About Us
At the College of Education Office of International Programs, we are dedicated to providing global fieldwork participants with the best resources and support through expertise, mentorship, and a shared passion for education. Our program leaders are committed to ensuring a unique and valuable learning experience in each destination and bring to the table their own backgrounds in teaching abroad, studying abroad, and traveling.
Dr. Allison Witt is the Director of International Programs in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she teaches Global Studies in Education and is the Program Leader for the International Education Administration and Leadership program. Allison is a former Assistant Director of Academic Affairs at the Illinois Board of Higher Education, where she contributed to state higher education policy in Illinois. She is the author of Shifting Tides in Global Higher Education (2011) published by Peter Lang. Allison earned a Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has worked in international education for over 20 years, now with particular interest in internationalizing teacher education. Teaching Assistant Professor Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership.
Dr. Wei Liu is the Associate Director of International Programs. Dr. Liu teaches CI 499 and EDUC 499 study abroad courses. These courses introduce comparative education inquiry and provide space to consider the cultural, political, and ethical implications of engaging in education travel and research in cross-cultural, global contexts. Dr. Liu earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her current research focuses on teachers' conceptualizations across cultures from a cultural psychological perspective.