Office of International Affairs

International Affairs Staff

Paige Brake, MS.Ed | Director, Education Abroad
615-904-8117 | Jones Hall 113 | Paige.Brake@mtsu.edu | Advising Hours

Paige serves as the Director of Education Abroad. Her passion for global initiatives began when she studied abroad in Germany, France, and Austria as an undergraduate student. She has over ten years of experience working in the International Education field.

She is responsible for directing the daily operations of the Office of Education Abroad. She works closely with various stakeholders at the university including Academic Deans, Chairs, Academic Advisors, Financial Aid, the Registrar and Bursar to ensure MTSU Education Abroad programs are successful. Education Abroad works primarily with J-1 inbound exchange students and students who are studying abroad outside of the United States.

Juvy Burns, D.M. | Executive Assistant
615-904-8190 | Jones Hall 155 | Juvy.Burns@mtsu.edu

Dr. Burns serves as the Executive Assistant for the International Affairs Office. She monitors and reconciles budgets within the department, process requisitions, contracts, memoranda of understanding and payment authorization. She also maintains department wide records, reconciles department wide purchasing, and associated budget while serving as first point of contact for the office and assists in the planning and implementation of department wide events, manages hospitality services for guests and delegations, assists in insurance processing and supervises student workers. Dr. Burns values spirituality, humility, passion, compassion, integrity, diversity, service, and excellence.

Rehab Ghazal, Ph.D. | Associate Vice Provost
Jones Hall 151 | Rehab.Ghazal@mtsu.edu

Dr. Rehab Ghazal serves as the Associate Vice Provost for International Affairs. She is a skilled Global Educator with vast experience in student engagement, corporate partnerships, and program evaluation and accreditation. Dr. Ghazal’s research and work has focused on promoting cultural understanding in educational settings and developing the professional skills of English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers and administrators. She has received funding from the Department of State, the Fulbright, CitiGroup International, the American Embassy in Cairo and the Boeing Company, among others. She works with the International Affairs team on creating high-profile learning programs and services, maximizing overall performance, and driving high-efficiency processes and procedures.

Felisia Griner | International Graduate Analyst

615-898-2514 | Jones Hall 108 | Felisia.Griner@mtsu.edu

Walk-in Hours Monday, Friday 9:00 – 11:00 AM | Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Appointments Monday 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 AM |

Felisia is the International Graduate Analyst, handling the admissions matters for all international graduate students interested in Middle Tennessee State University.

Cindy Habara | Director, International Enrollment Management

615-494-8643 | Jones Hall 117 | Cindy.Habara@mtsu.edu
Walk-in Hours Monday, Friday 9:00 – 11:00 AM | Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Appointments Monday 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 AM | Meet with Cindy

Cindy oversees all immigration compliance and admission matters at Middle Tennessee State University. She is responsible for ensuring the university and its students are aligned with the USCIS and SEVIS regulations. In addition, Cindy manages and assures a smooth admission process for all prospective international students here at MTSU. She supports the immigration specialist in advising students and scholars on maintaining their immigration status while studying and working in the United States. Cindy counsels students as they apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and other F and J visa benefits. She coordinates activities and services sponsored by International Affairs for currently enrolled and newly admitted students. Cindy has wide-ranging international experience, having lived in Japan for over two decades and raising two bi-cultural children.

Mei Han, Ph.D. | Director, Center for Chinese Music and Culture
615-898-5718 | Miller Education Center 1600 | Mei.Han@mtsu.edu

A professor in the School of Music, Dr. Han serves as the director for the Center for Chinese Music and Culture. Dr. Han is an ethnomusicologist specializing in Chinese music and an internationally acclaimed concert artist on the zheng (Chinese long zither). She is responsible for planning and conducting international music and cultural programming and events. She helps bring Chinese and other music of the world to local communities and to build bridges.

Victoria Rajvongs | Transcript Analyst
Jones Hall 112 | Parichart.Rajvongs@mtsu.edu

Victoria serves as the Transcript Analyst for International Affairs. She is responsible for reviewing transcripts from prospective undergraduate international students and evaluating the grades from their respective countries’ secondary institutions to determine their U.S. equivalent GPAs. Her experiences abroad include studying the Mandarin language in Hangzhou, China and working as an English teacher for primary school students in Seoul, South Korea. Also fluent in Lao and Thai, Victoria has had diverse cultural experiences and hopes to assist students in their international journeys.

