Robert White
Executive Director
Foreign Student Advisor
Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Office Phone: Main Office (828) 262 -2046, Office (828) 262- 2811, Home (336) 385- 6424 Cell (828) 773- 2126
Office Hours: 228 IG Greer Hall, 8:30 am to 6/7:00 pm, Monday – Friday
Email: whitera@appstate.edu
Robert White, Executive Director of the Office. He is an Historian of Modern China, and has held his administrative position in OIED for 15 years. In his position as Executive Director, Mr. White reports to Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) Lutabingwa and represents OIED and Appalachian State University in a variety of ways: as a participating member of the American Council on Education Internationalization Collaborative; as a member of the American International Education Administrators (AIEA); as the OIED representative in Appalachian’s International Faculty, Staff and Spouse Association (IFSSAS); to the Appalachian University Legal Staff as regards legal issues of study abroad, outreach, development, visa interactions; to University Controller and Business Affairs on issues regarding payments to internationals; to Appalachian’s Compliance Officer, Human Resources, and Business Affairs, on all issues related to the hire of international faculty and staff.; and with the AVC coordinates preparation of the OIED Annual Report to the Provost.
Mr. White is Director of International Student and Scholar Services within OIED. He is ASU’s Foreign Student Advisor and oversees provision of an integrated and mature range of immigration and university services to the international visitors to Appalachian State University. He was educated at Duke University, North Carolina State University, and Appalachian State University and holds two BA degrees and a Master’s Degree. Mr. White has traveled the globe, lived abroad in China, conducted historical research internationally, and taken students abroad repeatedly. He is married to a cultural anthropologist who directs the Appalachian State University Center for Appalachian Studies. He and his wife have two daughters who hold degrees in Symphonic Orchestral Performance and in Chinese Linguistics having studied and graduated from Johns Hopkins, Peabody and Eastman Conservatories, and Vassar. He is a member of several History, and International Professional organizations including the Asian Studies Association, the American Historical Association, the National Association for International Education and the National Association of International Education Administrators. At the age of 63, Mr. White’s work and life are a mix of his professional work in ASU’s International efforts, his continuing study of Modern Chinese history, symbolism, and Art, and a passion for fruit and vegetable gardens. On rare days, he relaxes by driving antique English motorcycles and sports cars. On even more rare events, you might catch Mr. White playing Rock and Roll, Jazz, or Bluegrass as his 50-year devotion to performance within those genres’ and his ongoing relationship with his 100 year old Czeck Bass Viol continues to evolve.
