Jax State Alumnus Honors Ketterers with International House Endowed Scholarship

09/08/2026

Gift recognizes couple’s lasting impact on generations of International House students

By Brett Buckner

When Jacksonville State University (Jax State) alumnus Slava Katliarou was considering ways to give back to the place that shaped him, he immediately thought of the International House and the couple who gave so much to so many.

The result is the Dr. John J. and Ivania Ketterer Cultural Outreach Endowed International House Scholarship, a newly endowed scholarship honoring Dr. John Ketterer, who served as longtime director of the International House, and his wife, Ivania. Those interested in supporting the scholarship can learn more or make a gift online.

“It just felt like the time was right,” Katliarou said. “They’ve deserved it for a long time, and I’m just thankful that I could do this small thing for them. But it’s not really about me. It’s about them.”

The scholarship is awarded to an International House student who demonstrates a genuine commitment to cultural outreach by building connections across cultures, encouraging mutual respect and bringing diverse communities together in the spirit of the International House’s founding motto: “Know one another, and you will love one another.”

The scholarship also fulfills a personal promi

se that Dr. Ketterer made long ago to honor his wife, whose behind‑the‑scenes care became as foundational to the program as its academic and cultural mission.

“It’s not really just me but also Ivania, who’s from Nicaragua,” he said. “I mean, we truly ran the house together. We were a team.”

For Katliarou, who lived in the International House from 2008 to 2012, the decision to establish a scholarship was obvious.

“The whole idea is I just wanted to give back,” he said. “The 80th anniversary is coming up, and I was like, ‘That would be a good time to do something like this to honor Dr. K.’ Because he had a big impact on so many students’ lives.”

When Dr. Ketterer was first named director, resident conduct was governed by a “sprawling” rulebook.

“There was a rule for everything,” Dr. Ketterer said, laughing. “I mean, the boys couldn't even study in the girls' study room, which I thought was completely stupid. One of the nicest and most innocent ways to meet another young person is to study with them.”

Over time, Dr. Ketterer whittled those rules down to one guiding principle.

“Respect the house,” Dr. Ketterer said. “A lot of the young people that were with me will remember it.”

Dr. Ketterer believed that one rule could carry the weight of many, encompassing respect for cultural, religious, and personal differences among International House residents.

“That evolved with me to mean that you respect the values of the house, and the people in it,” Dr. Ketterer said. “That means everyone. No one is excluded.”

The shift was more than administrative. It was philosophical. It changed how students interacted, how they learned from one another, and how they understood the purpose of living in a community built on differences. Dr. Ketterer made a point of ensuring all students felt welcome and could participate in activities. When planning swimming trips, for example, he ensured students of all backgrounds had accommodations that honored their religious practices. Respect demanded intention.

“A young person who comes to the International House does not go there to be mediocre,” Dr. Ketterer said. “They go there because they want a challenge, and they want to meet new people. People with that kind of curiosity are almost always great students.”

For many students, the International House was more than a residence hall. The Ketterers made it a home.

“My wife changed their bandages,” Dr. Ketterer said, “and took care of them.”

Students recovering from bicycle accidents, car accidents, the occasional appendicitis, and other emergencies often stayed in the Ketterers’ guest room. Others came seeking privacy after the loss of a parent back home, while some simply needed help navigating college life in a new country.

“My door was always open to students,” Dr. Ketterer said. “And actually, it was a lot of non-house problems or situations where they simply needed advice,” he said.

Dr. Ketterer’s path to the International House began unexpectedly. In 1999, shortly after arriving at Jacksonville State, he volunteered to serve as translator for a group of professors traveling to the Autonomous University of the Yucatan in Mexico.

“I think Dr. David Watts (former Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs) realized that he needed someone who felt comfortable stepping into other cultures,” he said. “Somebody who was already on staff. When he saw what I could do in the field, he thought, ‘Well, this might be my guy for the International House.’”

Dr. Ketterer became executive director in the 2000 academic year and served until retiring in July 2014. During his tenure, he continued to build on the International House's longstanding mission of bringing students from different nations and cultures together.

He credits the program’s success to strong presidential support, praising former Jax State President Dr. William A. Meehan and current president Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. for their backing. The International House has since produced approximately five ambassadors and international diplomats, and its International Food Fair remains one of the campus's most popular community events.

From Belarus to Leadership

Katliarou arrived at Jacksonville State in 2008 at age 18, following in his older brother’s footsteps. He quickly found a home in the International House, where he was made a resident assistant after just one year, an honor typically reserved for sophomores and above.

“I’m very thankful to him for that,” Katliarou said. “I learned a lot from him about how to deal with people and how to be a leader.”

Katliarou earned his bachelor’s degree in biology in 2012, followed by a master’s in biology in 2016. In 2026, Jax State named him its Young Alum of the Year. He taught as a Jax State adjunct instructor before becoming a senior GIS analyst and cartographer at Transglobal Services in Fort Worth, Texas. That experience prepared him to found his own company, Coosa Consulting, a full-service land surveying company. In 2023, he relocated to Gadsden, where he and his wife also opened Petite Play, an indoor playground that provides a safe and creative environment for children 10 and under.

“Dr. Ketterer and the International House gave me the leadership skills I needed to deal with people,” Katliarou said. “They helped me become the person I am today.”

For Katliarou, the International House remains a lifelong community.

“I had a great time, made a bunch of friends, and these are people that I still talk to,” he said. “It’s the kind of community that continues even after you leave and graduate.”

Katliarou continues to give back by hosting exchange students and supporting charitable work through his company. He’s involved with youth sports, medical and homeless organizations, as well as Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, Sky High for Kids and the Ronald McDonald House. Katliarou also remains active at Jax State as a member of the International House Foundation Board.

For Katliarou, it all comes back to a principle that has helped guide his life.

“The more you give, the more you get,” Katliarou said. “It always comes back.”