Professional Staff
Yun Shi
Senior Director
Dr. Yun Shi is the founding director of International Education, established in 2014 with Student Affairs. She is passionate about internationalization on UIUC campus and focuses on enhancing the transformative learning experience to support international students and engage domestic students. She is a firm believer that International Education is for all! She has received Student Affairs Outstanding Staff Member - Academic Professional Award, ISSS Outstanding Staff Member Award, Outstanding Asian American faculty-staff Award, International Women’s Day Award, and Student Affairs Outstanding Program Award. She previously worked as Assistant Director of International Programs and the Asian Program Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Yun earned a Ph.D. in education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, M.Ed. in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and B.A. in English from Xi’an International Studies University in China. Prior to coming to the United States, Yun taught at a local university for 13 years in China, where she was born. Yun enjoys cooking with students from around the world. Her hobbies include reading, listening to podcasts while knitting and crocheting.
Rebecca Hodson
Associate Director
Greetings! My name is Rebecca and I am thrilled to be the new Associate Director of International Education! I am a “townie,” who came to Champaign by way of Oklahoma as a toddler for my father, a first-gen student, to complete a PhD program. I attended UIUC myself and received my Bachelor’s in History, minoring in Spanish in 2009 (studying abroad in Ecuador in 2008). I then went on to earn my Master of Science in Library and Information Science in 2013. After working as a community college librarian and Spanish GED instructor, I joined UIUC as staff in January 2015 to coordinate internship programs and offer career advising to students at the School of Information Sciences (iSchool). Early in my career I realized I love connecting with students, instructing, advising and coordinating programs that help them learn, succeed, and build community. In particular I have focused on finding ways to improve international students’ experiences when they come to study and live in our country. I look forward to making an impact on the lives of our students in this new role. I am also a mother of fraternal twins, so to keep up with them my husband and I try to stay active by spending time outdoors, watching soccer/futbol (Arsenal fan!) and occasionally playing the game, also cooking, music and movies.
GLOBE Ambassadors
Avery Johnson
Undergrad Ambassador
Hi! My name is Avery, and I am a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education. I have always had a passion for working with others and expanding the idea of how learning can be fun! I have found myself involved in a lot of different areas of campus, as I love getting to learn more about the community and those around me. In my free time, I love to hang out with my friends, listen to music, go on walks, and cook. When I graduate, I hope to become an elementary school teacher, and more specifically, work with grades two or three.
Anna Mohyliuk
Undergrad Ambassador
Hi! My name is Anna, and I’m a sophomore studying Secondary Education concentration in Mathematics with an ESL endorsement. I’m originally from Ukraine, however most of my teenage years I have spent in the suburbs of Chicago! My plans after graduating will be hoping to inspire many students to learn math, to understand the different ways it can be useful. In my free time, I am big part of educational organizations on campus and hope to improve learning of others. For fun, I love spent time with my friends, listening to podcasts and making new friends.
Maryam Naveed
Undergrad Ambassador
Hi! My name is Maryam, and I’m a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Middle Grades Education with an English concentration. I’ve spent a lot of time volunteering in schools and working with children, which has strengthened my passion for teaching and supporting students in meaningful ways. Outside of school, I enjoy doing nails, playing sports, and listening to music, especially Drake and The Weeknd.
Carissa Schultz
Undergrad Ambassador
My name is Carissa and I’m a sophomore majoring in Global Studies with minors in French and ESL. Recently, I’ve just finished studying abroad in Beijing, China. Since my freshman year, I’ve been an active participant in many International Education events, ranging from GLOBE to ICU Intercultural Dialogue Series. In addition to being a GLOBE ambassador, I’m also an I-Connect Peer Educator, the Newsletter Chair for Global Studies Leaders, and the Vice President of the Mixed Student Union. My hobbies are learning languages, listening to music, reading, and traveling.
Kellie Sucha
Undergrad Ambassador
My name is Kellie :)! I was born in New Hampshire but have also lived in Arkansas and Illinois. I'm majoring in Bioengineering with minors in French and International Studies, and I completed most of my minor requirements while participating in a language program in West Africa. Last semester, I was a GLOBE member, so I'm excited to help run the program and meet more people this semester. In my free time, I cook, read, and take dance classes at the ARC.
Renee Yu
Undergrad Ambassador
My name is Renee and I’m a freshman majoring in Psychology! Throughout high school I explored my interest in teaching at my dance studio and also volunteered at local elementary schools as a tutor. I was also involved in my high school yearbook as a Sports Section Editor where I learned and practiced extensively with graphic design. I was previously involved in GLOBE as a volunteer for my first semester, and I’m excited to get to meet more people and help them make connections as an ambassador! On my own time I enjoy dancing, baking, discovering new food places to try, and traveling! I look forward to getting to know everyone!
Joshua Zhao
Undergrad Ambassador
Hi! My name is Joshua, and I’m a sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign majoring in Brain and Cognitive Science with a minor in Kinesiology. I’m originally from China. In the future, I hope to pursue a career related to mental performance or applied psychology. On campus, I enjoy getting involved in different activities and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.
In my free time, I enjoy working out, playing sports (I’m a die-hard Manchester City fan), listening to music, and spending time with friends. I also like exploring new experiences and meeting new people.