BOONE—Dr. Maria Anastasiou has been named executive director of the Office of International Education and Development (OIED) at Appalachian State University. Anastasiou came to Appalachian in June 2014 as director of international student and scholar services and outreach in OIED. She was appointed OIED executive director April 1.

“As a former international student and Fulbright Scholar from Cyprus, I have first-hand experience with various facets of international education,” Anastasiou said. “I look forward to developing and coordinating a team approach with other departments on campus to provide the best service and support possible to the Appalachian community as we continue to engage globally as well as support the Quality Enhancement Plan ‘Global Learning: A World of Opportunity for Appalachian Students’ implementation.”

Prior to coming to Appalachian, Anastasiou was director of international programs at the University of South Carolina (USC) Aiken. In a “one-person-office,” she was responsible for all aspects of international activities on campus. Anastasiou has been involved in international scholar programs since her graduate training at the University of South Carolina, where she initially served as a research fellow for the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies.

She also was an administrative program director of the Fulbright American Studies Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy. Previously, Anastasiou served as the European Program Officer for Frederick University in Cyprus. In that capacity, she facilitated student and professional exchanges and development through the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Program and the International Association of Exchange of Students for Technical Experience programs.

Anastasiou has Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in international studies from the University of South Carolina and a B.A. degree in economics and international studies from UNC Chapel Hill as a Fulbright scholar.

“I am very excited that Maria has assumed one of the top leadership positions in the OIED team,” said Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international education and development. “She brings a wealth of leadership experience and knowledge in international experience. She has a high energy level, enthusiasm and orientation to details, which are greatly needed in her new position. Maria also brings fresh ideas on how we can work collaboratively with academic departments and non-academic units on campus to help us move the university’s internationalization agenda forward.”

Anastasiou fills a position that has been open for a while within OIED and will be a great help to the associate vice chancellor for international education and development who travels abroad frequently.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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