Megan Richard | Analyst, Education Abroad
615-898-5179 | Jones Hall 115 | Megan.Richard@mtsu.edu | Advising Hours

As the Education Abroad Analyst, Megan collaborates with faculty, advisors, and departments across campus to help promote and carry out education abroad opportunities. She advises students on the different programs and requirements to help find the program that best suits the goals and educational interests for each student. She works with international exchange students coming from partner universities to help make arrangements so they can have a successful semester at MTSU. Megan has traveled extensively throughout the United States and around the world and shares her experience and knowledge in encouraging students to go out and have adventures of their own.

Savannah Richerson | International Undergraduate Analyst
615-898-2843 | Jones Hall 106 | Savannah.Richerson@mtsu.edu
Walk-in Hours Monday, Friday 9:00 – 11:00 AM | Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Appointments Monday 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Savannah is the International Undergraduate Analyst. Her work involves assisting with admissions matters for undergraduate first-year and transfer students interested in attending Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to joining MTSU, Savannah was an Assistant Director of Admissions at Columbia Business School on the Deferred Enrollment Program team and an Admission Associate at Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas. Savannah is originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

As the International Specialist, Toi Scott welcomes our international students and scholars to MTSU campus ensuring they have the resources to comply with government regulations for F and J visa holders. She also advises on how to maintain immigration status while completing Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT), helping them thrive academically and professionally.

Robert Summers, Ph.D. | Vice Provost
615-898-2116 | Robert.Summers@mtsu.edu

Dr. Summers serves as the Vice Provost for International Affairs. As such, he has primary responsibility for the international enterprise at MTSU. He oversees the Center for Asian Studies; the Center for Chinese Music and Culture; Education Abroad; International Enrollment Management the Intensive English Program. Dr. Summers is a trained linguist and holds a faculty appointment in the department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. He has a special interest in Neo-Vygotskyian Language Assessment; International Enrollment Management; and Comprehensive Internationalization in the academy.

Jon Swafford | Associate Director, International Enrollment Management
615-898-5674 | Jones Hall 119 | Jon.Swafford@mtsu.edu
Walk-in Hours Monday, Friday 9:00 – 11:00 AM | Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Appointments Monday 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Jon is the Associate Director of International Enrollment Management. His main responsibilities are providing support for the Director and for managing our Agent Portfolio and assisting our partner agents in their recruitment efforts. Jon has lived in Murfreesboro for most of his life, he is a two time MTSU alumni with both his undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Matthew Wells | Coordinator, Strategic Communications and Events

615-494-7638 | Jones Hall 153 | Matthew.Wells@mtsu.edu

As the Coordinator of Strategic Communications and Events, Matthew oversees the marketing and communication needs for the International Affairs office. He helps plan and organize activities and events for international students to participate in, with hopes of fostering a welcoming environment for them. He also creates content for social media and manages website updates. Matthew graduated from MTSU in 2017 with a BS in New Media Communication, a minor in Global Studies, and education abroad experience in Paris and Munich. Outside of work, Matthew loves to bake, participate in community theater, watch movies, play board games, and travel whenever he gets the chance.

Maureen Young | Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost & Office Manager

615-898-2116 | Jones Hall 159 | Maureen.Young@mtsu.edu

Maureen Young serves as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost, and manager for the International Affairs office. She is responsible for coordinating and providing administrative and managerial support to the office. She also manages the international merit scholarship awards and coordinates services for the Intensive English Program.

Guanping Zheng, Ph.D. | Director, Center for Asian Studies

615-904-8365 | Miller Education Center 3220 | Guanping.Zheng@mtsu.edu

Dr. Zheng’s responsibilities include forging institutional partnerships with Asian countries for academic and cultural exchange, organizing and hosting short term international programs, and conducting multi-cultural events. Dr. Zheng is a professor of Media Arts with extensive experience leading education abroad programs.