People

Kemi Onajole

Senior Director

Contact for H-1B employees

Education: M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Loyola University Chicago

Global Know-How: Kemi Onajole is a seasoned higher education administrator and educator who has worked with domestic and international students and scholars for more than a decade. She enjoys meeting students and scholars from around the world, and learning about their home country and learning more about their culture. She has traveled well within Europe and West Africa.

Interests: Kemi enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and is a history buff.

Rocio Rodriguez

Assistant Director

Contact for F-1/J-1 students and J-1 Scholars

Education: B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University

Global Know-How: Rocio Rodriguez previously worked at an immigration law firm where she was able to meet and help people from around the world. She has also volunteered abroad in the Dominican Republic.

Interests: Rocio enjoys reading, dancing, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.

Tyler Dela Cruz

Assistant Director

Contact for F-1/J-1 students and J-1 Scholars

Education: M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University; B.S. in Mathematics from University of Massachusetts Amherst

Global Know-How: A first-generation college graduate to a Portuguese mother, Tyler Dela Cruz studied abroad in Brazil during his undergraduate studies. Dela Cruz embraces global mindedness and cross-cultural experiences, especially learning within his previous roles working with international students. Dela Cruz is an experienced higher education administrator specializing in immigration compliance with the intention to make regulations easier for international students to understand through digestible content.

Interests: Tyler enjoys learning new languages, cooking for his spouse, watching international dramas, staying active and traveling around the world.

Emmaline Conover

Study Away Program Manager

Contact for Study Away & Study Abroad Programs

Education: M.A. in International Education Management from Middlebury Institute of International Studies; B.A. in East Asian Studies & French from Hollins University

Global Know-How: Emmaline was able to study abroad in both Japan and France during her undergraduate studies. She enjoyed improving her language skills and experiencing other cultures. After earning her B.A., she spent 3 years living in Japan and teaching English and cross-cultural understanding to Japanese high school students. She has worked with international students in the U.S. as well as helping U.S. students study abroad. Conover is passionate about sharing her experiences and helping students reach their personal, academic, and career goals through international experiences.

Interests: Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading fantasy books, watching movies, and knitting.

Moeko Mikami

International Student Advisor

Contact for F-1/J-1 students and J-1 Scholars

Education: MSEd in K-12 TESOL from City University of New York at Lehman College; BS in Human Development and Family Studies at University of Connecticut

Global Know-How: Moeko was born in Japan, but was raised in the United States. She began her career in education as an ESL teacher at a bilingual high school in New York, and spent her summers traveling around Europe and visiting her home country. She enjoys the culture and the cuisine when she is abroad, but also values the self-discovery that comes when immersing herself in a new environment

Interests: Moeko enjoys running (aims to run a race in all 50 states), reading, traveling, and spending time with her fur baby, Callie.

Jesica Rodriguez-Perez

International Student Advisor

Contact for F-1/J-1 students 

Education: B.A. in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University

Global Know-How: While working in the hospitality industry, Jesica enjoyed the daily interactions she had with domestic and international travelers. She has also had the opportunity to tutor refugee children in the U.S.

Interests: Jesica enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling (hopes to visit Tanzania one day).

Lynae Rucker

Application Processor

Education: Certificate in the study of Hemodialysis

Global Know-How: Lynae Rucker started as a graduate admissions processing specialist where she found a passion for higher education and helping domestic and international students achieve their highest potential. 

Interests: Lynae enjoys baking, listening to music, traveling, swimming, volunteer work, trying new restaurants.

J'han Boynes

Application Processor

Education: B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University 

Global Know-How: J’han was born in Chicago, but spent much of her childhood visiting her grandparents and father in the United States Virgin Islands, specifically the island of St. Thomas. She was able to travel extensively during her adolescence, visiting Europe, Australia and many islands in the Caribbean. 

Interests: J’han loves spending time with her family, including children, Dakota and Dallas, as well as her fiancé, Claude. In addition, she also enjoys volunteering with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.