Michelle St. Onge

Assistant Director, Global Education Office
SUNY Plattsburgh

What inspired you to work in this field?
My grandmother was a twin, born in New Zealand. I grew up hearing stories of her trans-oceanic immigration to the USA, and I realize that I am a product of her courage and bravery. It inspired me to be the first in my family to study, and also to study abroad as an undergraduate student many years ago. I have not yet made it to New Zealand, but it is a lifelong dream to go there and meet my family.

What are the challenges you've faced?
Working in international recruitment and admissions requires international travel. I spent the last 10 years as a single mom raising two young boys, who are now grown and flown in college and work. I owe a debt of gratitude to my family, coworkers, and friends for their support while my work took me away from home.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?
I have a secret fantasy of winning the lottery and sponsoring a full-tuition scholarship to SUNY Plattsburgh for one international student every year. Luck aside, I would be honored to work in a philanthropic effort to support students abroad to study in the USA!

If you can give 1 or 2 pieces of advice to our prospective international students, what would it be?
One — do your homework! Most of what you need to know to make a good shortlist of colleges for you is available online

Two — talk to current international students about their experiences - Who better to help you decide if a school is a good fit for you than students just like you who are already there? Ask universities for connections on platforms like Unibuddy or WhatsApp.