The IC Team
The IC Team
The International Center Team
Gokhan Alkanat
Associate Provost for International Education
Email: alkanat@rowan.edu
Phone: +1 (856) 256-4292
Gokhan Alkanat is the Associate Provost for International Education at Rowan University. As the chief international officer, Dr. Alkanat oversees International Student and Scholar Services, Education Abroad, international partnerships, and English Language Program. Before joining Rowan, Dr. Alkanat served as Assistant Provost for Global Initiatives at Auburn University at Montgomery
Originally from Turkey, Dr. Alkanat received his undergraduate degree in English Language Teaching from Anadolu University in 2000, his Master’s degree in TESOL from Troy University in 2004, and his PhD in Administration of Higher Education from Auburn University in 2011. Linguistics and Management were his favorite subjects.
Dr. Alkanat cares about equal opportunities for all children, human rights, gender equality, and cultural appreciation.
Zahia Obeid
International Scholar and Student Adviser
Email: obeid@rowan.edu
Phone: +1 (856) 256-4999
Zahia Obeid is the International Exchange Visitor Specialist at Rowan University. As Responsible Officer (RO) for the J-Visa Program and Designated School Official (DSO), Zahia provides visa support for all international students and scholars. She also advises university faculty, staff, and visiting scholars on SEVIS guidelines and regulations to ensure legal status in the United States. Furthermore, she provides support services to the entire International Exchange Community (B1/B2 Visa, Training, etc.) at Rowan University’s Glassboro and Stratford campuses, assisting with background checks, orientation, student move-in, Rowan Network arrangements and any other services needed for students and scholars to settle in at Rowan.
Zahia is originally from Venezuela. She holds a BS with a few credits short of a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering. She is certified as an ISO 9000-9001 and was in charge of implementing new Quality Control procedures in Venezuela’s National Oil Company, PDVSA. She also studied Global Business as part of Drexel University’s English Program. Before joining the International Center, she was part of the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) at Rowan University, where she was in charge of the Conditional Admission Program and assisted students with their IELP application process. Zahia is fluent in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Katelyn Sullivan
International Student Adviser
Email: sullivankm@rowan.edu
Phone: +1 (856) 256-4995
Katelyn Sullivan is the International Student Adviser of the International Center. Kate advises international students on a wide range of issues including immigration, social and cultural adjustments, and employment. She serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) which includes processing and advising new students regarding the Form I-20 and other immigration requests.
Kate is originally from Stratford, NJ. A proud Rowan alumna, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with dual Bachelor’s degrees in History and Philosophy & Religion and a minor in Anthropology in 2015. In 2013, she was awarded an offer from the UK Fulbright Summer Institute at the University of Exeter, where she had the opportunity to study Leadership, Environmental Sustainability, and Southwest England. She also studied Global & Imperial History with students from around the world as part of Exeter’s International Summer School. In 2019, Kate earned her Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration here at Rowan. She is currently pursuing a second Master's degree in Writing.
Laura Kahler
Advisor for Education Abroad
Email: kahler@rowan.edu
Phone: +1 (856) 256-4105
Laura Kahler is the Advisor for Education Abroad at Rowan University. Laura oversees the entire Study Abroad program at Rowan which includes all programs such as study abroad, interning abroad and/or volunteering abroad. Laura provides advisement on programs, courses and costs, while ensuring that students are traveling to safe locations on academically sound programs. Laura provides support services relating to study abroad specifically with advisement, orientation, credit transfer, visa support, and alumni support.
Laura graduated from The College of New Jersey and during her senior year she studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain. Laura was so impacted by her time overseas that she decided to pursue International Education as a career. Upon returning to the states, she applied for and got her first job with International Studies Abroad (ISA) in Austin, Texas as a University Relations Representative. Her primary focus was to work with universities in NJ, NY and PA to promote study abroad on campus and collaborate with Advisors and Faculty in expanding international programs offered by the university. After two and a half years, Laura landed her dream job as the Advisor for Education Abroad at Rowan University which brought her back to her home state of NJ in 2011. Several years later Laura still loves what she does and continues to provide advisement and guidance to students on choosing the best program abroad that will meet their academic, personal and professional goals.
Shannon Hurley
International Student Advisor
Email: hurleys@rowan.edu
Shannon Hurley is an International Student Advisor in the International Center at Rowan University. She advises international students on a wide range of issues post-admission to the university and guides them through the process of studying in the U.S. She serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) which includes processing and advising new students regarding the Form I-20 and other immigration requests.
Shannon graduated from the Honor’s College at Temple University with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Spanish Language. She then moved abroad to Valencia, Spain where she lived and worked for two years as an English Language Teacher and Cultural Assistant through the North American Language and Cultural Exchange program. After returning to the U.S., Shannon worked as a Contact Tracer for the state of Pennsylvania during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic where she was promoted to Team Lead and Training Coach. She is thrilled to have now joined the International Center team at Rowan University where she will be able to continue pursuing her passion for international education and intercultural communications. Shannon is fluent in Spanish, and hopes to soon pursue a Master’s degree in a field related to international education and global studies.
Chris Crean
International Student Adviser
Email: crean@rowan.edu
Phone: +1 (856) 256-5747
Christopher Crean is an International Student Adviser of the International Center. Chris advises international students on a wide range of issues including immigration, social and cultural adjustments, and employment. He serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) which includes processing and advising new students regarding the Form I-20 and other immigration requests.
Chris graduated from Camden County College in 2005 with an Associate’s degree in Literature, Philosophy, and the Arts. He went on to graduate from Rowan University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. In 2020, he completed his Master’s degree at Wilmington University in Organizational Leadership.
He began his career in higher education at Rowan College in Burlington County in 2011 in the registration office. He later went on to working in the academic advising department providing support for a diverse student population. He led different initiatives to support first generation, first year, and chosen name students. Chris started working at Rowan University in the International Center in 2023 and is excited to learn more from the students he supports as he assists them on their academic journey.
Francesca Muscelli
International Student Advisor
Email: muscelli@rowan.edu
Francesca serves as an International Advisor and Designated School Official (DSO), which includes processing and advising new students Form I-20 and other immigration requests.
Francesca graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education and from Saint Joseph’s University with a Master of Science degree in Education. In 2005, she started her career teaching ninth grade English at Washington Township High School and did so for eight years. Meanwhile, she also taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at night for many years at Rowan College at Burlington County. Starting in 2015, she began teaching post-secondary ESL and English courses at Wilmington University, along with teaching in the Intensive ESL program at Rowan University in spring of 2022. During this semester, she realized how much she hoped to continue her career working at Rowan University.
In Fall of 2022, she started her first advising position as an ESL Academic Advisor at Rowan College at Burlington County. Then, a few months later, she fulfilled her goal of being offered a position at Rowan University as an International Advisor.