Coming to a different country is never an easy transition. Luckily for St. Thomas University international students, STU’s international student coordinator Carrie Monteith-Levesque is here to support whoever needs it.
“The idea of getting to interact with, meet and support students coming from all around the world with their transition to university life… that was meant for me.”
Monteith-Levesque started working at STU in 2009 after graduating with a double major in Psychology and English. Around 2014, she started working with international students.
After the last international student coordinator retired, Monteith-Levesque was offered the position. She became interested in working with a small group of students where she would be able to get to know them better.
The connections she has been able to make with the people she works with are one of the things she values the most, as her primary focus is the students.
“I like the personal relationships that I’m able to pose with international students, I really like getting to know them as individuals… I feel I’m very fortunate.”
From providing instructions on how to get a New Brunswick Medicare card to organizing events to bring the community together, Monteith-Levesque is in charge of helping students with their transition. But beyond that, she also has an open door for international students to talk to her about anything they might struggle with.
“I think just sometimes knowing they have a person that they know they can go to – no matter what it is – and I want them to know that I can be that person for them.”
She recognizes that one of the biggest struggles of international students builds up around their financials, noting that outside of the university, there is not much support.
Some of the initiatives that Monteith-Levesque has implemented during her tenure include the St. Thomas University International Student Association and the Wall Flag ceremony.
“We want to share that with the full-steam community so that we can learn about diversity and culture and for students to feel that sense of belonging.”
She said she feels very proud of the engagement of the international students with the STU community. She sees international students in leadership positions, clubs and societies and on-campus jobs.
“They’re the ones that are leading the way in a lot of those initiatives, which is exciting to see,” said Monteith-Levesque. “I’m a proud momma.”
Monteith-Levesque said she is aware of how important she is for international students, which is why she is protective of her “international students family” and wants everyone to have the best experience possible.
“I feel I had the opportunity to grow a lot as a human, as an individual, [through] my interactions with the international students,” said Monteith-Levesque. “They have expanded my horizons.”
