Sylvia Mitterndorfer

About Sylvia

Sylvia oversees the Global Education Office (GEO) and also serves as the Director of Global Partnerships. 

The GEO administers study abroad and manages a variety of global education programs on campus. Each year, GEO works with more than 2,000 W&M students at various phases in the study abroad process and maintains an extensive network of partner universities and organizations globally. The on-campus programs include exchange programs for incoming exchange students, the Cross-Cultural Communications summer program at W&M, Department of State YALI Fellows, ROTC Project Global Officer, as well as a number of English language programs. GEO also awards $750,000+ for study abroad scholarships, and support the university's internationalization efforts through global education.

Sylvia works closely with faculty and departments to advance global education programs and initiatives at the university and to make global education experiences as accessible to students as possible. She plays a leadership role in partnering with faculty, staff, and administrators to deepen curricular integration of international opportunities as well as broaden the range and scope of international partnerships through new program development. Sylvia is also involved with program assessment, cross-cultural student development, and outreach. In her role as Director of Global Partnerships, she works to deepen and expand W&M's global reach in order to increase global opportunities for W&M students, faculty, and staff.

Sylvia is a W&M alumnus and returned to W&M to work at the Reves Center in 2010. As an international student herself, she has first hand knowledge about the impact of being immersed in another culture. She previously served as the Director of Overseas Studies, Technology at Georgetown University. Before her career in global education, Sylvia worked with policy and research institutes abroad and in Washington, DC. Areas of inquiry include immigration and refugee policy, education policy, and biotechnology policy.

Advisor for:

• W&M Semester Programs: Hertford College, Oxford; Montpellier; Universite de la Reunion (Assisted Enrollment)
• Global Business Minor in Dublin
• W&M Exchange Programs: Cardiff, Exeter & Nottingham
• Regional: Middle East