Member Spotlight: Hannah Thomas

Hannah Thomas, Assistant Director of International Students and Scholars Services, University of Michigan - Flint

 

This is the latest in a series of interviews with members of NAFSA: Association of International Educators to share insights, knowledge, and expertise about career opportunities and growth. Today we hear from Hannah Thomas.
 

1. What made you choose international education as a career path, and specifically your specialty?

People and community are why I have pursued international education and international student and scholar services (ISSS).

I was very lucky to have parents who valued opportunities to engage with cultures other than our own and had the time to make cross-cultural engagement a priority. This meant that we frequented our local library, went to restaurants representing different cultures and ethnicities, and attended any and all free cultural fairs. As a Chickasaw person growing up in Ohio, I participated in pan-Indigenous groups; I always knew the way my family interacted with the world was a bit different from folks around me, but I didn’t understand how culturally different we were until I had opportunities to study abroad.

Higher education professionals and friendships influenced me during my undergraduate studies. I majored in international studies and East Asian languages and cultures at Miami University; because of my majors, I was able to study abroad at Tianjin Foreign Language Institute in China for a summer, Minzu University in Beijing for a semester, and in Costa Rica for a faculty-led winter term as part of a dialogue-focused trip. During my undergraduate education, I met other students from all over the world and was able to meet passionate higher education professionals. After attending quite a few cross-cultural programs sponsored by Miami University’s ISSS office and reflecting with my Resident Assistant supervisor, I knew I wanted to work in an ISSS office someday! 

After graduation, I worked at Sun Yat-sen University in Zhuhai, China, teaching English.  Unfortunately, my mother was diagnosed with metastatic cancer while I was in Zhuhai; I came home as soon as the academic year was over and found work teaching Mandarin. After my mother passed away, I was able to reevaluate teaching as a career. It was clear to me that I found supporting students more fulfilling than the content I was teaching, so I pursued an MA in higher education and student affairs at New York University. I later received a graduate assistantship at the Juilliard School. I was a bit worried when I blurted out to my soon-to-be supervisor, “I WANT TO BE A DSO [designated school official]!”  That excitement clearly worked, however, as I received fantastic mentorship from my supervisors at Juilliard.

Since my graduate school experience, I have been lucky to receive mentorship from my supervisors in international education; I’ve also met wonderful people in the field ISSS who continue to motivate me to pursue this line of work. But the most wonderful part of working in ISSS is supporting international students in understanding visa regulations and status maintenance so they can have the opportunity to be students!  

 

2. As a NAFSA RISE Fellowship recipient, what value have you received from being a part of NAFSA’s Academy for International Education?

The RISE Fellowship has connected me with folks who understand what it’s like to experience a marginalized identity and who also value and prioritize international education. Sometimes it’s difficult to find folks who get it, but there I was, with other people who might not share the exact experience as me but who understand that navigating our world can be more difficult for folks of certain identities.

I loved the Academy! My Academy cohort was extremely supportive of my professional and personal journey. I was having a very difficult time during spring and summer 2023, and my cohort was so helpful in assisting me in finishing the Academy. A special shout-out to our wonderful academy coach, Nicola Kille!

I would definitely recommend applying to the RISE Fellowship—it has helped me participate in experiences that I would not have been able to access otherwise.

 

3. What membership benefits offered by NAFSA have helped you in your career?

SO MANY! There are many educational opportunities offered by NAFSA. I have participated in some benefits that do not have an additional cost, such as a a port-of-entry tour at JFK International Airport, sessions coordinated with government entities, and NAFSA’s discussion boards, and I have materials created by NAFSA’s advocacy teams to reach out to local politicians. I’ve also used the membership discount on quite a few workshops, such as: F-1 Student Advising for Beginners, Principles of Nonresident Alien Tax Compliance (that one was a doozy!), and Assessment and Evaluation for International Educators. I still refer to the materials from the workshops on a regular basis.

I’ve also been able to meet so many wonderful international educators through NAFSA. NAFSA happy hours, conferences, and meetings are a great opportunity to meet other involved international educators.

 

4. What was something you enjoyed at the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans?

Other than chargrilled oysters, crawfish, and too many beignets, I enjoyed being with “my people.” I was able to see former coworkers, have casual meetings with colleagues from other regions, and learn from other professionals. I saw someone whom I met five years ago at a NAFSA Region X Downstate Conference when we were both trying to get into the field. We didn’t have time to chat in New Orleans, but I felt really proud of us for accomplishing what we said we would do!

 

5. What advice would you share with job seekers or rising international educators?

I am a fan of coffee dates! Folks in international education tend to be interesting and open to meeting in person or through Zoom. I’ve met so many wonderful people by sending an email saying, “Let’s meet up; I want to learn about what you do!”  Prepare some questions about their experiences and what you’re hoping to learn. While not every meetup leads to a job or is the networking connection you had imagined, it’s likely that they will share trainings and experiences that have helped them find their current position. These coffee dates have shown me that international educators are so interesting and have a vast array of experiences. If you’re nervous about reaching out to someone, reach out to me! I love meeting new folks.