IPS Leadership

Tim Barnes joined International Programs and Studies in 1998, and has worked in the offices of Overseas Projects and Foreign Visitors (OPFV), East Asian and Pacific Exchange Programs (EAEP), and Institutional and Faculty International Collaboration (IFIC) prior to assuming his current position as director of Illinois Strategic International Partnerships (ISIP). Tim now manages all formal institutional linkages between the Urbana-Champaign campus and international partners, as well as fostering increased international engagement among faculty and serving as the campus liaison officer for the Fulbright Senior Scholar program.

Dr. Julia Bello-Bravo joined International Programs and Studies in August of 2012 and serves as Assistant Director of the Illinois Strategic Internationanl Partnerships.  Previously, she worked as an Extension Specialist in the area of educational programs for Hispanic/Latino populations in the state of Illinois and for low literate learners in developing nations.  She has actively worked in the area of how to increase inclusiveness of under-represented people in educational networks and systems.  As Assistant Director, her role is to promote Illinois engagement and partnerships in Africa and Latin America.  She is also a co-founder of Scientific Animations Without BordersSM (SAWBOSM) and the Sustainable Development Virtual Knowledge Interface (SusDeViKISM) programs.

Becky Billman joined International Programs and Studies in 1997. As Assistant Director for Human Resources for IPS, she provides management and oversight of human resource related activities for all units reporting to the Associate Provost for International Affairs.  She serves as a member of the Senior Management Team providing guidance to the APIA on matters related to the leadership of IPS and internationalization of the campus, as well as serving as liaison for the APIA to campus and university human resource office. She also serves as Affirmative Action Officer, Intake Specialist, and Departmental Classifier. Becky earned a BA in Liberal Studies from the University of Illinois-Springfield.

Brandy came to the University of Illinois in 2000, where she was hired as an Account Technician I at University Payables. In 2005, she transferred to Mechanical Engineering to where worked with payroll. Then in 2006, she accepted a position in the newly created International Center Administrative Services, where she provides accounting support to the international area studies centers for International Programs and Studies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 2008, she was promoted to accountant.

Linda started at the University of Illinois in February 2002 as a secretary in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine. In April 2008, she accepted a position as Office Support Specialist with International Programs & Studies (IPS), providing support for both financial and human resource responsibilities for IPS and International Centers Administrative Services (ICAS).

Rajeev Malik is the Acting Associate Director in the Offices of the Associate Provost for International Affairs and International Programs & Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as the director for Illinois International Training.  He has been at Illinois since 2002.  Before coming to the University of Illinois, he worked in International Business Development with Wolfram Research and Management Consulting with A.T. Kearney.  He has a B.A. in History from McGill University and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago.

Christen came to the University of Illinois in 2011, prior to which she worked in the service industry for six years as an office assistant and dispatcher.  She received her Associate of Science in Spanish from Parkland College in 2002, and plans to continue her education during her time at the University. Her responsibilities at International Programs and Studies include administrative support for the Director of Advancement as well as assistance with study-abroad scholarship coordination, international protocol services, and event-planning.

Jacinda joined International Programs and Studies in 2012.  Her duties include scheduling meetings for the Director of Illinois Strategic International Partnerships and the Assistant Director of International Center Administrative Services; performing daily responsibilities and various tasks/assignments designated by the Director of ISIP and the Assistant Director of ICAS; providing administrative and secretarial support for the unit’s main office; processing travel reimbursements; assisting with planning departmentally sponsored conferences, seminars, workshops; and monitoring department property inventory.  Before coming to the University of Illinois, she worked in Academic Initiatives with Wolfram Research and Business Support Services with Amdocs.  She has an Associates in Business Administration and is pursuing a B.A. in Business Administration at the University of Illinois-Springfield.

Nicole Tami joined the International Programs and Studies staff shortly after completing her doctorate degree in cultural anthropology at the University of Illinois.  As Associate Director for International Engagement Nicole works to promote and disseminate international expertise, activities and research on campus.  This includes planning and coordinating campus-wide events, such as International Education Week, to hosting and overseeing diplomatic visits by consul generals and ambassadors from around the world.  She also hosts Illinois International, a global current affairs television series, which features Illinois faculty experts and visiting scholars. 

Matt VanderZalm came to International Programs and Studies in September 2007 with a strong background in journalism.  His responsibilities include serving as the managing editor of the Illinois International Review; creating and implementing project-oriented communications plans for international programs; serving as writer and editor for Global Viewpoint; serving as the editor of the Illinois International Update; facilitating media contact by creating press releases, public service announcements and news advisories; and serving as the primary liaison between IPS and the University of Illinois News Bureau.

Andrea Wagner joined International Programs and Studies in August 2012 after completing her Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  Andrea’s responsibilities in IPS include managing the I4I and donor-funded scholarships for study abroad and coordinating the Khorana Scholars Program.  During graduate school, Andrea focused on travel safety and crisis management in study abroad, completing internships with the University of Texas at Austin International Office and the Office of International Affairs at Yale University.  She also helped coordinate and lead a service learning experience in Nepal and India.