Refining the Recipe: How to be an Effective International Student Adviser (ISA)
NAFSA Annual Conference • May 29, 2013 • St. Louis, Missouri
Chair: Nancy E. Young; Presenters: Ivor Emmanuel, John Greisberger, and Sandy Soohoo-Refaei
DIY (Do-It Yourself) Action Plan to Enhance an ISA Attribute
1.
An ISA attribute I’d like to enhance is _____________________________
2.
I will do this by (list 1-3 concrete steps you can take)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3.
I will begin this on ______________________________________________
4.
I need the following to achieve this:
 support from supervisor, colleagues, family, and/or friends
 a resource – a book/dvd/website
 instruction
 additional funding for instruction
 setting aside time (during the workday or in personal life)
 a mentor, teacher, supportive friend or colleague
 access (to a person, instruction, a place, a group, special equipment)
 other _______________________________________________
5.
I will benefit from enhancing this attribute by
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6.
I will overcome challenges by
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7.
I will stay on track to accomplish my goals by
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Refining the Recipe: How to be an Effective International Student Adviser (ISA)
NAFSA Annual Conference • May 29, 2013 • St. Louis, Missouri
Presenter Biographies
Chef Ivor Emmanuel oversees the preparation of nourishing servings of immigration guidance and
intercultural support as the Director of the Berkeley International Office, University of California,
Berkeley. He has served in this capacity since October 2003. Prior to joining Berkeley, he served in a
similar capacity at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In addition to his chef’s hat, he has a
doctorate in Higher Education Administration. Ivor has been in the international student advising and
administration field for 30 years and a constant presence in the NAFSA kitchen with over 20 years of
service. He has ensured his colleagues have been well fed by creating bountiful meals when he was vice
president for professional development and an at-large member of the NAFSA Board of Directors.
Currently, he is the national coach for NAFSA’s Academy, where he is energized and enthusiastic about
sharing his experiences with colleagues in the field of international education.
Chef John Greisberger (NAFSA President, 2004) has served as sous chef of the International Center (IC)
at the University of Michigan since 2007. The IC provides services and programs for 8,500 international
students, scholars, staff and faculty, and for students interested in study, internships and service abroad.
After serving in the Peace Corps (Afghanistan), John began his career in international education in 1976
at Iowa State University as chef’s assistant/international student adviser. After eight years of slicing and
dicing immigration regulations, following standard recipes and creating new concoctions for a variety of
intercultural program entrees, and baking a PhD after the kitchen was closed, John went to Harvard’s
International Office as deputy sous chef. Ohio State University then rang the big dinner bell and for 21
years John toiled in its international vineyard as sous chef. John received his Bachelor’s degree from the
University of Toronto, and his Master’s degree from Buffalo State.
Chef Sandy Soohoo-Refaei has been an active member of NAFSA for more than 20 years. She has
served in many volunteer and leadership positions within the association, and is currently serving on the
Board of Directors as the Vice President for Member Relations. A frequent presenter at regional and
annual conferences, she prepares presentations on tasty topics that leave participants hungry for more.
Sandy is the Associate Director of International Programs Office at Linfield College in Oregon. Her
primary responsibilities include blending locally grown and international cuisines by advising
international students and scholars, serving as the college’s Principal Designated School Official and
Responsible Officer, administering study abroad programs and conducting routine site visits overseas,
working with budgets and personnel, and coordinating short-term programs with the English Language &
Culture Program staff. Sandy has an MA in Education, Counseling in Higher Education, from Pacific
Lutheran University, Washington and a BA in Sociology from Western Washington University. She has
traveled extensively, expanding her recipe repertoire by participating in the Baden-Württemberg Seminar,
the Fulbright IEA program in Japan, Eduespaña, and Semester at Sea program.
Chef Nancy E. Young is an international educator with a diverse portfolio of cooking up successful
services, advising, advocacy, and programming for international students. Nancy is delighted to wear the
apron designed by renowned chef Gary Althen (aka “the Julia Childs of ISAs”) which she used to write
her 2013 collection of recipes in the third edition of “The Handbook of International Student Advising.”
Nancy holds an MA in Intercultural Relations and another MA specializing in Creative Writing. Prior to
moving to Oregon to join the locavore movement, Nancy wore the sous chef hat as the Associate Director
of Student Services at New York University’s Office for International Students and Scholars. There she
prepared high-quality food for a population of almost 8,000 international students. Since landing in
Oregon, Nancy is writing, training, and studying some innovative cooking techniques. An active
NAFSAn and advocate, Nancy has cooked in regional and national team kitchens, seasoning up efforts on
regulatory reform, international student advising, and international education leadership. She is currently
the Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship representative in the Region 1 kitchen. Nancy has served up
over 70 sessions and workshops to fellow NAFSAns.
Refining the Recipe: How to be an Effective International Student Adviser (ISA)
NAFSA Annual Conference • May 29, 2013 • St. Louis, Missouri
Chair: Nancy E. Young; Presenters: Ivor Emmanuel, John Greisberger, and Sandy Soohoo-Refaei
Top Ten Attributes for ISAs
1983 & 1995
2013
Personal Characteristics*
(Gary Althen)
Essential Attributes*
(Nancy E. Young)
-patience
-patience
-nonjudgmentalness
-smart work ethic
-interest in cultural differences
-curiosity
-respect for others
-mindful diplomacy
-tolerance for ambiguity
-tolerance for ambiguity
-sociability
-resilience
-self-awareness
-empathy
-kindness
-ability to advocate
-decisiveness
-decisiveness
-intelligence
-the 4 Cs of thinking
(critical, constructive, compassionate, creative)
1. What attribute is most important in your work?
2. Is there an essential attribute missing from this discussion?
3. What attribute do you most want to enhance?
*The 2013 attributes are discussed at length in The Handbook of International Student Advising,
third edition, by Nancy E. Young with Gary Althen. The personal characteristics are from earlier
editions of The Handbook of Foreign Student Advising by Gary Althen.