Profile: Max Crumley-Effinger

Max Crumley-Effinger is the assistant director in the Office of International Student Affairs. In this role, he serves as an immigration advisor for international students in F-1 status, supporting their immigration processes and guiding them through a host of educational, personal, and cultural opportunities and challenges. He is a part of the Internationalization and Equity team. The Office of Internationalization and Equity is broadly responsible for educational and support initiatives focusing on the intersections of international education and equity. This includes efforts to provide global learning experiences; support international students in a holistic way; and pursue equity in various capacities across the College. 

Crumley-Effinger began working at Emerson in June 2022. Prior to his role here, he worked as a graduate assistant for the study abroad program at Loyola University Chicago. There, he supported the application processes for study abroad programs, as well as helped develop faculty-led study abroad programs by training faculty leaders and providing administrative support for all faculty-led programs. His interest in study abroad administration comes from his own experiences abroad as a student and as a program leader. He started working in international student services in 2012 and has held positions at Virginia Tech and Earlham College in international student immigration advising. 

Working at Emerson has been very enjoyable for him, because he loves being able to connect with students on their interests and creative works, especially considering the talent that comes with being an Emersonian. “I was looking for an institution where I would have the opportunity to build strong advising and educational relationships with my advisees. I also was interested in working at an institution that shared, at least to some degree, some of my own educational philosophies related to the value of personal connections and relationships, respect for and helping others, and seeking to do good in the world,” he said. Beyond working with students, the collaboration that takes place and the friendships that have spurred from the workplace have been very valuable to Crumley-Effinger.

Crumley-Effinger is originally from Richmond, Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree in German from Earlham College in Indiana and a master’s degree in international higher education and a PhD in cultural and educational policy studies from Loyola University Chicago. His experiences going abroad informed his decision to work in international education. 

Now, he and his partner, Nairita, and their puppy, Phuchka, live in the neighborhood of Jamaica Plain in Boston. Since moving to Boston, he has really enjoyed walking around and exploring his neighborhood. His hobbies include reading, conducting research on international student topics and environmental sustainability in international education, hiking, playing sandbox building and strategy video games, and watching MotoGP motorcycle racing. In December, he will be traveling to India for the first time and he is excited for the new adventure. 

Camryn Ciancia ’24