GRACE A. YATES, Chair

Grace A. Yates is an International Student Services Specialist at Austin Community College (ACC). She has been with ACC for five years. Her duties include international student admissions, immigration advising, and coordinating International Student Orientations and workshops. She also generates and edits an online newsletter for ACC’s international student population. Grace speaks and writes fluent Spanish, and in 2005 she studied in Spain. She is currently finishing her studies at Texas State University, and will graduate in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, with an International Business focus.

DICKIE HARGRAVE, Past-CHAIR

Dickie Hargrave is the Assistant Director of International Recruitment at the University of North Texas. Dickie is responsible for recruitment of international students to UNT’s Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) and UNT’s undergraduate and graduate programs. In this role, she manages marketing, outreach and communication. Dickie has recruited extensively around the world and presented training sessions in China, Canada and Mexico. Dickie was one of the original organizers of Study Texas.

Dickie has eight years of experience in international education having previously worked in UNT’s Study Abroad office. She holds Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Related Arts from Texas Women’s University. Prior to entering the international education arena, Dickie taught dance at Purdue University and University of Southern Mississippi.

HEATHER CATTON, TREASURER

Heather Catton is currently serving as Director for the Office of International Programs at Stephen F. Austin State University. She has been at SFA for 15 years and with the Office of International Programs for eight years. Prior to her work at SFA, Ms. Catton served as a program manager in Washington, DC for a global non-profit organization specializing in public health education and social marketing in developing countries. Ms. Catton has MA degrees in French Language and Literature and International Studies (Southeast Asia). She taught Elementary French at Ohio University and English conversation at Feng Chia University in Taichung, Taiwan. She has spent time learning several languages including Arabic, Chinese, German, Indonesian, and Spanish. Ms. Catton has also had the opportunity to live, study, and work overseas, including Tunisia, France, Indonesia, China, and Southern Africa.

DAVID BERNAY, AT-LARGE MEMBER

David Bernay is Associate Director of Admission at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. In his fifth year at St. Edward’s, David plans international recruitment strategy for the university and travels annually to the Middle East, Central America, and Asia. A native of upstate NY, David has also lived abroad in Germany and Israel. David earned a BA from Middlebury College (VT) and an MA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel). He’s excited to join the Board of Directors and looks forward to promoting Study Texas around the world!

JORGE DANIEL GARCIA, AT-LARGE MEMBER

Daniel is the Director of Multicultural and International Enrollment at Abilene Christian University. Daniel is originally from Cancun, Mexico. He came to Abilene, Texas in 1999 to study his undergraduate degree at ACU. He received a bachelor of business administration and a master in intercultural communication from ACU. He has worked at ACU for eight years where is is responsible for developing all marketing strategies to serve multicultural student from the U.S. and international students abroad. 

LUIZ DE JESUS, AT-LARGE MEMBER

Luiz de Jesus is Dallas Baptist University (DBU) International Recruiter coordinator and liaison. Currently he is responsible for the international recruitment efforts for the Latin America, Caribbean, and Canada along with the Vice President for International Affairs at DBU. Luiz completed his bachelor and graduate studies in Business Studies and MBA in International Business and Marketing. Luiz is from Brazil and he spent time living in Barcelona for 3 years, and places like China, South America countries, and Africa, helping people and communities as a missionary, before he and his wife moved to U.S. in 2005. He and his wife have two handsome little boys. Working at the International Office in DBU, Luiz counsels many students from more than 60 nations and has the opportunity to travel to several places recruiting and helping students to come and study in U.S.A.

DR. TERESA KENNEDY, AT-LARGE MEMBER

Dr. Kennedy is the Assistant Vice President for International Programs at the University of Texas at Tyler, responsible for managing several cross-functional units within the Office of International Programs including Study Abroad and Faculty-Led Travel Study Programs; the International Student, Scholar and Faculty Services Center; International Research and Engagement; International Recruitment and Marketing; and the UT Tyler Intensive English Language Institute. As the Senior International Officer for UT Tyler, she serves as the Primary Designated School Official for F Program activities and as the Responsible Officer for J Program activities.  She also has a joint faculty appointment as Professor of Bilingual/ELL/STEM Education in the College of Education and Psychology and as Professor of Engineering in the College of Engineering.

LILY WANG, PROJECT MANAGER

Lily obtained her Bachelor's of Business Administration from  Loyola University New Orleans for Management and Marketing.  On campus, in the NOLA community, and through international travels, she seeks opportunities and challenges to develop a unique collection of meaningful experiences and prepare for the dynamic and uncertain prospects in a world economy.  Born in New York City, Lily moved to New Orleans in 2008 and traveled to over eight different countries before turning 20 years old.  Just recently she returned from a semester-long study abroad program at Keele University in England.  Grounded in her family’s entrepreneurial spirit, Lily aspires to uncover the secrets of how top companies successfully enable and engage employees such that the synergy of talents becomes the wow-inspiring, motivating driver of the organization’s work environment and source of competitive advantage.  She perseveres through peaks and valleys with optimistic grit, striving to make the world a better and more beautiful place with integrity and achievement.