including the Department of State, Institute of International Education, AMIDEAST, College Board, and NAFSA.
Dr Aw earned all her degrees from American University: BS in accounting, MA in public administration with a concentration in organisation development, and a PhD in sociology with a concentration in international education, social stratification, and transnational migration.
Dr. Lavern Samuels, director of international education and partnerships, Durban University of Technology
Dr Lavern Samuels is a global leader in the field of collaborative online international learning (COIL) and international virtual exchange (IVE). He is a sought-after speaker in international education on the global stage. Dr Samuels is also a dental surgeon and medical scientist with a special interest in oral medicine and broader public health.
Currently, he serves as the director of international education and partnerships (IEP) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Dr Samuels is also the president of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), a position he previously held between 2012 and 2014. Further to this, he also served as the chair of the IEASA Directors Forum. In addition, he is the chair of the Southern African Nordic Centre( SANORD), a consortium of 60 universities across 15 countries from the Southern African and Nordic regions. Dr Samuels is also the president of the board of the International Virtual Exchange Consortium (IVEC) and chair of the Network of International Education Associations (NIEA), the global body for international education associations. He also serves as a Board Member of the International Centre for Non-Violence (ICON) and the ML Sultan Charitable and Educational Trust.
Dr Samuels serves on the global board of the Climate Action Network of International Educators (CANIE). Dr Samuels is also the recent recipient of the BMI Global Education/Times Higher Education Lifetime Achievement award for outstanding contribution to internationalisation, awarded at the 2024 annual NAFSA Conference.
Having come from the field of health science, Dr Samuels has served as the academic head of the departments of dental Sciences and Environmental Health as well as being Deputy Dean and Acting Executive Dean in the DUT Faculty of Health Sciences. Dr Samuels served a five-year term as a board member of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). He also served five years on the Foreign Qualifications Committee of the South African Qualifications Authority(SAQA).
Jessica Sandberg, dean of international enrollment, Duke Kunshan University
With over 20 years in the field, Jessica Sandberg is driven by a passion for international education. She presently serves as dean of international enrollment for Duke Kunshan University (a joint venture between Duke University and Wuhan University) from her base on Duke’s campus in North Carolina.
Prior positions include admissions roles with Temple University, Community College of Philadelphia, Vesalius College (Belgium) and Arcadia University. Jessica is perhaps best known for developing the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign in 2016 to promote US higher education to prospective international students and, later, the associated scholarship programme. In 2017, she was recognised for this effort by The Chronicle of Higher Education with an appearance on their annual Influence List. Sandberg is a frequent writer and presenter for NAFSA, NACAC, AIRC and AIEA and served as editor for NAFSA’s popular reference book, Guide to International Recruitment in 2017.
In 2021, Sandberg was elected as national chair for NAFSA's International Enrollment Management Knowledge Community and is serving a three year term. Jessica holds a BA in political science from Moravian College and an MA in international relations from the University of Kent at Brussels.
José Celso Freire Junior, associate provost for the international affairs, São Paulo State University
Since 2009, José Celso Freire Junior has been the associate provost for international affairs at São Paulo State University, UNESP, in Brazil. In this role, he developed and has been responsible for the university's internationalisation strategy by establishing effective and fruitful partnerships and links with several higher education institutions worldwide.
Prof Freire is the president of the Brazilian Association for International Education (FAUBAI) and was the Association's president from 2009 to 2017. As such, he has changed the Association's level of recognition in the world's international education scene.
In his international journey, he served on the Board of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and has contributed as a panellist in numerous events focused on the internationalisation of higher education, such as EAIE, AIEA, NAFSA, CAIE, and Going Global.
Prof Freire trained to be an electrical engineer at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, has a master’s degree in computer science from the University of São Paulo and a doctoral degree in software engineering from the Université de Grenoble (Joseph Fourier University) in France.
Kristoffer Toribio, assistant director, global engagement, Orange Coast College
With 16 years of experience in undergraduate admissions and international education, Kristoffer Toribio has dedicated his career to fostering global connections and enhancing educational opportunities for students worldwide. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Global Engagement and Manager of International Admissions and Recruitment at Orange Coast College, a distinguished 2-year community college located in Costa Mesa, California.
In his role, Kristoffer is responsible for leading initiatives that attract and support international students, ensuring they receive a world-class education and a welcoming environment. His extensive background in admissions and his passion for global education make him an invaluable asset to the college, contributing to its mission of providing accessible and high-quality education to a diverse student body.
Kristoffer's commitment to international education and his expertise in recruitment and admissions have made him a prominent figure in the field, consistently striving to enhance the global reach and reputation of Orange Coast College.
Rebecca D. McIntosh, director of international admissions, The College of Wooster
Rebecca McIntosh is a dynamic leader with a deep passion for international education. She is currently the director of international admissions at The College of Wooster, where she serves on the enrollment management leadership team. With over a decade of dedicated membership in International Association of College Admissions Counseling, Rebecca also serves on the International ACAC membership committee (2022-2025), heading the onboarding sub-committee.
In her previous role with Northern Kentucky University (2015-2023), Rebecca served in several positions, culminating with her time as director of international student and scholar services. Her time at NKU is marked by her pioneering recruitment initiatives and dedication to enhancing the experience for international students.
Recognised for her outstanding contributions, McIntosh has received several accolades, including the prestigious International ACAC Distinguished Service Award (2023), the Wise Woman of NKU Award (2022), and the Friend of Student Affairs - Staff Award (2022).
Vern Granger, director of admissions, University of Connecticut
Vern Granger is the director of admissions at the University of Connecticut (UConn). In his current role, Vern works on UConn’s worldwide outreach to high-achieving and diverse students, its selection process, development of the university admission process and practices, the transition of new students, and the advancement of UConn’s position as one of the preeminent institutions in the country.
Previously, he was the executive director of undergraduate admissions at Ohio State University for seven years. Prior to that, he led the admissions office at the University of Tennessee, and began his professional career at North Carolina State University, where he worked for 11 years. Vern received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and his master’s degree from North Carolina State University.
Granger is currently the Immediate Past Chair of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). He also previously served as president of both the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (CACRAO) organisations.
He has been a member, and actively involved, in a number of professional organisations related to education and access. He has presented at, and attended, a number of professional conferences including AACRAO, the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions, College Board, NAFSA, Association of International Educators, and American Council on Education. He has presented internationally to secondary schools, US consulates and embassies as part of the College Board’s Overseas Schools Project, a programme in collaboration with the US Department of State. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2002 to study the educational system of Germany.
