Rebecca Johnson (she/her), a Korean-American, shares how she creates more inclusive, sustainable international programs and resources on campus as the only study abroad staff of color across her university.
A first-generation Thai-American, shares how her experience as a volunteer English teacher in her parents’ home country inspired her to work to support international students struggling to adjust cross-culturally.
Noora A. Alie (she/her) remembers the struggles of her Arab immigrant parents and uses these early memories to support international students as they transition to their studies in the U.S.
Michael Ziadat (he/his), the proud son of immigrants and a first-generation Arab American, felt a life-calling to support the needs of learners by helping them break through academic, social, linguistic, cultural, and economic barriers. Michael’s decade-long work in international education, ESL, and adult education shines through in his advocacy to highlight the diversity within Arab identity.
Dr. Miguel Ayllon (he/him) shares how his Latino heritage guided him as an international educator and how valuing people over tasks helped him find his calling.
Kwame Gayle (he/his) shares how his identity as a black, Afro-Caribbean, queer immigrant living and working abroad has led him to recognize the inclusive value of “making space for others” while “taking up space” at the table to ensure representation.
URep Abroad interviewed Kwan Segal (she/her), CEO and Founder of ICAway, on how she used her experience as a Thai international student to develop customized training programs to help international students prepare to enter the U.S. professional world. ​
When I was in elementary school, I had no idea that my project of re-creating a Japanese flag would be the driving force to me working in international education.