International Student Experiences in the United States and Canada: A Multidisciplinary Examination of Challenges, Prospects, and Opportunities

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 from around the world, this volume provides a timely and 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 (DSU), Dickinson, North Dakota, and an External Examiner in the Graduate (Doctoral) Program at the School of Leadership Studies, Fielding Graduate University, California, United States. Prior to DSU, Soetan taught several business courses as a full-time faculty at two of Canada’s higher education institutions. He obtained his graduate qualifications at the Master level (MBA, ME, MA, and MSc) and Ph.D. from universities in the U.K, Canada, and the U.S. Dr. Soetan is a Project Management Professional (PMP), and his articles have been published in peer review journals and edited books. He is the co-author of the book, “Financial services in Nigeria: The path towards financial inclusion, economic development, and sustainable growth” that was published by Palgrave Macmillan.

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. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Ibadan where he received commendations and a prize for the publication of his doctoral thesis. With an impressive academic journey that includes a master’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree and a Professional Diploma in Statistics, Dr. Umukoro has consistently demonstrated his commitment to scholarship. He is an active member of various professional organizations including the Nigerian Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, and a host of others, showcasing his dedication to advancing the field of Psychology. He is a recipient of Award for the 2023 ARVA-Carnegie Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship. He recently completed his research fellow at the ARVA Center of Excellence in Notions of Identity at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

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. Before he immigrated to the United States in early 2001 for his graduate studies, he worked for Nigeria’s premier bank for several years. He is currently the Rolland Starn Endowed Chair of Agriculture at California State University, Stanislaus, California, where he oversees the institution’s agriculture program. Dr Odeh has most recently been a recipient of the Carnegie African Diaspora Program and recently completed a seven-month Fulbright Fellowship in Nigeria, where he was a mentor and advisor to many students and young faculty members. He sits on the advisory board of local schools and provides input to enhance learning experiences of students in and out of the classroom.

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. He is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Indiana, North Dakota, and Texas. He has a BSc Ed. In Secondary Education and an MBA, J.D., AND Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies from Indiana University. He obtained a Master of Advanced Legal Studies from Leiden University in the Netherlands as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar.

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