International Education
O'Dowd Hall, Room 328
586 Pioneer Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-2889
ie@oakland.edu
Office hours
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
In-person and virtual advising hours
Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m.
Walk-in advising hours
Mon - Thurs: 1 - 3 p.m.
Alex Zimmerman, Director
(248) 370-2843
azimmerman@oakland.edu
 | Rosemary Max Executive Director, Global Engagement rmax@oakland.edu (248) 370-3358 |
 | Alex Zimmerman Director, International Education azimmerman@oakland.edu (248) 370-2843 Alex has been OU's Director of International Education since April 2016. Prior to coming to Michigan, he worked for four years as Study Abroad Coordinator at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and for one year as Project Manager at an Islamic interfaith organization in New York City. His international experience includes five years in South America, where he taught English in Argentina and Peru and had a fellowship from the Rotary Foundation to study microfinance and entrepreneurship in northern Peru, and a year in the Middle East where he directed a study abroad program for American high school students to learn Arabic in Amman, Jordan. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Chicago and a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He speaks Spanish, Arabic, French and Mandarin with declining levels of ability, and has also studied German and Navajo. He has studied abroad in 10 countries on five continents. |
 | Cynthia Weil Assistant Director, International Education weil@oakland.edu (248) 370-2212 Cindy has been helping Oakland University students realize their dreams to study abroad and study away since in 2011 through promotion, advising, and direction. Her current role as Assistant Director and National Student Exchange Coordinator in the International Education Office was preceded by one year as OIE interim Director and three years as Study Abroad Coordinator. Cindy holds a Master of Business Administration from Oakland University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University and Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a minor in German from Ohio University. Two undergraduate study abroad programs include German language immersion in Salzburg, Austria and Western European Business Study through seven countries. She studied German, French, and Russian languages to varying degrees. Nationally, Cindy has traveled to 47 of the 50 states and plans to notch the final three and U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in the very near future. |
 | Shirley Smith Administrative Secretary, International Education campbel4@oakland.edu (248) 370-2889 Shirley started at Oakland University in the Office of International Education in March 2008. Her primary responsibility is to provide clerical support to the director and his staff. Shirley is also the first point of contact for students who are seeking to apply for study abroad or study away, scholarships, or to make an appointment with an OIE staff member. Additionally, she provides support by answering questions and directing students to appropriate campus resources. Shirley comes to OU with more than 20 years of experience in the administrative field. |
 | Hannah Pachucki Hannah has been working at Oakland University since November 2020. She is the Front Desk Manager, and provides secretarial support for all three departments in the Office of Global Engagement, as well as executive support for the Executive Director. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University in History and speaks French and Haitian Creole. Hannah interned abroad in Haiti while studying at Oakland, and looks forward to conquering all 62 National Parks in the United States. |
 | Malaena Caldwell Malaena is an undergraduate student at Oakland University majoring in French and Creative writing. Although she has been studying French since grade 8, her passion for language learning did not fully realize until she put her knowledge to the test by studying abroad in Orléans, France for a semester. Before then, she had never internationally traveled- not even to Canada! Because of her study abroad, Malaena changed her minor in French to a double major. There she fully immersed herself in the culture and made many close friends that she hopes to go back see after graduating. Malaena loves to travel and experience new cultures. While in Europe, she visited Madrid, Spain and aspires to travel around the world- especially Japan, Germany, and England- before continuing on to doctoral studies. In the end, Malaena hopes to move to and attend school in Montreal, Canada- the perfect blend of English and French cultures. View Malaena’s Study Abroad Video and check out Malaena’s Virtual Bitmoji Office. |
 | Conor Urban Conor is an undergraduate student majoring in French Language and Literature, History, and International Relations. Conor studied the French language in Orléans, France in the fall semester of 2019. During this time, he made many friends from around the world including his wonderful host family. Conor loves traveling and plans to travel internationally again soon. He loved his experiences in the smaller cities of France. Conor has traveled to Canada, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. After graduation, Conor plans to teach English in Europe, followed by a career in International Aid through Non-Governmental Organizations or the U.S. State Department. View Conor's Study Abroad Video and check out Conor's Virtual Bitmoji Office. |
