Tufts International Center

Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Oliver Chapman Award, Leo Sajkov! ???? Each year, the International Club, with the support of the International Center, chooses and awards the Oliver Chapman Leadership and Community Service Award. Since its inception in 1993, the Chapman Award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated leadership through involvement in the international community at Tufts. Leo was nominated for his many extraordinary contributions to the international community at Tufts including his active involvement in I-Club – he served as President from 2023-2024 – and as a GO pre-orientation leader for two summers. In the words of our former Director Andy Shiotani, “I regard Leo as one of the prime examples during my times at Tufts of student leadership and service. Even in his first year at Tufts, Leo was the epitome of a well-rounded student: intellectually curious, academically ambitious, a confident conversationalist, but at the same time humble and very funny. It was a pleasure to get to know him and to see him use his gifts not only for his own advancement, but to promote initiatives and efforts to benefit his fellow international students.”

Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Oliver Chapman Award, Leo Sajkov! ???? Each year, the International Club, with the support of the International Center, chooses and awards the Oliver Chapman Leadership and Community Service Award. Since its inception in 1993, the Chapman Award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated leadership through involvement in the international community at Tufts. Leo was nominated for his many extraordinary contributions to the international community at Tufts including his active involvement in I-Club – he served as President from 2023-2024 – and as a GO pre-orientation leader for two summers. In the words of our former Director Andy Shiotani, “I regard Leo as one of the prime examples during my times at Tufts of student leadership and service. Even in his first year at Tufts, Leo was the epitome of a well-rounded student: intellectually curious, academically ambitious, a confident conversationalist, but at the same time humble and very funny. It was a pleasure to get to know him and to see him use his gifts not only for his own advancement, but to promote initiatives and efforts to benefit his fellow international students.”

Great turnout for both of our recent International Scholar and Employee Meet & Greets! Thanks to those who ventured out to connect with us and each other in Medford and Boston. (Photo credit: Julia Keith and Anna Garson)

The 2025 Oliver Chapman Award nominations are now open! Each year, the International Club, with the support of the International Center, chooses and awards the Oliver Chapman Leadership and Community Service Award. Since its inception in 1993, the Chapman Award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated leadership through involvement in the international community at Tufts. 2025 nominations are now open until Wednesday, February 19th – you can find out more information and access the nomination form on our website: https://icenter.tufts.edu/

Happy Winter Break! The Tufts International Center sends best wishes for a festive holiday season and a happy new year. Please note that our offices will be closed between Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday, January 1st. We will re-open and resume normal operations on Thursday, January 2nd. In case of a travel emergency, please refer to our Emergency Protocol Information on our website: https://lnkd.in/ehDjPQpa

Today is Giving Tuesday. Consider supporting our international students.

On November 26th, USCIS updated the Policy Manual section on F-1 Absences from the United States with a correction that removed the problematic language around F-1 students studying abroad that had been released earlier this semester.?Tufts University students should contact the International Center with any questions about this matter.

Special Student Relief for F-1 International Students from Lebanon

#TuftsGivingTuesday is December 3rd, 2024!? Dear Members and Friends of the Tufts International Community,? December 3rd, 2024 is #TuftsGivingTuesday. On this international day of giving, the entire Tufts community comes together to support what matters most to them. Our international student and scholars are a vital part of our campuses, enriching our community, providing diverse and global perspectives in our classrooms, and expanding our institution’s global reach. Learn more about Tufts International Community. International students also face unique challenges. Unexpected medical emergencies, a sudden change in family circumstances, natural disasters, financial crises, war, or sociopolitical events can place immense burdens on students who are already far from home. Thanks to the generous support of our community, the I-Center has funds available to provide students with the resources they need to stay on track with their education and thrive during difficult times.? Consider making a donation to support our international community:? https://lnkd.in/eXcQWHT9 Friends of the International Center Fund -?through this fund, the International Center provides small emergency grants to?any?international student on a non-immigrant visa experiencing unexpected hardship due to medical, personal, or family emergencies. Recent examples of students who have benefited from this fund include graduate students whose families have been impacted by unrest in the Middle East, students whose parents have lost jobs due to financial crises, and students who have seen unexpected currency devaluation. Please note that this fund is in high demand due to recent unrest across the globe and as it is the only I-Center fund available to graduate international students. Oliver Chapman Fund?- the Oliver Chapman Fund, established in the memory of?Oliver Chapman?(E '92), provides small emergency grants to international undergraduate students who have experienced unexpected need, helping them with costs such as medical or dental bills, winter clothing or food needs, or expensive classroom and textbook purchases. Jane Etish-Andrews Undergraduate International Scholarship?- established in honor of the International Center's long-time director, Jane Etish-Andrews, who retired in 2018, this endowed scholarship is used to support the education of an international non-immigrant undergraduate student who would be unable to attend Tufts without scholarship support.? Thank you for your generosity and for making a difference in the lives of students. Best regards, Anna Garson ? Director, Tufts International Center?

Happy?International Education Week 2024! Sponsored by the US Department of Education and the US Department of State, it will take place?November 18th?– 22nd.?https://lnkd.in/e6JZ3r7G Please be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to gather and celebrate in the coming weeks but for now we’d like to take a moment to appreciate the vibrant international community of students, scholars, faculty and staff who contribute so much to Tufts!?This year our students (combined undergrad and grad) represent 124 countries and our scholars and employees represent 51 countries with China, India, South Korea, Canada and the UK being our largest populations. They are studying, researching and working on all 3 campuses (Medford, Boston and Grafton) in every field and are greatly valued members of this community.