Staff Directory

How to Contact Us

WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning is open Monday through Friday between 8:00 A.M and 4:30 P.M. and is located on Bert Fish Drive, in the row of houses across from the pool and Rinker parking lot. 

Individual contact information should be only used for administrative purposes. If you are a prospective international, study abroad or exchange student, please use our contact form. Otherwise, please direct your inquiry to one of the following email addresses, depending on your needs:

Paula Hentz

Senior International Officer & Director of Global Initiatives
Phone: 386-822-7012 | Email: [email protected] | Set up a meeting with Paula

As the director, Paula serves as senior international officer for the DeLand campus and principal advisor on comprehensive campus internationalization. She provides leadership of WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning and campus internationalization initiatives. She facilitates strategic global partnerships and provides administrative oversight of the international student exchange and study abroad programs, international faculty exchange and faculty development, and the international learning scholarship program.

Paula is originally from Wisconsin and earned her bachelor's degree in African American studies and history from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, and her master's degree in counseling and personnel services (focusing on college student personnel) from the University of Maryland- College Park. During her time at UW- Madison, she spent an academic year studying abroad at the University of Warwick in England, and following her graduation, spent a year teaching English in South Korea. Her interests include traveling, reading, and watching movies. She has been a member of the WORLD team since July 2012.

Melanie Smith 

Assistant Director of International Learning Programs
Phone: 386-822-8166 | Email: [email protected] | Set up a meeting with Melanie

Melanie works directly with faculty and students to enhance the study abroad experience for both parties. In her role for WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning and campus internationalization initiatives, she assists with virtual, course inclusion and international programs to ensure academic rigor is met and measured.

Melanie has not only been in the international education field for almost a decade, she too was an exchange student in her undergraduate program at Webster University in Leiden, Holland. Her passion for study abroad stems from her own experience and the need for equity in all higher education opportunities. 

Liz Lew

International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator
Phone: 386-822-7412 | Email: [email protected] | Set up a meeting with Liz

Liz is the primary advisor for all F-1 visa-holding students at Stetson University, as well as for our visiting international scholars. F-1 students should meet with Liz for any questions regarding their immigration status/rules, CPT, OPT, or if they need academic or cultural support during their time at Stetson.

Since 1994, Liz has been in higher education fundraising and alumni relations. In 2022, she changed course and started working with international students. She has her undergraduate degree from Florida International University and MBA from Boston College. She is married to Greg Lew, a professor in the School of Business Administration.

Susanne Koerbel

Admin Support
Phone: 386-822-7188 | Email: [email protected] 

Susanne is the administrative support at WORLD. Before she joined the team she worked as Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff at a start-up in Phoenix. 

She went to school in Germany and Turkey and has a law degree from Albert-Ludwig University in Germany. She has been living in the States since 2017. Working at WORLD is right up her alley.