Meet Our Team

David Schug

David Schug, Director of the National and International Scholarships Program, has been working with top-notch Illinois students and alumni in preparing and applying for nationally competitive awards since 2002. He greatly enjoys meeting students from all backgrounds and disciplines and encouraging them to reach for their academic and personal goals. In the mornings, you may find him running on area trails, and in the evenings, he is likely hanging out with his family, serving at a church event, playing double bass with a community orchestra, or gardening.

Lara Kusnetzky

Lara Kusnetzky is the Assistant Director of the National and International Scholarships Program. She comes to Illinois with experience in academic and study-abroad advising, undergraduate teaching, and research and museum-work in China. She earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the City University of New York, based on fieldwork with retired Chinese Communist revolutionaries as a Fulbright Scholar and Social Science Research Council Fellow. Lara enjoys helping students to articulate their personal stories and professional goals in scholarship applications. Her vision of utopia would include frequent and free international travel, pastries and coffee for breakfast, reading outdoors while bathing in a hot spring, and communities full of laughter and compassion.  

Caitlin Wilson

Caitlin joined the National and International Scholarships Program in April of 2023. Her passion for helping others is what has always led her through her Administrative Career. She looks forward to supporting students, faculty and staff in her role as Office Manager for NIS. Away from the office, Caitlin enjoys a good Netflix binge, fishing, baking and having a glass of wine with friends.