Our Board
Julie Lee | President
Julie is the co-owner and Director of Operations of Michigan Language Center (MLC), a private language institution that teaches English as a Second Language to adult students and professionals. At MLC, she oversees operations and online marketing of campus and online programs, and consults F1 visa students on immigration policies. She is a proud alumna of University of Michigan (Go Blue!), and holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Educational Administration and Policy. She is passionate about investing in the global community in Ann Arbor and facilitating opportunities for intercultural connection.
Judith Pennywell | Vice-President
As the Director of the International Center at the University of Michigan, Dr. Judith Pennywell oversees international student, scholar, and employee services as well as global engagement and education abroad programming. Judith has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of International Education Administration and Student Affairs. Her professional background includes managing immigration services, education abroad, cultural programming, international student recruitment, ESL, partnerships and agreements. Judith earned a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University with research focused on campus internationalization. Judith was the Chair of the 2019 NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference and Expo.
Lily Lee | Treasurer
Lily studied engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, and corporate finance at Cleary University. She has an extensive background across industries from family-owned restaurants, food service, to public accounting, plus almost twenty years in technology. She is a servant leader with a mindset of gratitude, humility, and is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion practices in daily life. With a passion for community service and technology, some past roles included Education Chair on Global Volunteer Network, lead on DEI initiatives, volunteer for arts and film with the Michigan Theater Foundation, and in the last decade, partnered with Ann Arbor Public Schools and other districts on STEM activities to help engage students on about potential careers in technology.
Laure Bordas-Isner | Secretary
Laure is an International Student and Scholar Advisor at University of Michigan’s International Center where she advises international students concerning immigration regulations and organizes events for the international community. Laure is from France and moved to the U.S. as an international student. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in French Language and Literature from the State University of New York. Before joining Wayne State University Laure taught English as a Second Language and French at the university level for 10 years.
Neeraja Aravamudan
Neeraja is the Director of the University of Michigan’s Ginsberg Center, a civic and community engagement center dedicated to cultivating partnerships between communities and U-M students, faculty and staff to advance social change for the public good. Before U-M, she led graduate student development efforts at Northwestern’s teaching center, where she first started her career coordinating the International Scholars Program that helped international graduate
Barbara K. Dobson
Barbara Dobson has worked in the field of international education for more than 40 years in a variety of capacities — ESL instructor, co-author of the ESL textbooks Reader’s Choice and Choice Readings, and principally as a language assessment professional. She began her work in language testing as a University of Michigan graduate student. From that grew a life-long career researching and developing standardized ESL tests; managing Michigan’s large-scale international language testing programs; Recently retired as Director of Professional Partnerships at Michigan Language Assessment, Barbara welcomes the opportunity to continue supporting international education as an IHAA board member.
Brandon Bond
Brandon Bond (he/him) is responsible for assessing the needs of students, advocating for systemic-level changes, and developing strategic initiatives that produce health-promoting environments and practices in his role as a Mental Health & Well-Being Student Advocate at the UM. Some of his international work includes doing advocacy work with the Deaf population in Mexico, working in a psychiatric clinic in Spain, and conducting a needs assessment for the LGBTQ+ population in Zambia. As a UM alum, Brandon holds a BA in Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience and International Studies. He also received his MPH in Health Behavior & Health Education and an MSW in Global Social Work Practice and Management & Leadership from UM. In addition to his work and education, Brandon is a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Ann Arbor and serves on the Board of Directors for Garrett’s Space, a young adult suicide prevention and peer support non-profit.
Melissa Burns
Melissa serves as the Donor Relations Officer for Impact Giving at the ACLU of Michigan. In her role, she connects donors to the organization’s mission and manages the Impact Society. Previously, she worked in fundraising at the University of Michigan, focusing on Leadership Annual Giving for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and university-wide Student Philanthropy. Melissa earned her BA from the University of Michigan in Political Science and International Studies, and her MBA from Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business. Her career in development and education has fueled her passion for equity and inclusion.
Dusty Francis
Conductor, composer, and bass-baritone Dusty Francis enjoys an active career as a performer and educator across both the United States and the United Kingdom. He currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor. Past roles have included musical leadership of the New York City Master Chorale, London’s The Fourth Choir, and the Brooklyn-based Park Slope Singers, as well as classroom teaching positions with the American School in London and the Collegiate School. Francis holds a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Xavier University.
Marjorie Horton
Marjorie Horton is the former Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan. Earlier in her career she was a faculty member at the University of California in the Department of Psychology. She has almost 25 years working as an educator and administrator in higher education. As Assistant Dean, among her responsibilities was oversight for the English Language Institute and the College’s residential learning communities, including for the development of the Global Scholars Program, the Health Sciences Scholars Program, and the Michigan Community Scholars Program, and the reinvention of the Lloyd Scholars. She also partnered with the Residential College and College of LSA leadership on the major renovation of East Quad.
Meredith Kahn
Meredith Kahn is the Librarian for Gender & Sexuality Studies at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include new developments in scholarly communication, and comparative analysis of open access publishing in an international context. She is also a co-founder of Ann Arbor Seed Company, which brings sustainable agricultural principles to the business of saving and selling local seeds. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, biking, reading, and live-tweeting Ann Arbor City Council meetings.
Angelo Pitillo
Angelo Pitillo serves as the Director of the University of Michigan’s English Language Institute. In this role, he oversees programs providing language and academic instruction to international students. Before coming to Ann Arbor, Angelo worked for more than twenty years as a teacher and administrator in English language programs in the US, Japan, and the Middle East. His professional life is informed by his own experience as an international graduate student in Germany, as a professor of English in Japan, and as a freelance journalist for publications in the US, Ireland, China, and Japan. In his free time, Angelo is a beginner pianist and avid hiker and cyclist. He travels frequently to explore new cultures and maintain connections to friends around the world.
Mark Simmonds
Mark oversees Beyond The Diag, the University of Michigan’s programs that provide support, resources and engagement opportunities to students living off-campus. Mark is originally from the UK and moved to Michigan in 2016. As well as working in higher education, he has significant experience as a clinical practitioner in mental health and substance use programs. Prior to working for the University of Michigan, Mark was at Avalon Housing, coordinating the Adult Rapid Rehousing program for Washtenaw County. He loves to travel and explore new places, and enjoys watching and playing sports, reading, and spending time with his family. Mark is married to Janelle, and at home they have two daughters, and a lively, energetic and lovable yellow lab, named Bramley.