International Student Experiences in the United States and Canada

This edited volume offers a rigorous, multidimensional exploration of the international student journey across the United States and Canada. Drawing on diverse disciplinary perspectives and current research, the book illuminates the cultural, academic, and psychosocial challenges students face—from initial adjustment and language barriers to identity development and community integration—while also highlighting the long-term opportunities that shape their educational and professional trajectories. Beyond documenting student experiences, the book situates international education within broader demographic and workforce realities, particularly the growing reliance on global talent to address aging labor markets in North America. By bringing together scholars worldwide, this volume provides a timely, comprehensive resource for researchers, educators, policymakers, and higher education leaders committed to supporting international student success and strengthening global mobility pathways.

Edited by
Taiwo O. Soetan, Omonigho S. Umukoro, Oluwarotimi O. Odeh, and David Hoa Khoa Nguyen

Taiwo O. Soetan (Ph.D.) was an Associate Professor of Business at the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Dickinson State University, North Dakota, and an External Examiner in the Graduate (Doctoral) Program at the School of Leadership Studies, Fielding Graduate University, California, United States.  

Omonigho Simon Umukoro (Ph.D.) is a faculty at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is an accomplished scholar and educator with a diverse background in organizational and social psychology. 

Oluwarotimi Odeh (Ph.D.) is a Professor of Agricultural Economics with more than 18 years of experience as a faculty member, a mentor, and advisor to students in three public universities in the United States. He is currently the Rolland Starn Endowed Chair of Agriculture at California State University, Stanislaus, California, where he oversees the institution’s agriculture program. 

David Hoa Khoa Nguyen (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor of Urban Education Leadership and Policy and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Indiana University, Indianapolis, United States. Prior to academia, Nguyen was a full-time practicing attorney in immigration, family, and administrative law. 

Table of Contents

Foreword
Art R. Malloy 

Series Editor’s Note
Krishna Bista 

Chapter 1

Pre-Departure Preparation for African International Students in U.S. and Canadian Higher Education Institutions
Alice Kanyama 

Chapter 2

Intercultural Communication Experiences of International Students: An Example from a Post-Soviet Context
Oseremi Olivia Jagbojo 

Chapter 3

International Transfer Students at U.S. Community Colleges
Caitlyn Potter Glaser 

Chapter 4

Care and Academic Mobility: Narratives of International Doctoral Student Mothers from the Global South
Yulu Hou 

Chapter 5

Welcoming the Whole Household: Ethical Responsibilities Toward International Graduate Student Families in Christian Higher Education
Junyan (Emma) Zhu 

Chapter 6

Navigating Dual Worlds: The Lived Realities of International Graduate Student Parents in U.S. Higher Education
Sayyora Ibadullaeva 

Chapter 7

“It’s a Bigger Sea, You’re Gonna Need a Strong Boat”: International Students’ Experiences of Academic Expectations and Setbacks in Canada
Susan He 

Chapter 8

Student Engagement and Leadership as a Support System for International Students
Laura Vaughn and Van Anh Tran 

Chapter 9

A Review of Syllabus Design for Online Courses in American Higher Education
Yusuf Marafa 

Chapter 10

From Misconception to Separation: How Race Affects International Students’ Sense of Belonging in the United States
Adrijana Miladinović

Chapter 11

Fitting In and Holding On: A Model-Based Autoethnography of Micro-Level Acculturative Stressors Among African-Born International Students in the U.S.
Ehi-Kowochio Blessing Ogwiji

Chapter 12

International Students’ Perceptions of Campus Sexual Violence Prevention Programs
Wei Dai 

Chapter 13

Understanding the Mental Health Experiences of Racialized International Students in Canada
JesusMiracle Chiadika 

Chapter 14

Contributions of International Student Athletes to the U.S. and Canadian Economies
Eniola Soetan and Taiwo O. Soetan

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