J-! Exchange Visitors in the Private and Academic Sectors
A panel of experts involved in both private-sector and academic J-1 Exchange Visitor sponsorship will discuss emerging trends from the past year and consider the outlook for upcoming years. Updates to Subpart A are nearly five years old, and new program changes are on the horizon for several categories. What might additional updates entail? The panelists will comment on a variety of topics, including site visits, management reviews, consular adjudications, USCIS adjudications and potential changes to 212(e) waiver eligibility.
Mike Jackson
Mr. Jackson is currently SHRM’s manager of employee experience, overseeing employee relations and engagement for SHRM 400-plus employees around the world. Prior to starting this role in September 2019, Mike was the manager in charge of SHRM's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and administered the intern and trainee programs sponsored under SHRM's J-1 visa designation. Previously, Mike oversaw the J-1 visa program for the Council for Global Immigration (CFGI), which was a SHRM strategic affiliate organization. Before joining SHRM and CFGI, Mike was the University Relations Manager for the Association for International Practical Training (AIPT) and was the program manager in charge of operating the U.S. affiliate of the International Association for the Exchange Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) program. Previously, he served as the Communications and Outreach Officer at the Washington, DC-based Middle East Institute (MEI) and has also worked at the University of Southern California's School of International Relations and at Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick Public Affairs. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from The George Washington University and a Master's degree in Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California.
Scott F. Cooper
Scott F. Cooper is Senior Counsel of the Troy, Michigan offices of the Fragomen firm. His practice involves business-related immigration matters for small, mid-size and Fortune 100 companies; higher education and research institutions and foundations. Scott has served on the national Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Chaired the Immigration and Nationality Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. He has been listed in the International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America and served as an instructor/speaker at several law schools, state CLE programs, HR and legal conferences.
Brooke H.M. Stokdyk
Brooke H.M. Stokdyk is currently an Assistant Director at Michigan State University. She is the J-1 Responsible Officer and an F-1 Designated School Official. She presents various sessions and workshops in the field of international student and scholar services at the state, regional, and national levels. Brooke is an international education professional with over sixteen years of experience with F-1 and J-1 program administration at academic institutions sponsoring some of the largest international student and scholar populations in the U.S. Brooke has served as an F-1 and J-1 compliance consultant for more than six years.