What We Do

Meet the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) team and learn how we support you throughout your experience as a RISD international student.

In International Student and Scholar Affairs, we support and advocate for RISD’s international community by providing advice and guidance to prospective, incoming and current students and scholars, as well as those who have recently graduated or completed their work at RISD.

We are happy to help students and scholars with any questions you may have as you get ready to join our campus community. In particular, we offer advice in the following areas:

  • F and J immigration compliance
  • Cultural and language adjustment and transition
  • Navigating US systems (Social Security, IRS/taxes, Division of Motor Vehicles, etc.)

Our team works to connect you with academic, logistic, social and cultural resources to support your success while studying, researching or teaching at RISD. We feel fortunate to work with people from around the world and for our amazing, global campus community.

Our team

headshot of a woman by a red painting
AMY ANDREA IGLESIAS

Assistant Director, Operations

401 454-6381

aiglesia@risd.edu 

headshot of a man in a blue shirt
JASON SERRANO

Assistant Director 

401 277-4824

jserrano@risd.edu 

woman against brown background
KATHLEEN RAMCHARRAN

International Student Advisor

401 454-6207

kramchar@risd.edu 

J-1 visa questions? Contact us.

If you have questions about the J-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor process, or need J-1 assistance, email us at issa@risd.edu. More information about the J-1 will be available on this website soon, so be sure to check back regularly.

 

Email us for J-1 help

Contact Us

If you need have questions about navigating your F-1 or J-1 status, please email us at issa@risd.edu or call 401 277-4957.