Volume 2: 2012/2013
The Year in Review
The number of international students on UNCW’s F or J visa sponsorship has grown from 168 students in academic year
2006/2007 to 306 students in 2012/2013. While more than half of these students come from six countries (United Kingdom,
Germany, Australia, France, Saudi Arabia and Spain), the international student
population on campus proudly represents 43 different countries. ISSS provides these students with immigration
and personal advising and designs programs to help them maximize their experience at UNCW. Programs this year
included Fall & Spring Orientations, a
sunset cruise on the Cape Fear River, a
picnic at Hugh MacRae Park, and an end
of year celebration. This May, international students experienced a classic
American ritual when ISSS staff and volunteers transformed the Warwick Center into a high school prom! Collaborations with local organizations, like the
Coastal Carolina Chapter of the United
Nations Association and Sister Cities
Association of Wilmington, also resulted
in exciting off-campus events that engaged students from around the world
with members of the broader Wilmington community.
20th annual Intercultural Week
UNCW celebrated its 20th annual Intercultural Week February 11 - 16, 2013 with more than
twenty lectures, performances, films and panel discussions throughout the week. Saturday’s
Intercultural Festival concluded the week with international music, dance, and exhibits
representing countries from around the world.
Volume 2: 2012/2013
IN THEIR WORDS: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SHARE
THEIR STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE
Patricia Igual Doñate
My name is Patricia Igual, I am a Business
Administration student from Spain. The attractive and
secure campus at UNCW encourages intellectual and
cultural diversity. I have lived with people from
everywhere and have learned about their customs and
their ways of life. I made friends from different parts of the
world, which has helped me grow as a person and
expanded my view of the world.
As an international student, I have learned that the
American education system is quite different from that in
Spain. Keeping up with daily assignments can be stressful
but the pressure placed throughout the semester is well
worth it in the end. At UNCW we have several exams and
the final exam counts for 20%, while at Spanish universities
the last exam counts for 100%.
Before studying abroad I never thought about the
possibility of living or working in another country.
However, after these two years my view about my
professional future has changed dramatically. I feel more
independent and organized than before I came here and I
now have enough confidence
with my English language
skills. Now that my program is
ending at UNCW, I feel very
lucky and grateful for having
had this wonderful
opportunity. My time at
UNCW has been
unforgettable, enriching and
exceeded my expectations at
all levels.
Keng Teng Soo
I am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am currently a
second year graduate student in the Computer Science and
Information Systems program at UNCW. Some of my
personal interests are learning the latest trends in
Information Technology, going to art galleries or symphony,
volunteering at a food pantry, or just traveling to new cities
or places.
I have taken advantage of student life opportunities to
develop my leadership and communication skills. In
particular, I became Vice President of the Graduate Student
Association. UNCW is a very teaching-oriented school,
where all the professors and staff are very approachable in
answering my questions. The highlight of my time at UNCW
is the second place trophy that seven other students and I
scored in the Southeast Regional Cyber Defense Competition
at Kennesaw State University, GA. We spent 10-15 hours/
week for two
months preparing
for the
competition, and
the work paid off.
The technical skills
were the biggest
learning reward,
none the least, but I also had the chance to learn how to
work with people of different personalities.
There is definitely something for everyone here, it really
depends on the student to stretch her imagination and take
the initiative to learn. The professors in my department are
very connected to the professional community in
Wilmington. Events such as breakfast panels, workshops,
and technology exhibitions are held every semester to bring
the local IT professionals to UNCW, for the students to
network with them. Hence, I have made some connections
through those events. Through my education and
involvement with the Graduate Student Association, I would
say UNCW has equipped me with the soft and hard skills to
do well in my future career.
After several years of dedicated service,
Elizabeth Betts, ISSS Programming Coordinator, has left UNCW for a position at
George Washington University. Liz’s
commitment to international students,
along with her energy and enthusiasm
will be greatly missed. We wish Liz the
best of luck in her future!
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Volume 2: 2012/2013
Fiora Cheng
David Mesa Muñoz
I am a Chinese student who studied at University West in
Sweden where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political
Science and Economics. After graduation, I attended the
University of Barcelona and now I’ve just
finished a semester at UNCW as an
exchange student. I have a strong
interest in foreign languages and cultures
and studied French, German and Spanish
at UNCW. I liked the experience of living
on campus and having everything close.
