Prospective Students Current Students Business & Industry Faculty & Staff Alumni Visitors
 


International Center

Study Abroad

Meet With an Advisor

Staff
 
Elizabeth Matthews
Director
Contact for F-1/J-1 Students
Last names A-B
ematthe1@iit.edu
Elizabeth Matthews joined IIT in July of 2008. She received her Bachelor's degree in English from Michigan State University and her Master's degree in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. Her strong interest in the field of international education stems from her study abroad experiences in France, Ireland, Italy and Nepal. She has also traveled independently to much of Western Europe, Indonesia, Singapore, and Costa Rica. She lives in the Andersonville neighborhood with her husband and son. In her free time she enjoys eating out, watching movies, playing beach volleyball, going to book club, playing with her son and her dog (Jaskson), and exploring the city with her husband.

Akiko Imairi Selmon
Assistant Director
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
Last names C-H
Contact for H-1B/J-1 Scholars
aselmon@iit.edu
A former television anchor and radio personality in her native country of Japan, Akiko Selmon first came to the United States as an international student at Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia where she earned her Master's Degree in Mass Communications. She became interested in international education when she was selected as an intern at the United Nations, in New York. Akiko joined IIT in April 2007 as an assistant director, International Center. Favorite activities with her husband include travel, listening to music, and exploring ethnic restaurants in Chicago.


Amy Sturdy
International Student Advisor/SEVIS Coordinator
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
Last names I-O
sturdy@iit.edu
Amy Sturdy received her Master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago. She has always been interested in traveling, but became passionate about international education after studying abroad and working in Scotland. When Amy is not dreaming about her next traveling adventure, she likes to explore Chicago, make jewelry, and spend time with her friends and family.

Karen Spreitzer
International Student Advisor
Contact for F-1/J-1 Students
Last names P-Z
spreitzer@iit.edu
Karen Spreitzer received a B.S. in Anthropology from Loyola University of Chicago. She worked as an archaeologist throughout the mid-west and western U.S. regions for ten years. She became interested in international services while advising graduate students from all over the world while working as the physics graduate program advisor at UIC. She has spent several months traveling in Europe. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing, walking, biking, playing guitar and singing. She finished writing her first novel in 2007.

Louis Berends
Coordinator of Study Abroad & Cultural Programs
lberends@iit.edu
Lou Berends holds a Master's degree in Comparative and International Education. Lou is currently ABD (all but dissertation) at Loyola University Chicago - enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies. Lou’s plans for the future involve advising and teaching international issues of education at the college level. He studied abroad in England taking part in an internship at the British Parliament and a term at the University of Oxford. He enjoys the Chicago jazz scene and coaching youth lacrosse throughout the Chicago-land area.
 
Student Employees

Karthik Karur
Student Assistant & Web Admin
 
Karthik is currently a Master's student in the Department of Electrical And Computer Engineering at IIT. He loves programming. He has an Industry experience of about 2 years. He is very creative at his work and wants to reach the highest level of proficiency in field of Electronics and Computers. Apart from his varied interests, he likes to meet new people, spend some time for sports and learn new cultures. He likes to spend his time travelling around the world to explore new places. Listening to soft music and cooking are the other things he likes to do in his spare time.

Xiaoxi Wu
Student Assistant
 
Xiaoxi received her Bachelor Degree in Civil Aviation from Nanjing, China. She is currently a graduate student in business program of IIT. She formerly interned at National Art Museum of China and always enjoys exploring fine galleries and architectures in the city of Chicago. She had extensive travel experience throughout China vs. Japan and now is expecting trips around North America area.

Daniya Kamran
Student Assistant
 
Daniya is an undergraduate student vying to obtain a degree in Biomedical Engineering - Neural Engineering. Before coming to IIT in Fall 2008, she was at INTI International University College in Malaysia. She went to High School in Nairobi, Kenya, Grades 1-8 in Karachi, Pakistan and went to Pre-School in England. She loves astrophysics, travel and never-ending debates, and to organize random things around the center.

Lindsey Hammond
Study Abroad Intern
 
Lindsey Hammond is a graduate student in the Higher Education program at Loyola University Chicago. She first traveled abroad to Spain, and later studied abroad in London and Rome. She has loved each of these experiences and is excited to be at the International Center. When not studying or planning her next trip, she enjoys being outdoors and exploring Chicago.

Jessica Sugarman
Intern
 
Jessica Sugarman is a graduate student in the Higher Education program at Loyola University Chicago. While she is a native chicagoan, she has had several study abroad experiences, including two-week stays in Spain, France, and Italy, a one-week alternative spring break immersion to Mexico, and a semester in Spain. In addition, she is on the board of the Urban Chicago Chapter of Amigos de las Americas, a non-profit organization that provides leadership and community service opportunities for young people in Latin America. Through AMIGOS she has visted communities in the Domican republic and Honduras, and has traveled independently throughout Mexico and Europe. These experiences have sparked her interest in international education and is very excited to be at the International Center this fall. She is looking forward to graduating in May and planning her next big trip!

For general inquiries, please email the International Center at icenter@iit.edu.
© 2008 Illinois Institute of Technology 3300 South Federal Street, Chicago, IL 60616-3793 Tel 312.567.3000