A Message From Director of the International Student and Global Scholar Services
The 2022-23 academic year brought a great deal of change to International Affairs! As the new Director of International Student and Global Scholar Services (ISGSS) at Lewis, I am excited to jump into this role to both continue ISGSS traditions and to create new opportunities for international students and the entire Lewis University Community as our international student population continues to grow. Spring 2023 has proven to be International Admissions’ second largest intake ever, with approximately 350 newly admitted students in the Spring semester alone! Lewis is now home to approximately 1,300 undergraduate and graduate international students from more than 50 countries!
In this edition of The Globe Newsletter, we are proud to continue featuring articles on current students, international student alumni, and new additions to the international team. With an ever-increasing number of students, the Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services is focusing on streamlining processes and communications to best serve our international student population and most effectively support our Lewis faculty and staff colleagues. We continue to develop partnerships across departments and colleges to provide an inclusive community for international students.
One Lewis community collaboration that we are excited about is our International Ambassador Host/Friendship Family program which was launched in Fall 2022 (see article below). We are grateful for the support of our Lewis Community in hosting students for holiday meals or weekend activities, and we hope to continue providing local opportunities for cultural communications between Lewis students, faculty, and staff.
Another initiative we implemented this academic year is our Friday Virtual Zoom Q&A Sessions for international students. These Friday sessions allow students to drop in to ask the ISGSS office general questions. We have also welcomed some of our Lewis colleagues (such as Health & Counseling and Career Services) as guest presenters for specific topics during these sessions. We are always grateful for cross-campus collaborations!
One additional program we started this year is a partnership with Sprintax for Non-Resident Tax preparation for international students. Through this partnership with Sprintax, up to 500 continuing Lewis international students can file their federal non-resident tax application (with assistance from Sprintax) for free.
On campus, we were able to host a variety of opportunities such as Diwali and Holi Cultural Celebrations. We also collaborated with student organizations such as the Asian American Association (AAA) and International Student Association (ISA) to host events for Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day. We are currently planning an Eid-al-Fitr recognition/celebration event for the end of April.
Off-campus, we hosted excursions to Chicago such as ice skating and an architectural river cruise with support and leadership from the International Student Association (ISA). These events provide exposure to American cultural experiences that our international students might not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in.
Finally, we are very excited about the continued progress of the first Lewis University Cricket Club. The club is continuing to work on establishing an official cricket pitch and then will be working on a schedule of matches with other clubs and universities. Thank you for your continued support of our international student population. Our office is always looking for cross-campus collaborations, so please feel free reach out to us with ISGSS@lewisu.edu with any suggestions!
Contents
- International Ambassador Host/Friendship Family Program
- Welcoming New International Students
- Balancing Sports and Studies by Kiara Barnes (South Africa)
- Life After Lewis U - Omara Beatriz Castillo Licona (Honduras)
- Students Head To Rome
- Exploring the Lasallian World: Making a Case for Holiness and Br. James Miller
- International English Support Appointments
- International Student Association (ISA)
- Holi - Festival of Colors
- International Student Spotlight: Miguel Turcios (Guatemala)
- ENGL 120: Improving your Writing Skills through Mentorship
- Here's to Never Giving Up On Your Dreams! - Venkatesh Ankathi (India)
- Meet our staff
International Ambassador Host/ Friendship Family Program
The Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services started the International Ambassador Host/Friendship Family Program for holidays last November 2022. For this program, Lewis University Faculty, Staff, and Alumni who are interested in inviting international students to their homes are matched with international students who are interested in experiencing a holiday with an American family.
Typically, the American host family will invite the student to their home for a meal and some additional social time together. The first event occurred last November 24, 2022 for Thanksgiving holiday followed by the winter break last December! We are hoping to continue this wonderful experience for the next coming holidays.
We hope that these interactions will provide our international students with an opportunity to experience family life in the U.S. as well as teach American families about international students and different countries/customs!
If you are an international student wanting to participate in this program or if you are a current Lewis faculty, staff, or alumni that is interested in hosting an international student, please send us an email at isgss@lewisu.edu.
Welcoming New International Students!
This school year 2022-2023, Lewis University has welcome over 550 new international students from all over the world.
Students from all around the world are studying at Lewis University to pursue a high quality and personalized education at our beautiful campus near Chicago.
Lewis University offers International Students undergraduate and graduate programs that can be customized based on your specific interests and career desires, preparing you for an exciting and rewarding future. Plus, we'll help make the entire process easy for you! From immigration assistance, travel coordination, airport pickup, orientation, transfer information and more, we will be there to help you every step of the way!
WHAT DO OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LOVE MOST ABOUT LEWIS UNIVERSITY?
- Easy transportation around the Chicago area for commuting, internships, entertainment, and exploration.
- Day 1 CPT internship opportunities, and full-time OPT employment partner.