I built friendships that will last a
lifetime. With those friends, I studied,
socialized and enjoyed some great road
trips that included Las Vegas, Grand
Canyon, San Diego, LA, Yosemite National Park, San
Francisco, Washington DC, NYC and Miami.
The experience of studying at an American university has
added to my understanding of American culture and society,
which I found quite different from both Asia and Europe. I
am glad that I came to UNCW and have truly broadened my
horizons and enriched my knowledge about the United
States. It has been a blast!
I am from Spain and am currently enrolled in the Master
of Arts in Spanish program. This has been my first year in
the United States as well as in the program and I am really
glad to have taken advantage of this opportunity. This year
has definitely helped me grow academically and as a
person. I have found plenty of opportunities to develop my
academic skills here.
This spring I did a Directed Independent Study about the
transcription and translation of a fourteenth century
manuscript from the Spanish National Library. I never
dreamed of taking part in such a great academic project.
My professor, Dr. Terry Mount, and I have also participated
in the Foreign Languages Research Symposium in which we
presented our work. Furthermore, another professor
motivated me to assist and present in the Carolina
Conference on Romance Languages about a paper that I
had written for his class. Having completed such activities
has helped me grow as a student and as a researcher.
My main goal is teaching my native language. For this
purpose, the Master’s program has provided me with very
valuable training. I have cotaught a Spanish 101 class in
which I learned a lot about
teaching and instruction
methods. Next semester I will
teach my own Spanish 120
class and I am really excited
about this opportunity. In order to improve my teaching
skills, I have also worked in the Spanish Conversation
Center and in the Learning Center as a Spanish tutor.
Studying at UNCW has had a great impact on my career
and it will absolutely help me in the future.
In addition to academic growth, I have enjoyed my life in
the U.S. immensely. I experienced my first Thanksgiving,
Super Bowl, Black Friday, cinco de mayo and other U.S.
cultural experiences . As for traveling, I have visited Atlanta
where I went to the Georgia Dome to watch my first
American football game (Falcons vs. Panthers,) Charlotte
where I saw my first live NBA game (Bobcats vs. Pistons,)
Raleigh, Miami, Washington DC, and have made tons of
new friends along the way.
Overall, it has been an unforgettable year in which I
have learned a lot, developed teaching skills, traveled and
ultimately broadened my horizons all around. It is
impossible to express how thankful I am for having the
opportunity to study at UNCW.
Esteban Martinez Hayek
I came to UNCW from Ecuador for a one year exchange
program. As an international student who has been lucky
enough to experience different backgrounds, thanks to
being raised in Ecuador and then living in the United States, I
have been able to appreciate
the cultural diversity that
makes the citizens of
different countries so
unique. This explicit and
intangible knowledge that I
have acquired will surely
benefit me in the future.
The insecurities I once had
with my English quickly
vanished when I made
friends with those in my classes and residence hall. Now
that I have completed my one year exchange at UNCW, I
have decided to transfer in as an undergraduate degreeseeking student as I have fallen in love with the UNCW
campus and community of students, staff and professors.
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Volume 2: 2012/2013
A Year in Pictures
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Volume 2: 2012/2013
INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
From France to UNCW: Dr. Pascale Barthe
Interview with Dr. Burt
conducted by David Mesa Muñoz
Dr. Raymond Burt is chair of the Foreign Languages and Literatures department.
Question: Each year UNCW hosts a Chinese instructor. Could
you tell me more about this initiative?
Answer: We have an agreement with Fudan University in
Shanghai whereby they send us a faculty member every year
who serves as a visiting lecturer in our department and teaches three classes per semester. The instructor stays for two semesters, then leaves, and the next year a new instructor arrives. This arrangement allows us to offer courses in Chinese
to our students.
Q: Why Chinese?
A: China is one of the rising economic and political powers in
the world and it is essential that we prepare our students in
becoming global citizens to have that possibility. The Cameron
School of Business was interested in setting up a connection
with China, so they approached us to see if we would join
them in funding an exchange faculty member. It’s a win-win
arrangement.
Q: What are the challenges of having international professors
at UNCW?
A: If you are bringing in someone for a short term, say a semester, it can be a challenge to find suitable living quarters.
