February 18, 2021

Conversation about how to best serve international students is Tuesday

Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members from across the SIU System are invited to join a live virtual conversation next week about how the university community can best promote a welcoming and supportive environment for international students. 

The discussion, “International Student Challenges and Opportunities” is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23. The meeting, part of “Conversations of Understanding,” will be available on the SIU System’s YouTube channel.  

The event will feature an SIU community panel sharing their experiences and stories, followed by a Q&A session through the YouTube comment section. Questions may be submitted before the event by email to pkeith@siu.edu.  

The participants include:  

  • Dan Mahony, SIU System president.
  • Wes McNeese, SIU System executive director for diversity initiatives.
  • Mary Weishaar, SIU Edwardsville executive director of international affairs.
  • Dr. Karen Broquet, SIU School of Medicine, associate dean for graduate medical education residency affairs and professor, Department of Internal Medicine.
  • Dr. Faisal Ibrahim, SIU School of Medicine, neurology, Class of 2021.
  • Andrew Carver, SIU Carbondale executive director of international affairs.
  • Ramesh Neupane, SIU Carbondale associate director, study abroad program.
  • Bushra Elsnousi, SIU Carbondale, graduate student in civil engineering from Sudan.
  • Scarlett Rodriguez, SIU Carbondale graduate student in communication studies from the Dominican Republic.
  • Liu Chuanping (Mr. Liu), SIU Edwardsville graduate student in mechanical engineering.
  • Liz Jarnigan, SIU Carbondale athletics director. She will also serve as question monitor. 

This is the seventh in a series of virtual exchanges where students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members can share their experiences and thoughts on a variety of themes related to diversity, inclusion and equity.  

The SIU System President’s Office and the SIU System Diversity Advisory Council are discussion sponsors.