Meet UIndy's International Students

George's Story

To me, being successful professionally means to love what you do and never doubt why you are in a certain position. This is what I am doing right now as a Crime Analyst, and I love that I can contribute to the safety of this community. I started with an internship with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in the summer of 2018. From being a student athlete and having a busy life, to working on campus as a Student Tech and Teaching Assistant, to many community and volunteer events, UIndy was a complete adventure that I will always treasure. The faculty at UIndy were always open minded and willing to communicate with me when I needed help with a certain question, class, or potential career path. I am forever thankful for the UIndy community and will always represent as a proud alum.

George's advice to international students

Always seek advice and don't be shy to find an answer to your question. UIndy faculty, staff and honestly any person on campus are willing to help you. In my country, professors are not like this and that's why I loved it at UIndy. It is most important for international students to enjoy the college years. They will forever remain in your memory as some of the best years of your life. Always make connections and interact with people around you. You never know who you can meet and that certain person can change your life, career, or relationships. I recommend if you have time and need some extra cash, to start working on campus. It is a great chance to develop connections and build your resume.

Priyam's Story

I worked as Finance and Tax intern at Indy Tax Service and as Finance intern at Dharti Infrastructure. In addition, during my junior year I had the opportunity to be on the Real Estate Team where we took part in a case study competition and won second place. This was a valuable experience and networking opportunity that will be with me forever.  UIndy played a crucial role in pushing me out of comfort zone to develop important soft and hard skills, which I was able to apply during internship and academic projects. In this way, UIndy prepared me to take on challenges in corporate world. The UIndy School of Business has some excellent professors who have years of rich experience. They are bridge-builders between students and the professional world. UIndy also provides amazing resources such as the Finance Lab where I took one of my favorite classes and enhanced my analytical skills. I thank UIndy for letting me be part of the family.

Dana's Story

Since my language skills were limited at first, I learned to pay special attention to nonverbal cues. Through socializing a lot, I rapidly improved my English. My coach tremendously helped with my integration, as did my teammates. Handling a heavy pre-med course load with 3-hour practices each day made me become very organized and motivated to get work done correctly and fast. I worked my way up to an internship in an environmental chemistry laboratory doing research on an iron waste product to see if it could be used to neutralize and clean heavy metals contaminating acidic water draining from mines. The faculty here are genuinely interested in who I am and helped me outside the classroom to reach my career goals. Dr. Baker from the Biology department is my number one go-to when it comes to academic concerns, but there are numerous other professors who show a lot of care and support, even coming to my soccer games. I feel like this is a community with a lot of trust among the students. People know each other and look out for each other. Everyone is friendly and cooperative.

Aashish's Story

I worked with Dr. David Olawale in designing, fabricating, and testing multifunctional composites using the state-of-the-art equipment in the materials characterization lab. This position provided me with research mentoring as well as publication opportunities that will facilitate acceptance into graduate schools and graduate scholarships. I also worked as a student developer for TechPoint. We built an intuitive, navigable, and easy-to-use app for California Closets that appeals to the market. We also got an opportunity to work with end users to determine their information needs. I led team in the coding phase of development. Interacting with teammates helped me improve my communication skills drastically.

Aashish's advice to international students

Even if they are busy, UIndy professors make themselves available for you. Seeking their help, whether in person or online, gave me better understanding of class content and my professors’ expectations and had a big impact on my academic success.

David's Story

My sport management, business, entrepreneurship and language classes helped guide me through the big corporation life and are still impacting my future decisions. The hands-on and project-based way of learning at UIndy made the transfer into the working force very easy. I am still in touch with some of my professors and I have close ties to the soccer team, which fuels my motivation.

Charbel's Story

Professionally, I believe my greatest success is being able to do what I am most passionate about on a daily basis, which is providing patients with solutions to their musculoskeletal pain. I am also very fortunate to be able to enjoy the challenges and freedom of being a business owner. The classroom size, the ability to attend a university where individualistic attention is provided, the ease of access to staff and availability to faculty assisting, directing, helping and educating has been priceless in gaining knowledge, experiences and pathways that provided confidence and boosted my success. The personalized and individualized approach was a very reassuring aspect of the university. I have heard from multiple other graduates that the education provided at UIndy is superior. The students have always felt attended to and felt they were provided with an exceptional educational pathway that helped ensure their success.

