Peril and Promise: Leading Through the Storm
I recently finished Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times by Beverly Daniel Tatum, and I’ve been sitting with it because it names, with striking clarity, the storm we are all leading through right now. Tatum writes with the authority of someone who has stood in the eye of that storm as a college […]
Reframing Career Growth: From Applicant to Problem-Solver
Many of us are taught to believe that career opportunities arrive neatly packaged: a job title, a posting, an application portal. But what if the roles that would allow us to make the greatest impact aren’t listed anywherebecause they haven’t yet been imagined? The traditional “candidate mindset” is rooted in waiting. Waiting for postings, waiting […]
Belonging Without Assimilation: Reflections of a Woman of Duality
I was five years old when my family left Chicago for Lagos. At that age, I didn’t fully grasp the weight of leaving one world for another, but I knew that the rhythm of life was changing. Chicago’s tall buildings and cold winters gave way to Lagos’s bustling streets, vibrant markets, and the ever-present hum […]
A New Visa Bond Pilot Program: What You Need to Know
Every so often, a regulation quietly makes its way into the immigration space and before we know it, it’s impacting lives in major ways. That’s exactly what’s happening with the newly announced Visa Bond Pilot Program from the U.S. Department of State, set to run from August 20, 2025, to August 5, 2026. Let’s break […]
Rethinking the Narrative
International education has long been a powerful force for building cross-cultural understanding, fostering peace, and shaping globally competent leaders. Yet today, it finds itself navigating turbulent waters, shrinking budgets, restrictive visa policies, and growing skepticism about its relevance in an uncertain world. But perhaps the biggest threat to the future of global learning isn’t policy or […]
Is Vulnerability in the Workplace Safe? Reflections from International Education
I took a risk recently. A professional risk that felt very human. In a moment of openness, I let my guard down with a colleague and shared something personal. Not deeply private, just something real. Something that revealed I didn’t have it all together. It wasn’t dramatic. It was honest, and I thought that was […]
The Optics of Belonging: Why Diversity Photos Aren’t Enough
Step onto any college website today, and you’ll see it: the colorful mosaic of diversity. A hijabi student smiles in a chemistry lab. A Black student leads a club meeting. An international student waves from a campus tour. These images are strategically placed not just to inspire pride, but to signal to prospective students, families, […]
Why Professional Development Matters for Organizations and Individuals
Today, I had the honor of participating in Hamilton College’s first Staff Development initiative—an inspiring and intentional step toward building a culture of continuous learning within our campus community. As I sat in sessions alongside colleagues from various departments, I was reminded that professional development is not just about training or compliance. It is about […]
Drinking from the Enemy’s Cup: The Cost of Desperation
Thirst is a powerful force. It drives us to seek relief, to quench an aching dryness deep within. But when thirst becomes desperation, it distorts our discernment. It is one thing to drink when one is thirsty; it is another to be so parched that one willingly drinks from an enemy’s cup. I have seen […]
The Congressional Review Act and the 540-Day EAD Extension: A Step Backward for International Workers
The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a little-known yet powerful tool that allows Congress to overturn federal regulations issued by the executive branch. Historically, it has been sparingly used, but its application has intensified in recent years. Since its inception in 1996, the CRA has been used to revoke 20 regulations—16 of which were repealed […]