Provost ad interim Thomas Tunks has announced in a press release that the International Center has a new director. Michael Clarke, former director of International Recruiting and Relations, has been named Executive Director of the International Center in the Blanton Building.

SMU hopes to restructure its international programs by creating a faculty Study Abroad Council to supervise academic study abroad decisions. The school also hopes to appoint a task force to draft a plan for international education that will be finished before the end of the school year.

According to Tunks, “With Mr. Clarke’s appointment, the Study Abroad Council, and the International Education Task Force, we are taking important steps toward increasing and solidifying our international presence.”

Clarke has held several positions in international education, working as the chair of the English department at Copenhagen International School. He was also awarded a Fulbright Grant to teach in Denmark.

Dr. Ben Wallace, who was the previous director of the Study Abroad program, has decided to return to teaching in the Anthropology department.