Seven Questions for Those Working to Make a Difference in International Education

When faced with seemingly intractable challenges, it is difficult to know what to do and how to do it. We asked five NAFSA members who have been involved with NAFSA’s advocacy efforts to share with us what keeps them going in times of discouragement, how they avoid burnout, and why they are proud to be international educators in this critical moment.

1. How are you feeling? 

Hernando Sevilla-Garcia, MS, senior diversity relations manager, IES Abroad: As a person of color, exhausted. However, far from defeated, because the time to fight for systemic change is now.

Adria Baker, EdD, associate vice provost for international education, Rice University; 2006 NAFSA Advocate of the Year: Higher education is going through major changes due to the global pandemic and the whirlwind of current U.S. administration laws and mandates concerning immigration and internationals in the last days, weeks, months, and recent years. So many, and monumental, are the changes, I tend to feel overwhelmed at times. I feel bad when I feel boxed in with minimal options and no good solutions to help our international students and scholars.

However, when I am able to provide clarity for colleagues at my university, or help the next international student through their quagmire of regulatory, academic, and personal challenges, I realize that our work matters and feel hopeful again.

Shannon Bedo, MS, director of international and veteran student services, Houston Baptist University; 2020 NAFSA Advocate of the Year: I’m feeling stressed but also optimistic, despite the challenges we face.

Deb Pierce, PhD