Office of Private Sector Exchange Program Administration (OPA), Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), US Department of State

Mark Howard is a Branch Chief for Office of Private Sector Exchange Program Administration (OPA), at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).  He leads a team responsible for monitoring 1,000+ academic and government sponsors of the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) to ensure compliance with established J-1 visa governing regulations (22 CFR part 62), with the paramount goal of ensuring exchange visitor health, safety and welfare. Prior to his current position, Mr Howard served as a Program Officer for the Fulbright Exchange Program, the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.  Before joining the Department in 2011, he concurrently directed two Department-designated exchange visitor programs including an international training program for environmental leaders and an academic exchange program for university research scholars and professors.