Some of you who have been to our office in the last month may have met the International Center’s newest member, Amanda Desai. Amanda comes to us after leading both immigration and residential life & housing work at Nichols College for the last ten years.

We sat down with Amanda to learn a little more about her, and her love for working with international students.

What drew you to working with international students?

What I love most about working with international students, is their positivity, strong work ethic, and willingness to put themselves out there and experience life to the fullest. These students have traveled across the world to follow their dreams, and I enjoy assisting them achieve both their personal and professional goals.

Before focusing on work for international students, you worked in residential life and housing. Were you an RA back in college? What is a favorite memory you have working in res life?

Yes, I was a Resident Assistant while I was studying for my Bachelor’s degree. It was my experience as a Resident Assistant that sparked my passion for working in higher education and lead me to pursue my Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administrative Services. My favorite memory from being a Resident Assistant was planning fun events for my residents and building a community within the residence halls.

What do you think are some common things between working in res life and international student services?

The biggest similarity between the two offices is that they both offer the opportunity to help guide students throughout their transition into college. It doesn’t matter if you are from the United States or from across the globe, all students go through transitions. Whether it be advising a student through their personal growth, academic struggles, achievements, or even helping a student integrate into the overall college community, it is our role to support and challenge our students to grow into strong leaders.

What are you looking forward to this year at Clark?

I am most excited to work with the amazing International Center team to create a positive and student-centered experience for our international students here at Clark University. I want our students to be proud of being a Clarkie and to embrace who they are, as well as, be a resource to assist our students to achieve their dreams.