Hi!  I’m a Ministry Leader with International Friendships (IFI), originally from Mansfield, Ohio. On January 3rd, 2023, I completed 19 years working with international students at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) through the Office of International Students and Scholars. It has been my joy to serve international student throughout my lifetime. Now with IFI in 2024 I’m ready to start a new chapter. But first, a bit more about me. It was soon after graduating from Miami University with TESOL certification and Linguistics that I first learned about IFI in Columbus, Ohio. Their mission and vision was attractive to me even then as I did campus and hospitality outreach to international students from Ashland University (then Ashland College) and Ohio Wesleyan University through Grace Fellowship of Mansfield.  A short time later, God led me to Taiwan, where I lived with a Chinese family, studied Mandarin, and taught ESL to students eager to come to America to study. After a few years, I returned to the U.S. and completed a Masters in Intercultural Studies at Wheaton College before teaching ESL in the City Colleges of Chicago followed by my first job in international student advising at the University of Houston. I’ve greatly enjoyed working with students over the years. A highlight of my time at Purdue was developing a Purdue program matching international students with community hosts for friendship. Now that I’m a part of International Friendships, I can’t wait to provide even more opportunities for international students to feel welcomed and a part of this community. I hope whether you are a local community member or an international student you will join me in this extraordinary adventure in 2024!