Craig's Story

I have had several internships--Bicentennial Programing Intern: Mayor's Office City of Indianapolis, Communications Intern: Indiana Democratic Party, Summer Fellow: Learning Leaders - Shanghai, China, and LCORE Intern: Exodus Refugee Immigration Indianapolis. The combined experiences I have gained throughout my time at UIndy have served to better prepare me for my next adventure in life. From my in-class education, workplace exposure through internships, serving on the student government, being a resident assistant or competing on the Speech and Debate team, all these opportunities have had an important role in creating the whole. To mention a few who influenced me - the Department of Communication, especially the Speech and Debate team coached by Dr. Stephanie Wideman, the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center, Dr. Saksena and Dr. Thakar in the International Relations program, Office of Students Affairs and my home, the Center for Global Engagement. Every time I have walked into any of these offices or had a conversation with any of these people, I have always left knowing that someone really cares. UIndy is a community where you are provided with the resources and arsenal you need to fulfill your purpose as long as you are willing to buckle down and do the work.

Fenrick's Story

I was active in the Presidential Assistant program. This taught me a lot about leadership. I was also on the Speech and Debate team which honed my communication skills. My involvement on the Campus program board as chair of Multicultural & Spiritual Life committee taught me about community. After I graduated, I was active in the Alumni Board and the Paul Washington Lacey Mentorship Program.

Fenrick's advice to international students

Embrace all that the school has to offer and don't be afraid to try new things. The staff and faculty are definitely invested in your growth and wellbeing.

Shahzad's Story

I have grown professionally from intern, to sales person, to Showroom Manager, to Key Account Manager, to B2B Manager, to General Manager and now Chief Marketing Officer.  It’s been a humbling journey, lots of fun and very challenging. The faculty and staff were simply incredible and many of them are lifelong friends. I have visited UIndy many times over the years to spend time with them. The activities at the University and the exposure to a diverse group of peers built my character.  All these put together have contributed to my complete personality on a professional and personal level and made me the most confident version of "me." Thank you, UIndy.

Ahad's Story

I was part of the Events team at UIndy where I had the pleasure of working with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. My role helped me develop superior customer service and communication skills and also gave me a deeper knowledge about event management. My first internship was working as a Marketing & Communications intern where I supported my managers in day-to-day marketing-related tactics, often working as a copywriter on strategy-driven projects. This internship enhanced my writing and communications skills. My other internship was at Harwood Commercial Group where I was a Sales & Research Analyst. It was some of the most challenging work I’ve done since I had no prior sales or real estate experience. However, I’ve always been the kind to leave my comfort zone and test myself, which made this experience one of the most important of my professional career. Currently, I work as an Account Manager at Trifid Media, a production house based in Dubai. I closely work with social media influencers and arrange marketing & advertising campaigns for GCC-based companies. I’m very grateful to UIndy for giving me opportunities I never thought I’d get. The international department as a whole made me feel at home, and this is one of the most important feelings for any international student to succeed and be happy. Everyone at UIndy was nice to me since day one, from my professors, to my advisors and managers. They all played a critical role in my success at UIndy.

Ahad's advice to international students

UIndy is full of opportunities for international students. In order to maximize your UIndy experience, make sure to be an active member of the UIndy community. Take part in events, engage with other students, make full use of every service UIndy provides to help you achieve your academic and personal goals. Offices such as the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center and the Counseling Center are always there to help. I encourage every international student to become active since it’s the best way to grow and avoid home sickness.

Athina's Story

In UIndy I learned to study and be professional. It took years, a lot of education and hard work to develop a level of success. With that said, with the right professors and advisors, the road to success was much easier and more enlightening. Having mentors and people that you can trust and go to for advice is one of the fundamental things in college, especially for us internationals students who are coming from a whole different country, leaving our family and starting a new chapter in USA. It’s not the easiest things to do, but with the right people next to you everything is possible.

