Kathy Foley

Since arriving at Middlebury in August 1997, Kathy has applied her communications and leadership skills to support our international community and engage in many of Middlebury’s diversity initiatives. 

Kathy currently serves as Executive Director of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) overseeing ISSS operations across the institution.  She leads the cross-institutional ISSS team to initiate, develop, and implement new policy, programs, and services to support our international population. Collaborating with colleagues in ISSS and other offices within the institution, Kathy strives to ensure that we continue to respond appropriately to the needs of our international students, staff, scholars, faculty, and their dependents. Kathy also contributes to the development of Middlebury’s international education activities and global initiatives. 

Through individual appointments, advising sessions, programs and services, Kathy and her staff assist international students, scholars, staff, and faculty with their transitions to campus, and help them make the most of their experiences at Middlebury College and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey, and in our other well-regarded academic and research programs. The ISSS team serves as a resource to the Middlebury College and MIIS communities regarding international student and scholar issues and non-immigrant visa regulations. Kathy is Middlebury’s Principle Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) in the U.S. government’s Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).  She also is an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Kathy earned her degrees from Dartmouth College (A.B. in English) and Stanford University (M.A. in Education). At Stanford, her academic program and her thesis work focused on international education administration and policy in higher education. Kathy has worked in higher education in admissions, student affairs, and international student and scholar services since 1992, after pursuing her first career in advertising. Kathy’s professional interests include cross-cultural and intercultural learning and communication, social justice and diversity issues, helping people move through life transitions, and team building.

Kathy values cross-cultural connections—experienced through international travel or within the U.S., and from her experience studying abroad in Germany during college and through a brief high school exchange experience in France.  She enjoys learning about cultures from around the world, travel, pursuing outdoor sports and activities in all seasons, and spending time with family and friends.