Staff
Christian Montesinos
- Director of International Programs and Services
- cmontesi@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2160
- Administration Building 200
More About Christian
- Christian was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- He is a licensed Immigration attorney and also an Adjunct professor teaching Immigration Law and Asylum and Refugee Protection to law students. He joined IPS as their Director in 2024.
- Christian also loves to read and spend time with his dog.
Specialties
- Primary Designated School Official (DSO)
- Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
- Student support
- F-1 student advisor
- J-1 scholar advisor
- SEVIS administrator
- Fluent in Spanish
Machel Borsum
- Manager of International Student and Scholar Services
- machel@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2160
- Administration Building 202
More About Machel
- Machel joined Michigan Technological University in 2014 and currently serves as the Manager of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
- In her free time, Machel likes to travel, spend time with family, and enjoy the great outdoors. Over the years, Machel has become the American mom to numerous students. If you ever need a shoulder to lean on or a hug, Machel will make sure she's available.
Specialties
- Designated School Official
- F-1 Student Advisor
- Curricular Practical Training
- 12 Month Optional Practical Training
- 24 Month Optional Practical Training STEM Field Extension
- Email opt@mtu.edu -- for all OPT related needs
Mariana Nakashima
- Senior Administrative Aide
- mnakashi@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2160
- Administration Building 200
More About Mariana
- Mariana joined the International Programs and Services Department in April 2023.
- Having lived the experience of an international Latina student, studying engineering at a highly-ranked R2 institution, she understands the many obstacles and challenges students are facing and she hopes to help fight those obstacles and challenges.
- In her spare time, she enjoys painting, riding her bike, walking her dog on the trails, kayaking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
- She likes reading about architecture, art movements and her favorite artists are Yayoi Kusama and Georgia O'Keeffe.
Specialties
- Designated School Official
- Events and activities organizer
- Immigration documentation processing
- Fluent in Spanish
Casey Nelson
- Manager, Study Away and Abroad
- studyabroad@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2876
- Administration Building 200
More about Casey
- Casey is originally from the UP town of Norway, MI and graduated from MTU in 2018 with a degree in Communication, Culture, and Media and minors in International Spanish and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
- As an MTU student, Casey studied abroad for a semester in the Dominican Republic and a semester in South Korea.
- Prior to joining IPS in the Summer of 2023, Casey previously worked as a Study Abroad Advisor at the University of Mississippi and the University of Georgia.
Specialties
- Manages MTU's outbound study away programs and partnerships, including Faculty-Led, Exchange, and 3rd-Party
- Oversees the nomination processes for incoming exchange students
- Serves as liaison for exchange partnerships
Jamie Sertich
- International Student and Scholar Advisor
- jasertic@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2160
- Administration Building 200
More About Jamie
- Jamie graduated from Michigan Technological University in 2019
- She joined the International Programs and Services Department in October 2020
- In her free time, Jamie enjoys spending time with friends and family, and loves enjoying the beauty of the Upper Peninsula.
Specialties
- Designated School Official (DSO)
- Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
- SEVIS registration
- Immigration documentation processing
- F-1 student advisor
- J-1 scholar advisor
Student Staff
Joseph Halcombe
- Student Office Assistant
More About Joe
-
Joe is a third year here at Michigan Tech studying Computer Science and he is from Stevensville, MI.
- He mostly assists with greeting arrivals, OPT documentation, website editing, and general questions.
- He loves indoor activites like reading, running, and hiking.
Koushik Srivastav Lala
- Student Office Assistant
More About Koushik
- Koushik is a Final year student here at Michigan Tech pursuing his master's degree in Data Science and he is from Hyderabad, India.
- He assists with website editings, OPT documentation, new arrivals, and handling general queries.
- He love dogs and exploring different places.
- Fluent in Hindi, Telugu
Frank Ofosu
- Student Office Assistant
More About Frank
- Frank, a first-year master's student in Health Informatics, hails from Sunyani, Ghana. With a strong passion for leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery, he is committed to advancing innovative solutions in the field of health informatics.
- During his tenure as Vice President of the Student Representative Council, he spearheaded the development and implementation of transformative policies that enriched both the academic and social experiences of students on campus. His initiatives fostered collaboration among diverse student groups, enhanced access to academic resources, and promoted vibrant campus activities, leaving a lasting impact on his alma mater.
- Beyond academics and leadership, Frank is an adventurous spirit who enjoys road trips, outdoor exploration, and engaging with nature. A passionate dancer, he thrives on expressing creativity and connecting with others through movement.