A professor who contributed most to my success was Dr. Poulakis. I don’t think there is a kinder, more intellectual, funnier and compassionate person than him. Not only to me, but to every student, he was like a father. I can’t imagine my UIndy journey without him. Along with that, President Robert Manuel, played a significant role in my UIndy journey and he was always available no matter what. He always provides help to each student.

UIndy had the most entertaining events/activities that I could ask for my college years.  From celebrating the flags to picking apples! Those things made me appreciate the small but most precious things and lead me to be a successful person after college. Thank you, UIndy, for making me a better and stronger person.

Athina's advice to international students

My advice to future UIndy internationals students is to go all in. Don’t be afraid of being different, take the challenge and do all the things that you want to do without thinking twice.  In your college years you will learn your true self. Always try something new. And don’t leave the things you can do today for the next day.

Julia's Story

One of my professional goals was to have an internationally guided career where I experience the opportunity to work with different cultures and people. Since graduating UIndy, I’ve worked in 4 different countries whilst being able to leverage 4 different languages at work. I think that from the beginning, UIndy showed me the importance of having discipline in anything that I do - whether that was balancing two majors with my athletic commitments or by showing me just how important it was to develop specific skill sets in the classroom. Specifically, the real-life cases approach in my business classes helped me quickly transfer theoretical skills into practice when first starting to work.

Julia's advice to international students

Make sure to build your network while studying at UIndy, be open to things outside your comfort zone, use the extracurricular opportunities UIndy has to offer, and practice the language as much as you can. This will help you tremendously wherever you choose to work.

Ibrahim's Story

The opportunity to work on-campus within different offices helped me grow as a professional, making me more confident and organized in the workplace. On top of that, through my experience, I have grown as a leader, developing important personal traits that will lead to future success. One of the greatest professionals on campus, Kirk Bryans, helped me to adapt to university and get every job I’ve had on campus. My first supervisors, people who guided and still are guiding me, are Dr. Amber Smith and Angie Presnell. They helped me with every problem I had in my life, and I’m very grateful for that.

Ibrahim's advice to international students

I would suggest connecting to as many people as possible, be engaged in University life, and apply for an on-campus job. It will not let you feel homesick and unwelcome. I advise you to set goals and live University life with purpose.  I strongly suggest learning how to cook before you come here because once you cook, it will make you remember your home. Don't overstress. Always remember why you are here and what a bright future is waiting for you.

Emi's Story

I interned with the Revenue Cycle Services department at IU Health in my senior year. During my Masters program, I worked as an Investment Analyst intern and remained with the company after graduation. I just recently started my career and I have been able to apply the knowledge and skills I gained at UIndy in my daily job. The School of Business programs provide a hands-on learning experience which was instrumental in helping me apply the skills learned in the classroom in a professional setting. I had the opportunity to lead School of Business organizations, network with industry professionals and develop both technical and interpersonal skills.

Emi's advice to international students

The Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center was very supportive in my search and preparation for internships and job opportunities. UIndy provides several resources to make your college and professional career as successful as possible. Make use of those resources, work hard and enjoy the experience!

Dean's Story

The computer science classes at UIndy taught me the basics and fundamentals of software engineering and data structures, which is exactly what I was looking for. The fact that the classes at UIndy are not very large provides a great advantage for students who are looking for extra projects or activities. I started working at OneCause as an intern in the summer of 2017. I then progressed to a part-time employee during my senior year in college and got hired full-time right after graduation. While I was an intern at OneCause, I focused more on data analytics, reporting, and quality assurance. I also had a few other software development-related jobs while I was in school. I worked together with faculty from the Education and Math departments to develop a game that taught middle school students fractions and the quadratic formula. I also worked as a teaching assistant and helped to design a market basket analysis model for a very large set of data that was meant to find related comorbidities in patients that had bariatric surgery.  The UIndy faculty members that I worked with helped me get a better understanding of the field I am in and made me develop my passion for software engineering. I participated in two sessions of the Summer Research Institute where I was able to share my work with other students and faculty and I was pleasantly surprised with the recognition I received.

