Student spotlight: Supporting international students
Wisnu Pradana is seeking ways to understand others.
As a language and literacy educator and doctoral student in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, Pradana aims not only to educate, but also to support students from all backgrounds.
Pradana came to the University of Georgia in 2017 as a Fulbright Scholar and master’s student. But after earning his degree in 2019, he stuck around to continue his Ph.D. As an international student from Indonesia, he faced several challenges while adjusting to life in Athens. From homesickness to learning new cultural norms, he recognized that other international students confronted the same obstacles.
“I know it’s not easy to be in a new environment,” he said. “There are language barriers, but also expectations that differ. As international students, we need a supportive environment that helps understand and support our different experiences.”