IPO Staff

Erin Kane

Co-Director of International Programs
Senior Study Away Advisor
erin.kane@augie.edu
605.274.4046

Erin Kane earned a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies from Iowa State University in 2004. She completed a master's in school counseling from South Dakota State University in 2007. For five years, Kane worked as an elementary school counselor in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. In 2012, she joined the International Programs Office. Kane has studied abroad as an undergraduate in Australia and France. She continues to travel and enjoys learning about culture.

Erin Kane

Heather Reed

Co-Director of International Programs
Senior International Student Advisor, PDSO
heather.reed@augie.edu
605.274.5519

Heather Reed began working in the International Programs Office in January 2018. She credits her time working and studying in Japan and the U.K. for her ability to effectively support international students at Augustana and her enthusiasm for intercultural exchange. Reed earned a B.A. in history and government from Lawrence University in 2002. After college, she participated in the Japan Exchange Teaching Program from 2002-05. She earned an M.A. in secondary education from Johns Hopkins University in 2008. Reed worked as an English teacher at Roosevelt High School for three years, with duties that included teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and advising the newspaper. Reed has traveled to more than 20 countries and continues to travel abroad with her three boys and husband.

Heather Reed

Donn Grinager

Director of International Admission
donn.grinager@augie.edu
605.274.5540

Donn Grinager served Augustana for 26 years from 1992-2018 as director of international programs. From 2018-23, Grinager worked in the tech industry providing consulting services to major electronics manufacturers for their global regulatory compliance obligations. He returned to Augustana in October 2023 as the director of international admission with a focused role on recruiting the next cohort of young talent to the university from all over the world. Prior to joining Augustana in 1992, Donn and his wife, Kristin, lived and worked in Japan for two years teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) within the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). Grinager's first international life experience was serving as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer and worked as a fisheries extension agent in Nanupatti, Janakpur-dam, Nepal. Grinager and his wife have two daughters, Nicole '17 and Abbie.

Donn Grinager

Liz Fossum '23

Assistant Director of International Admission
International Admission Counselor
liz.fossum@augie.edu
605.274.5250

Liz Fossum grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota, and recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Augustana University, studying communication studies, media studies and international studies. During her time as a student, she took advantage of the many study-away opportunities at Augustana. Fossum spent a semester in the Eternal City of Rome as well as a month traveling Guatemala with fellow classmates. Fossum cherished being involved in the international student community on Augustana’s campus and made many lifelong friends that she plans to visit all around the world. Her love for traveling endures, as she has a passion for meeting new people and learning about different cultures. Fossum enjoys listening to live music, hiking, crocheting and any excuse to spend time outdoors.

Liz Fossum '23

Kelsey Thomas '16

Assistant Director of International Programs 
International Student Advisor
kelsey.thomas@augie.edu
605.274.4048

Kelsey Thomas grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and graduated from Augustana in 2016 with majors in modern foreign languages and Spanish. While a student at AU, she studied abroad in Ecuador, Cuba and Germany, and was inducted into Sigma Delta Pi — National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. She was heavily involved with the Augustana International Club and ACE Ambassador Program, and still enjoys traveling to different countries to visit the life-long friends who she made while she was a student. After graduating, Thomas moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she completed a year of service with AmeriCorps. She has worked for several non-profit organizations, including Pillsbury United Communities (Minnesota) and the Sioux Falls YMCA before returning to Augustana in 2021 to join the International Programs Office. Thomas enjoys hiking and camping, painting and spending quality time with her dog and cat.

Kelsey Thomas '16

Umaima Koch

International Student & Study Away Advisor
umaima.koch@augie.edu
605.274.5050

Umaima Koch earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and political science from South Dakota State University in 2018, and learned about effects of U.S.-Mexico foreign policy and trade on agriculture, health and (im)migration while studying abroad in Guanajuato, Mexico. Koch worked in the social justice/immigration advocacy non-profit space for three years in various roles before joining the Augustana International Programs Office (IPO) in 2021. Koch enjoys cultural/ethnic and gender studies, making poetry and supporting diversity and inclusion programs on campus.

Umaima Koch

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