Contact
International Studies and Programs
Michigan State University
International Center
427 N. Shaw Lane
Room 207
East Lansing MI 48824-1035
Tel: +1-517-355-2350
Fax: +1-517-353-7254
Website questions:
Driving directions (PDF)
Visiting International Professional Program
Angha Childress
Senior Director of International Advancement
Office of the Dean
Biography: Angha Childress is the Senior Director of International Advancement for International Studies and Programs at Michigan State University. She provides leadership, strategic direction, and priority setting in the development and implementation of strategies for individual, corporate and foundation engagement with MSU's international agenda.
Angha brings to MSU a unique set of skills, experience and passion. She has more than 20 years of experience in providing leadership and strategic direction for international and US nonprofit organizations, including management and administration, fundraising, board governance, programmatic monitoring and evaluation, marketing and communications. She has managed comprehensive fundraising programs and has secured millions in gifts and grants. Her work in different countries has brought a world perspective to her work, teaching her much about cross-cultural communications, as well as providing valuable insight relative to working effectively with diverse cultures, agencies and temperaments.
Prior to MSU, Angha served as the Executive Director of Barakat, Inc., an international non-profit in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At Barakat, she was responsible for the strategic direction and effective management of its educational and human rights mission for more than 4,000 children and women in South and Central Asia. This experience has helped to further develop her considerable skill in fundraising, diplomacy and building relationships.
Angha has a Masters in English and Master of Philosophy in English and Linguistics from Indore University, India. She also has a Masters in Public Administration with emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Damaris Choti
Assistant to the Director for African Alumni & Student Engagement
African Studies Center
Biography: Damaris Choti is Assistant to the Director of African Studies Center at MSU. She holds PhD and MA degrees in Educational Administration from Michigan State University. Damaris coordinates alumni and student engagement initiatives and activities for the center. She facilitates communication with African alumni and works with Africa-related student groups to design a series of activities that help the larger MSU community learn more about Africa and opportunities available through the African Studies Center. She is a co-founder of MSU African Female Students Empowerment Program (AFSEP) and advises many Africa-oriented student organizations.
Damaris’s areas of interest include school administration, women leadership, gender studies and African studies. She has authored a book chapter in Where did the Girls go?: The Role of Socialization and Institutions in Silencing Female Voices, in "Becoming Critical: The Emergence of Social Justice Scholars" Eds: Broscoe, F. & Muhammad K. (SUNY, 2015), and an article, The Role of Family Social Capital in the Upward Mobility of Kenyan Female School Principals (Kenya Scholars and Studies Association KESSA, 2013).
Kellie Clock
Program Coordinator, American Semester Program
Office for Education Abroad
Biography: Kellie Clock is the Program Coordinator for inbound Special Programs and Short Courses for the American Semester Program in the Office of Study Abroad. She is responsible for developing and managing American Semester Short Course programs, a catalog of 10+ different specialized courses offered on MSU’s campus in January, July and August each year. She also works with special sponsored programs hosted by MSU and the Office of Study Abroad on a short-term basis.
Studying abroad has been a passion of Kellie’s since high school when she spent her junior year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Finland. She chose to attend MSU because of the large study abroad program and completed a semester in the Czech Republic. She strongly believes studying abroad is the best way to bridge cultural differences and learn about other cultures.
Kellie has dedicated her career to international education. She is an alumnus of Michigan State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree from James Madison College. She studied Comparative Cultures and Politics, as well as Women’s and Gender Studies through the Center for Gender in Global Context. During her time at MSU she served as a Peer Advisor in the Office of Study Abroad, and as the American Semester Program summer intern. To launch her professional career, she excelled as a Program Advisor at IES Abroad, a non-profit study abroad provider in Downtown Chicago. Currently, because life-long learning is a passion of hers, as well as most international educators, she has begun the Online MA in Strategic Communication through the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at MSU. As a Michigan native and true Spartan at heart, she is thrilled to be a student and professional at MSU!
Amber Cordell
Educational Programs Manager
Office for International Students and Scholars
Biography: Amber Cordell is the Educational Programs Manager at the OISS. She serves as Orientation Coordinator for new international students and organizes cultural and student leadership programs throughout the year. She also facilitates intercultural communication workshops for students, staff, faculty and the community. She served on the national NAFSA leadership team as the Campus and Community Programming Network Leader.
Originally from Mississippi, Amber graduated from Shorter College with degrees in psychology and religion. She also holds a MA in religion, with emphasis on Japanese Buddhism, from Wake Forest University. Amber taught English in Japan for three years through the JET Program and worked with international students and scholars for two years at the University of Kansas Medical Center before moving to East Lansing.
