Natalie Best
Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Office phone:(828) 262- 2815
Office Hours: 226 IG Greer Hall, 1:00-3:00 by appointment; 3:00-5:00 drop-ins
Email: bestne@appstate.edu
Natalie Best is Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services. She creates the DS2019’s and I-20’s necessary for international students to obtain J and F Visas. She also maintains international students’ records in SEVIS for the Department of Homeland Security, processes Practical Training and Academic Training Applications and provides advice on all immigration matters.
In addition to student advising, she assists with J-1 scholar applications, H1B Specialty Worker applications, Perm Labor Certification, filing of the I-140sand provides other advice to scholars regarding immigration matters. She arranges housing for international students and scholars and provides a variety of other services to the international community in Boone including airport pickup and assistance in dealing with campus and community bureaucracies. Finally, Natalie organizes cultural programming on and off campus. This programming includes international coffee hour, a host family program, and excursions for international students.
Natalie has an undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Georgia and a Masters degree in English Education from Emory University. Prior to joining OIED in 2008, Natalie worked as a middle school and high school English teacher for seven years in Georgia, Costa Rica, New York City and Nicaragua. Natalie has traveled extensively within the U.S., in Central America and in Western Europe. She also studied abroad in France during her undergraduate studies. She is a member of NAFSA and the American Association of University Women.
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys reading, cooking and hiking.
