Erica Sowder Email & Phone Number

Austin, Tx, Us

Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area

• Participating in a 12-month apprenticeship program designed to transition into a full-time software engineering role.• Completed an intensive 3.5-month coding boot camp with a focus on Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Spring Boot, React, and SQL.• Developing expertise in data structures and algorithms through hands-on practice with LeetCode problems.• Engaged in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB+) projects, applying technical skills to drive inclusive solutions.•… Show more • Participating in a 12-month apprenticeship program designed to transition into a full-time software engineering role.• Completed an intensive 3.5-month coding boot camp with a focus on Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Spring Boot, React, and SQL.• Developing expertise in data structures and algorithms through hands-on practice with LeetCode problems.• Engaged in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB+) projects, applying technical skills to drive inclusive solutions.• Conducting and participating in mock technical interviews to refine problem-solving and coding abilities.• Interning with the Pathfinder engineering team to contribute to developing the Pathfinder AI project and further develop technical and collaborative skills. Show less

Austin, Texas, United States

• Manage inbound questions from internal collaborators and work closely with in-house and external counsel to resolve matters related to US immigration• Prepare complex immigration applications and petitions for in-house counsel review• Prepare and maintain immigration compliance paperwork• Maintain immigration management system, track deadlines and visa expirations with 100% accuracy• Lead meetings to discuss issues, present findings and determine strategies for solutions•… Show more • Manage inbound questions from internal collaborators and work closely with in-house and external counsel to resolve matters related to US immigration• Prepare complex immigration applications and petitions for in-house counsel review• Prepare and maintain immigration compliance paperwork• Maintain immigration management system, track deadlines and visa expirations with 100% accuracy• Lead meetings to discuss issues, present findings and determine strategies for solutions• Document legal recommendations and communicate them to HR and other collaborators within Indeed using appropriate terminology and discretion• Represent the Legal team in cross-functional projects and ensure that Legal’s requirements are understood and implemented• Maintain a repository of Legal responses and create Legal resources and processes for internal Indeed teams• Collaborate with manager to determine quarterly priorities and goals for the teamProactively and independently identify and implement process improvements within the Legal team and with collaborators in other departments• Leverage technology for automation opportunities that contribute to team efficiency• Train and guide junior team members on processes and higher-order legal concepts• Track implementation of legal recommendations to completion, and coordinate spot checks to ensure consistent adoption• Assist in-house counsel and other teams with ad hoc research and projects as necessary• Develop and maintain new intake and immigration assessment processes for new hire immigration matters• Provide support to the International Litigation & Law Enforcement team by responding to information/data requests from international law enforcement agencies Show less

Austin, Texas, United States

• Guide all collaborators on Indeed’s immigration best practice guidelines and requirements for the various types of immigration filings• Manage employee inquiries and escalations as needed• Work collaboratively with In-house Counsel and External Counsel• Participate in employee meetings with HR, Immigration Counsel, and Management• Own responsibility for immigration compliance for non-immigrant petitions and PERM filings• Review prevailing wage issues with managers and… Show more • Guide all collaborators on Indeed’s immigration best practice guidelines and requirements for the various types of immigration filings• Manage employee inquiries and escalations as needed• Work collaboratively with In-house Counsel and External Counsel• Participate in employee meetings with HR, Immigration Counsel, and Management• Own responsibility for immigration compliance for non-immigrant petitions and PERM filings• Review prevailing wage issues with managers and HRBP’s• Track and monitor deadlines by developing and maintaining reports with attention to detail• Develop immigration guides for employees• Present immigration training sessions to HR representatives Show less

Austin, Texas, United States

• Oversee Student Case Management for issues occurring abroad• Respond to and troubleshoot emergencies abroad• Organize and oversee the post-program participant evaluation process • Serve as the head of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee• Direct the DEI Steering Committee• Coordinate quarterly DEI updates to the Executive Team• Manage/oversee company-wide training sessions related to DEI• Coordinate and oversee DEI-related initiatives/project… Show more • Oversee Student Case Management for issues occurring abroad• Respond to and troubleshoot emergencies abroad• Organize and oversee the post-program participant evaluation process • Serve as the head of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee• Direct the DEI Steering Committee• Coordinate quarterly DEI updates to the Executive Team• Manage/oversee company-wide training sessions related to DEI• Coordinate and oversee DEI-related initiatives/project management company-wide Show less

Austin, Texas Area

• Oversee student case management• Serve as respondent for emergencies abroad• Co-manage API Global Leadership Academy (alumni engagement)• Serve on API Evaluation Committee, the Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Committee, and other special projects

• Advise Master of Science Business Analytics students• Develop and coordinate programming (events and growth opportunities) for students to utilize skills gained in the program • Coordinate and administer admissions processes• Recruit prospective students• Serve as Diversity and Inclusion Lead for McCombs' MS Programs Office• Member of McCombs Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Austin, Texas

• Advise population of 5,000+ international undergraduate & graduate students on immigration matters.• Supervise Graduate Student Assistant and team of 35 International Orientation Assistants to execute events for incoming international students. • Plan, implement and instruct training workshops and informational sessions on international issues for UT faculty, staff, students and scholars.• Coordinate email, print and online communications for various programs.• Serve as a… Show more • Advise population of 5,000+ international undergraduate & graduate students on immigration matters.• Supervise Graduate Student Assistant and team of 35 International Orientation Assistants to execute events for incoming international students. • Plan, implement and instruct training workshops and informational sessions on international issues for UT faculty, staff, students and scholars.• Coordinate email, print and online communications for various programs.• Serve as a resource to academic departments to support international students admitted to/enrolled in their degree programs.• Liaise with various university offices, departments, and organizations to educate about and advocate for the needs of international students.• Coordinate immigration check-in sessions for 2,000 new international students annually.• Plan and execute orientation and welcome events for new international students. • Manage budget for orientation-related events.• Develop and maintain relationships with various campus partners and community entities.• Co-supervise Student Associate Professional team to provide excellent customer service to International Office constituents. Show less

