Meet Our Staff
Heidi LaVine
Executive Director
401.421.7181
Heidi LaVine joined the International House community in 2024 after nearly twenty-three years in college and university classrooms, twelve years directing an Honors Program full of international and domestic students, and two decades of experience designing curricula, and working with international communities.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Heidi moved to Missouri in 2009, where she taught courses in Caribbean, African Diasporic, and Postcolonial literature at a small liberal arts college nestled in the midst of soybean fields. As Director of the Honors Program, she took great joy in hosting meals and coffee chats at her home, and in working with colleagues to bring speakers of global cultural import to her tiny campus. She looks forward to cooking, conversing, and collaborating with IHRI’s vibrant community.
After completing her B.A. at St. Olaf College, Heidi earned an M.A. and PhD in English from the University of Iowa. She lives in Providence with her wonderful partner and their feline overlord.
John Walker
Director of Operations
401.421.7181
John Walker first started working at International House of Rhode Island in October of 2015 as the Development and Financial Manager. John is now the Director of Operations and oversees key organizational operations including financial management and building operations.
Before joining International House, John was involved with starting the nonprofit Insight Vision Center in San Diego, CA. Insight Vision Center provided vision examination and vision therapy to low-income children with learning related vision problems. John was also a board member of the San Marcos Arts Council for several years promoting public art and arts education around the city of San Marcos, CA.
John received a B.A. in Kinesiology / Exercise Science from California State University Northridge. He lives in Fairhaven, MA with his wife and two sons.
Front Desk Faces
Ceridwen McKenna
Ceridwen McKenna (she/her) will be the face behind the reception for three days a week. Ceridwen came to IH in 2018 as a volunteer, offering poetry, song nights, Robert Burns Nights with Joe Scott for 6 years, and kitchen help for potluck lunch. She has been a performer since her childhood, and a holistic body therapist (Rolfing method) since 2004. Her travels have taken her mostly to northern Europe, Scotland, Netherlands and Denmark particularly. Ceridwen has published a book of her own poetry (in English), and is also learning the Dutch language because it's an unusual thing to study, and you may hear her singing in it! But she's passionate about any songs--teach her one of yours! [Pronounce her name: "Káre-id-when."]
Bisola Folarin
Bisola Folarin, Brown'26, is a member of the 2026 cohort of the Bonner Community Fellowship (BCF). Prior to her work with the International House of Rhode Island, she worked with DESIGNxRI, a nonprofit that supports design innovators and businesses across Rhode Island, and the Office of the Attorney General of Rhode Island, Peter F. Neronha.
Lachlan McCann
Lachlan McCann studies political science and French at Brown University. Prior to his time at the International House of Rhode Island he worked as a utility justice advocate at the George Wiley Center and as a legislative intern in the RI state legislature. He finds joy in rock music, friends, trees, and skipping stones.
Ayaka Kikumoto
Aya came to Rhode Island in 2020. Since September 2023, she has been coming to IH for English tutoring sessions and volunteering at the front desk. She loves interacting with people, and her current goal is to improve her English so she can have deeper conversations with many people.
At home, Aya enjoys reading children's books and animal encyclopedias with her son, baking gluten-free sweets and bread with her family, and going on drives together.