It’s the little things that count.
For international scholars coming to UGA for the first time, everyday necessities-finding housing, riding buses, grocery shopping, etc.-can be daunting.
Add to that list complicated immigration forms and the changing laws governing visas, and the already complicated process of relocating becomes even harder to bear.
That’s where Sylvia Schell comes in.
As assistant director of international student, scholar and immigration services in the Office of International Education, she is responsible for ensuring that international scholars and visitors transition into and leave the university community in the best possible way.
“It’s more than just processing documents. We’re talking about somebody’s future,” she said. “If I make a mistake, it affects someone’s ability to pursue their educational objective while in this country. We are the first contact they have when arriving on campus, so they come to us for whatever questions they may have.”
For Schell, that means making sure she can handle paperwork-and personalities.
“I want our scholars to feel comfortable talking with me. I spend a lot of time outside of the office with them. I’ll meet them at their offices, labs or wherever they can meet me. I may go to their houses for dinner or have them over for an American meal,” she said. “It’s more than just a job for me. Growing up in a place where I wasn’t exposed to many different cultures, it’s been very interesting to meet people who are different from me, who speak a different language and come from a different culture. We are so focused on the self, sometimes we forget that there are cultures outside the U.S. that are unique and fascinating.”
She’s often in her office by 7 a.m. and leaves well after sunset. The fast-paced nature of her work demands long hours and a careful eye. Even one mistake on a visa form can mean the difference between a scholar staying at UGA or having to leave.
“There’s always something to do. It’s not a typical 8-to-5 job because if someone’s status is expiring soon, we have to process the paperwork quickly. There is no flexibility in federal deadline dates. We can’t afford not to and we can’t afford to make a mistake,” she said.
When asked why she left her native Michigan for the South, she answers with a smile, “Isn’t it always for love? I was following someone.”
Her husband of nine years, Geoff, is a graphic designer. The couple has hosted international scholars in their home on several occasions, and has been guests in many of the scholars’ homes as well.
The holistic approach to integration is vitally important to Schell. Since starting at the OIE three years ago, she has organized a Thanksgiving luncheon for more than 100 scholars and their families and started programs to ease the adjustment for new faculty and staff members as well as their spouses and children, who are sometimes overlooked.
Her Tea Talks program invites one scholar a month to give a talk about their home country and its culture. Many bring native dishes or trinkets to share. Schell also hosts orientation sessions every Thursday for newly arrived scholars.
This kind of attention has made her a lifelong friend to many visitors. Her office in the Bank of America Building is stuffed with thank-you presents from grateful scholars across the globe.
“If international scholars and students don’t feel welcome and have a good experience, they’re not going to tell others about UGA,” she said. “Word of mouth spreads; I think that’s why we have a lot of scholars and students who choose to come here. It’s not that we do international recruitment. They come to UGA because they want to be here. We need to go above and beyond to make them feel comfortable in this place so it truly become a home away from home.”
