Amy Benck
Director
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
H-1B/J-1 Scholars
abenck@iit.edu |
Amy Benck 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. |
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Kara Johnson
Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Contact for F-1/J-1 students, J-1 Scholars, and H-1Bs
kjohns49@iit.edu |
Kara Johnson has a Master’s degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She has studied and/or worked abroad in Canada, France, and the UK. As a new Chicago resident, she spends most of her time exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and learning her way around. She loves to travel, learn new languages, and experience other cultures. |
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Karen Spreitzer
International Student Advisor
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
spreitzer@iit.edu |
Karen Spreitzer received a B.S. in Anthropology from Loyola University of Chicago. She worked as an archaeologist throughout the Midwest 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. |
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Tanya C. DePass
International Student Advisor/SEVIS Coordinator
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
Safe Space Certified for LGBTQ Student Issues
tdepass@iit.edu |
Tanya DePass received her B.S. in Human Computer Interaction from DePaul University. Previously she worked in the International Programs Office at DePaul University. She became interested in international education after studying abroad in Osaka, Japan at Kansai Gaidai University, and loved it so much she extended a semester abroad into a year. She’s also traveled to Panama, Canada and Ecuador. In her spare time Tanya knits, games, reads science fiction and fantasy, and hangs out with her brown and black tabby, Genki, in Andersonville. |
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Ashley Sinclair
Assistant Director, Study Abroad and Cultural Programs
Contact for current IIT students wishing to spend a term outside the United States
asincla1@iit.edu |
Ashley Sinclair fell in love with traveling while on a high school trip to Switzerland, France and England. She received her bachelor's degree in history, anthropology and sociology with a double minor in classics and religious studies from the University of Pittsburgh, where she both studied and interned in Greece. Through internships and volunteering at the study abroad office, she realized that she loved helping others realize the benefits of a study abroad experience. While pursuing her master's in international education, she participated in a service-learning trip to Peru and spoke at a conference in Istanbul on the benefits of study abroad. She has also been to Egypt, Morocco, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and the Dominican Republic, but she looks forward to continuing to explore her hometown of Chicago and beyond. |
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Jennifer Sherdan
International Student Advisor
Study Abroad and Cultural Programs Assistant
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
Contact for current IIT students wishing to spend a term outside the United States
jsherdan@iit.edu |
Jennifer Sherdan first studied abroad as an undergraduate at the University of Sheffield in northern England. During the experience, she made many international friends and became passionate about travel, having since spent time in more than twenty countries. For nearly four years, she managed international research and development for the certification arm of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, which included developing partnerships with universities and other organizations abroad. Following graduate internships at the University of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago, she received her master’s degree in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Communication Studies from DePaul University.
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Shannon Ingleby
Program Assistant
Contact for F-1/J-1 students
singleby@iit.edu |
Shannon Ingleby received her B.A. in Psychology from Central College in Pella, IA. During college she studied abroad in China and a few years after graduation she moved back to China where she taught English and traveled around Asia for 3 years. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. In her free time, Shannon can be found planning her next international trip, reading a good book, attending a Zumba class or exploring the city with her husband. |
Nandiesh Kumar C
Student Assistant & Web Developer |
Nandiesh joined Illinois Institute of Technology in Fall 2012. He is pursuing his masters degree in Computer Science. He spends his free time at MTCC playing table tennis and pool. He likes backpacking, exploring places and meeting new people. |
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Fariha Wajid
Study Abroad Student Ambassador |
Fariha is pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and has a minor in Architecture. She has studied abroad in Scandinavia and Russia and has also visited Singapore and Pakistan. Her summer study abroad experience allowed her to see the world in a new way and she hopes to continue her ventures by volunteering abroad in the near future. Along with traveling, she enjoys photography and painting in her free time. |
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Anusha Natarajan
Student Assistant |
Anusha joined IIT in Fall 2012 and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Biology.She obtained her bachelors degree in Biotechnology from India. She is passionate about baking and loves to try out new recipes in her free time. Being an ardent animal lover, she has been involved actively in adoption drives for dogs in India. |
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Sindhuja Pamulapati
Student Assistant |
Sindhu joined IIT in Fall 2012. She is pursuing masters in mechanical engineering. She graduated from Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad in India with a B.Tech. in mechanical engineering with minor in economics. Sindhu enjoys travelling, reading fiction, learning new languages and meeting people from different cultures. She is passionate about psychology and business management.
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| For general inquiries, please email the International Center at icenter@iit.edu |
