Staff News

About Us: The Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University

Joanna Holvey Bowles Collaborates on Clery Act Document

IFSA-Butler's Executive Vice President Joanna Holvey Bowles collaborated on a recent policy paper response to the Clery Act. The document is part of NAFSA's resource library and outlines the responsbilities of study abroad programs with regard to the Clery Act, which requires U.S. colleges and universities to report crimes that occur on campus.

Click here to read the article. Congratulations Joanna!

IFSA-Butler Staff Presentations at NAFSA

IFSA-Butler is proud to announce the following staff presentations at the 2011 NAFSA conference in Vancouver:

Field Director Opal Leeman Bartzis:
Understanding Influences of Cultural Self-Identity on Study Abroad Selection
June 2, 3– 4:30 p.m.

Academic Advising as a Key Component of Education Abroad Preparation
In collaboration with Meredith Fant Wilson, Study Abroad Advisor at Clemson University
June 1, 12:45–2:15 p.m.

Field Director Opal Leeman Bartzis and Ireland Resident Director Dr. Tim Conway:
Academic Ethics Across Cultures: Preparing Your Students and Faculty
May 31, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

Executive Vice President Joanna Holvey Bowles:
Insurance and Study Abroad
June 3, 9–11 a.m.

Patti Brown Joins IFSA-Butler

IFSA-Butler is pleased to welcome Patti Brown as our new Director of Special Program Initiatives, effective July 1. In this newly created position, Patti will develop and implement an internship-for-credit program, non-credit and credit-bearing community-based service learning options, as well as other special program development initiatives as needs arise.

Prior to joining IFSA-Butler, Patti served as the Associate Dean for International Programs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She was previously the Assistant Dean for Off-Campus Study at Denison University in Granville, Ohio and has more than 20 years of experience working in international education and education abroad.

Patti is a member of several professional associations, including the Forum on Education Abroad, IFSA-Butler's National Advisory Council, Institute for the International Education of Students and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She has also served on the National Advisory Boards for Arcadia University's College of Global Studies, as well as the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Council on International Education and IFSA-Butler.

Erika Ryser Garcia Named New Director of Latin American Programs

IFSA-Butler is delighted to announce that Erika Ryser García will be joining us as our new Director of Latin American Programs, effective July 12. In her role as Director of Latin American Programs, Erika will lead IFSA-Butler's resident directors for programs in Latin America. In addition, she will oversee academic affairs practices, policies and procedures for all programs in Latin America, as well as serve as the main liaison to primary advisory groups such as IFSA-Butler's Latin America Advisory Council.