International Breakfast Brings Together International Spartans

Kate Birnbryer White  | October 27, 2023

Attendees listen to the speaker

“The International ERG is a place for our International Spartans to connect. The group's purpose is to create space and opportunities for our international faculty, staff, specialists, and postdocs. The group aims to develop a community where folks can provide and receive support, share resources, and discuss everyday issues,”

The WorkLife Office’s International Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted a breakfast for International Spartans on Thursday, October 5, 2023, featuring Dr. Anjam Chaudhary, DEI program coordinator for the international studies programs. This year marks the 150th anniversary of international Spartans teaching and learning at MSU. “I enjoyed the presentation and learning that some of the experiences I had navigating a new country, climate, and culture were shared by others,” says Roushell Mignott-Nesbitt, director of EVPA strategic plan implementation. “It is not always easy to start our professional journey over in a new country. I had to learn to be authentic yet adjust to reflect the environment. Most folks are welcoming and want to learn about where you are from and the culture of your home country. But it is also wonderful to be with people who have had similar journeys and experiences,” concludes Ms. Mignott-Nesbitt.

 

Ebony Lucas and Dr. Anjam Chaudhary
Ebony Lucas and Dr. Anjam Chaudhary

Dr. Hima Rawal a postdoc research associate from the Graduate School’s graduate teaching office attended the breakfast. “I wanted to connect with other fellow international employees and wanted to see where people are from and the different work they are doing on campus,” explains Dr. Rawal. “The opportunity to hear colleagues describe their favorite food conveyed a lot about their culture. Food is tied to universal emotions and is a universal language irrespective of the diversity among all of us. I liked seeing all those people as unique individual humans from different parts of the world,” says Dr. Rawal.

“The International ERG is a place for our International Spartans to connect. The group’s purpose is to create space and opportunities for our international faculty, staff, specialists, and postdocs. The group aims to develop a community where folks can provide and receive support, share resources, and discuss everyday issues,” explains Ebony Lucas, consultant in the WorkLife Office. Ms. Lucas coordinates the International ERG. “The breakfasts are opportunities to make campus and community connections and provide social activities that will help to build community,” shares Lucas. All the International ERG events are free and open to International Spartan employees, spouses, and like-minded folks who are interested in providing support to our international faculty, graduate student employees, postdocs, and staff.

The breakfasts feature speakers who share their own experiences as international Spartans and address topics of interest. Dr. Alexis Travis will present at the December 7 breakfast and share her thoughts on health and wellness, diversity, equity and inclusion, overcoming barriers and building resiliency. Dr. Rawal plans to attend the December breakfast and to invite some of her coworkers to join her. “I have colleagues that would very much like to attend.”

Care and consultation are used in selecting speakers for International ERG events. “Choosing the right speaker is paramount to the success of any event or program. Many of our speakers are recommended by our community of Spartans. It is important that the speaker is knowledgeable about the issues relevant to the international community. We seek presenters whose perceptions and experiences are relatable to our members and who can add value and context to their experience,” explains Ms. Lucas.

Participants are involved in setting the agenda. “All of our social activities come from recommendations from our international employees. We use a continuous improvement approach to our select our speakers, activities, and events. Once a year, WorkLife hosts hybrid focus groups and feedback surveys. The information received from their feedback guides our programming,” shares Ms. Lucas. “We also rely on our evaluations from group members and attendees,” concludes Ms. Lucas.

To suggest activities, topics for presentations, or other idea for the International ERG, please reach out to Ebony Lucas.