Director, International Student/Scholar Office

NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Nebraska-Lincoln invites applications for a Director of the International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) in Lincoln. The role leads immigration advising, visas, sponsored students, and exchange programs to ensure students and scholars maintain legal status in the United States.

The position requires a Master’s in a related field with extensive leadership experience, strong communication, and collaboration skills, along with SEVIS expertise and involvement with professional

Qualifications

• Master’s in international education, international studies, student services, global affairs, higher education administration, comparative education, or related field plus 5 years of experience in an international student and scholar services role with direct experience processing F, J, H and other non-immigrant regulations required
• Three year’s experience leading effective teams
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practice in supporting international students and scholars in a university environment
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication
• Strong administrative, organizational, and collaborative leadership skills
• Excellent leadership and supervisory skills
• Demonstrated experience developing immigration policies and procedures and knowledge of employment issues affecting international students and scholars
• Proven ability to manage complex issues and competing priorities successfully
• Must be able to think creatively and solve problems effectively during periods of intense activity
• Experience working successfully with international students, faculty, staff, and alumni
• Technical experience with SEVIS and student information systems expected
• Active involvement with NAFSA and/or other appropriate professional associations
• Must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident per federal regulations governing who can serve as a SEVIS Primary Designated School Official (DSO) for the Department of Homeland Security’s F visa program and the Responsible Officer (RO) for the Department of State’s BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision, oversight, and leadership to the International Student & Scholar Office (ISSO) and serve on UNL’s global leadership team
• Oversee immigration advising, employment-based visas, sponsored students, and incoming exchange programs to ensure students and scholars maintain their legal status in the U.S.
• Lead programming that enhances international students’ personal development and intercultural engagement, including collaboration with 7.5 professional staff
• Ensure administrative leadership and oversight of ISSO operations, budgets, and personnel, plus SEVIS compliance and staff training
• Develop immigration policies and procedures in line with federal regulations and university goals

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team management

Administrative skills

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Master’s in international education or related field

Tools

SEVIS

PeopleSoft

NUView

SUNAPSIS

Job description

Director, International Student/Scholar Office

Employer: University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

Salary: $85,000 minimum

Closing date: Oct 3, 2026

Position Type: Director

Hours: Full-time

Employment Type: Permanent

Organization Type: College / University

Job Description

The Director of the International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) serves as a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s global leadership team. The Director provides vision, oversight, and leadership to all areas of this comprehensive office: immigration advising, employment-based visas, sponsored students, and incoming exchange programs, to ensure that students and scholars maintain their legal status in the United States.

ISSO also supports student engagement and intercultural initiatives to enhance student success, including significant programming dedicated to international students’ personal development and adjustment to UNL, in addition to leading programming that integrates international students, scholars, and their dependents. The Director oversees the delivery of exceptional services in all of these areas in collaboration with 7.5 professional staff who are all direct reports.

Additional Duties: Provides vision, strategic management, expert policy interpretation and analysis, and leadership to the International Student & Scholar Office (ISSO); Serves as UNL’s Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) in overseeing the student and scholar programs in the government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Responsible for UNL’s participation in SEVIS and institutional compliance with federal immigration regulations. As such, oversees the training and support of Designated School Officials (DSOs) and Alternative Responsible Officers (AROs) on campus. Provides administrative leadership and oversight of ISSO operations, budgets, and personnel.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Master’s in international education, international studies, student services, global affairs, higher education administration, comparative education, or related field plus 5 years of experience in an international student and scholar services role with direct experience processing F, J, H and other non-immigrant regulations required
• Three year’s experience leading effective teams.
• demonstrated knowledge of best practice in supporting international students and scholars in a university environment.
• excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication
• strong administrative, organizational, and collaborative leadership skills.
• Excellent leadership and supervisory skills
• Demonstrated experience developing immigration policies and procedures and knowledge of employment issues affecting international students and scholars.
• Proven ability to manage complex issues and competing priorities successfully
• Must be able to think creatively and solve problems effectively during periods of intense activity.
• Experience working successfully with international students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• Technical experience with Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and student information systems expected.
• Active involvement with NAFSA and/or other appropriate professional associations
• Must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident per federal regulations governing who can serve as a SEVIS Primary Designated School Official (DSO) for the Department of Homeland Security’s F visa program and the Responsible Officer (RO) for the Department of State’s BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with UNL-specific software programs, including PeopleSoft and NUView.
• Experience with SUNAPSIS.
• Experience working within a large, decentralized university.
• Experience supporting and consulting on incidents or crises involving international students or scholars.

Contact

Direct Interest And Questions To Maegan Stevens-Liska

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

Equity and Inclusion Statement

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.

Company Overview

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln was chartered as a land-grant university on February 15, 1869, to create opportunity for the state of Nebraska. A proud member of the Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), Nebraska is classified within the Carnegie “R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity” category. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.