International in NWA: Recent Episodes
UARK International Students and Scholars
Information to help you stay in status, news you can use, and resources for your life - we'll help keep you surviving and thriving as an international student or scholar at the University of Arkansas! Brought to you by the office of International Students and Scholars.
On this episode, we recap the three "keys" to helping F-1 and J-1 students maintain their immigration status - enrollment, employment, and expiry. Also, our special guest is Umer Rahman, who oversees the office of Graduate Student Support at the University of Arkansas. Don't miss an informative and inspiring conversation with Umer as he talks about his experiences, including his own "immigrant story," and how he works to serve graduate students at the university, helping them succeed and thrive on their journey.
Resources for this episode:
- Umer Rahman
- Graduate Student Support
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/internationalinnwa/message
This time on International in NWA, we bring you a special double episode especially for our new students and scholars about to arrive. We'll talk with Sara Parrott, Assistant Director for Welcome & Belonging at ISS, as well as two of our Cross Cultural Mentors - Jossie Santamaria and Archy Pattanaik. They'll tell you about preparations for your arrival, how to get connected at the university, favorite things about Fayetteville, dealing with challenges, making friends, and more!
Resources for this episode:
Meet the Cross Cultural Mentors
View the International Student Arrival Guide
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/internationalinnwa/message
International in NWA returns with an introduction to our two newest staff members at the office of International Students and Scholars! Nick Pevato and Kayla Milner are our International Student Advisors and they serve our F-1 students and F-2 dependents. Get to know Nick and Kayla and find out how they can help you!
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
- Contact Nick Pevato
- Contact Kayla Milner
- Dates for Full-Time F-1 Employment On Campus (scroll down)
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It's time once again to celebrate our graduating students! We send our congratulations to all our students graduating in Fall 2022, and spotlight a recent alumna, Paulina Sobczak, who's making her mark in the world after making her mark at the University of Arkansas!
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
Paulina Sobczak - Online Portfolio
Heal the River trailer
Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame feature
Service Dogs feature
University of Arkansas Fall 2022 Commencement (Ceremony 1)
University of Arkansas Fall 2022 Commencement (Ceremony 2)
Arkansas Alumni Association
UARK International Alumni Society on Facebook
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This month we talk to two special guests - Andrew Van Lew and Sara Parrott - about the realities of life in the United States if you have dependent immigration status, and resources for making your experience here better. Also, a reminder that International Education Week is coming soon!
Resources for this episode:
- F-2 Dependent Information from ISS
- J-2 Dependent Information from ISS
- Contact Sara Parrott
- Family Resources from ISS
- Ozark Literacy Council
- International Education Week - University of Arkansas
- International Education Week - U.S. Department of State
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
On this episode of International in NWA, it's time for "Ask Audra" and we're diving into your questions! Find out about getting paid for research studies, career resources on campus, and concerns about inflation.
Resources for this episode:
- University of Arkansas Career Development Center
- Handshake - Find Jobs and Internships
- International Education Catastrophic Fund Application
- Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry
- International in NWA Features Full Circle Food Pantry
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
In this special double episode, our guest is immigration attorney Adam Cohen, who talks about why it's so important to keep your own records of your immigration documents. Adam discusses what types of documents are important and provides best practices for making sure your records are accurate and well-maintained.
Links for this episode:
- Adam Cohen bio
- Siskind Susser PC
- The Academic Immigration Handbook
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection - I-94 website
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
On this episode of International in NWA, it's time for spring commencement again, and with that, time for summer immigration reminders for students. Also, our special guest is Corporal Allen Porter from the University of Arkansas Police Department, who will talk with us about safety on campus!
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
- University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD)
- Campus Safety "Safe Zone" App
- Article - How Safe Are U.S. Campuses?
- Annual Clery Reports for the University of Arkansas
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
For international students in the United States, job hunting can be especially stressful! In this episode, we talk with Kelsey Lavigne from College of Engineering Career Services about strategies and resources that can be helpful to students who are "job hunting while international."
- Full Time On Campus Employment Dates for F-1 Students
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Information for F-1 Students
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information for F-1 Students
- Employment Authorization Information for J-1 Students
- College of Engineering Career Services website
- Career Development Center website
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
In this episode, our special guest is Bri Roden from the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry at the University of Arkansas. We will talk about how anyone affiliated with the University of Arkansas can access help from the food pantry or volunteer there to help others.
Resource links for this episode:
- Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry
- Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
- Razorback Food Recovery
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
Our special guest for this episode is Cynthia Smith, Assistant Director for Outreach with International Students and Scholars. Cynthia tells us about the celebration that is International Education Week (which, at the University of Arkansas, is really more like International Education MONTH). Don't miss the excitement!
RESOURCES:
- International Education Week - University of Arkansas site
- International Education Week - national site
- Contact Cynthia Smith
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
On this episode, we're talking about Optional Practical Training - OPT. Our special guest is Pietro Malky, a University of Arkansas alum who has some great advice to share with F-1 students who are thinking about getting work experience in the United States.
Resources:
- OPT information on the ISS website
- Reserve a spot in an OPT seminar
- View a previously recorded OPT seminar
- Connect with Pietro Malky on LinkedIn
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
In this episode, our special guest is graduate student Lauren Alter, who is a player for Razorback Women's Tennis and an international student from New Zealand. Lauren talks with us about her experiences coming to university in the United States and her advice for new students and scholars on how to feel at home in their new environment at the University of Arkansas. We also give a shout out to the 10 current and former Razorback student athletes who competed in the Tokyo Olympic games earlier this summer. Don't miss it!
Resources for this episode:
- Lauren Alter's roster page
- Razorbacks headed to Tokyo
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
On this episode of International in NWA, our focus is new students who are planning to arrive for the fall semester - from applying for visas to knowing what to do when you land in Arkansas. Our special guests are Namiko Bagirimvano, Assistant Director for Retention for International Students and Scholars, and her graduate assistant, Kiera Michailoff-Russell.
Resources from this episode:
Department of State Travel Site
NAFSA Page on COVID-19 Visa Restrictions and Entry
University of Arkansas International Admissions Office
International Students and Scholars Pre-Arrival and Orientation
International Students and Scholars Fall 2021 FAQ Page
Contacting Nami or Kiera with questions or concerns about arrival, orientation, etc. - issworld@uark.edu
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message
Welcome to our first-ever episode of International in NWA! We're excited to connect with you in a brand new way through the world of podcasting. In this episode, we're celebrating our graduates, talking about alumni involvement and upcoming events, and looking forward to all things summer! Brought to you by the office of International Students and Scholars at the University of Arkansas.
Resources/links for this episode:
- International Alumni Reunion - POSTPONED TO 2022
- James Jessey Joseph
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/internationalinnwa/message