Always Be Open to Misinterpretation in Spain

Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development
By Luz Aguirre Ramirez Growing up bilingual has been like growing in two cultures within one space. I have always loved maneuvering my way through one language to the next. The joyful feeling of exploring both languages has never gone away. It has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life, and I couldn't be any happier to be a “Spanglish” speaker. I was born and raised in Mexico until I...

How my exchange studies changed my whole career plan

Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development
By Celia Ogna It’s 2014. I am 21 years old, and after 9 years of wanting to live in the US, I’m stepping on the first step of the staircase. I am embarking on a journey that is going to change my life completely. This upcoming semester I will be an exchange student at Ferris State University in Michigan. I have been planning my relocation for months and at this point, I have tons of notes on my...

Directorate Board Introduction: Konoka Shiino

Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development
Tell us about yourself and your role within the Commission. My name is Konoka Shiino; I will be serving as one of the Membership Coordinators of the Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development (CGDSD). I am excited to share our efforts in bringing international perspectives with the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) members from all functional areas by providing unique and...

“Student Affairs?” vs. “Student Affairs!”

Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development
By Carli Fink I often joke that the difference between student affairs in Canada and the United States can be summarized by mere punctuation: student affairs in Canada reminds me of a question mark, while student affairs in the U.S. feels like an exclamation point. That is, student affairs is not quite as defined, organized, or pronounced North of the 49th parallel as it is South. Talented,...

Re-organizing Global Series

Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development
By Mitchell R Foster As a Coordinator for Residence Education (CRE) for the international residence hall at the University of Arkansas, I came to assume a position that has an added responsibility towards international education and inclusion. Global Series is a programmatic initiative of Holcombe Hall that aims to feature various countries and cultures by means of an informative presentation and...