UMD International Club provides positive experiences on diversity
Students listen to International Club Advisor Emily Drevlow at the annual welcome dinner, which took place in Griggs Center. Photo by Trinh Tran
The UMD International Club held its annual Welcome Dinner on Friday, Sept. 14. The club announced upcoming events and welcomed incoming and returning students, both international and domestic.
According to BulldogLink, International Club is a student organization that provides all students of the UMD and Duluth community the opportunity to better understand different cultures.
Club advisor Emily Drevlow, who works in the office of diversity and inclusion as coordinator for International Student Services, said that it is the club’s mission “to help both international students and American students make friends.”
“The club is all about getting people to learn more about other cultures and welcome people from other countries to UMD,” Drevlow said.
Drevlow stated that this will be her second year advising International Club.
“It’s a really fun way to interact with students outside of the day-to-day immigration advising that I do for international students,” Drevlow said. “It’s more relational and it’s fun to see the relationships that come out of the club.”
International Club officers left to right. Andrea (Andie) Molano, Anthony Avalos, Vamsi Garghi, Michelle Quach, and Alvaro Velasquez. Photo by Trinh Tran
UMD senior Michelle Quach, who is the current president of International Club, said the club is a meeting point for both us born (domestic) and international students to learn more about each other and their different cultures.
“It can feel like a home where all your friends will end up being,” Quach said. “[International Club] is where you make your connections within campus and within UMD. Once you get comfortable somewhere, you don’t really want to move.”
This is Quach’s second year being on the clubs executive board. According to Quach, everyone is welcome to join the club.
UMD Students Karla Garcia and Tien Nguyen. Photo by Trinh Tran
“Honestly, the more diversity the better the club,” Quach said.
“It’s a great club and it’s a great way to make connections,” Drevlow said.
The new International Club logo designed by Manjul Sharma, Vivian Phan, and Alvaro Velasquez was presented at the welcome dinner Friday, Sept. 14. Photo courtesy of Michelle Quach
Drevlow stated that she thinks UMD is doing pretty well when it comes to international students and thinks most have a pretty positive experience.
“There’s definitely additional struggles that come with studying in another country, another culture, another language, but that's what our office helps with,” Drevlow said. “There’s always things that could be improved, but overall I feel like we try our best to support students as best we can.”
According to Quach, everyone in International Club is extremely friendly and loves welcoming new people.
“I like to think that in the process of learning about other people’s cultures you learn more about your own,” Quach said.
Check out the International Club’s Facebook page for more information and upcoming events.