Meet the Team
Leadership
Mary Kavila
Associate Director, International Student Services and Mobility
Elizabeth Hammond
Associate Director, International Student Experience & Engagement
Staff
Brandi Yanagui
SEVIS Specialist, DSO
Divya Pathuru
SEVIS Specialist, DSO
Anastasia Fynn
Director
Anastasia Fynn is the Director for International Student & Scholar Office, where she is oversees overall compliance, student support services and engagement as it pertains to international students and scholars at the U campus. She has been in the International Education field for over 11 years now. In her current role, Anastasia is charged with providing strategic vision and leadership in managing ISSS; this includes ensuring immigration compliance, training and coaching, overseeing operations and workflow management, liaising with campus stakeholders and providing programmatic support and for International Students and Scholars. As an immigrant from Ghana herself, Anastasia has personal experiences as a foreign learner in the US and leverages this deep understanding of international student life and immigration policies to help facilitate student resettlement and transition procedures.
She is passionate about international student advocacy and has a strong believe in direct correlation between academic success and immigration compliance. She holds a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Ghana, an MBA in International Business from Strayer University. Anastasia believes in an interdependent world, where it is essential for students, faculty, and staff to have the opportunity to become personally and intellectually familiar with the people, ideas and customs of other nations. She enjoys cooking, reading, spending time with family and friends and is an avid fan of jeopardy!
Linda Etornam Botsyoe
Student Experience and Engagement Coordinator
Linda Etornam Botsyoe is passionate about fostering an environment that provides a sense of belonging to international students and is enthusiastic about creating programs that foster learning and engagement in the University of Utah’s international community. Born and raised in Ghana, she came to the United States as an international student for her master’s degree in professional communication. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and an associate degree in accounting. She is experienced in strategic communication, event coordination, and client engagement. As the Students Experience & Engagement Coordinator, she ensures continuous engagement amongst students, other departments, and partners, enriching their overall experience.
Stephen Smith
Associate Director, J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, RO
Stephen is from Louisiana, and has lived in Utah for the last 9 years. He earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration from LSU in 2013, is currently an Associate Director/Responsible Officer of the J-1 visa Exchnage Visitor Program, and has been in the field of International Education since 2009. When not working, he enjoys traveling abroad, scuba diving, skiing, and hiking, as well as introducing food from his home state to people in Utah.
Sylvia Christensen
Administrative Officer
Sylvia is originally from Sao Paulo, Brasil. She came to the United States as an international student and has been in Utah ever since. As the Administrative Manager, she oversees ISSS’ operations and finances. She enjoys art museums, playing tennis and painting.
Aaron Mendez
International Student Advisor & Designated School Official
Aaron’s first international student experience was in 2016 where he studied abroad in Osaka, Japan for an intensive language training program at the International Buddhist University (IBU), after that experience, his interest in the field blossomed. Aaron is an alumnus of the University of Utah, studied Japanese and Asian Studies and continued to earn a Masters in International Education from the School for International Training Graduate Institute (SIT).
When he is not assisting or advising students at the U, Aaron enjoys being with his dog Nino, playing the violin in orchestras such as the Deseret Symphony and Utah Philharmonic, and going out for delicious food!
Suchavadee Ampaichitt
Senior International Student Advisor & Designated School Official
Suchavadee is originally from Bangkok, Thailand. She came to the United States as an international student and graduated from the University of Utah. Her firsthand experiences as an international student brought her to her current role at ISSS as an International Student Advisor. She enjoys working at ISSS and helping pave a smooth path for international students while they study in the US and pursue their academic goals.
Tiffany Taghvaiee
International Student Advisor & Designated School Official
Tiffany was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Westminster College. She enjoys helping international students navigate their learning experience in the U.S. As an International Student Advisor, it is her priority to aid international students in their process of adjusting to their new home in the U.S. and ensuring they have the best experience possible during their time at the U. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning new languages, listening to music, and reading.
