By Margaret Schell

I nternational Club co-president Nhu “Anna” Nguyen hails from Vietnam. Nguyen has made it her mission to help other international students feel just as welcomed and at home at Georgia College & State University as she does.

Before Nguyen came to Georgia College, she attended a small high school just outside New York City where she knew all her classmates. That is one of the reasons why she likes GCSU so much.

“I love the low ratio of students to faculty at Georgia College, because I know everyone in my classes and the professors,” she said. “I get the opportunity to talk to each professor individually if I have questions.”

Nguyen is also coordinator of the International Education Center’s Buddy Program where she assigns a current Georgia College student to each incoming international student. The “buddy” answers questions about the university and helps the new student prepare for the school year.

For several semesters, Nguyen has transported new students from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Georgia College. For Nguyen, there’s a bond that forms as she gets to know the students before they get to Georgia College.

“I was in the Buddy Program with my roommate from Kenya,” she said. “She is the reason why I got involved with the International Club. She prepared me for Georgia College, because there was a big difference between New York and Milledgeville.”

Nguyen is now a junior majoring in management information systems, and she is the social media chair for GC WIT in addition to her leadership role for the International Club.

She is grateful for Dr. Jeannie Pridmore, professor and chair of the Department of Information Systems & Computer Science.

“She helps me grow, personally and professionally,” Nguyen said. “Dr. Pridmore has given me opportunities available outside of college.”

“Dr. Brad Fowler, assistant professor of management information systems, is incredible at teaching,” she said. “I learned a lot from his classes, and he's always available to help students out.”

Kent Hill, lecturer of marketing, provides Nguyen with professional advice, tips and resources to find internships in management information systems.

“I’m fascinated by numbers,” she said. “Once I graduate, I would love to find a job in cyber security or networking.”

Nguyen is already getting valuable hand-on experience with customer service and computer systems by working part time at the GCSU IT Help Desk.

“I learned how to help people with their unique computer issues with what I've learned in class and through my colleagues,” Nguyen said. “These experiences sharpened my critical thinking skills.”

“Georgia College has given me a sense of community,” Nguyen said.

She is excited to participate in the International Festival on Front Campus Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 5 until 7 p.m. The festival opens with each international student holding their nation’s flag and describing something renown about their country.

Nguyen and a fellow student will display their poster illustrating Vietnam, describing different regions and distinct cuisine. They’ll also wear traditional clothes from a different era and have snacks available for guests.

“People will learn more about other countries and cultures from others who grew up with different backgrounds,” she said. “The International Festival will open their perspective of the world.”