Shawna Knauff joined International House Berkeley in July 2025 and was promoted to Chief of Staff to the Executive Director and CEO in November 2025. In this role, she serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Executive Director, helping drive the implementation of I-House’s multi-year Strategic Plan, leading key cross-functional initiatives, and strengthening alignment across departments. Shawna supports executive-level planning and decision-making, and builds systems that promote accountability, staff engagement, and operational excellence—while keeping I-House’s mission and community at the center of the work.
Shawna is an international educator and operations leader with more than 15 years of experience in global program management, organizational leadership, and student services. Her career spans Stanford University, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, and Hult International Business School, where she led student services and operations across campuses in San Francisco, Dubai, and New York. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of Stanford’s Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP), overseeing global learning opportunities for undergraduates across nine international centers and multiple partner universities.
Shawna holds a B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in Recreation Administration from California State University, Chico, and completed graduate work in International and Multicultural Education (M.A., thesis pending) at the University of San Francisco. Her passion for international education was sparked by a yearlong study abroad experience in Granada, Spain, and deepened through living and working in multiple countries. These experiences continue to ground her commitment to cross-cultural understanding, inclusive access, and creating environments where people from different backgrounds can learn and thrive together.
A proud East Bay native, Shawna lives in Martinez with her husband, Matt, and daughter, Mia. Outside of work, she can usually be found cheering on Mia at the softball field, spending time outdoors with her dogs and horse, or enjoying everything the East Bay has to offer.
