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Meet Our Team

 


BETTINE HOFF HERMANSON

ISSS Director/PDSO/RO

Email: hermansb@augsburg.edu
Phone: 612-330-1659/1378

Bettine Hoff Hermanson is a proud member of the Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE) team at Augsburg, and have been in the role as the Director in the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office since 2020. In this role, Bettine is responsible for the leadership and coordination of advising services for international students and scholars and the admissions for exchange students, as well as provide academic, personal and emotional support for international students during their studies at Augsburg. She is the primary liaison with the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, representing the university in matters pertaining to F-1 international students and J-1 exchange students and scholars.

Bettine’s main focus is to support international students in achieving their academic goals, navigating our university, experiencing cultural transition, and developing intercultural leadership skills. In addition, she serves as a liaison to the International Student Organization (ISO) and the International Mentor Program.

Over the last 10 years—as an employee of Augsburg University—Bettine has taught in the Cross Cultural and Language Department (Norwegian), as well as planned and executed annual international events like Nobel Peace Prize Forum and the Human Rights Forum, ensuring that important global perspectives and challenges are highlighted, discussed, and brought to campus.

Bettine holds a B.A. in Sociology from St. Olaf College (as an F-1 student), and a B.A. in Social Work from Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA) in Norway (currently known as OsloMet). She is currently finalizing her Master of Arts in Leadership.

Bettine uses she/her/hers pronouns.


CHIARA JIRILLO MELLACE

ISSS Program Assistant/Mentor Leader/International Orientation Leader

Email: jirilloc@augsburg.edu

Chiara Jirillo Mellace (she/her) is an international student from Italy who has started her experience at Augsburg University back in August of 2022. She is majoring in New Media, minoring in Graphic Design, and Communication Studies which has allowed her to be an intern for CFN (Communication Studies, Film, and New Media) and a student worker for the Art and Design department.

She is currently working as the ISSS Program Assistant, helping her peers through advising and personal support, and takes care of anything related to international students such as weekly emails, events and orientation.


AUGUSTA NEPOR SOWA

International Orientation Leader
Email: sowaa@augsburg.edu

Augusta Nepor, preferred name is Nepor, is an international student—junior standing—from Sierra Leone, West Africa, currently pursuing a major in Social Work with a minor in Psychology. She works at a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the broader community, with a particular focus on supporting individuals with disabilities, especially those on the autism spectrum.

Nepor is excited about the opportunity to serve as an Orientation Leader. This role pushes her out of her comfort zone while giving her the chance to help new students create a positive and enriching start to their journey at Augsburg. Nepor’s goal is to ensure that the new students feel supported, confident, and well-prepared, even before their classes begin. Nepor uses she/her/hers pronouns.


Reine El-Alti

International Orientation Leader
Email: elaltir@augsburg.edu

Reine El Alti (she/her/ hers) is an international student from Lebanon who has been an Auggie since 2023! She is a Pre-Law and Political Science major, and Reine has an on-campus job at the Lindell Library as a tech-desk assistant. She is also a part of the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Mentor-Mentee program.
Reine is currently employed at the ISSS office as an orientation leader with the hope to be a reliable guide for new, incoming international students providing information for any questions raised, replying to emails, and ensuring that our new international students become a part of the Auggie community!