Contact Biography Edith (Xukun) Zhang is an International Student and Scholar Advisor at the University of Pennsylvania. Her journey at Penn began with her M.S.Ed. degree from the Penn GSE Intercultural Communication program, and she has been engaged with international students since 2019, when she worked for Baylor University’s International Admissions Office and Baylor ISSS…
Contact Biography As an International Student and Scholar Coordinator, Irene advises the University of Pennsylvania community on issues pertaining to federal immigration and employment regulations. She previously worked as an International Scholar Advisor at Wayne State University and North Carolina State University and as a paralegal at an immigration law firm. Most recently she was employed…
Contact Biography Daniel Deck is an International Student and Scholar Advisor for International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS). Prior to joining the ISSS Team, Daniel worked as an Immigration Paralegal as well as an Immigration Services Coordinator. He has a Bachelor of Education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and extensive experience with international students. Originally from…
Contact Biography Amanda Phipps is the SEVIS Systems Coordinator and Data Analyst for the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) department. She previously worked as an International Student and Scholar Advisor at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Georgia. Amanda will utilize the immigration and institutional knowledge gained in her previous roles…
Contact Biography Chiwei is the Associate Director for Faculty and Scholar Support at ISSS. As part of the ISSS leadership team, Chiwei’s main role is to provide Penn’s international faculty members, scholars and hiring departments with services on immigrant matters and strategic plans based on federal immigration regulations and Penn’s policy. Chiwei handles a wide…
Contact Biography Jeremy Spohr is the Associate Director for Client Services at ISSS. As part of the ISSS leadership team, his main role is to provide front line case management, proactive problem solving, and managerial support to International Students, Scholars and Penn departments. Jeremy advises F-1 and J-1 students, J-1 scholars, H-1B, O-1, E-3, TN…
Contact Biography Donna Steinfeldt is the Senior Associate Director for Advising Services at ISSS. Her primary role is supervising a team of ISSS Advisors. She also advises F-1 and J-1 students, J-1 scholars, H-1B, O-1, E-3 and TN employees on immigration related areas as well as cultural and personal issues. In addition, she consults with…
Contact Biography Dr. Yuhong He serves as the Director of Integration, Community Engagement and Marketing at International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, she leads the Integration team in advancing ISSS’s mission by developing strategic initiatives, overseeing program delivery, guiding marketing and communications, fostering campus and external partnerships,…
Contact Biography Dr. Lily Zhang is the Director of Advising, Compliance, IT, and Operations at International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the University of Pennsylvania. With more than two decades of experience in international education, she is a seasoned professional dedicated to advancing international student and scholar support through thoughtful advising, institutional collaboration, operational…
Contact Biography Dr. Rodolfo “Rudie” Altamirano serves as the Executive Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and the Executive Director of Immigration Services and Integration Programs at the University of Pennsylvania. In these dual roles, he provides strategic leadership in developing and implementing campus-wide initiatives that enhance global engagement, foster cross-cultural understanding, and…
