Meet the Staff

Rosemary Max
Executive Director, Global Engagement
[email protected]
(248) 370-3358

Alex Zimmerman 
Director, International Education
[email protected]
(248) 370-2843

Alex has been OU's Director of International Education since April 2016. Prior to coming to Michigan, he worked for four years as Study Abroad Coordinator at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and for one year as Project Manager at an Islamic interfaith organization in New York City. His international experience includes five years in South America, where he taught English in Argentina and Peru and had a fellowship from the Rotary Foundation to study microfinance and entrepreneurship in northern Peru, and a year in the Middle East where he directed a study abroad program for American high school students to learn Arabic in Amman, Jordan. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Chicago and a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He speaks Spanish, Arabic, French and Mandarin with declining levels of ability, and has also studied German and Navajo. He has studied abroad in 10 countries on five continents.

Cynthia Weil
Assistant Director, International Education
[email protected]
(248) 370-2212

Cindy has been helping Oakland University students realize their dreams to study abroad and study away since in 2011 through promotion, advising, and direction. Her current role as Assistant Director and National Student Exchange Coordinator in the International Education Office was preceded by one year as OIE interim Director and three years as Study Abroad Coordinator. Cindy holds a Master of Business Administration from Oakland University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University and Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a minor in German from Ohio University. Two undergraduate study abroad programs include German language immersion in Salzburg, Austria and Western European Business Study through seven countries. She studied German, French, and Russian languages to varying degrees. Nationally, Cindy has traveled to 47 of the 50 states and plans to notch the final three and U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in the very near future.

Shirley Smith
Administrative Secretary, International Education
[email protected]
(248) 370-2889

Shirley started at Oakland University in the Office of International Education in March 2008. Her primary responsibility is to provide clerical support to the director and his staff. Shirley is also the first point of contact for students who are seeking to apply for study abroad or study away, scholarships, or to make an appointment with an OIE staff member. Additionally, she provides support by answering questions and directing students to appropriate campus resources. Shirley comes to OU with more than 20 years of experience in the administrative field.

Hannah Pachucki
Program Assistant/Front Desk Manager
[email protected]

Hannah has been working at Oakland University since November 2020. She is the Front Desk Manager, and provides secretarial support for all three departments in the Office of Global Engagement, as well as executive support for the Executive Director. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University in History and speaks French and Haitian Creole. Hannah interned abroad in Haiti while studying at Oakland, and looks forward to conquering all 62 National Parks in the United States.

Juan Martin Davila Grijalva
Study Abroad Student Adviser

Juan Martin is an international graduate student with a degree in Hotel Management and Tourism. Juan has studied English since he was 10 years old and French before graduating. He has studied abroad in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, and has finished his Master of Business Administration at Oakland University in 2023. He is now pursuing another master's degree, Master of Science in Information Technology Management, at Oakland University. Juan loves nature and animals especially dogs (German Shepherds). He has climbed almost every mountain in Ecuador and visited the four regions in his homeland Ecuador, including Galapagos. He loves the ocean for surfing and scuba diving. He has traveled around the world, visiting Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Jamaica, Peru, Spain, Germany, and the United States. Now he is planning to keep traveling around the United States. During this time, Juan has made a lot of friends and networked with a lot of people. He has camped in 10 of the 103 state parks in Michigan and is planning to camp in all of them. After graduation, Juan will use his MSITM to promote tourism in Ecuador and to create new job opportunities for everyone, and will also promote Ecuador so that everyone can discover a whole new world. 

View Juan's study abroad photos on our Facebook page.

Alexandra Hullinger
Study Abroad Adviser
[email protected]

Alexandra Hullinger is a dedicated senior at Oakland University majoring in Communications with a minor in Advertising. As a student study abroad adviser at the OU International Education Office, she is passionate about helping fellow students turn their dreams of exploring the world into reality.

From a young age, Alexandra has been captivated by travel, exploring countries across South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Her transformative semester abroad on the Gold Coast of Australia during her sophomore year was a pivotal moment in her college journey, affirming her belief in the power of global experiences.

Beyond her love for travel, Alexandra enjoys trying new things and embracing the unexpected. She finds joy on the golf course, appreciating both the challenge and the time spent with others, but her true passion lies in exploring new cultures and experiences. Alexandra is excited to inspire others to set out on their own adventures and discover the world
around them.

View Alexandra's study abroad photos on our Facebook page and video.