Steven Burnett
J-1 Program Coordinator
Steven was born in California but was mostly raised in Utah. He has been in the field of international education for almost two decades and enjoys helping international students throughout their learning experience in the US. He has lived in Asia for just over 6 years and enjoys learning about other cultures and their histories and languages. He enjoys reading, good food, and spending time with his family.
Karen Silva
International Student Advisor & Designated School Official
Karen is originally from Brazil and holds a bachelor's degree in law. Karen's passion for immigration laws and regulations has led her to work with international students since February of 2021. As a previous international student herself, she has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise in pursuing a career in a new country.
When she's not busy working, Karen enjoys practicing yoga, participating in outdoor activities, and spending time with her family and dog.
Katie DeSau
Case Manager
Katie was born and raised in Oregon and moved to Utah in 2023. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Katie studied abroad in Granada, Spain and taught English in South Korea. She loves to travel and is fascinated by languages and cultures, so she believes that international experiences contribute to a global mindset.
As the Case Manager, Katie is focused on international student support. She helps students connect to resources on and off campus for basic needs, academic support, financial support, culture shock, mental wellness, and personal issues. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, traveling, and spending time with her fiancé and dog.
Alex Curtis
Associate Director, Immigration & Policy & Principal Designated School Official
Alex is the Associate Director for Immigration and Policy where he helps oversee immigration compliance while improving office procedures and processes. Alex was born and raised in Utah and graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Minor in Global Studies. He has worked in international education for nearly 7.5 years as an ESL instructor and then as an International Student Advisor. Alex is very passionate about creating an amazing, welcoming, and memorable experience for international students during their studies in the United States. International students bring with them such a unique perspective to campus and the classroom which should not be overlooked. In his spare time, Alex enjoys reading, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family
Shawn Prathan
International Student Advisor & Designated School Official
Shawn is a first-generation University of Utah alum and Utah native. He earned his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and strategy from the David Eccles School of Business. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a Crimson Student Mentor for the Office of Undergraduate Studies, helping incoming freshmen and transfer students acclimate to campus during their first year.
Shawn developed his interest in immigration because his parents immigrated to the United States as refugees from Laos. He is committed to supporting international students as they navigate their academic and cultural experiences.
In his free time, he enjoys getting out of town and having Sunday brunch with his friends.
Robert Franklin
International Student Advisor & Designated School Official
Robert Franklin was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with an emphasis in Latin America and International Human Rights from Webster University. He also earned a certificate in Latin American Studies, a minor in Spanish, and later completed his Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri, along with a graduate certificate in Diversity Issues in Higher Education.
Robert’s passion for international education began in middle school after meeting his first international classmate. Since then, he has been deeply interested in intercultural exchange and global learning. During his academic journey, Robert studied abroad in Mexico, completed a practicum in Quito, Ecuador, and pursued a graduate internship in Croatia. These experiences, along with his role as a graduate assistant supporting international students, inspired him to better understand life as an international student by teaching English in South Korea, where he lived and worked for over eight years.
Having navigated the challenges and rewards of living abroad, Robert is committed to supporting international students with empathy, respect, and care. He brings first-hand knowledge of cultural adjustment, language barriers, and cross-cultural communication to his advising work.
Outside of work, Robert enjoys learning about new cultures, listening to music, and watching international dramas across a wide range of genres.
Student Peer Assistants
Bruno Pascotto
Bruno was born in Brazil and came to Utah to pursue a bachelor's degree in computer science. He currently works at the ISSS Office as a Peer Advisor, helping students with their problems and concerns with immigration. When not at work, Bruno enjoys coding, reading, listening to music and sometimes skiing.His favorite moment at the U was during the first week of classes, going to classes for the first time and meeting the professors and students he would get to know better through the semester.
