Empowering International Student Transitions
Understanding the Journeys of International Students
Global Bridges specializes in supporting international students through cultural transitions and academic challenges in universities.
This dedicated approach has helped universities enhance their support services, leading to improved engagement and satisfaction among international students, fostering a more inclusive educational environment.
What’s Acomplished
By bridging cultural gaps, we have transformed how universities support international student experiences, ensuring services are accessible and aligned with diverse backgrounds.
From Experience to a New Initiative
Global Bridges is a new initiative, but the ideas behind it have been developing for many years.
As a former international student, Smitha Day, MSW, became interested in the emotional and cultural challenges that accompany studying and living in another country. That lived experience later became an area of professional study, research, and education.
In 2008, Smitha presented her work at Families in Global Transition (FIGT), an international forum focused on the experiences of globally mobile individuals and families. She later provided a pro bono presentation at Berea College, bringing these issues directly into a university setting. Both experiences reinforced the importance of understanding cultural adjustment not simply as an academic or logistical transition, but as an emotional one as well.
Today, Global Bridges brings that earlier work into a new chapter. We are beginning by listening to international students themselves—exploring their experiences with culture shock, homesickness, loneliness, emotional support, counseling, and the barriers that may prevent them from utilizing campus mental health services.
What we learn will help shape Global Bridges’ future work with university counseling centers, international student offices, and other campus professionals.
The organization may be new. The commitment to understanding the international student journey is not.
