Through more than two hundred program opportunities on six continents, offering coursework across all academic disciplines, the Study Abroad Office seeks to engage as many UIC students as possible in becoming intentional learners with enhanced global awareness.

Our vision is that studying content in context, with the right linkages to text-based curricula, can best develop and enhance the critical literacies students need for success regardless of academic discipline: comprehension skills of drawing inferences, finding the main idea, making analogies, resolving contradiction, and distinguishing fact from opinion.

Our goal is to provide access to a variety of international academic programming opportunities and remain committed to making overseas study and international cultural immersion an integral part of the undergraduate educational experience, better preparing students to meet the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly global society.

Our protocols, from program, student, and course approval, through registration and transcripting, are in response to those established in a range of UIC administrative units and colleges but also guided by international education standards and best practices. See full Approval Protocols document here.

Our staff of advising professionals have spent considerable time living and working abroad, in addition to participation on study abroad programs. Collectively, our formal work experience in international education exceeds forty years and we have fluency in six languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Lithuanian, and Hindi.) Our academic degree experience includes: Doctoral research in History and Geography in central India; Oriental Studies and Chinese Linguistics in Russia; and Economics and Baltic Studies in Lithuania; Spanish and International Studies in Spain; Higher Ed Administration; and Psychology.

Study Abroad Working Group 

The Study Abroad Office is guided by university protocols in working with students who want to earn credit abroad toward their degree. In addition to established professional standards for international education nationwide, SAO relies on the individuals of this working group as the key contacts for advice and guidance on university policy, administrative procedure, and student affairs, including emergency situations which may arise while a student is abroad.

The members, or their designees, work in consultation with the Director of Study Abroad and his staff to ensure accurate flow of information and implementation on any changes in university, department, unit protocols or policies.

Robin Brierton
Assistant Dean, College of Business Administration

Linda Deanna
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Dean of Students

Robert Dixon
University Registrar

Joseph Hoereth
Associate Director, Great Cities Institute

Lon Kaufman
Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Dean, Honors College

Amy Levant
Associate Dean, Graduate College

Janet Madia
Senior Associate Dean, Honors College

Renee McCarthy
Assistant University Counsel

Michael McNallan
Associate Dean, College of Engineering

Tim Opgenorth
Director, Financial Aid

Vincent Paglione
Associate Dean, College of Architecture and the Arts

Emanuel Pollack
Senior Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Beth Powers
Director, Office of Special Scholarship Programs

Leonard Ramirez
Director, Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services

Malcolm Smith
Assistant Dean, Office of the Dean of Students

Karen Su
Director, Asian American Resource and Cultural Center

Flecia Thomas
Director, African American Academic Network

Valerie Werner
Director, Urban and Public Affairs Program
College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs