Meet Our Staff
Dr. Jennifer Fernandez-Villa, Director
Dr. Jennifer Fernandez-Villa has served as the director of the Office of International Students & Scholars for nearly two decades. Prior to joining UNCW, Jennifer worked at the Center for International Faculty & Student Services at Rutgers University.
Jennifer has served on the NAFSA Region VII board, served as chair of the North Carolina Association of International Educators, and enjoys giving presentations and trainings at conferences. Jennifer earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UNCW, a Master's in Global Affairs from Rutgers, and a Bachelor's in Spanish from New York University. While attending NYU, Jennifer studied in Madrid, Spain for a year and Florence, Italy for a summer.
Jennifer was born in Athens, Greece to an American father and English mother and is married to a Spaniard, with whom she has three children. Jennifer feels privileged to work towards expanding UNCW's global footprint and loves getting to know students and scholars from around the world as they settle into their new life in the USA.
Contact Dr. Fernandez-Villa
Franziska Neumann, Assistant Director (H-1B, LPR & J-1 Scholar Advisor)
Franziska (Franzi) Neumann serves Faculty and Scholars as the Assistant Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Originally from Italy, Franzi relocated to Wilmington three years ago to further her career and build a life on the coast. Franzi graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, with a degree in Human Services and a concentration in Special Education. She later attended Suffolk University Law School and focused on working in the nonprofit sector.
Balancing her professional aspirations and personal life, she is also a dedicated parent to her daughter, Mia. Franzi comes from a family of educators and is eager to bring her expertise in immigration law to a new role where she can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families navigating the complexities of immigration.
Contact Franziska
Audrey Richardson, Assistant Director (F-1 Advisor)
Audrey Richardson serves degree-seeking F-1 students as the Assistant Director of the Office of International Students & Scholars. Audrey earned her Master’s degree in Linguistics from Boğaziçi University (Istanbul, Turkey) and her Bachelor’s in University Scholars from Baylor University. Before joining UNCW, Audrey served as a DSO and ARO at the University of Texas at Tyler.
Audrey has previously lived, studied, and worked in several countries: she met her husband in India, attended grad school in Turkey, and taught SAT prep in South Korea. She enjoys experiencing new cultures, learning languages, and tasting all the curries the world has to offer.
After moving back home to the United States, Audrey was quickly drawn to the field of international education, where she feels fortunate to connect with students from around the world each day and support them as they navigate academic programs, visa regulations, and life in a new country.
Contact Audrey
Riley Brooks, Assistant Director of International Admissions
Riley Brooks serves prospective international students and applicants as the Assistant Director of International Admissions. Riley earned her Master’s degree in Leadership and Management from Notre Dame of Maryland University and her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Towson University.
During her undergraduate program, Riley studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland. After graduation, Riley moved back to Ireland where she worked for an international marketing company. After returning to the States, Riley pursued a career in higher education where she has worked in international, undergraduate, graduate, and law school admissions.
Riley returned to her North Carolina roots to work with international students interested in an education at UNCW. Riley believes in the power of a diversified higher education and enjoys working with a wide range of student populations to help pursue their academic goals.
Contact Riley
Trevor LaClair, Assistant Director (J-1 Visiting and Exchange Student Advisor)
Trevor LaClair serves international students and scholars as an Assistant Director in the Office of International Students & Scholars at UNCW. He brings over a decade of experience in higher education, international programming, and student support, with a background in academic advising, communication, and cross-cultural engagement.
Prior to joining UNCW, Trevor lived and worked in Japan, where he owned and operated an English language school, developing curriculum, advising students on educational pathways, and building long-term community partnerships. He has also held roles in graduate academic advising and communication instruction at Hawai‘i Pacific University.
Trevor holds a Master of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Media and Culture and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He is passionate about supporting students through academic transitions and helping them navigate the academic, cultural, and personal aspects of studying in the United States.
