Godwin Nnaji of Aba, Nigeria, a master’s student in kinesiology and health, studies in the Education Annex.
“Diversity is the one of the gains of having international students in a school,” says Godwin Nnaji of Aba, Nigeria, a master’s student in kinesiology and health. “When international students share knowledge from their different cultures, this makes learning more interesting. I feel international students spice up the learning process.”
Nnaji wanted to study outside his home country to get a better education. “The United States has always been on my mind because of its high academic standards and quality of education,” he says. “The city of Laramie and the lovely people who live here have made life worthwhile here. UW is a great school, and the members of faculty and staff are so awesome.”
“Having international students from around the world is the best thing to improve the education system,” says civil and architectural engineering doctoral student Mustafa Al-Kamal of Baghdad, Iraq. “It helps to build a good knowledge on how other people think.”
Inspired by his professor in Iraq who studied in the United States, Al-Kamal learned about UW and liked the safe, small-town feel of Laramie, which he says is a good place for his young family, which includes “a cowboy, 18 months old, and a cowgirl, 6 months old.”
“I have a very nice adviser and excellent research,” he says. “I had highly recommended UW to an Iraqi student, and he got accepted and he is now studying here.”
Upon graduation, Al-Kamal will return to Iraq as a professor at Al-Nahrain University.
Sophia Kwende of Cameroon in Central Africa is an undergraduate pursuing her degree in chemistry with hopes of going on to medical school. She also believes that international students enrich UW’s learning environment. “The diversity cultivates patience, tolerance, acceptance for differences between people of different races, religion and beliefs,” she says.
Like Al-Kamal, she left her home country in search of a better education and found that at UW. “The quality of education is extremely good and affordable,” she says. “I assist two professors with research. One of the research projects is with Professor Jason Gigley. The aim of the research is to elucidate molecular mechanisms, which regulate cellular response using the pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Being a part of this research project enables me to become familiar with complex laboratory equipment. Also, it provides insight on how to carry out experiments and how to work successfully with others.
“The second research project is with (research scientist) Navamoney Arulsamy. This research project focuses on the neurotransmitter nitric oxide and its effects on the brain and potential as a tumor-fighting agent.”
UW’s international students are involved with organizations and work across campus. Vikram Singh hails from Bangalore, India, and is pursuing his undergraduate degree in astronomy. He served as the International Students Association (ISA) representative for the Associated Students of UW and is now ISA events coordinator.
“I’ve worked with the Wyoming African Students Association, MILAAP Indian Student Organization, I was part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and I also helped start the Men’s Action Network,” he says. “UW is a really good university with great opportunities for you to excel. Right now I’m applying to the top theoretical physics institutes in the world. Eventually I hope to earn a Ph.D.”
A UW honors student, Singh spent three months studying super massive black holes in the Netherlands and studied at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities for a year through a UW exchange program.
“As a whole, I think I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” he says of his education at UW. “It’s allowed me within my budget to get a top-notch education.”
Undergraduate Virginia Zambrano, a petroleum engineering major from Venezuela, agrees: “It’s just an amazing university, and I’m really happy to be a part of it.
“Having so many international students provides diversity,” she adds. “Everyone gets to see a little part of the world with every international student we have here. I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from all around the world. In my personal experience, it helps you grow and see beyond what you have right in front of your eyes. It’s a really nice opportunity to learn about others.”
|
2/4 |