Jessa Karki
Director of International Student Services
Biography
Jessa has a B.A. English Language and Literature and an MA in Teaching English As a Second Language (TESL) from Saint Michael’s College. Jessa Karki has been in the field of international education in the State of Vermont since 1992. She started as a Student Assistant at the School for International Studies in the second year of her undergraduate studies at Saint Michael’s College and fell in love with the field. She is the Director of the Office of International Student Services (OISS) at Champlain College.
In her current position, she is a one-person office for ISSS and an area expert in international admissions, recruitment, student services, and international alumni relations. She is responsible for the welfare, safety, and immigration advising of all international students, exchange students, and scholars at Champlain. She is the Principal Designated School Official and the Responsible Officer for the College. She also teaches a one-credit, 5-week course of her creation, specifically designed for new international and exchange students which delves into the complexities of U.S. academic writing and cultural norms/expectations.
She has presented at various NAFSA Regional and National conferences. She is a former NAFSA National and Region XI Co-Chair for the One Person Office Member Interest Group and NAFSA VT State Representative for NAFSA Region XI. She currently serves on the NAFSA Region XI GRAC (Government Regulations Advisory Committee) and is the National Co-Chair of the OPO Mentoring Committee.
Jessa lives with her 3 teenage children and her husband in Essex Junction, Vermont. In her free time, Jessa loves to walk, hike, and run. She especially loves hiking the U.S. National Parks and has visited 28 so far!
What are your hobbies?
Long-distance walking, hiking Vermont and the National Parks, and running
Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:
Chef’s Corner Table, Williston – hiking all seasons and spending time near, on, or in Lake Champlain.
