Welcoming International Students
International students, scholars, and their families are assets to academic and scientific innovation, public diplomacy, economic vitality, and national security.
Meet Yu Takahashi. Inspired by the American Mars rover missions, he studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Colorado – Boulder to gain the skills necessary to work at NASA. Now, his job is to safely navigate NASA spacecrafts around planets and asteroids.
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Meet Mircea Handru. He’s an award-winning soccer player and coach. After earning two degrees from Tiffin University, he made it his mission to improve mental health services in Ohio and established a 24/7 crisis hotline. Now, he’s the executive director of an organization that finds help for those with mental health needs.
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Meet Aliena Schmidtke. She’s a professional competitive swimmer for the German national team. She’s also an alumna of The Ohio State University, and she’s currently conducting important medical research on multiple sclerosis and actively volunteering in her Ohio community.
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Meet Karen Kakou. She dreams of leading a Fortune 500 company one day, and she wants other African students to dream big, too. When she was studying at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, she founded an on-campus organization to provide financial and moral support for her fellow African students.
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Meet Camilo Navarro. He used his business degree from the University of California – Berkeley to co-found Wheel the World, an online business designed to help people with disabilities and their families travel the world. He and his 9 employees have booked more than 350 travel experiences.
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Meet Jermaine Rodney. After studying at Western State Colorado University, he founded a thriving business in Colorado and became heavily involved in community work. So far, he’s raised over $20,000 for local and international charities.
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Meet Hiyam Afeef. During her education Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, she forged lasting connections with her U.S. peers, strengthening understanding between the United States and the Maldives. Now, she’s the first female sea-plane captain in Maldivian history.
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Meet Joe Bayen. He studied at Santa Monica College and the University of Miami, and now he runs a successful business with a mission to help U.S. college students develop sound financial understanding. He also mentors aspiring entrepreneurs.
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Meet Amit Sheth. After studying at The Ohio State University, he became one of the foremost artificial intelligence researchers in the United States. Now, teaches computer science to aspiring U.S. scientists.
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Meet Nanshu Lu. Recognized as one of 35 Innovators Under 35 by the MIT Technology Review, she used her education from Harvard University to develop cutting-edge medical technology in the United States. Now, she’s a researcher and teaches biomedical engineering to U.S. students at the University of Texas at Austin.
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More Resources
NAFSA International Student Economic Value Tool
Explore NAFSA's annual state-by-state and congressional district analysis of the economic contributions of international students and their families to the U.S. economy.
Members of Congress Welcome International Students and Scholars
Representative Gerald Connolly (VA-11) led a group of lawmakers in speaking out on the floor of the House of Representatives and submitting statements on the record noting the important contributions of international students and scholars.
Visa and Immigration Policy Reform
Learn more about NAFSA’s stance on visa and immigration policy changes needed to improve America’s ability to attract and retain the world’s best and brightest students.
Issue Brief: The Value of International Students
International students and scholars are great for America.