Serious Concerns Regarding Stephanie Brown*

Who is Stephanie Brown? 

She is the Director of the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) Office at Northern Illinois University, has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of advising international students, scholars, faculty, and staff on immigration matters, including F-1, J-1, H1-B, TN, and Permanent Residency statuses (source). For more than a decade, she has occupied this vital role. Unfortunately, her performance has consistently failed to meet even the most basic expectations of professionalism, competence, and accountability.

What's wrong with Stephanie Brown?

Reports from international students, faculty, and staff overwhelmingly describe a pattern of gross negligence in her duties. The most prominent complaints include:

1. Chronic Unresponsiveness: Ms. Brown is notorious for ignoring emails and other communication for extended periods, sometimes weeks. It is not uncommon for individuals to send multiple follow-ups just to receive a response. For students and faculty dealing with time-sensitive immigration matters, this disregard is not only frustrating but unacceptable.

2. Persistent Delays and Inaction: Beyond the lack of communication, Ms. Brown frequently delays processing critical immigration paperwork and addressing urgent requests. Such delays can lead to severe consequences, including legal status complications, interruptions in employment, and disruptions to academic progress. Her inaction is not an isolated issue but a recurring pattern that deeply affects those who rely on the ISSS office for support.

These failings go beyond incompetence; they reflect a blatant disregard for the needs of the international community at NIU. Ms. Brown’s inability or unwillingness to fulfill her responsibilities has caused undue stress, anxiety, and harm to hundreds of students, faculty, and staff over the years.

It is an embarrassment that NIU continues to shield an individual whose actions—or lack thereof—have directly jeopardized the wellbeing of its international population. Allowing this level of dysfunction to persist within the ISSS office undermines the university’s stated commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion.

NIU owes its international students and staff better. It is time for the university to take decisive action, hold Stephanie Brown accountable for her failures, and ensure that the ISSS office is led by someone capable of providing the professional and timely support that is so desperately needed.