Dr. Eva Wong is New Director of ISSP
Dr. Eva D. Wong Photo by Stephen Salpukas
The Reves Center for International Studies at William & Mary has announced that Eva Wong, PhD. has been appointed the new Director of International Students, Scholars & Programs (ISSP). Wong has been the Assistant Director for International Programs since 2015. She succeeds Stephen Sechrist, who left William & Mary over the summer to move to Germany with his family.
The ISSP office interacts with approximately 1,200 students, scholars, alumni and dependents annually. William & Mary currently has nearly 800 international students enrolled, evenly divided between graduate and undergraduate students, across multiple disciplines and professional schools. They represent more than 60 countries. NAFSA: Association of International Educators (the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange), estimates that international students at William & Mary generate $35.9 million and support 538 jobs in our region.
“We conducted a competitive, national search for a successor to Steve Sechrist, and were delighted to realize that the best candidate had been here all along,” said Stephen E. Hanson, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Director of the Reves Center. “Wong’s impact and vision are felt in every aspect of the lives, education and careers of William & Mary’s international students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars, and their families.”
Wong joined the Reves staff in 2010 as an International Student & Scholar Advisor and in five years was promoted to Assistant Director. In that new role she continued to advise students, scholars and W&M offices but has also developed and executed a vision for the programming, advocacy, and outreach goals of ISSP.
“I am honored to serve William & Mary’s international community as the new Director of ISSP. During my time at Reves, we have been successful at what we do by building collaborative relationships with campus partners and external agencies. One of my priorities would be to continue to strengthen and grow those relationships,” Wong said. “As the institution moves toward a new strategic plan, I also look forward to supporting the university's internationalization efforts by continuing to attract diverse talents to W&M and making sure that the campus is a welcoming place to all.”
Wong has planned and oversees the international student orientation programs and works closely with campus partners in Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and external organizations to develop collaborative programming to support the international community. Wong has provided support and guidance to DACA students and “Third Culture Kids” and has developed workshops and resources to assist William & Mary faculty and staff in their advising and work with international students and scholars.
Wong has extensive experience in immigration and advises international students, scholars, and W&M departments and offices on F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant regulations as well as related regulatory matters.
Wong has assisted in the development of an international alumni engagement plan and founded the William & Mary International Student Advisory Board.
Well respected in her field internationally, Wong has also established herself at William & Mary as a knowledgeable, professional and compassionate member of the campus community. She has served on the Women’s Network Executive Committee since 2015 and currently serves as Co-chair. Wong serves on the Honor System Advisory Committee, Student Conduct and Honor Appeals Board and Diversity Collective. Wong is also active in William & Mary’s Women’s Mentoring Program.
Wong received her PhD in Education, Cultural Perspectives and Comparative Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and both her M.A. in Education, Counseling and Student Services and her B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fresno.
Wong was born in Malaysia and now resides in Williamsburg, where she lives with her husband Max Katz, Associate Professor of Music (Ethnomusicology), their daughter Ella, and their Labrador puppy, Clovis.
