Snapshot: Margaret Hellwarth

Position: International Services Manager

Responsibilities: Hellwarth oversees international services for The Scripps Research Institute’s (TSRI) La Jolla and Jupiter campuses, which include processing immigration documents; advising international students and scholars on such issues as work, travel and legal status; assisting labs and departments in hosting international visitors and employees; and providing resources, support and programs for international students, scholars and their families. She also serves as a resource for the TSRI community on issues related to international students and scholars and non-immigrant hiring.

Background: Born in Santa Monica, California, Hellwarth earned a BA in Psychology from the University of California (UC), Berkeley, and an MA in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on international affairs and public policy from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She lived for a year in England as a child, and later, as an adult, spent two years in Barcelona, Spain, where she learned to speak Spanish and some Catalan. Previously, Hellwarth worked in international education at UC Berkeley, Georgetown, the University of Nevada, Reno and UC Davis.

Awards: Hellwarth has been recognized by NAFSA: Association of International Educators as a conference committee chair, academy mentor and regional chair.

Arrived at Scripps Research: June 15, 2015

Thoughts on TSRI: Hellwarth finds it a “great pleasure and honor to work in a place with amazing researchers and students from around the world, doing great things to solve so many medical mysteries that touch so many lives. In addition, the International Office at TSRI has a great staff to work with, including Sonal Kalra, Jane Lewis and Karin Edman in La Jolla, and Mary Schrot in Jupiter.”

Professional and Volunteer Groups: Active in the organization since 1992, Hellwarth has been a presenter, panelist and trainer at several NAFSA national and regional conferences. She was also involved in the Guardian Scholar’s Program at UC Davis for former foster youth and the Davis International House as an English conversation group leader and International Festival committee member.

Extracurricular Activities: A new resident of San Diego, Hellwarth's activities include “trying to find new places, getting lost, getting stuck in traffic and ultimately, enjoying the journey and the destination.” She also enjoys reading works of fiction from all over the world, singing at synagogue, walking and practicing yoga and amateur feng shui skills.

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