Grinnell College Office of International Student Affairs

08/29/2024

OISA’s Cultural Attaché Program invites you to the first “Middle of Everywhere” presentation of the semester at 4:00 p.m. this Fri, August 30, in the Global Living Room. Chloe Alger ‘28, Karen Edwards (OISA), and Brenda Strong (OISA) will introduce the great state of Iowa! Come learn about the place they call “home” through its geography, history, culture, and fun!

08/24/2024

07/30/2024

A few more from OISA’s summer ☀️ part two ☀️

A few more alumni visitors ♥️, Grinnell summer activities like Music in the Park & the Fourth of July parade, taking a nap in the ever piling IPOP supply boxes, and wonderful students visiting our hallway!

07/30/2024

An OISA summer ☀️ part one ☀️

Visiting the Celebrasian festival in Des Moines, attending alumni weddings, celebrating new graduates, completing RAGBRAI, and FIS reunions and activities! (Caddying for your FIS student is not required, but fun ☺️)

07/25/2024

IPOP is coming! To our incoming international Class of 2028, meet your IPOP Mentors -- and keep an eye on your Grinnell email for communication from them.

Sanibonani and Molweni! Namaste! こんちは! Cześć! Namaskar! 반가워요! Xin chào! Za sasa hivi boss! Здрасти! こんにちは! 哈喽! নমস্কার!

07/01/2024

Last call, sign up today to be a 2024-25 Friends of International Students (FIS) Host! ♥️🌏 Applications are due July 7.

We will welcome 100+ new international students next August, and FIS Hosts play a valuable role in helping them feel welcome here. This is a one-year commitment and does not include a home-stay. Click the following link to learn more, and apply: www.grinnell.edu/fis

06/22/2024

🎈

Princess Joseph '25, an independent studies major from St. Lucia, was presented the second Nancy Schmulbach Maly ’61 International Student Leadership Award on Friday, May 10. The award celebrates third-year international and U.S.

06/20/2024

Summer fun on the (Strong) farm 🚜🐑 Huge shout out to Brenda’s family (Scott, Carissa, Miranda, Zach & Reece) for hosting us with tractor and hayrack rides, games, and dinner! ♥️

06/14/2024

We ♥️ alumni visitors, during Reunion and just because! Thanks for stopping by!

05/31/2024

OISA in NOLA at NAFSA! Karen & Emily attended the national NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference this week with other Grinnell staff and faculty from . We attended government updates (CIS/DOS/ICE/CBP); met multiple service vendors; and attended sessions including topics like communication efficiency; campus advocacy; and the intersections of gender exploration, culture, and travel. Now, we can’t wait to get back to the office to see Brenda! 🥰

05/25/2024

A few more from the OISA Dessert Reception 🎓✨

05/24/2024

A few photos from our OISA Dessert Reception on Sunday night ♥️🍰

05/24/2024

Congratulations and go forth, Global Grinnellians — Class of 2024! ❤️✨ Continue to celebrate your “duration of status” as a Grinnellian and visit us often! 😉

05/21/2024

Applications are open!

05/14/2024

Congratulations to our nominees (Diego, Utsah, Timur, Zeineb, Lívia, Han) and our winner, Princess Joseph ‘25, of the Nancy Maly ‘61 International Student Leadership Award! This award celebrates third-year international and U.S. global nomad students for their leadership and community engagement both on campus and in the broader Grinnell community. We were grateful to have a celebratory reception last Friday, with some joining virtually!

05/08/2024

What better reminder that spring is here than birds and a new edition of MOSAIC?! 🐦🌷 Thanks to the creativity and hard work of our editor, , and the contributions of our students, staff, and alumni! Stop by our tabling tonight in the JRC from 5-7 PM to see the full cover, decorated by the talented – or keep an eye out for copies around campus.

MOSAIC is an annual publication that celebrates the beauty of a diverse campus and world, with a particular focus on international students and the variety of global adventures that are experienced by Grinnellians. It is made possible through the help and funding from the Institute for Global Engagement ().

