International Student Services

Name: Miaozi Guo
Country: Beijing, China.
Major: Aviation Administration

I came to Lewis study because it is one of the few private schools in Illinois that have the major that I decided to study Aviation Administration. It also has a very good student services for international students. Lewis has a very nice campus. I am very happy to live in Lewis University for the convenience and the vary activities the school provide all year long.

Name: Melanie Sandberg
Country: Motala, Sweden
Major: International Business

I came to Lewis study because I like the fact that it is very pretty and student friendly. It is very well maintained and this is important to ensure a pleasant student environment. The residence halls are nice (I live in Pope) and well equipped and they feel like a real home to us. All the faculty and staff are really nice and they get to know you on a personal level since the average classes are about 25 people.

I also love that Brother James Gaffney, FSC (President) manages to know each and every student by first name, that's extremely important because it makes you feel special and important to the university. They always help me out when I need anything, such as driving me to the post office, the bank, grocery store etc. I like the ice cream social with Brother James, and the welcome back BBQ. The trips to different places down town are also good, and even a dinner night is nice! We work together on a professional level, yet feel like family to each other. We always try to help each other out as much as we can, and we really do put a lot of effort into this organization.

Name: Eric Fru
Country: Nsongwa, Cameroon.
Major: Master of Business Administration

Lewis University International Student’s Services is credited for a job well done encouraging students to get involved and making them feel at home. The office always makes sure students get what they need in order to be a student and interact with the rest of the school. Important events are organized sponsored by the international student office just to bring us together and help us get to know one another especially during the weekends. I think Lewis University is the place to be and I enjoy and am proud being part of the Lewis University family. The location is pleasant and calm for learning. It is a safe environment and the students provided the freedom to celebrate their beliefs while treating each other with respect as members of the same family. I am glad to be given this opportunity to make an observation and will be open at all times to contribute the little I have for the good of the University which I admire.

Hi, I am Kairi Tanaka, an international student from Yokohama, Japan. I am currently ending my sophomore year as an Aviation Flight major here at Lewis, and have lived on campus since my first day here. . I am currently the President of the International Student Association. Through the organization, I have learned leadership and communication skills, and made many friends who are there to support me when I feel homesick and or need to be with people that understand what it is like to be an international student. I enjoy life at Lewis since I have met and gotten to know many people of different cultural backgrounds as well as racial backgrounds. I like the fact that Lewis is a small yet spacious campus, where you can get to know many people through a tight-knit community, and there is a lot of green and open space. The International Student Services is available when you need assistance regarding immigration documents and they also support you through providing airport transportation when necessary

Name: Claudia Alves
Country: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Major: Master of Organizational Leadership

Hello, I am Claudia Alves, and international student from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I like living on Campus because I can go to my on-campus work and classes without worrying about commuting. Being a night person works great with The Common Grounds eatery on campus because it is open 24/7. There are different things to do, gatherings to go to and hang out, and that is very healthy for resident students. It is a very calm and friendly environment to study, work, and make new friends. Being an International student is not easy, and you can tell how hard it is only when you become one. With the assistance of the International Student Services office we are taken to the city of Chicago to eat and socialize as well as having us together for a different activity on or off campus. They also provide information about immigration, University rules, or answer any kind of question we might have. This is essential for us to feel comfortable, to feel taken care of when so far away from home.

Hello I’m Rami Khalife, am an international student here at Lewis University, originally from Lebanon (Middle East). I’ve been in the US for almost 8 years; I transferred to Lewis University in 2006. I really enjoyed my stay here at Lewis. The faculty members and the instructors are very professional and friendly. I also enjoy the services and activities the International Student Association provides and the events we share on campus among all students. The variety of these events helps us promote and show our own culture. The two best ones are the International Food Festival in the fall and International Night in the spring. I now plan to pursue my graduate degree at Lewis, and I will continue enjoying and supporting the events as much as I can.

Name: Nancy Elias
Country: Bethlehem, Palestine (Israel)
Major: Doctoral Program (Ed.D) in “Educational Leadership for Teaching and Learning.”

My name is Nancy Elias. My home is in Bethlehem, Palestine (Israel). I am a candidate within the doctoral program (Ed.D) in “Educational Leadership for Teaching and Learning.” My journey started at Lewis University in 1995 when I arrived to earn my Master Degree in Special Education. Two years later, I graduated. During this time, Lewis University had managed to open the doors of opportunity using this degree. In 1997, I had the chance to teach at Bethlehem University, eventually becoming Dean of the Faculty of Education of Bethlehem University. Achieving an M.A. Degree allowed an expansion of my services to my home community in Palestine and to provide a consulting service for various schools. These services included teaching people how to work with students with learning disabilities, giving workshops for teachers and social workers, and being a part-time counselor for a school for the hearing impaired. Special education is desperately needed in Palestine and few people are qualified.

The quality of education I received at Lewis has given me new and varied opportunities within the educational field. What makes Lewis special is that it’s a small community where everyone knows everyone, a cozy, friendly campus that one can easily move around without transportation. Lewis University is a safe, organized, and beautifully pastoral campus. As an international student, I feel that I am respected. I feel accepted from the administrative level to the Office of the Dean, professors and colleagues, and everyone in-between. People are concerned about me, not just academically, but personally. They try their best to accommodate my different needs. I believe that what I value most at Lewis University is the opportunity for making true friends, lifelong friends.

The assistance the International Student Services provide for exchange students include help in completing required documents, immigration paperwork, social, and entertainment activities. These dedicated workers help exchange students to adjust to life here in the United States, which gives us a chance to share knowledge. They also help present American culture to us in a comprehensible and sensitive way. Yes, Lewis is special as are their people.