International Student Services Office

Sandra Spadoni

International Student Adviser
Phone: 253-692-4695
Email: sspadoni@uw.edu
Office: MAT 358 (in the International Student Services Office)

Sandra advises all UW Tacoma international students except undergraduate business majors on F-1 student visa matters such as SEVIS and I-20 questions and student employment authorization. She also assists with international undergraduate admissions for all majors except business. Please feel free to ask her any questions you have!

Sandra grew up in the Tacoma area and studied abroad for a year in Poland as a Rotary scholar during high school. She went to Georgetown's School of Foreign Service for her undergraduate education, where she studied abroad in Russia and enjoyed working in many interesting internships. After graduation, she stayed in Washington, DC to take a job as an immigration paralegal, then joined DC Teaching Fellows and taught ESL in a DC public school. She earned a master's in TESOL from American University. She later lived in Zambia for a year, doing community education with an HIV research organization.

Most recently, Sandra worked for four years as an International Student Adviser at the University of Chicago, where she advised undergraduate and graduate international students on their immigration and visa matters. She also worked as a Resident Head in undergraduate housing at the University of Chicago for three years.

Sandra is very happy to be back in her hometown of Tacoma. Her office has a view of the suspension bridge, the mountains, and the amazing UW Tacoma campus, and she loves to help international students.

Jon Dietzen

Business International Student Adviser and Recruiter
Phone: 253-692-4394
Email: jdietzen@uw.edu
Office: Dougan 406 (in the Milgard School of Business)

Jon joined the UW Tacoma Milgard School of Business staff in March of 2012 and is the International Student Adviser and Recruiter for undergraduate business students. Although his office is in the business school, he works closely with International Student Services and handles admissions, F-1 student visa advising, and academic advising for all undergraduate business students.

Jon is originally from Seattle and attended university in Portland, Oregon. After completing his undergraduate degree, he taught English in mainland China for three years before returning to the U.S. and finishing his master's degree in Intercultural Communications. He then worked for seven years as the Director of the Kaplan International Center at Highline Community College. During his time at the Kaplan International Center, he recruited and supported newly arrived students with English acquisition and college admissions. Jon loves the Pacific Northwest and is excited to continue helping international students pursue their educational and careers goals here at the University of Washington Tacoma.

Dickson Kwong

International Student Assistant

Dickson is a senior in the Institute of Technology, where he majors in computer science and systems and is also minoring in mathematics. Dickson is from Hong Kong and transferred to UW Tacoma from Green River Community College. In addition to helping in our office, Dickson works as a photographer for The Ledger UW Tacoma's independent student newspaper. He is also the current President of the International Student Association. He is happy to help any current or prospective students with questions about UW Tacoma.

Zoe Tzu-Han Shen

International Student Assistant

Zoe is double majoring in Accounting at the Milgard School of Business, and Global Studies in UW Tacoma's Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences program. Zoe is from Taiwan and transferred from South Puget Sound Community College. Zoe is very active in campus life and was named one of UW Tacoma's 2011 Outstanding Women. Her passion is helping her fellow international students; she planned and led the fall 2011 two-day international student orientation. She looks forward to answering any questions you might have about life at UW Tacoma!