Dean's advice to international students

Don't be scared to ask questions when you don't understand something. I remember during my freshman year, I had a really hard time keeping up with everything, but I was constantly talking with my professors outside of class trying to get a better understanding of the course material. Also, it is very important to look for internships. It was hard for me to spend a summer break in Indianapolis instead of going back to Romania at first, but this really helped me get hired right after graduation. What you will learn in the classroom will set a very solid foundation, but you have to do extracurricular work to really build your understanding of the field you want to be in. So, all in all, be curious, passionate, and motivated to succeed.

Fidelia's Story

My greatest professional achievements have been passing my CPA exam at the first trial, becoming a director within 10 years of graduation, being a mentor both within and outside my organization, serving on boards of NGOs, and leading multiple teams through major transactions that have made national news and Wall Street Journal front pages. UIndy encourages you to be you, and faculty help you find your strengths and develop them. I was able to identify my strengths and channel that to find a work environment that is the right fit for me. UIndy expanded my horizon and knowledge of the world. I still communicate with faculty. The UIndy motto “education for service: to our families, our neighbors, our communities, ourselves” has stayed with me and is one of my guiding paths to date, knowing that wherever I am is an opportunity to be of service.

Fidelia's advice to international students

Embrace the journey, explore, take advantage of opportunities and activities. Learning is more than the classroom. It's about experiences and observations. UIndy is jam packed with such opportunities, so seize them!

Bhumibol's Story

I’m a member of Honors College which is helping me prepare to apply to PhD programs. UIndy Speech and Debate has given me a recognition in the UIndy community and at various other universities. I presented at the National Communication Association and served on a panel for the American International Recruitment Council. The psychology department has allowed me to delve more into my interest, participate in research and develop a deeper understanding of psychology. Serving as a UIndy Presidential Ambassador has put me in the spotlight as a proud greyhound. I am thankful for all the opportunities I get at UIndy. They’ve helped me grow as a student and as a human.

Georgios's Story

I did my first internship in Ernst & Young. As a member of the tax department, I had to deal with employees from big corporations like Coca Cola, BMW, and HSBC who wanted to transfer their tax obligations from their origin countries to Greece. UIndy changed my mindset and allowed me to become proficient with my business skills. I learned to execute each task successfully and accurately but most importantly to overcome hardships and not avoid them. During my academic journey at UIndy the people that helped me the most are Dr.Mark Akers, Dr.Michalis Poulakis and President Robert Manuel. They gave me the opportunity to expand my skill set and enhance my capabilities. They prepared me well to manage successfully any real world situation. I am so grateful for meeting these people and staying in touch with them even if we have thousands of miles between us.

Georgios's advice to international students

Studying abroad gives students lifetime benefits that will open grand doors in their future life. International education is the best choice if you want to inspire others, set your own pathway and bring a positive change to the world. The endless source of knowledge that international education can provide helps you gain a global mindset with which you can achieve your life goals and tackle all the situations in your life. By the time you graduate you will not be simply a boy or a girl living in a city, you will become an overnight citizen of the world, ready to use your inventiveness and capable of making a difference in the world.

Zeel's Story

Getting support from UIndy staff, faculty, the international office, and peers has helped me altogether to be successful. Each brought out my uniqueness and contributed to fulfil my dream to graduate from UIndy. The psychology faculty at UIndy have prepared me not just academically but also professionally. My current faculty mentor, Dr. Kathryn Boucher, has helped me with my readiness for going into the real world. Lauren Frasier is a psychology faculty member who is always looking for new ways to enrich the lives of students.

Zeel's advice to international students

Seek help from peers and university resources when needed. Make yourself comfortable with your new home and enjoy everything the experience has to offer. There are so many extracurricular activities going on around the campus. Participate and learn from it.