International programming enriches DSU’s culture
May 20, 2025
In 2024, DSU welcomed 105 new international students, bringing the international student population on campus to around 200.
“I tell a lot of people I have one of the best jobs there is because working with international students is amazing,” said Nicole Claussen, director of International Programs.
Claussen and the staff in the international programming department recruit international students, assist with the admissions process, and help students understand and adhere to F1 visa requirements. They also educate students about study away opportunities around the world.
“We support our international students from the time they apply, through the application process and the visa process, to preparing to come here, picking them up from the airport, and purchasing health insurance,” Claussen explained.
In her role, she especially enjoys getting to know the international students, the journeys they have taken to get to DSU, and what prompted them to come to the U.S. to reach their goals. She also highlights how integral it is to have a population of international students on a college campus.
“A lot of our students haven’t left the country,” Claussen said. “They’ve never been exposed to people of different cultures.”
She explained, “Our students need to be exposed to these global perspectives because all the jobs that our students are going to apply and interview for are with global companies, and that perspective is very beneficial.”
After being accepted into DSU, international students must visit the U.S. Embassy in their home country to complete a visa interview.
“For a lot of students, this is the most important two to three minutes of their life,” Claussen said.
In addition to providing support and assistance throughout the application, acceptance, and moving process, the international programs department offers a variety of activities during the school year.
Each September, a welcome picnic is held for DSU faculty, staff, students and area community members to get to know the new international students.
In November, they celebrate International Education Week by highlighting the students’ food, culture, music, dance, and festivals that they may be missing back home, Claussen shared. Outside of events, a group of students from India started a Cricket Club that has grown quite popular in the area.
“They joined a league in Sioux Falls, so they participate in many tournaments, and they even go to Omaha,” Claussen said. “My office is starting to look like a trophy room because they’ve been very successful.”
“I’ve even had students say to me that the Cricket Club is one of the reasons they came to DSU.”
The international population on campus is predominately students from Nepal, India, and some African countries, such as Ghana and Ethiopia.
Gelilawit Adane, a freshman from Ethiopia, chose DSU for its reputation as a top school for computer science in South Dakota. She also appreciated the welcoming nature of the international programs staff.
Adane has enjoyed meeting so many new people and learning about a variety of cultures. She’s gotten involved in the FBLA Club and the AI Club.
“Also, the professors here are really good and supportive,” Adane said. “I’m learning new things here every day.”
She especially appreciates Dr. Richard Avery, who taught her introductory discrete mathematics course. “His main goal is that he wants us to learn new things every day,” she said.
While she’s only completed one semester at DSU, her favorite memory so far has been the international potluck they held in November.
“Everyone made different food from their own countries, and everyone really liked it,” Adane said. “It was really great because we were showing our culture to others.”