IPO Overview

Mission
The mission of the Internaional Programs Office is to make Texas A&M University a truly international university by infusing a global perspective in its teaching, research, and public service programs.

As the central office responsible for coordinating Texas A&M University’s international activity, the International Programs Office (IPO) has the mission of integrating a global perspective into the teaching, research, and public service programs of the University and reaching the goals of diversity and globalization imperatives of Vision 2020. IPO’s overall strategic goal is to make Texas A&M University one of the most internationally oriented of the ten best public universities in the United States.

IPO is composed of seven units. Click on a unit's name below for more information:

• European Union Center for Excellence
  The Texas A&M; University European Union Center of Excellence is one of 10 EU Centers that receive funding support from the European Commission to form a Network of European Union Centers in the United States. Established to promote the objectives of the New Transatlantic Agenda, the Center is intended to enhance understanding and knowledge of the European Union. The primary goal of the EU Center is to increase awareness of the political, economic and cultural importance of the relationship between the United States and the European Union.
  
  Johan Lembke, Director
  (979) 845-6700
  Website
  
  
  
• International Programs for Students
  Providing students both here and from abroad with a wide range of educational experiences is the mission of the International Programs for Students Office. It is accomplished both through academic and professional training and by creating a global awareness through on and off-campus programs. International Programs for Students is comprised of three offices: International Student Services, Sponsored Student Programs and Study Abroad Programs.
  
  Suzanne Droleskey, Executive Director
  (979) 848-3575
  Website
  
  
  
  • International Student Services
    More than 3,000 international students from 120 countries attend Texas A&M; each year. International Student Services is the primary information source for federal regulations governing non-immigrant student visas, travel, financial assistance, orientation, and the local community. Assistance and counseling on a variety of matters including employment, immigration, U.S. income taxes, scholarships, personal matters, health insurance and medical issues are also available at this office.
    
    Margit Garay, Assistant Director
    (979) 845-1824
    Website
    
    
    
  • Santa Chiara Study Center
    The Santa Chiara Study Center in Italy is the University’s focal point in Europe, hosting academic programs year-round.
    
    Paolo Barucchhieri, Director
    (979) 845-0544
    Website
    
    
    
  • Sponsored Student Programs
    Students who come to Texas A&M; sponsored by governments, businesses or other agencies are among the best and brightest international students studying at Texas A&M.; In addition to facilitating academic program development, Sponsored Student Programs provides these international students special assistance with admission, pre-arrival information, academic program arrangements and billing, and liaison services with various entities.
    
    Violetta Burke Cook, Director
    (979)845-2550
    Website
    
    
    
  • Study Abroad Programs Office
    About 1000 Texas A&M; students participate in international education opportunities each year. These activities include academic programs, volunteer positions, internships and exchange programs around the world. The Academy for Future International Leaders, coordinated through Study Abroad Programs provides a credit-bearing seminar for 18 outstanding Texas A&M; students.
    
    (979) 845-0544
    Website
    
    
    
• International Faculty and Scholar Services
  International Faculty and Scholar Services assists University departments and System components in successfully obtaining and maintaining the appropriate immigration status for international faculty, scholars and staff to allow for their employment at Texas A&M; University and System components.
  
  Mario Rojo del Busto, Director
  (979)862-1719
  Website
  
  
  
• Institute for Pacific Asia
  The Institute for Pacific Asia (IPA) works with the academic units to create and manage long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with nations in the Pacific Rim, Asia and the South Pacific through collaborative research opportunities, faculty and student exchanges and various support programs stressing science, technology, business and economic development. IPA encourages research, scholarship and service with an international focus on Asia and promotes cultural awareness regarding the region. IPA also serves as an advocate for all University activities related to the Pacific Asia.
  
  Randy Kluver, Director
  (979) 845-3099
  Website
  
  
  
• Office of International Outreach
  The Office of International Outreach serves as the educational outreach arm of IPO offering resources for Texas A&M; students, the community and Texas school teachers. The Center also facilitates international exchange by providing protocol assistance and by coordinating and archiving formal agreements between Texas A&M; and institutions around the world, facilitates faculty development with workshops, annual grant programs with $45,000 in funds for research, travel and curriculum development.
  
  Linda Edwards, Director
  (979) 862-6700
  Website
  
  
  
• Office of Latin American Programs
  The Office for Latin American Programs assists in identifying academic, research and outreach opportunities in Latin America. Working with academic units, OLAP facilitates research and education collaborations and opportunities for faculty and students.
  
  Gabriel Carranza, Director
  (979) 845-3367
  
  Website
  
  
  
  • Mexico Center
    The Texas A&M; Mexico City Center serves as headquarters for cooperative projects with Mexican institutions and government agencies. It is also the focal point for activities linking former students and business executives from Mexico, Texas, and throughout Central and South America.
    
    Teresa Hurtado, Director
    011-525-55-546-8899
    Website
    
    
    
• Qatar Support Office
  The Qatar Support office was established in 2003 to provide relocation, resettlement and reentry assistance to Texas A&M; University at Qatar employees. It serves as the recruitment coordinator for faculty and staff to the Qatar campus and serves as the operational liaison between the Texas A&M; University College Station campus and the Qatar campus.
  
  Susan Williamson, Director
  (979) 845-2295
  Website
  
  
  

The University currently has formal research agreements with more than 100 institutions in 45 countries. It enrolls over 3,700 international students from about 120 countries, and is ranked 13th in the nation in the number of international students enrolled (Institute for International Education's Open Doors report). It sends over 1,200 students on study abroad programs to about 40 countries each year. It maintains two overseas centers in Italy and in Mexico City and has participated in more than 600 research and development projects over 80 countries. Texas A&M operates a branch campus in Doha, Qatar offering four undergraduate engineering degrees in Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical and Petroleum engineering. In addition, two research centers and graduate programs will soon be established at the Qatar campus. The University is also a part of the network of 27 federally funded national centers for International Business Education and Research, maintains an Office for Latin American programs and an Institute for Pacific Asia and has received funding from the European Commission (E.C.) to establish one of the 10 European Union Centers of Excellence in the United States.