- International Scholarships up to $15,000 per year.
- Ranked #20 by U.S. News & World Report in the Midwest.
- Mid-sized university in a safe and affordable suburb
- International mentor students to help you quickly integrate within our learning community.
Many of our International students choose to pursue our challenging Business and Aviation programs. Plus, with premier degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science and more, you'll experience the ultimate combination of critical thinking and career preparation in whatever Lewis program you choose. For questions, please email: international@lewisu.edu or isgss@lewisu.edu.
Balancing Sports and Studies
By Kiara Barnes - South Africa. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Class of 2023.
My name is Kiara Barnes, I am an international student from Cape Town, South Africa. I am currently Majoring in Psychology and Minoring in Athletic Coaching. I am an undergraduate (Junior) and joined Lewis in the Fall of 2020. I am part of the Women’s Swimming team here at Lewis University.
What led me to swim was the fact that I was so scared of the water. At home, in South Africa, we had a pool and my family wanted me to be “water safe” and overcome the fear of the water, so I started taking swim lessons. 3 years later I was more competent and fell in love with swimming.
At the age of 7 years old, I started with the first “competitions” and carried on my swimming competitive career till the present. I have been representing South Africa in Open water swimming since 2016 at the Junior World Swimming championship in Hoorn, Netherlands, European Len Cup in Rome, Italy, Slovenia, and Len Cup in Barcelona, Spain too.
Today I raise my flag up high, I am an international student at Lewis University pursuing both my academics and athletic career. I chose Lewis University as it is an incredible institute, with great professors, amazing course choices, a beautiful campus, with a great academic and athletic program. Lewis University is well situated on the outskirt of Chicago, 45 minutes drive or 1 hour by train. My future plans are to finish my undergrad study and possibly pursue a master’s program and possibly enroll at the University as a graduate assistant.
The advice I can give to future students that plan or wish to join or transfer to Lewis University is to check the incredible athletic and academic programs this university has to offer, I can share that the faculty personnel is friendly, caring, and welcoming. There are many weekly activities for the students with multiple choice, catering for everyone. I have not found any negative aspects during my 3 years, and I can confirm:
studying at Lewis University is the key to my future career, preparing me for the so-called “adult life”.
Life After Lewis U
By Omara Beatriz Castillo Licona, MsBA - Honduras. Class of 2022.
Hello! My name is Omara Castillo and I’m from Honduras. I graduated in Spring 2022 with a Master of Science in Business Analytics with concentration in Marketing Analytics.
I’m currently on a regular period of Post Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) (12 months per degree level). I work as a sales and marketing analyst at a toy company. If you ask me what I have learned when pursuing my professional dreams in another country, I will answer you with the following quote: “never fail to try more.”
When you've planned on looking for a job after graduating, you need to start job searching now and grow your network, both online and in real life.
"Remember that networking is the most successful way of finding a meaningful job and attaining career success."
Being an international student allows you to meet and interact with many different people from diverse countries, cultures, and backgrounds. In today’s competitive career landscape, you need to be ready to learn and communicate well so you can build a strong professional network.
Students Head To Rome for Lewis University 2023 Program
By Christopher Swanson - Director of Study Abroad
For the Spring 2023 Semester, the Lasallian Universities Center for Education in Rome, Italy is hosting a record 22 college students; the most students since the program began five years ago. Nineteen of the students are from Lewis University, while three students are from Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York.
The students live in the Generalate, the motherhouse of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Rome, Italy. Its extensive grounds and facilities provide a safe and ideal place to study and explore the city. Students use Rome as their classroom as well as travel to Assisi and other sites. Students take courses that draw on the rich culture and history of Rome. Italian faculty teach Italian language, Italy Today, and Art Appreciation. All three credit-hour courses can be taken to fulfill the General Education requirements.
Dr. Dennis Cremin, history professor and director of Lewis University History Center, is again filling the role of academic director, while Dr. Joanne Kuttner, director of Engaging Stories, returns as the resident director. They are teaching two courses in the program. Cremin teaches Interpreting the Modern World, a Civic Engagement General Education required course and Christians as the Roman Saw Them, an interdisciplinary seminar co-taught with Dr. Clare Rothschild, theology professor. Kuttner is teaching Theology 100 level Search for Faith as well as the Theology 200 level Christian Faith and the Arts.
Tyler Samaras, a business administration student, is also serving as a resident assistant while the students reside in the Generalate. The RA role is a new addition to the program this semester.
For more information on the Rome Program at LUCE, please visit the Study Abroad website at www.lewisu.edu/studyabroad or contact the Director of Study Abroad, Chris Swanson, at swansoch@lewisu.edu.
Exploring the Lasallian World: Making a Case for Holiness and Br. James Miller
By Dr. Dennis H. Cremin - Chair, Professor, & Director of History Center
So, it is going to take a miracle? That is just part of what is required to have someone officially recognized as holy in the Roman Catholic Church.