05/07/2024

A glimpse of OISA’s April — taxes, alum visits, and wonderful Fridays at MOE! 🌷

05/06/2024

FYI from the OISA for May 6, 2024. Reminder: All information is provided and linked in our FYI email.

04/30/2024

The OISA is searching for Friends of International Students (FIS) Hosts for 2024-25! We will welcome 100+ new international students next August, and FIS Hosts play a valuable role in helping them feel welcome here. FIS Hosts and students can connect over food, music and the arts, athletics and nature, and local/regional adventures. Students enjoy getting to know the community, hosts learn more about the college, and everyone learns more about the world! This is a one-year commitment and does not include a home-stay. Click the link below to learn more and fill out an application.

www.grinnell.edu/fis

04/23/2024

FYI from the OISA for April 23, 2024. Reminder: All information is provided and linked in our FYI email.

04/09/2024

Shout out to Deepit ‘24, who is our first F-1 student this spring to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD)! 🥳

If you are graduating this May and hope to apply for OPT (and have not yet done so), begin the process immediately! The longer you wait, the longer it might take for your application to be processed. Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

04/05/2024

Busy first week back from Spring Break! OISA helped with an information session for admitted students, co-hosted an info session on CPT & Internships with the CLS, presented on the F-1 lifecycle to DSA colleagues, thought more about IPOP with the NEW IPOP Mentors while eating I-80 Dhaba 🙌, and watched our pile of envelopes dwindle for tax returns at our Sprintax Q&A session.

We’re looking forward to eating lunch with the Alumni Council and an MOE on the culinary landscape of Los Angeles today! ♥️

04/03/2024

OISA’s Cultural Attaché Program invites you to the “Middle of Everywhere” presentation at 4:00 p.m. this Fri, April 5, in the Global Living Room. Scott Lee ‘26 will present on the dynamic culinary landscape of Los Angeles, where diverse ethnic communities and locally sourced produce converge to create a unique gastronomic identity. He’ll also speak on the impact gentrification has had on the communities that make up the city, witnessing how shifts in demographics, economic forces, and cultural influences have reshaped neighborhoods.

04/01/2024

FYI from the OISA for April 1, 2024. Reminder: All information is provided and linked in our FYI email.

03/15/2024

A world of gratitude to Melinda Drees on her retirement ♥️ Melinda has impacted the lives (and literally touched the files 🤓) of every international student applicant for 20+ years. She will be, and is already, missed!

03/14/2024

A huge congratulations to this year's Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship recipient, Qiongyue (Olivia) Wang '25! As an avid surfer, Olivia will explore the unique dimensions of surfing culture across the U.S. She will travel to California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida to experience the variations in culture (music, lifestyle choices, fashion, art, histories) and geographic environment from state to state.

The Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship is an opportunity provided by Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz '53 to pursue casual, yet purposeful, travel in the United States to deeply explore a chosen theme. Visit this link to learn more: https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/offices-services/student-affairs/oisa/fischlowitz

03/11/2024

There are many ways to celebrate or commemorate International Women’s Day (March 8) around the world. This year in Grinnell, 19 Grinnellians taught us more about women identifying individuals they admire (via colorful and informative posters), while allowing us insight into their own passions and interests. We’re grateful for our student presenters and our partnership with the for allowing us to learn alongside the current exhibit by William Villalongo!

03/11/2024

FYI from the OISA for March 11, 2024. Reminder: All information is provided and linked in our FYI email.

03/07/2024

Last week, Cultural Attaché Princess ‘25 was invited to present for the Mayflower Community’s Lyceum program. She gave an amazingly detailed introduction of her home of St. Lucia, then taught about the history, function, and influence of Caribbean Calypso music. Shout out to the great Mayflower attendees and organizers for hosting Princess! 🇱🇨

03/05/2024

Join us in the Grinnell College Museum of Art (Bucksbaum) this Friday for International Women's Day! Visit anytime between 4-6 PM to view posters about women-identifying individuals from around the world, while learning about the Grinnellians presenting about them. This is also an important opportunity to view the museum's current exhibit, "Myths and Migrations", by William Villalongo, if you have not already done so!

Questions? Contact [email protected]. Note: There will not be a Middle of Everywhere this Friday at 4.