Meet the Team

Comprehensive internationalization spans the entirety of DU's functions as a higher education institution. Get to know the staff dedicated to supporting and advancing international engagement at DU.

Meet the Internationalization Staff

Casey Dinger

Executive and Academic Director for Internationalization
303-871-4481
Casey.Dinger@du.edu
Casey works with campus constituents to develop, implement and facilitate initiatives related to comprehensive internationalization, particularly Internationalization at Home which is meant to provide all students with access to global learning and perspectives. This includes advancing global and intercultural learning through the formal and informal curriculum. His research focuses on faculty member engagement and development in intercultural and international education.

Additionally, Casey provides academic and administrative oversight, direction and management of intercultural development coursework tied to cross-border education experiences, serving 750+ students per year. This includes curriculum design, assessment, and instructor development including supporting a learning-centered pedagogy.

Finally, Casey assists in maintaining and growing university-wide elements of internationalization such as the Internationalization Council, the Internationalization Summit, and developing and integrating the University’s strategic partnerships. He also serves as the faculty director for the Global Engagement Living and Learning community as well as the co-advisor for the U.S. Student Fulbright Program.
Leasa Weimer

Director for Global Partnerships
l easa.weimer@du.edu
Leasa Weimer, PhD, is Director of Global Partnerships, where she provides strategic leadership and collaborates closely with university stakeholders to develop and manage the university's global partnerships and campus-wide internationalization initiatives. Leasa serves as the campus liaison for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. She is also Chair of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Thematic Committee on Partnerships and a Board Member of the Community of Practice for Partnership Professionals, powered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Prior to joining DU, she served as Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki, where she led partnership development, alumni engagement, and programs supporting international scholarly exchange. Earlier in her career, she served as Senior Knowledge Development Adviser for the EAIE in Amsterdam. With more than 20 years of experience as a scholar-practitioner in international higher education, Weimer has held leadership roles across the United States and Europe, including serving as a Fulbright Fellow and President of the global Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association. She has also contributed her expertise to numerous international and European higher education projects, research initiatives, and policy efforts. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of research and practice, advancing innovative approaches to internationalization, global engagement, and higher education policy.
Weimer holds a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Georgia, where she conducted dissertation research in Finland as a Fulbright grantee. She also earned an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's degree in European Higher Education from the University of Oslo (Norway), the University of Tampere (Finland), and the University of Aveiro (Portugal), as well as bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Communication from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Emelee Volden

Director, Office of International Education
303-871-4902
Emelee.Volden@du.edu
Emelee Volden is the Director of the Office of International Education at the University of Denver (DU) where she provides strategy and advocacy for education abroad and global learning.
Prior to DU, Emelee was the Senior International Officer at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse where she was responsible for all campus internationalization efforts, education abroad, international student and scholar services and ESL. She has also worked at Northwest College (WY) where she led international student recruitment, admissions and retention efforts and the University of Minnesota where she advised on and assisted with the development of education abroad programs.
Emelee earned an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Sioux Falls. Emelee’s international education experience began as an undergraduate student studying abroad in Florence, Italy. After graduation, she then taught in Wajima, Ishikawa, Japan on the JET Program, returning to the U.S. eager to begin her professional career in international education.
Her areas of expertise include comprehensive internationalization, program development and management, partner collaboration, faculty training and development, cross-cultural communication and intercultural competency, study abroad advising, and student development.
Theresa Johnson

Director, International Student and Scholar Services
303-871-2371
Theresa.Johnson@du.edu
Theresa Johnson is the Director of International Student and Scholar Services where she oversees immigration compliance and cultural adjustment for DU’s international student and scholar populations. International students and scholars play a critical role to bring unique perspectives and important knowledge to campus and Theresa is honored to be a part of that here at DU.
Theresa joined DU from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she worked in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services for over 10 years. She most recently served as the Associate Director where she managed the operations of the office and oversaw the International Scholar Team. Prior to joining the staff at Northwestern, she worked with the Fulbright Scholar Program at the Institute of International Education in Washington, DC.
Theresa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies with a minor in French from American University, spending a semester abroad in Brussels and a semester abroad in Paris. She earned her Master’s Degree in International Education from George Washington University.
In her spare time, Theresa likes to play tennis, go for runs, and explore on her bicycle. When the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor activities, she enjoys watching true crime dramas, travel shows, and playing board games