Also, since most short-term scholars don’t have a car, transportation is always a problem.
Sometimes they bring family
members with them, so you
have to help enroll the children
in school. Finally, international
faculty always require extra paperwork for the visa process.
Q: What are the benefits for
UNCW and UNCW students of
having international professors?
A: International professors bring
a different perspective to the classroom. They also bring in
different topics and fields of study and it exposes not only our
students to this global perspective but also our faculty, because we interact with them as well.
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I was born in Southern France. I studied British and
American literature at the Université de Toulouse-Le
Mirail. My plan was to take national exams to become
an English teacher/professor and work in France. In
order to improve my speaking skills in English, I came
to F&M College in PA as an exchange student. One of
my responsibilities there was to teach an advanced
conversation course in French, and that is when I discovered that teaching my native language to Americans had the potential of being much more interesting
than teaching English to French kids. After 2 years at
F&M, I enrolled at the University of
Virginia where I received my Master's Degree and my PhD in French
literature. Interestingly, I discovered
one of my research interests
(sixteenth-century France) in the U.
S. Never in France had I heard of
Marguerite de Navarre for example.
I believe that more than ever before, students need to adapt themselves to new material, information, environments, etc. Having an international professor exposes students to different teaching
styles and expectations. It allows them to be flexible,
open-minded, and curious--skills that will serve them
well in a very competitive world.
However, what goes for students also goes for professors! Professors need to adapt to a rapidly changing
profession! Personally, what UNCW has brought me
more than anything else is students. It would be a mistake to take students for granted, especially ours who,
for the most part, tend to enjoy being challenged and
appreciate being exposed to new ideas. I have had
extremely smart and dedicated students at UNCW. I
find that many are willing to work hard and, therefore,
I see them make tremendous progress in the course of
just one semester. It is very rewarding, both for them
and for me, to see their progress and to know that a
large number will take the next step and study abroad
for a semester or a year in a francophone country. And
once they have done that, whatever next step comes
their way (graduate school, work), I know that they will
be able to handle it.
Volume 2: 2012/2013
FORMER STUDENTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
...continued
Things didn’t get off to a great start. Travelling alone for the
first time, my flight from Sydney was delayed, which meant I
sustained a punishing connection at the other end: San
Francisco - Chicago – Cincinnati – Raleigh – I wondered if I’d
ever reach this place called Wilmington! But when I did, I
was met with open arms. A welcome note on arrival to my
dorm at International House marked the beginning of the
warmth I would encounter over the following six months.
That southern hospitality everyone spoke about wasn’t just
a myth, it was alive a kicking at UNCW.
I soon found living in International House meant making
new friends every day. My fellow residents came from a
number of continents. I made friends from Italy, Chile,
Venezuela, Scotland, Japan, the Netherlands and some
more from Australia. I was quick to join the International
Student Organization and participate in activities aimed at
socializing and educating other students about different
cultures. For Spring Break, fifteen international students
and I took a road trip down I-95 to Miami. I was also able to
explore places like Charleston, Savannah and Asheville. It’s
safe to say I caught a severe case of the travel bug whilst at
UNCW, deciding to defer the
last semester of my degree at
Charles Sturt and embark on
further travel. During this
time I traveled around
America, and headed to the
UK where I used my time to
undertake a Public Relations internship at a boutique
agency in London. I also spent time in Edinburgh working at
the renowned Fringe Festival alongside one of the students I
met at UNCW. Upon my return home I completed my
degree and worked in Public Relations for a year before
returning to university to study law. I was admitted as a
solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of
Australia in 2011, and for the last two years have worked as
a lawyer in a commercial firm in Sydney.
More recently, however, it seems that I haven’t quite
shaken that travel bug I caught at UNCW, having taken a
leave of absence from my current job to embark on a yearlong assignment in Accra, Ghana, where I will work as an
Advocacy Officer for an alliance of health rights based
NGOs. This interest in other cultures, travel and adventure
was born during my time as an exchange student at UNCW,
an experience I look back on fondly. I would encourage
anyone with the opportunity to “seize the day”, as they say.
You will not look back.
Maria Hovenden
I arrived in Wilmington on
August 12, 2004 from Helsinki,
Finland, and I had the pleasure of
spending two semesters at UNCW
and submerging myself into the
rich culture of the United States.