Debbie Adebunmi
Debbie is an international student peer advisor. She is from Lagos, Nigeria and she is a graduate student currently pursuing Healthcare Administration. Debbie enjoys working at ISSS, helping and guiding international students as they understand and navigate the new terrains at the University of Utah. Outside of school and work, Debbie can be found in Zumba classes, spending time with her family and being a soccer mom to her three amazing boys.My favorite moment at the U was the International Student Orientation Day; seeing different cultural backgrounds, languages and generally the diversity that exists at the U; it was fascinating to see!
Mo Tao
Mo is an Assistant Advisor on the J Scholar Program team. She is enthusiastic about guiding and supporting you throughout the J-1 Visa application process.
Nahyun Kim
Nahyun is an international student peer advisor. She is from South Korea and a freshman; currently studying psychology. She enjoys working at ISSS and helping international students. Outside of school and work, she will rarely be found outside as she will be home either on her phone, sleeping, or doing homework.
Nicky Vyfvinkel
Nicky is a peer advisor at the ISSS Office. She is from Sandy, Utah and is working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Communication. She enjoys working at the ISSS Office and getting to work with international students. When not working she can be found hanging out with her dog and family, and doing some sort of arts and crafts.
Shen Shen
Shen is an international student peer advisor. He is from mainland, China and he is a graduate student, currently studying econometrics. He enjoys working at ISSS and helping international students. Outside of school and work, he enjoys reading and films.
Stella Cho
Stella is a junior currently studying psychology, and she is from South Korea. She enjoys helping international students while working as an international student peer advisor. She likes traveling, cooking, discovering great food, and spending time with her family and friends. My favorite moment at the U is when I met the awesome advisors and peer advisors at the ISSS Office.
Jingjing Li
Jingjing Li is a Peer Assistant in the ISSS office. She is a Chinese student majoring in Elementary Education. She enjoys music, sports, and adventure. She is always ready to help others and embrace new experiences in life.
Mwendi Heri Kavila
I was born in Sandy, Utah and I am planning on majoring in Business Management while minoring in Econ. I enjoy working with international students, as well as watching basketball and soccer. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I love to go on adventures with my friends and road trips with my family. I also love music and going to concerts all across the country!
Florence Obirimanu
Florence is an international student peer assistant. She is from Ghana, and she is a graduate student currently pursuing Information Systems. Florence is very passionate and focuses on helping to find solutions. Working at ISSS is an opportunity to help international students. Florence enjoys reading, watching movies, listening and studying music at her free time.
Nate Werrett
Nate was raised in Hurricane Utah and has been a huge fan of the University of Utah since a young age. He served a two year church mission in Guatemala where he learned Spanish and a few Mayan languages. Nate helps students feel welcome at the U and is a friend to all. He enjoys learning and embracing cultures from all around the world. In his free time he likes to watch college football, party with friends, play tennis, and write/arrange music.
Sindy Song
Sindy is an international peer advisor at the ISSS Office from the Republic of Korea. She is majoring in Urban Ecology while minoring in Economics. Sindy enjoys working at ISSS, supporting students to navigate their life at U, and also can be found as an international student ambassador. She loves watching basketball games or looking down at cities from high places when she has free time.
Lucas Rodrigues
Lucas is a peer assistant at the ISSS Office from Brazil. He’s currently pursuing a Master of Science in International Affairs & Global Enterprise, with a background in law from his home country. Lucas enjoys engaging with different cultures and likes helping people solve problems and adjust to new environments. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking, learning new languages, playing soccer, and chatting with people who have interesting ideas and life experiences.
Holton L. Hennrich
Holton is a peer assistant at the ISSS Office. He is double majoring in International Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies. Holton is originally from Nephi, Utah but has spent time studying at the Utah Asia Campus and in Washington DC. He enjoys exploring the art scene within Utah, poetry, museums, Civil/LGBTQ+ advocacy, and hiking.
Anette Garcia Fuentes
Anette is an international student and peer assistant at the ISSS Office from Mexico. She is double majoring in Ballet and Communication. You can also find her as an international student ambassador. Anette enjoys helping and supporting international students navigating through the U and she is always ready for new challenges. Anette loves to do yoga, Pilates and cooking in her free time.