Dr. Sammer Saleh Jones

Director for Global Relations

Dr. Sammer Saleh Jones is the Director for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she leads the development and management of strategic international partnerships that enhance the university’s global impact. In this role, she provides comprehensive oversight of institutional engagements, international contracts, and high-profile delegation visits. She plays a pivotal role in connecting international partners with campus stakeholders and fostering collaborations that advance Illinois International’s strategic priorities. 

In addition to her extensive work across global networks, Dr. Jones serves as the Campus Fulbright Scholar Liaison, actively promoting Fulbright opportunities and providing protocol guidance for senior university leaders on international travel and engagements. She is also the U21 Officer, responsible for promoting the value of the Universitas 21 (U21) network within the university and facilitating engagement across U21 student, staff, and research opportunities. Additionally, she serves as the Director for the Trilateral Partnership with National Taiwan University and Kyushu University. 

A former Fulbright Administrative Fellow to Germany, Dr. Jones brings a wealth of international experience, contributing significantly to international education and engagement through both leadership and mentoring. Her dedication to teaching was recognized multiple times on the “List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent” at Illinois while she was a doctoral candidate. 

Dr. Jones earned her BS in Pre-Med/African American Studies from Simmons College, MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Boston University, and both her MBA and PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on the nineteenth-century educational history of Liberia, West Africa. With a multidisciplinary background spanning business, health, and education, Dr. Jones has worked in diverse settings across Liberia, South Africa, and the U.S., bringing a global perspective and a commitment to advancing international partnerships. 

Prior to her graduate studies, Dr. Jones contributed to critical projects at the Harvard School of Public Health on violence prevention and at the MetroHealth Center in Cleveland on breast cancer research. 

Shuo (Erica) Wang

Associate Director for Global Relations

Erica joined the Illinois International ten years ago. She first worked as a translator for the China Executive Leadership Programs (now Global Education and Training) in 2012. She took a new role as the International Visitor and Protocol Specialist in 2017 and became the Coordinator for Global Relations in April 2018. At Global Relations, she provides support for strategic and emerging international partnerships, coordinates incoming and outgoing campus visits, and facilitates international partnership agreements for the campus. Erica holds an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a B.A. in English from Tianjin Normal University in China.

Jason Conley

Campus Liaison for Global Relations

Jason Conley recently assumed the role of Campus Liaison for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Previous to his current role, he worked for the U.S. Heartland China Association, where he managed virtual and educational programs. Before his time working in U.S.-China relations, Jason spent several years teaching English as a Second Language.

Jason is a graduate of the Ohio State University and has a master’s degree in Advanced Chinese Language and Culture, specializing in the Belt and Road Initiative and foreign investment. His thesis focused on Chinese foreign policy, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the infrastructure development in western Pakistan and the Global South.

Jason remains dedicated to advancing global partnerships within higher education and fostering meaningful connections. He is deeply committed to the mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding and educational collaboration.

Shirice Harris

Partnership Coordinator for Global Relations

Shirice Harris assumed the role of Partnership Coordinator for Global Relations in June 2022. Prior to this, she served as an Education Abroad Coordinator at Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange, where she played an embedded role within the College of Education. Before venturing into higher education, Shirice dedicated nine years to teaching English.

A proud alumna of Howard University, Shirice holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications. She furthered her education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, earning a master’s degree in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a specialization in Global Studies in Education and Diversity and Equity.

In addition to her primary responsibilities, Shirice actively champions diversity as the advocate for OVPIAGS, contributes to the DEI Committee for Illinois International, serves as an I-Promise mentor, and is a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Black Women In Media, and the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.

With a global perspective shaped by seven years of living and working overseas, predominantly in Asia and Micronesia, Shirice identifies herself as a global citizen. Her formative years were spent between the United States and Jamaica, enriching her cultural insights.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Shirice relishes quality time with family and friends, explores her culinary skills, engages in artistic expression through painting, and finds solace in the world of literature.