When Alizee Potrel first arrived at Kent State University from her hometown of Rennes, France, she had no idea how profoundly that year would shape her future. Now, as she completes her master's degree in visual communication design in Paris and works for a French multinational company, Potrel reflects on the transformative power of her international education experience.
"I wouldn't have been able to find this job without my year at Kent State," Potrel said. "In France, I didn't really study design. So, it was really at Kent State and at the VCD [visual communication design] program that I learned everything about design and design thinking methodologies."
Potrel shared with Kent State Today that she came to Kent State through a partnership with her university in France. Attracted by the flexibility to choose her classes and the reputation of the visual communication design program, she embarked on a journey that would broaden her personal and professional horizons.
"What attracted me to this program was that I could choose my classes, which is not the case in France," Potrel explained. "So, I really wanted to study in the U.S. because I could study what I wanted and pick and choose the classes I wanted."
A Global Perspective in the Heart of Ohio
Potrel quickly immersed herself in a vibrant international community despite initial language barriers.
"Kent State is really a global university," she recalled. "I felt so welcome as an international student because there are many, many events organized for us."
One of her most cherished memories is participating in a poetry reading at the Wick Poetry Center, where she and other international students shared poems in their native languages and in English. This experience exemplifies the cultural exchange that Kent State fosters.
"The Wick Poetry Center Poetry reading was one of the highlights because I did it with my international friends. We all read poetry from our country and then in English, so it was really nice."
Potrel's time in Ohio wasn't confined to the classroom. She took advantage of opportunities to explore, visiting New York, Florida and San Francisco. These travels, combined with her studies, helped cultivate a global mindset that she now considers crucial in her career.
"It's so important in my career to have this global expertise and experience," she emphasized. "Even for the language, like how to express myself in English, being comfortable even having my accent and everything, it's really important."
From Student to Professional: Applying Kent State Lessons
Currently working in design thinking and UX design at a French multinational company, Potrel directly applies the skills she sharpened at Kent State.
"Being empathetic during the research phase, putting myself in someone else's shoes – these are things I learned during the program, in all our projects," she explained.
Her internship at the Kent State Women's Center also proved invaluable, allowing her to organize events and manage projects – experiences that translate directly to her current role.
"I was a project manager at the Kent State Women's Center, and it was really amazing," Potrel shared. "We got the chance to organize events, and it was really nice for me."
The Value of International Education
Reflecting on her time at Kent State, Potrel emphasizes the importance of studying abroad.
"If we stay in the same university with the same teachers and methodologies, we don't discover everything that is out there," she said. "For me, it's really important to be open-minded about the world."
She advises current Kent State students aspiring to work internationally to be unafraid of the challenges. "It'll be difficult, but I am sure you can do it," Potrel encouraged. "Sometimes it takes time to adjust, to adapt to a new culture, but I think it's really worth it."
Potrel also highlighted the support system at Kent State that helped her navigate the challenges of studying abroad. "There's a good support system at Kent State. Like I said, a lot of events are organized, and you will never feel alone. There's always someone you can reach out to."
Looking to the Future
As Potrel looks ahead in her career, she aims to work in service design, possibly at an agency, and, with more experience, hopes to teach design thinking at schools and universities eventually. Her Kent State experience continues to influence her path, serving as a foundation for her global career aspirations.
"Going to the U.S. and going to Kent State was really something that made the difference on my resume," Potrel said. "It meant that I could adapt in a country that wasn't mine. It meant that I could adapt with people. So, yes, I think it was something that the employers were looking for."
For Kent State, Potrel's story is a testament to the university's commitment to global education and the lasting impact it has on students' lives and careers. As the university continues to forge international partnerships and welcome students from around the world, it's clear that the ripple effects of these experiences extend far beyond graduation, shaping the next generation of global professionals.
"For me, going abroad during my studies was really the main experience," Potrel said. "I learned so much by meeting other people, meeting other cultures. So, I think there must be more and more partnerships between universities, so people from France can go to the U.S. and people from the U.S. can go to France. It's really important to be open-minded about the world."