The year taught me so much and
allowed me to gain a wealth of
information. Just to mention a
few: I studied Marine Biology—a
topic very unfamiliar for a girl from Finland; I volunteered
at the Needham Animal Hospital where I shadowed the
veterinarians during exams and operations; and most
importantly I met such wonderful people from around
the world, many of whom I remain friends with today.
One of those friends was my roommate Christine,
who helped me get through the first few days of culture
shock, and later we explored numerous wonderful things
together in the greater Wilmington area. During school
breaks I traveled the country from Miami to Nevada to
Washington D.C.
The entire year was eventful and educational, I
thought it was a dream come true; but little did I know
that it was only the beginning of my new life in the
United States. After returning home to Finland, I came
back to the States to pursue a Cellular and Molecular
Biology Ph.D. at the University of Nevada. I have lived in
Reno ever since and am surrounded by mountains, lakes,
desert…and cowboys. Very different than where I grew
up in Finland! I also met my husband in the USA and we
now have a daughter and a son. While balancing life as a
mother, wife, freelance medical writer, and published
author, not a day goes by when I don’t think about the
“turn” my life took since Wilmington. It just shows you
that all dreams can come true, and a semester at UNCW
may just be the beginning of your new life.
Claire Cogswell
I spent the spring 2005 semester at UNCW while in my
final year at Charles Sturt University in Australia. Having
applied for an international exchange to “keep my
options open”, I soon found myself on a flight to a place
called Wilmington, the only thing about which I knew was
that it was the quaint setting of the popular Dawson’s
Creek series I watched on TV.
Continued above...
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Volume 2: 2012/2013
Mareen Kaestner
Christine Runnalls
In 2007-08, I was an international exchange student at
UNCW. I arrived across the pond from Germany to the
sweltering heat of a North Carolina summer, where I
would leave a little piece of my heart. I came there
unconcerned about living in a foreign country for one
year, I did not lose sleep over taking classes in a foreign
language, and I never doubted my decision to go through
with the exchange. At this point in my life, I wasn’t sure
about many things, but going to study in the U.S. was set
in stone. So once on the ground in Wilmington, all the
misery of the long and bumpy flights vanished into thin
air.
Or, not quite. I did run into a wall. A wall of heat so
palpable I thought I could squeeze the air between my
fingers, and that same air so humid I felt as if I was
breathing water. I’m one of those seemingly rare
specimens who enjoy cooler climates, and I was
uncomfortable at the mere thought of all that sun and
heat. People never believe that anyone would truly recoil
at the prospect of palm trees and sandy beaches, but I
assure you, we are out there. However, I treated this
admittedly minor concern the same way one should the
fear of being far away from home: I didn’t let it get in the
way of my plans. Certainly, I could have picked a school
further up north, but UNCW offered everything I was
looking for in my field of physical anthropology, so it was
my first choice. I was over the moon when I was accepted.
Rightly so: at UNCW, I had the most wonderful
professors I’ve ever encountered, both then and since; I
truly loved my classes, I learned more than I could have
hoped for, and made valuable connections for my
academic and professional future. Dr. Albert, the
professor who had the most profound impact on me and
my life, was convinced of my abilities and encouraged me
to go forward. As a
result, I received a
research travel grant
to attend a large
conference in Texas,
laid the foundations
for my Master’s thesis
and eventually came back to Germany with a great deal of
knowledge and confidence. The hours I spent at her lab
were some of my happiest. Every day was a delight. Then
came the only truly rough time: leaving. But I came home
stronger and wiser, knowing what I can accomplish and
that I’m only still at the beginning of it all. Today, six years
later, my emotional bond to UNCW remains unbroken.
I arrived at UNCW in the middle of the night. I was so
excited to arrive, yet so tired. In the throes of jetlag I
managed to get up bright and early the next morning for
International Student Orientation. Everyone was so
welcoming and friendly!
Living on campus was an amazing experience. I made
great friends, and together we took road trips to Boone to
camp along the Appalachian Trail, went to see Cirque du
Soleil in Charlotte, went white water rafting in Tennessee,
traveled to a snowy Massachusetts for Thanksgiving,
visited New York City, and spent spring break in the
Bahamas!
