Through the new peer-to-peer support services in Kent State University's Office of Intercultural Student Life, junior Luana Johnson of Brazil provides support for international students as they adjust to life at Kent State University.
As a student employee of the office, Johnson connects her peers to campus resources, helps them foster new friendships and shares with them her experiences adjusting to life at Kent State.
Johnson, a native of Curitiba, Brazil and a visual communications and design major, talked to Kent State Today about how she adjusted to campus life in the U.S.
The Office of Intercultural Student Life, formerly known as International Student Affairs, had been previously based in Allen Hall. But its new central location in the Kent Student Center has made it more accessible to international students, according to Ashton Leigh, director of Intercultural Student Life. Along with the new location comes the mission to provide drop-in services for international students.
“Our office has been mainly focused on programs, but we do have new services for international students,” Leigh said. “The international students who work in my office offer peer-to-peer support four days a week, Tuesday through Friday. International students can come in and see us as the dedicated support hub on campus.”
The new name, Office of Intercultural Student Life, is a way for the office to live its mission of being a supportive bridge to all the resources and experiences that will make international students feel at home. At Kent State, students find a safe, diverse and welcoming global community.
“Part of the reason we changed the name is to put more of our mission into our office because we are here to serve the Kent State community,” Leigh said. “Part of our goal is to support international students and be their bridge into student life, get connected to resources and help them feel celebrated and heard.”
The Office of Intercultural Student Life is also hosting fun, engaging events to help international students become more involved with American traditions and rituals such as Homecoming and Halloween.
One of the recent programs, Introduction to Homecoming 101, helped international students learn about this great American tradition. The course encouraged international students to march in the homecoming parade, tailgate and cheer on the Golden Flashes football team. The program was a partnership with Kent State’s Athletics Department.
There was even a section especially for international students in the stadium at Kent State’s Homecoming football game.
“Homecoming is a big intercollegiate tradition,” Leigh said. “Sometimes international students stay home because they don’t know how that they can be involved. Homecoming 101 introduced the students to what homecoming is all about and to the rules of American football.”
When Lisa Onyao came to Kent State from Nairobi, Kenya, last year to work on her master’s degree, the only thing she knew about homecoming was what she had seen on in American television shows and movies. Introduction to Homecoming 101 put a whole new spin to the event for Onyao, who also works in the Office of Intercultural Student Life.
And to celebrate Halloween, the Office of Intercultural Student Life, along with the Library, is sponsoring trick or treating from 3-5 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the Kent Student Center. The event is being marketed to international students and parenting students. The first 500 students will get a tote bag.
“We have always done a lot of great programs to help international students share their culture,” Leigh said. “But we have not done a lot to share American culture with international students. Now we are providing the bridge to American culture.”
For more information go to the Office of Intercultural Student Life.