Foreign Influence Compliance

SPOTLIGHT: Jorge Rodriguez

Jorge A. Rodriguez, M.S.Ed., oversees Foreign Influence Compliance in the Office of Compliance & Ethics at the University of South Florida. In this role, Jorge is charged with oversight and coordination of overall institutional compliance with federal and state legislative and regulatory requirements, as it pertains to foreign influence. This includes, reporting of foreign gifts and contracts, screening of foreign researchers, screening of foreign travel, international cultural agreements, and disclosure of foreign outside activities. Moreover, Jorge also chairs the university's Foreign Influence Committee, a system-wide collaborative initiative to ensure compliance with our global engagements and USF’s mission, values, and strategic plan to remain a global research institution.

Jorge joined the University of South Florida in 2019 as a member of the Office of International Admissions, where he led and managed a team of admissions professionals in evaluating prospective international students for the university. In 2022, he transitioned to the Office of Research Integrity & Compliance to establish the university’s foreign researcher and foreign travel screening processes. Prior to his tenure at the University of South Florida, he held several positions in the field of international student services and international student affairs at Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Jorge earned a Master of Science in International & Intercultural Education and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Florida International University. He is currently pursing a Doctor of Philosophy in Global Leadership with a track in Global Higher Education at Troy University. Jorge is an enthusiastic and dedicated servant leader in all efforts of USF’s global engagement and international collaboration.