Welcoming International Students
International students, scholars, and their families are assets to academic and scientific innovation, public diplomacy, economic vitality, and national security.
Meet Anirban Sen Gupta. Originally from India and a former international student at the University of Akron, he’s now a professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western University. He holds three patents, conducts groundbreaking biomedical research, and teaches his students how to forge their own careers.
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Meet Jasmine Gill. During her time at Embry-Riddle, she was part of the research team that won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. Now she’s heading to Harvard to pursue a PhD, but not before she developed an outreach program encouraging students in Arizona Native American communities to go to college.
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Meet Elva Pai Adams. Originally from Taiwan, she studied business as an international student at the University of Texas - San Antonio. She’s also an Olympic athlete in Taekwondo, and she was selected as the first female international referee representing the USA for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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Meet Xiang Xu. He’s an award-winning dancer, director, and choreographer originally from China. After studying at Santa Monica College and NYU as an international student, he now focuses on teaching Asian culture to US students and expanding appreciation for the performing arts.
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Meet Daniel Drummond. While he was studying film at Chapman University as an international student, his thesis project made him the first-ever Chapman recipient of a Student Academy Award. By returning to his home country of Brazil during his studies, he also revitalized the film and arts community in his home town.
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Meet Wale Elegbede. Originally from Nigeria, he studied at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse as an international student. Now, his management work at the Mayo Clinic for Regenerative Medicine helps guide a multidisciplinary project team to conduct critical research into non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
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More Resources
International Education is Not a Partisan Issue - and Congress Agrees
NAFSA’s Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy Jill Welch testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration on June 6, 2018.
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.