During my time in Wilmington, my host mom Heidi gave
me so much help and support. We ventured to Southport
on the ferry and Fort Fisher to the aquarium. She made me
home cooked meals and
took me in during Hurricane
Ophelia. Through Heidi
I experienced real American
life and got to know the
local community. Other
vivid memories of my time
in Wilmington include
kayaking on the Intracoastal Waterway, spending
numerous afternoons relaxing on Wrightsville Beach,
Pilates classes at the gym, and attending Seahawk
basketball games.
After my time at UNCW, I returned home to earn
an Honors degree in Business Economics from the
University of Hull and moved to Lincoln, a historic city with
a medieval Cathedral dating back to the 10th century, and
a castle which famously houses an original copy of the
Magna Carta. I worked in local government on
Information Technology projects for a few years and since
2010, I have been with Babcock International Group, an
engineering company which provides and
supports infrastructure, training and equipment to the
public sector. I provide Business Intelligence for the
Ministry of Defense by developing and
designing intelligence solutions for finance, human
resources, procurement, operations and performance.
I am now applying to a Master’s program in
International Development and hope to pursue an
international career working in development, trade and
the environment. I am grateful to UNCW for offering me a
range of experiences that have helped prepare me for the
path I am on and always think back fondly on the time I
had at UNCW. Go Seahawks!
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Volume 2: 2012/2013
Call for Newsletter Submissions
Suzanne Barron
ISSS is seeking contributions for our next newsletter! Articles on
international student experiences at UNCW, host family testimonials, international faculty profiles, updates from international
alumni, and more, are all welcome. If you’d like to contribute,
please email your submission to Jennifer Fernandez-Villa at fernandezvillaj@uncw.edu.
It’s a typical morning in the south of England and as I
sit at my computer my mind wanders off to Wilmington. I
am suddenly overcome with the memories and cherished
stories of my time at UNCW. It’s hard to know where to
start or how to put into words how the year I spent at
UNCW changed my life. The year, not only changed my
life, but still to this day, fills me with love, pride and an
overwhelming warmth that despite the grey clouds
outside makes me feel like I am back on campus, walking
down Chancellor’s Walk in the glorious sunshine.
I look back now and appreciate more than ever the
opportunities I was fortunate to be able to take
advantage of while
studying at UNCW.
I met new people
and made lifelong
friendships. I have
dear memories of
my first NC State
Fair and my first
Thanksgiving. I
remember thinking it was just crazy to put marshmallows
on top of sweet potato casserole and eating that
alongside your turkey, but what did I know, it sure did
taste great! It was my Spring Break trip to New Orleans
that really changed the way I looked at the world. A friend
invited me to join a group for Spring Break as they were
planning to lend a hand after the devastation caused by
Hurricane Katrina. On the morning of our departure, all
60 students were meeting on campus for the 900 mile
drive and I was welcomed with open arms, literally!
People I didn’t know were all rushing to meet ‘the Brit’,
hear my accent and all so genuinely pleased I was joining
them. During that week we spent long days in blistering
heat gutting houses and clearing rubbish. What really
opened my eyes, is that not one person complained, or
grumbled about being tired. They had such a commitment
to the cause and a thirst to help, it taught me a great deal
and made me aspire to help anyone I could in life.
My advice to future international students: grab every
opportunity that comes your way and make the most of
the wealth of knowledge you can gain from living in such
a wonderful part of the world. Thank you UNCW, for
EVERYTHING!
Special thanks to David Mesa Muñoz for conducting
interviews and editing this edition of ISSS Times.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Jennifer Fernandez-Villa, director of ISSS, has a BA
in Spanish from NYU and an MS from Rutgers University in Global Affairs. She has worked at UNCW
for seven years and is the current Chair of the
North Carolina Association of International Educators. When not busy working, she enjoys spending
time with her Spanish husband and three children.
Amy Mabery, assistant director of ISSS, obtained
both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from NC
State University. Having grown up in western North
Carolina, Amy welcomed the opportunity to explore
the NC coast when she accepted the position at
UNCW 6 years ago. When not at work, she enjoys
trying new recipes and exploring walking trails with
her 3 year old pit bull, Kita the wonder dog.
UNCW
Office of International Programs
International Student & Scholar Services
http://www.uncw.edu/international
910-962-3685
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