If you’ve spent time in school, you have written a research paper. The assignment teaches the student how to gather evidence, evaluate sources, and set out a logical argument. Since 2002, Brother Rodolfo Cosimo Meoli, FSC has essentially written research papers. He has conducted accurate investigations, provides analysis, and made a case for the holiness of Lasallians to the special Vatican tribunal. He has done it with style and in elegant and cordial language.
Recently, students enrolled in Lewis University’s Lasallian Universities Center for Education (LUCE) visited the “General Postulation” office. This is the office at the Generalate, or Motherhouse, of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, that puts forth the nomination for an individual to be officially recognized as a “Servant of God.” Traditionally, this requires the verification of one or more miracles through the intercession of the individual as well as recognition of their holiness and virtue.
Br. Rodolfo, an Italian, addressed the group in English. He talked about the work of his office and showed examples of reliquaries of Christian Brothers who have been officially declared holy. Much to the wonder of the students, the well-spoken brother displayed relics, often bone fragments or items owned by a recognized individual. In his scope of work, he also works with artists to develop an official image of the individual.
Br. Rodolfo talked to the students about Br. James Miller, born in Stevens Point, WI, and became a missionary. He was shot on February 13, 1982, while making a repair at the school where he worked with other brothers in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. He was 37 years old when he was killed. He was declared a martyr, and Pope Francis beatified him on December 7, 2019. Br. Rodolfo offered small reliquaries to the students that contained a fragment of a robe worn by Br. James Miller.
“I just learned that Br. Rodolfo has retired. He has always graciously greeted me, and made himself available to our students. Being from the Midwest, his work on submitting the materials on Br. James Miller was particularly significant. In fact, Lewis University just improved the James Miller Chapel on campus,” said Dennis H. Cremin, Professor of History and Academic Director for 2023 for the LUCE program.
The interesting and important work of Br. Rodolfo will go on. In fact, there continues to be efforts to officially elevate Br. James Miller to sainthood. While all Christians can be called saints, these individuals are particularly worthy of imitation because they have lived virtuous lives for others.
Writing Center Offers New International English Support Appointments
By Jasmine Castillo - Writing Center Assistant Director
International English Support appointments at the Writing Center provide multilingual writers opportunities to develop fluency through conversations with Writing Center mentors. Instead of working on a text, students and mentors come together to practice skills like speaking and listening.
According to research on language acquisition and development, conversation helps native English speakers as well as multilingual writers improve their oral and written fluency, helps students become more confident in the classroom, helps them become more aware of their writing processes, and helps them create their own writer’s voice. The Writing Center’s International English Support appointments are beneficial to students as they allow for an informal and free-flowing exploration of language.
These appointments provide one-on-one linguistic and cultural support and more than just a chance to practice language skills. They allow multilingual writers to negotiate meaning and to discuss concerns and challenges with English, with a mentor. This kind of work is critical to language acquisition.
To schedule an appointment, visit lewisu.edu/appointment, call 815-836-5427 or stop by the Writing Center located on the first floor of the Library.
International Student Association (ISA)
ISA seeks to foster an awareness of other cultures at the Lewis University campus, promote friendships between international students, as well as with American students, and provide support and appreciation for the international student community at Lewis University. This school year, we have prepared tons of fun activities for everyone to enjoy!
Follow our social media platforms to stay updated. We are on both Instagram and Facebook! If you have any questions or event suggestions, please feel free to contact us via email - isgss@lewisu.edu.
Holi - Festival of Colors
The Office of International Affairs together with the International Student Association (ISA) celebrated Holi - Festival of Colors last March 2, 2023 at the University Green and Pavilion!
Students, faculty, and staff were invited! Food, drinks, and festive music were all provided to enjoy this festive day. This celebration was also a wonderful way for the Office of International Affairs to thank all international students and those graduating this semester with their involvement at Lewis University.
What is Holi? Holi is considered as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called as the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. - https://www.holifestival.org/
International Student Spotlight: Miguel Turcios
By Allyson Howard - Writing Center Specialist.
It is clear from Miguel’s background that he is not afraid to face new challenges and turn them into opportunities. Originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala, Miguel cherished his time growing up there and was eager to share the many benefits of living in his home country. “It [Guatemala] is one of the most technologically advanced countries in Central America, yet it is also known for its beautiful natural landmarks. We have all sorts of attractions involving hiking, swimming, and sight-seeing. Our culinary world is also very robust. Our Mayan heritage has brought us to use chocolate, corn, and a wide variety of spices in our most prominent dishes.”
Miguel’s family moved to the U.S. when he was 16, and he finished high school in Florida before attending Eastern Illinois University as an athlete for the school’s swim team. When the coach of his EIU team took a new coaching job at Lewis University, Miguel decided to follow him and to pursue his dream of working in aviation through the Lewis University Aviation program.
