Anita Gaines is Director of the International Student & Scholar Services Office (ISSSO) at the University of Houston where she has served for 30 years. She has held various other positions in the office, including Interim Director and Associate Director. She has a Master's degree in Educational Psychology and a Bachelor's degree in Music Teacher Education, both from the University of Houston, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas. She previously lived in Chile, South America where she was a music teacher. Ms. Gaines is a recipient of the 1988-89 Staff Excellence Award of the University of Houston. She has been active in international education throughout her career on state, regional, and national levels, and was Chair of the Council of Advisors to Foreign Students and Scholars with NAFSA: Association of International Educators, past Chair of NAFSA Region III, and past Senior International Vice President on the Board of Directors of Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society of International Scholars.  She currently serves as Chair of NAFSA’s Subcommittee on Ethical Practice.

Jin Zhang is from China. Having been an international student herself, Jin knows firsthand of the cultural and language adjustment that are a part of the international student experience. Since coming to Houston, Jin has served as a volunteer in many capacities, specifically teaching and assisting members of the Chinese community. Jin received a Bachelor of Science from Shandong University and later received her Master and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Houston Graduate School of Theology (HGST). She served as Registrar and International Advisor Assistant at HGST for seven years before coming to UH in March 2002. Since then, she has served as an International Student Counselor, SEVIS Compliance Coordinator; and now is serving as ISSSO Associate Director. She greatly enjoys her services to international students and scholars as well as UH campus communities.

 

Ida Thompson is a native Texan with roots in Kerrville, Texas. She is an International Student Counselor who also serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) for the F-1 program and as an Alternate Responsible Officer for the J-1 program. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Houston and is pursuing a Master’s in Nonprofit Management. Mrs. Thompson previously worked in Graduate Admissions at Houston Baptist University for seven years where she was responsible for advising, recruitment, admissions, planning, program development, and locating scholarships opportunities for international students. She served as a mentor and advisor to the newly created International Student Association and liaison to the graduate program directors on international education issues. She enjoys helping others from diverse backgrounds and cultures throughout the broader community and the world. As a member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, she served as Chair of a workshop entitled, Mysteries of Methodology: A New Look for Placement Recommendations at NAFSA: AIE Region III. Her cheerful personality has been a great addition to the staff.

Lia Verhoef has been with ISSSO since 1993 and has been employed at UH since 1983. She was born in Holland, lived in Curacao for 15 years, and came to the U.S. in 1982. Lia became a U.S. citizen in 1996. She speaks Dutch, German, and some French. She has also traveled extensively in Western Europe, the Caribbean, China, Nigeria, and the U.S.

Emily Estill graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas in May of 1996, and has worked as Office Assistant in the ISSSO since January of 1997. She majored in Spanish at Trinity and spent the spring semester of her junior year in Seville, Spain, where she gained first-hand experience with the Spanish language and culture. Her international travels have also included a tour through Great Britain and trip to Merida, Mexico.