About Kathryn B. Suwa [she/her]

I am a recent graduate of the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education M.S.Ed. program at the University of Wisconsin, La-Crosse. I was born, raised, and educated in Nigeria before enrolling in this program. Even though I have worked adjacent to the field of U.S higher education for over ten years and attended training on various U.S. campuses, I did not have first-hand experience of a U.S. education and could not exactly relate to student experiences. This Masters program has taken me on a learning journey that has sparked self-awareness and social justice awareness, broadening my exposure to issues affecting college students and approaches to help navigate them through challenges to success through growth and holistic development. I invite you to explore my learning and student affairs competency growth through this e-portfolio.

​

My functional area of interest is International Student Services, working with Nigerian students who have enrolled in different U.S. institutions over the years, exposed me to some unique needs and challenges international students face. Having staff members with international experience and background similarities is key to creating connections with these students that will help them open up to receive support. An understanding of the differences that exist between the academic and social culture in the United States and elsewhere as well as the diversity that exists among international students themselves is crucial to effectively providing services to this nonhomogeneous student population and advocating for their needs. I have dedicated my projects and study in this program to understanding the U.S. higher education landscape as it affects international students in order to improve their experiences while advancing internationalization efforts and also to advocate for the replication of the quality education I have received in Nigerian higher education institutions.

​