Submitted photo From left are Davis & Elkins College Board of Trustee member Joyce Allen, First Lady Lisa Wood, President Chris Wood, international students Lilly Wentzler and Filippo Buffo, Director of International Student Services Jacques Guillembet, Director of Athletics Jennifer Riggleman, Vice President for Advancement Scott Goddard and Rotary Club of Elkins President Phillips Kolsun.

ELKINS — Davis & Elkins College Director of International Student Services and adjunct faculty member Jacques Guillembet and D&E international students Lilly Wentzler (Germany) and Filippo Buffo (Italy) addressed the Rotary Club of Elkins, outlining the international student program at the college.

“I am privileged to work with lovely students like Lilly Wentzler and Filippo Buffo,” said Guillembet.

Guillembet stepped into his role with D&E’s international students in 2023 and serves as an adjunct faculty member in the general studies department. In addition to his work at D&E, Guillembet is an active supporter of the Elkins community as a member of the Tygart Valley Lions Club and a board member for Centers Against Violence.

The Office of International Student Services provides crucial services to all of D&E’s international students. Guillembet has been vetted by and serves as the designated office at the college for the SEVIS/SEVP Program through the Department of Homeland Security. In that role, Guillembet has the authority to issue I-20’s for international students.

“I help enroll international students legally through the admissions process and help guide them through the process abroad,” said Guillembet. Currently, about 20% of D&E’s student body are international students with all but one participating in Senator Nation athletics.

Students must submit an application through the Department of Admissions with the help of D&E’s International Enrollment Advisor Kristi Cross, who then works with Guillembet to ensure that all of the appropriate information is received in order for the student to be admitted to D&E.

“I cannot be successful without the help of my colleagues in the registrars’ office and admissions, especially Kristi from admissions,” said Guillembet.

After acceptance, students must make a deposit and enroll at the college. The next step is for Guillembet and the student to establish which embassy they must visit in order to fulfill their visa obligations. Some students must renew their visa every year while others may not need to do so for five years.

“Filippo, he’s from Italy, he needs a new visa every so often. Then you have students like Lilly, who gets a new visa at different times” added Guillembet. “That’s based off of the country and their embassy.”

After those initial steps have been completed, the students receive an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status), they receive their visa through a strict vetting process and then they can travel to the U.S. The college also helps coordinate the students’ travel both to the U.S, and then on to D&E.

“Then the student matriculates, is completely admitted and part of the D&E family,” said Guillembet.

Guillembet’s office is also responsible for all reporting and record management for SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System). This system coordinates all information at the college with DHS/SEVIS/SEVP. This allows updates to flow between the entities. Any changes relating to a student, such as a change in major or a change in their living arrangement, must be reported through the SEVIS system.

Each year, all returning students must visit Guillembet’ s office to receive a travel endorsement to leave the U.S. at the end of the school semester and return for their next semester. Additionally, students who wish to undertake internships as part of a class towards their major or for credit towards their major, must be approved either through Guillembet or USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

Another key service of the International Student Services office is advising for academic, personal and cultural needs.

“We have 40+ countries, we hit every continent except Antarctica. Obviously, students come from different parts of the world and have different ways of interacting. There are different ways of meeting cultural needs for students,” said Guillembet. “My office is a revolving door. It’s kind of the embassy for Davis & Elkins College.”

Wentzler is a sophomore from Munich, Germany who is majoring in marketing and accounting. She is a member of the Senator tennis team and was named Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year in 2025. She has also joined the D&E women’s golf team for the 2025-2026 season. Wentzler has been named to the D&E President’s List which recognizes all full-time students who achieve a 4.0 G.P.A. during a semester and is also a member of the International Student Organization.

“D&E has really been a safe place for me. I have a host family which is amazing. I babysit their three little kids, they invite me over for dinner and they drive us to Enterprise when we need to rent another car,” quipped Wentzler. “In Jacques’ office, it’s always an open door. He sits in his chair with his computer and we sit around and talk to Jacques about everything.”

Buffo is a senior from Verona, Italy who is majoring in accounting and finance. Buffo is a four-year member of the Senator tennis team and has been named to the D&E President’s list and Dean’s list during his time at D&E.

“I have been at D&E four years and I love it. Jacques spends so much time in his office and I’m there at least three or four times a week. I’ve applied for my OPT [Optional Practical Training]. If everything goes well, at the end of June, I’m going to start working as a staff accountant in the business office at D&E,” said Buffo. “I took an internship on campus last semester and then this semester, they offered me the job and I took it. I would like to stay here in Elkins because I’ve been here for four years and I like it.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for the international students that I have to call family. We spend a lot of time together. You start to learn a lot about a person once you get into the finite details of their life. I have everything that comprises their life and it means a lot to me that I’m trusted with that,” concluded Guillembet.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page — Rotary Club of Elkins — or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.