Despite his cramped schedule as a student athlete, Miguel took a job in the Lewis Writing Center as a Student Writing Mentor.
“I know how difficult writing can be, especially for an international student. I knew that I could be of much help, and especially to these types of students. Many people think that writing tutors are all English majors. I also wanted to defy that misconception.”
Miguel was pleasantly surprised to find that Lewis University has a large and diverse international student population “At Eastern Illinois, where the international student population was rather small, I had a small pool of people that I could relate to in this area. At Lewis, there are students from many countries. Even though we might not speak the same language, we can all relate as internationals.“
Miguel works with all types of students during the Writing Center’s standard appointment types: in-person, video, real-time phone, or online response. He is also a member of the Graduate Writing Team, which works to support the writing of graduate students at Lewis. However, Miguel has a special place in his heart for working with international students. “I understand that international students will likely have English as their second language. Therefore, we offer international students a special appointment called International English Support. In this type of appointment, we help students with their reading, speaking, and writing skills in the English language.”
“The biggest reward for me as a mentor is to notice the relief students experience at the end of our appointments, knowing they have guidance to work with,” says Miguel. When I have the opportunity to help international students, my happiness relies on the fact that we can relate, letting them know that if they are struggling, they aren’t alone.”
To book an appointment with Miguel or any of the other Writing Center mentors, visit the Writing Center online schedule at http://www.lewisu.edu/appointment.
ENGL 120: Improving your Writing Skills through Mentorship
By Jasmine Castillo, Writing Center Assistant Director
Are you interested in improving your writing? Each semester, the English department offers ENGL 120, a one-credit hour writing workshop for students not currently enrolled in a writing course. The goal of this course is to provide additional writing and English language support to students, including multilingual and/or international students.
The course, ENGL 120: Workshop in Writing, pairs each student with a Workshop in Writing Mentor, a Writing Center mentor trained in offering feedback on various stages of the writing process and is taught by Jasmine Castillo, the Writing Center Assistant Director. Each week, the students meet with their Mentor to receive feedback and support with their current course writing.
Mentors offer feedback and strategies for writing and help students practice and improve their writing skills by identifying patterns, focusing on higher-order concerns, and sharing writing approaches and strategies to help students with their writing.
Here's to Never Giving Up On Your Dreams!
By Venkatesh Ankathi - India. Masters in Business Analytics. Class of 2023.
My name is Venkatesh Ankathi, and I am from Hyderabad, India. I decided to study abroad after completing my undergraduate degree in my home country. Studying in the US was a dream come true. I joined Lewis University for my master’s degree in Business Analytics with a concentration in Operations Analytics and will be graduating this Spring 2023.
I had a chance to start, develop, and introduce the Cricket Club at Lewis university. We worked with Ms. Jill Siegfried, Lewis University Director of Student Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness to gather the equipment and work on the ground setup. Later, I had a chance to join as a student employee with the International Student and Global Scholar Services Office. After working for 3 months, I was offered the Graduate Assistant position which provided me the opportunity to help almost 1600 international students with CPT, OPT, SSN, and other international student related concerns.
From childhood, I had only one dream - I wanted to be a cricketer. I worked on that so hard and played at the highest level in my state in India. Due to some external reasons, I was not able to continue playing back home. However, I never gave up and I was never disappointed. When I came to the United States in Spring 2022, I eagerly waited for Summer to play cricket. I played in one of the top tournaments in the Chicagoland Area – CASO Cricket League at Plainfield and Bolingbrook Illinois Cricket Stadium. I ended up playing 30 matches last Summer!
As an international student, I am taking advantage of the 12 months of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) opportunity and will be eligible for the 24-month extension - STEM OPT. I want to pursue my career as a Data Analyst. Back in India, I have 3 years of professional work experience with top companies like Genpact and Amazon. To aspiring international students:
"Come with lots of dreams. Lewis University and the United States will never disappoint you!"
The Staff
- Tyler King - Executive Director/ PDSO, Office of International Affairs
- Angie Maffeo - Director/ DSO, ISGSS
- Jay Ann Chan - Coordinator, ISGSS, Editor - The Globe Newsletter
- Venkatesh Ankathi (India) - Graduate Assistant
- Indira Sundaraneedi (India) - Graduate Student Staff
- Yang Chen (China) - Undergraduate Student Staff
Contact Us:
Would you like to be featured in The Globe Newsletter? Do you have any suggestions or questions? Feel free to contact us at isgss@lewisu.edu for more information.
Credits:
Created with images by Frédéric Prochasson - "Colosseum in Rome with morning sun" • zasabe - "Close shot of businesswoman hands holding a pen writing something on the paper on the foreground in office. Recording concept."