As SamfordGlobal’s Immigration Specialist, Annette is responsible for the international students who come to Samford from 17 different countries all over the world. As an immigrant (green card holder) herself, and mother of an F-1 student and Samford graduate, she has a unique perspective and valuable insights of the needs and challenges of being an international student on a visa, and is uniquely qualified to advise, support and help. Her main goal is to support the international students navigate through the process of attending, adjusting and thriving at Samford.

Annette holds a medical degree (Staatsexamen) and a Master’s degree (awarded distinction) in Spanish Linguistics, French Literature and German Medieval studies from Heidelberg University, Germany. She has worked for many years as a researcher and editor at the Akademie der Wissenschaften project Diccionario del Espanol Medieval (Spanish Medieval Dictionary) as part of an international team of professionals and taught Medieval Spanish Literature and Translation to Linguistic students from Germany, Spain and Latin America. She has lived in Alabama before, as an expat through her husband’s job, serving as a substitute teacher for German and Special Needs at local High and Elementary Schools.

Annette lives with her husband and children in Homewood, Alabama, and enjoys the Alabama outdoors, the Samford community and the Christian spirit.