International Students & Scholars: Meet Margaret McElligott

Meet Margaret McElligott, the new International Students and Scholars assistant director and recruiter. Margaret is originally from Freeport, Illinois, and has lived in Washington, DC, Bamako, Mali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, New York City, and Praia, Cabo Verde. She comes to UW after 15 years as a US diplomat in the State Department.

 

ISS coordinator Abby Lozano sat down with Margaret to ask about her experience so far and how she is settling in at UW:

 

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Margaret: I got my BA/MA in five years from American University in Washington, D.C., studying international studies and international development.

 

Abby: What’s one thing you’re really, really good at?

 

Margaret: Laughing? Eating snacks? Not certain – I’m a little bit good at a lot of things, but not especially great at anything. (ISS office note: Margaret is great at laughing and snacking, and at making people feel welcome and appreciated.)

 

Abby: What is the most unique food you have ever eaten?

 

Margaret: It wasn’t a national dish or typical food, but I once ate a coconut grub in the Brazilian Amazon. They live on coconut and taste like candy. 

 

Abby: If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

 

Margaret: Flight! Who doesn’t want to fly like a bird? It would be so fun, and I’d save a lot on plane tickets.

 

Abby: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

 

Margaret: A pilot, so I could travel. See previous note about wanting to fly!

 

Abby: You come to UW from a field outside higher education. How can your previous experience provide fresh ideas for recruiting to UW?

 

Margaret: The American Dream is alive and real in the imaginations of millions of people whose dream is to study in the United States. I know, because I’ve had the opportunity to talk to young people about why they love the United States and dream to come here one day.

 

I also worked extensively with officials from other countries and have a good sense of how their governments and industries want to invest in their young people to build expertise for the future.

 

So, I’m hoping I can harness both the dreams and hard realities to bring more international students to UW in a way that enriches the educational experience for everyone.

 

Abby: What have you learned about UW that is most exciting to you?

 

Margaret: I love the public commitment to educating the children of the state of Wyoming. We offer students the personalized attention of a small liberal arts college with the relative affordability of a public university, combined with cutting-edge research and field studies at a world-class R1 research institution. UW is a gem, and I’m honored to work here in the Gem City!

 

Abby: What or how do you see Wyoming’s connection to the world?

 

Margaret: Wyoming is a cutting-edge research lab tackling so many of the world’s biggest problems and opportunities. From our food supply, to natural resources, to energy, to digital innovation, to social cohesion, UW faculty and students are paving the way for the future of our world. I also can’t imagine a better place to study paleontology, geology, or outdoor recreation!

 

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ISS, a core unit of WyoGlobal, provides guidance on immigration, visa applications, and outreach services. We create a welcoming environment for the international community at UW and in Laramie, with a wide range of services.

 

The ISS and WyoGlobal teams already have Margaret hard at work as she leaves for her first recruiting trip next week, but she is still available for a chat. Once she returns, please stop by to say hello and meet our wonderful new colleague!

 

If you would like to talk to or work closely with Margaret, you can email her at mmcelli2@uwyo.edu.