Yimin Wang, associate director of the Office of International Studies and Programs (OISP), has been named executive director of INTO Illinois State University, effective July 16. Wang will lead the development of the newly launched INTO ISU Center, as part of the University’s collaboration with INTO University Partnerships.

image of Yimin Wang

Yimin Wang

Wang has served as associate director of OISP since January 2016. Her previous experience includes serving as associate director of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and as a cultural immersion program manager at the National Institute of Education of Singapore. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Lanzhou University in China, a master’s degree in cultural and East Asian studies from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and a doctoral degree in international and comparative education from Indiana University.

“Yimin Wang brings deep knowledge of international education from the smallest details of visa regulations to the development of mutually beneficial partnerships with top-tier universities abroad,” said Provost Jan Murphy.  “Her familiarity with Illinois State will be an asset as she takes on this new challenge.”

“Many people at both ISU and INTO have worked hard during the past two years to make this partnership happen. I am privileged and humbled to be selected to lead the INTO ISU Center,” said Wang. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the colleges, academic departments, and administrative units on campus to recruit, educate, and graduate more international students and to further internationalize ISU.”

The INTO Illinois State University joint venture’s mission is to enhance campus diversity and increase international enrollment. The INTO ISU Center will provide academic pathway programs for international students to improve their English language comprehension while preparing them to be successful, degree-seeking students at the University. The Academic English, International Year One, and Graduate Pathway programs developed through this partnership will be taught by Illinois State faculty with admissions decisions determined by the University.