Awards

Distinguished International Service Award (2021)

Presenter: Hannah Buxbaum

Bicentennial Medal (2020)

About Christopher Viers

Dr. Christopher Viers served Indiana University as Associate Dean and Director of International Services in the Office of International Programs from 2002 to 2007 and as Associate Vice President for International Services in the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs from 2007 to 2021.

Dr. Viers provided executive leadership of a dynamic organization responsible for meeting the comprehensive needs of approximately 9,000 international students and 1,500 visiting scholars annually on Indiana University’s eight campuses. In this capacity he oversaw university-wide regulatory policy, practice, and service issues affecting international students, visiting scholars, and employees; international student recruitment and admissions; international student and scholar visa and immigration advising; international student life; the use, security, and retention of sensitive and critical international data; and the ongoing planning, development, testing, and implementation of the SUNAPSIS software solution. He was also responsible for strategic planning, organizational assessment, and major strategic projects within the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs.

Prior to joining Indiana University, Dr. Viers served as Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars at Wayne State University, Director of the Office of International Education at Central Michigan University, and as a Foreign Student Advisor/Program Coordinator at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Viers completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Family Studies at Wheaton College; a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education with a concentration in International Higher Education Administration at Michigan State University.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Viers taught graduate coursework in international higher education administration as an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs at IU, with research interests in international higher education administration, global issues in higher education, and global student flows.

Dr. Viers held numerous national leadership positions in the field of international education, including service on the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. He completed a four-year term on the board of directors of Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. and served as president and chair of the board of directors of NAFSA. In 2017, Dr. Viers was recognized by NAFSA for his Distinguished Service to the field of International Education. In 2020, Christopher Viers was presented the Bicentennial Medal for his distinguished contributions to Indiana University.