Austin, Texas

Promoted within 2nd year of employment as an International Student Advisor:International Student Advisor I (January 2011-March 2012)International Student Advisor II (March 2012-December 2013)• Serve as Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of SEVIS (F-1 & J-1 document issuance)• Advise a population of 5,000+ international students on immigration matters• Deliver presentations to international students and staff on a regular basis•… Show more Promoted within 2nd year of employment as an International Student Advisor:International Student Advisor I (January 2011-March 2012)International Student Advisor II (March 2012-December 2013)• Serve as Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of SEVIS (F-1 & J-1 document issuance)• Advise a population of 5,000+ international students on immigration matters• Deliver presentations to international students and staff on a regular basis• Liaise and advise UT Austin academic departments regarding general immigration matters • Coordinate with academic departments regarding their non-traditional developing academic programs to ensure compliance with immigration regulations • Oversee immigration records to ensure that expiration dates/deadlines are not missed• Provide tax advice for non-resident filers• Field phone and e-mail inquiries for international scholars & students• Assist with intercultural programming events for international scholars & students• Train new employees Show less

Austin, Texas

• Serve as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of SEVIS (including J-1 document issuance)• Strategize and prepare H-1B petitions• Advise a population of 1,500+ incoming international scholars and professors on immigration matters• Present J-1 orientations to new arriving J-1 faculty & scholars and validate their records in SEVIS• Liaise with various UT Austin academic departments regarding immigration matters• Present employment-based immigration information sessions to… Show more • Serve as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of SEVIS (including J-1 document issuance)• Strategize and prepare H-1B petitions• Advise a population of 1,500+ incoming international scholars and professors on immigration matters• Present J-1 orientations to new arriving J-1 faculty & scholars and validate their records in SEVIS• Liaise with various UT Austin academic departments regarding immigration matters• Present employment-based immigration information sessions to various UT Austin departments• Provide tax advice to non-resident filers• Field phone and walk-in inquiries for international scholars & students• Assist with intercultural programming events for international scholars & students Show less

New York City, New York

• Assist with the coordination and logistics of graduate-level study abroad programs at NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development• Create student handbook publications and arrange orientations for summer study abroad programs• Organize and plan logistics of campus-based summer programs • Field phone and walk-in inquiries for study abroad programs, campus-based programs and conferences

New York City, New York

• Strategize and prepare non-immigrant visa petitions: H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN, E-2, J-1 (Trainee), and employment-based I-140 and I-130 family-based immigrant visa petitions and I-485 ("Greencard") applications• Prepare I-765, I-131 and N-400 applications• Liaise with corporate clients and their international employees• Execute immigration needs from entering the U.S. in non-immigrant status to applying for U.S. Citizenship• Ensure that all records are entered into Immigration… Show more • Strategize and prepare non-immigrant visa petitions: H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN, E-2, J-1 (Trainee), and employment-based I-140 and I-130 family-based immigrant visa petitions and I-485 ("Greencard") applications• Prepare I-765, I-131 and N-400 applications• Liaise with corporate clients and their international employees• Execute immigration needs from entering the U.S. in non-immigrant status to applying for U.S. Citizenship• Ensure that all records are entered into Immigration Tracker data application and monitor expiration dates• Create various reports, including upcoming expiration dates, non-immigrant status max-out dates and priority dates regarding permanent residence cases• Train team members on how to use Immigration Tracker Show less

Los Angeles & New York

• Analyze, prepare and file non-immigrant visa petitions: H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN, E-2, E-3, and employment-based I-140 and I-130 family-based immigrant visa petitions and I-485 ("Greencard") applications• Prepare PERM, I-765, I-131 and N-400 applications• Manage corporate accounts, liaise with corporate clients and their international employees• Execute immigration needs from entering the U.S. in non-immigrant status to applying for U.S. Citizenship• Create various reports… Show more • Analyze, prepare and file non-immigrant visa petitions: H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN, E-2, E-3, and employment-based I-140 and I-130 family-based immigrant visa petitions and I-485 ("Greencard") applications• Prepare PERM, I-765, I-131 and N-400 applications• Manage corporate accounts, liaise with corporate clients and their international employees• Execute immigration needs from entering the U.S. in non-immigrant status to applying for U.S. Citizenship• Create various reports, including upcoming expiration dates, non-immigrant status max-out dates and priority dates regarding permanent residence cases• Translate marriage and birth certificates from Spanish and Portuguese to English• Train new staff/team members Show less

Greater Los Angeles Area

• Analyze, prepare and file employment/family-based Adjustment of Status applications (based on approved Labor Certifications, I-130’s and I-140’s)• Manage client accounts including liaising with corporate and individual clients to initiate cases, monitor expiration dates and create status reports• Process I-765, I-131 and Visa Revalidations• Initiate, assemble, file and conclude Labor Certifications, H-1B, O-1, L-1A, EB-1 and J-1 Waiver cases• Train new staff/team members

Bachelor Of Arts, Political Science (International Relations)

Exchange Program, Peace Studies (International Relations)

Activities and Societies: Hiking Club

Master Of Arts In International Education, International And Comparative Education

Activities and Societies: - International Education Forum - Studied abroad in Uganda, Israel and South Africa