The Power of International Education Collaborations

Hanan Allen, Assistant Director of Student Engagement, University of Rochester

Hanan Bio:

Hanan Allen, MPA, is a higher education professional with 10 years of multi-faceted experience in student life, crisis intervention, youth development, and international affairs. She is a proud Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Fiji 2016 - 2018), and study abroad returnee (Germany: Spring 2022) & (Paraguay: Spring 2023). These international experiences have influenced her to develop a global perspective in her current role as Assistant Director for Student Activities at the University of Rochester. She is passionate about advocating for the 45+ multicultural student organizations that she advises to create a holistic environment on campus through inclusive program & event management. As a grassroots administrator, she utilizes a compassion-first approach to build community and authentic rapport via student support services.

Nate Bio:

Nate Bloemke, M.A., M.Ed., has worked in the fields of international education and student affairs for over 15 years. His current role is Associate Director for Support and Engagement at the University of Rochester International Services Office. He is a doctoral candidate in the Ed.D. Higher Education program at the University of Rochester, Warner School of Education and Human Development. Nate was also the co-Principal Investigator and Cultural Liaison for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers 2025 Cohort at the University of Rochester. Previously, he served as the Cultural Immersion Program Coordinator at the University of Florida English Language Institute for 8 years. Nate is passionate about supporting college students and building engagement programming, including events, mentorship programs, workshops, and orientations.

Hanan Questions:

• How has your work in multicultural student affairs shaped your approach to international student engagement?

• My work in multicultural student affairs has expanded my global perspective and awareness to diverse customs, traditions and values. Building authentic rapport with the 45+ student organizations that I advise has given me a unique administrative platform and inspired my passion for international education initiatives.

“International students are individuals with unique stories. True support means offering opportunities for connection, cultural expression, and belonging so each can find their community on campus.”

• Being an advocate for multicultural student affairs heavily intersects with international student engagement through culturally responsive campus programming. Showcasing community through creativity and active global representation is key to involving international students in campus life and curating a new home away from home.

• How do you design programs that support both cultural identity and cross-cultural connection?

• Co-sponsoring with campus partners and colleagues in the International Services Office, as well as the Center for Education Abroad, has been influential in implementing inclusive programs that support cultural identity and foster cross-cultural connections. For example, collectively we have hosted the International Food Festival, Lunar New Year Celebration, and the annual Cultural Fair on campus. These events have boosted the vibrancy of student life and given our campus community a sense of belonging by serving over 3,000+ attendees

• What role does collaboration play in supporting international and multicultural student communities?

•Collaboration with like-minded colleagues that share a global and progressive vision is key to supporting international and multicultural student communities effectively. I am grateful to have found my niche and chosen University of Rochester community by taking the initiative to collaborate with the Global Engagement division on campus. Together, we integrate our ideas and curate new programs that highlight the power of cultural diversity and international education.

ISO questions (Nate)

• What challenges do international students most often face when adapting to campus life, and how do you address them?

The challenges international students face adapting to campus life can vary greatly depending on the student. The idea of “adapting” itself is often controversial and may have different meanings to many different international students. A traditional U.S. view of cultural adaptation may assume that international students are successful when they have adopted some norms and behaviors of the majority culture within a predominantly white institution. However, for many students, adapting to campus life looks more like finding their community. That can look very different depending on the student, and it may involve finding a group of friends with shared culture, interests, career paths, or religion. To address international students’ campus life needs, it is important to offer students a wide range of opportunities to connect across different aspects of their identities and find shared interests with a diverse range of fellow students.

While they may differ on their campus life needs, international students often do share the same structural barriers. They have additional regulations to follow regarding employment, travel, and academics. Things that some domestic students often take for granted, such as renting an apartment, getting across town, or opening a credit card, may be more difficult for international students until they have access to a social security card. International student and scholar offices can be a critical resource in helping new international students overcome some of these challenges when they arrive.

How do you assess the impact of engagement initiatives on international student success and belonging?

We typically assess engagement initiatives through a mixed-methods approach. We utilize regularly collected quantitative survey data after our events. We also work with our advisory board of international students and scholars to run listening lunches around the university and collect qualitative input from international students. Both forms of data collection involve questions designed to self-report student belonging and success. We organize this data into proposals for the advisory board to create a participatory evaluation approach, ensuring that international students’ voices and opinions are reflected in future engagement initiatives.

• What advice would you give higher-education professionals working in international and multicultural student affairs?

International students should not be viewed as a homogeneous group, nor should they be overgeneralized and stereotyped by aspects of their cultural identity. Instead of trying to create a singular “international student experience,” it is important to view each international student as an individual with unique life experiences and motivations for studying at the university. Providing international students with a wide range of programming options and giving them more agency in shaping their student life opportunities can help students better find their own communities within the university.

Event Management