International Enrollment and Services Staff

Caleb Bennett

Director

Caleb brings a unqiue perspective to his work in international education. He has lived and worked in three different U.S. states and spent a year and a half in working China, where he taught English and coached American football. This incredible experience gave him firsthand insight into what it means to navigate life in an unfamiliar culture far from home. The time abroad included living in a city of 14 million inhabitants, a striking contrast to the small town of 2,000 where he grew up. Those varied experiences...from rural to megalopolis, domestic to international...shape the way he thinks about student engagement, cultural adjustment, and what it takes to help students thrive in a new environment.

Chasity Drew, M.A.

Associate Director, PDSO/RO

Chasity Drew brings a cross-regional perspective to International Enrollment & Services. She grew up in the American Southwest and spent significant time in Mexico with family, shaping her appreciation for culture, language, and community across borders. As an Indigenous professional, her identity informs her commitment to belonging, inclusion, and advocacy in higher education. Now working in Appalachia, she values connecting across diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Her work focuses on supporting students, navigating complex systems, and building strong campus partnerships. Beyond campus, she is actively involved in international education at the state, regional, and national levels through volunteer leadership and service.

Valerie Higgins

Assistant Director

Valerie was born and raised in Appalachia and has worked at East Tennessee State University for 24 years. Valerie is a graduate of ETSU with her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology.  Throughout her career, she has worked with first-time freshmen and transfer students, helping them navigate the admissions process and feel welcomed and supported as they begin their college journey.

Ben Carpenter

International Recruitment Manager

Ben works alongside ETSU’s global recruitment partners and meet amazing students from around the world who want to expand their academic horizons. Ben was raised in Mexico City, Mexico where he developed an appreciation for inter-cultural experiences and communities. He attended an international school before moving to Johnson City for college. Ben is fluent in Spanish, which he loves getting the chance to use when meeting Spanish speaking students. Having worked with international students in several different capacities both in Tennessee and in Oregon, Ben hopes to help make Johnson City and ETSU feel like home for our students.

Vacant

International Student Success and Engagement Coordinator

Amanda Sawyers, Ed.D

International Student Advisor, DSO/ARO

Originally from the coalfields of rural Southwest Virginia, Amanda Sawyers has called Appalachia home throughout her life. Growing up with limited opportunities to travel, she developed a deep love of reading as a way to explore cultures, perspectives, and places beyond her community—many of which she still hopes to visit one day. Over time, that passion for reading and learning evolved into a broader commitment to understanding the lived experiences and stories of others. Grounded in her own awareness of how geography and circumstance can shape opportunity, Amanda is dedicated to fostering belonging, inclusion, and advocacy within higher education, particularly in support of current and future international students.

Beth Nunez, M.A.

International Student Advisor, DSO/ARO

 Beth Nunez brings a truly global perspective to her work with international students. Born in upstate New York to a Lebanese father and a mother of European and Chilean descent, she has long been shaped by a multicultural background. After earning her undergraduate degree in education, she moved to Saipan in the Asia-Pacific region, where she began her career as a teacher and later served as principal of a K–12 school. She raised her three children on the island, which they proudly call home, and her husband is from the Philippines. Fluent in Tagalog, Beth reflects the lived experience of a globally connected family. She holds a master’s degree in intercultural studies and is deeply committed to supporting and engaging students from around the world in her role as advisor to the International Student Association.