Past Presidential Fellows

James (Jim) Bolender

University of San Diego

James (Jim) Bolender is the Associate Provost for International Affairs, and an Associate Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of San Diego (USD). He earned his doctorate at the University of Virginia in Physical Chemistry, and he has been at USD since 1996. At USD, he has served in a variety of leadership capacities as Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the Director of USD’s Honors Program, and most recently the Chair of the President’s Advisory Committee on COVID Response. He has received numerous awards for his teaching and international work while at USD. His research work in water quality assessment, remediation, and public health have taken his team of global and local collaborators to remote locations in Mexico, Uganda, and Kenya.

Judy Peter

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Judy Peter is the Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Director at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She is an active member in APAIE, AIEA, EAIE, and IEASA and has presented and published on the decolonisation, internationalisation of higher education and visual culture. Peter holds a Master’s in Public Management and Development from the University of the Witwatersrand and a doctorate in Visual Studies from the University of Pretoria.

Roopa Rawjee

Illinois State University

Roopa Rawjee is the Executive Director, Office of International Engagement at Illinois State University. Roopa taught secondary school in India, ESL to U.S. university students, served as Assistant Dean of Students, and directed International Student and Scholar Services prior to leading comprehensive internationalization at ISU. With three degrees from India, a master’s degree from California State University Northridge, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University, Roopa is an active NAFSA member-leader.

Vivian Wang

The University of Tulsa

Vivian Wang is Vice Provost for Global Engagement at The University of Tulsa. She provides leadership for the University’s overall mission of global engagement in education, research and community outreach. She is active in AIEA, NAFSA and AIRC. She previously served as the director for global partnerships at Oklahoma State University. She holds a B.A. from Shanghai Normal University, an M.A. and a doctorate in Public Policy and Educational Leadership from Oklahoma State University.

Jill Blondin, Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University, received her B.A. from Indiana University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Blondin served as a Fulbright Specialist to Brazil, as an Expert Speaker with the U.S. Department of State and Fulbright Portugal, and with the U.S. Embassy Guyana. In 2023, Blondin was named one of the PIE 50 Top Voices in North America, and IIE honored her as the Senior International Officer of the Year. She serves as Chair of the AIEA Member Outreach and Awards Committee.

Harvey Charles is Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He has served as Senior International Officer and Professor at multiple institutions around the US and is a past President of the Association of International Education Administrators. Charles’ additional contributions to the field involve teaching, publishing, speaking engagements, consulting and mentoring. Charles earned his doctorate in higher education administration from The Ohio State University in 1991.

Nick J. Gozik is Dean of Global Education and Assistant Professor at Elon University. Previously, he has held positions in international education at Boston College, Duke University, New York University, and the University of Richmond. Among his publications, he has co-edited Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad: A Handbook of Research and Practice and A House Where All Belong: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence. Gozik holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from New York University.

Pia Wood is the Vice Provost and Dean of International Affairs and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas. Her responsibilities include Study Abroad, International Student and Scholar Programs, Sponsored Students, International Partnerships, Intensive English Language Program, and International Recruitment. Wood is a past president of the Association for International Education Administrators (AIEA). She has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Geneva in Switzerland.