- Todd M. Beard, Director, English Language Institute
- Will Jennings, Faculty Director of Global Learning and Student Impact
- Rachel Rui, Director, Global Research, Innovation, and Partnerships
- Kate Scott, Director, Programs Abroad Office
- William Vittetoe, Director, Office of International Student and Scholar Services
- Lauren Wood, Director, Office of International House
Todd M. Beard
Todd M. Beard, Director
English Language Institute
Todd has been in education for over 20 years, teaching and leading programs in the USA, Germany and the UK. Before coming to UT Knoxville, he was the director for an intensive English program at a private higher education institution in Nashville, Tennessee. His strengths are with ideation, innovation and being a catalyst for strategic change. He enjoys taking action in areas to stimulate growth and learning that elevate the student experience. He has led presentations, program development and student recruitment in Europe, Central America and South America. Actively involved in international education, he has served on the NAFSA Region VII Leadership Team as the International Enrollment Management Liaison, the board of Study Tennessee as co-chair and as a member-at-large on the TNTESOL board. Todd is excited to welcome students at the English Language Institute!
Will Jennings
Will Jennings, Faculty Director
Faculty Director of Global Learning and Student Impact
As a lecturer of political science for over 20 years, Will Jennings has introduced countless students to global education opportunities. Jennings’ own global education began with Greek history studies abroad at the University of North Carolina, expanding as a Ph.D. student at the University of South Carolina through fieldwork in Africa.
Since 2003, Jennings has taught African Politics, globalization and comparative government to over 8,000 UT undergraduates in over 120 classes. He has been recognized as an outstanding teacher by numerous organizations including UT’s Panhellenic Council, the College of Arts and Sciences, the UT Alumni Association, and the American Political Science Association.
He frequently integrates international experiences into his teaching, from training elementary school teachers in South Sudan in 2007 to leading UT’s Honors and Scholars Program at Cambridge University in 2023. Notably, he was named an Inaugural Teaching Fellow by the Howard H. Baker School for Public Policy in 2022 and was appointed co-chair of the UT Faculty Senate’s Teaching and Learning Council in 2021-2022.
In his role as Faculty Director for Global Learning and Student Impact he will focus his efforts on enhancing curriculum to include global learning opportunities, creating holistic student growth, initiating global collaborations and connecting Tennessee to the world.
Rachel Rui
Rachel Rui, Director
Global Research, Innovation, and Partnerships
Rachel Rui serves as the director for the Office of Asia Engagement and the Office of Communications. As the communications director, her responsibilities include strategic planning and execution of communication strategies to enhance UT’s global presence and provide services to CGE units. Her work at OAE focuses on collaborating with campus partners to develop and execute innovative programs that contribute to global learning, research, and service opportunities. Rui came to UT as an international student and obtained her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Communication and Information from UT. Before coming to UT, she worked as an international journalist in Beijing, China for the Associated Press TV News. Rui is recently recognized as Volunteer 40 under 40 class of 2023.
Kate Scott
Kate Scott, Director
Programs Abroad Office
Kate’s passion for international education really took root when she taught at an international elementary school in Khartoum, Sudan, for three years after graduating with her undergraduate degree in elementary education. She returned to the United States and continued her professional trajectory in international education by pursuing a master’s degree in TESOL while teaching in an ESL program at Saginaw Valley State University. During her tenure at SVSU, she served as the assistant director and then the director of the English Language Program. Under Kate’s leadership, the English Language Program achieved specialized accreditation through CEA, the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation. Her last role at SVSU was Director of International Education, which encompassed oversight of education abroad programs, inbound short-term international programs and a community outreach for local elementary school students called ‘Passport to the World’ which focused on introducing global competencies through interactions with SVSU international students.
Kate is passionate about international education and is looking forward to working collaboratively with partners across campus to enhance students’ agency to engage in the global community, invoking a life-long obligation to global citizenry as an integral part of the Volunteer experience.
William Vittetoe, Director
Office of International Student and Scholar Services
William serves as the Director of International Student and Scholar Services. He has worked in multiple areas of campus internationalization. His approach emphasizes a perspective that values campus partnerships, synergy of efforts, and the utilization of technical efficiencies in order to create the greatest level of personal access and support to students and scholars. His experience has taught him that the greatest support to students is the creation of meaningful and tangible relationships that guide and encourage them as they pursue their educational goals.
Lauren Wood, Director
International House
Lauren Wood serves as Director for International House.
