Feeling lost, frustrated, even angry? “That is a potential sign of an international student starting to find a way out for themselves,” says Dr. Shyam Sharma, who felt the same way when he arrived at UofL fifteen plus years ago. “It could also be the beginning of that student contributing to the wellbeing and success of other students.” Join this workshop to explore how you can develop strategies to tackle challenges as an international student, using the strategies to also contribute to an environment of mutual support and shared opportunities. As Graduate Alumni Fellow of the Year, we’ve also asked Shyam to share his story at UofL, and he’s going to draw some lessons from his experiences that will inspire you. He will integrate discussions and practical activities, including a thought-provoking “future CV” exercise along the way.

Presenter Bio:

Shyam Sharma received his MA in English (2008) and PhD in Rhetoric and Composition (2012), both from the University of Louisville. While a student, he helped develop professional development programs for graduate students that have won national attention for UofL. Dr. Sharma served in student leadership positions and peer mentoring programs. He is the recipient of the Graduate School’s Alice Barns Award for Outstanding Achievement for a Master’s Student; the Binford Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies; and the English Department’s Barbara Plattus Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Sharma also received an Association of American Colleges and Universities K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, 2012.

Dr. Sharma is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in Writing and Rhetoric at Stony Brook University, New York. He has published widely for a variety of venues. His last book, Writing Support for International Students: Enhancing Transition and Success, began as his dissertation and has earned him a national reputation, plus numerous speaking invitations in the US and abroad. His upcoming book draws insights from analysis of policies and philosophies of four mid- 20th century US presidents as foundational to our internationalization of higher education, examining current trajectories by further analyzing the same from four most recent presidents. At his current institution, Dr. Sharma has been honored with the College of Arts & Sciences Bill Godfrey Teaching Award, the Spirit of Diversity Award from the university’s Career Center, and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. He is Vice President of the SUNY Council on Writing and serves on the executive committee of the Conference on College Composition and Communication.

Shyam also continues to work with scholars from his native Nepal and the South Asian region. He currently resides near Stony Brook, on Long Island, New York.