University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Center for International Education

We are so of Rashida Parveen (December '25, Pakistan)!👏 Her perseverance, strength, and compassion for others is inspiring. We’re grateful to witness her incredible work ethic and the positive impact she makes.

UWM alum charts her own course in medical research Rashida Parveen researches Lyme disease at UWM while mentoring international students and inspiring girls in her rural Pakistani village.

Recent international graduates shared their favorite UWM memories with us and now we're feeling all of the feels!💛🖤

International graduate spotlight🎓✨: Congratulations to May ‘26 graduate Jessica from Ghana, who just earned her MBA!🇬🇭

💛”I arrived from Ghana knowing how to read a balance sheet, and I’m leaving knowing how to read the future hidden inside the data. That sounds dramatic, but it’s true. UWM took my finance and accounting background and handed me Python, predictive models, and the confidence to turn messy numbers into decisions people can actually act on.”

🖤”My first Wisconsin winter humbled me completely and taught me that I can adapt to anything. If I can walk to class in -20 windchill and still smile, I can handle whatever the working world throws at me.”

💛”My advice to future international students? Don’t shrink yourself to fit in. Your accent, your background, the way you see problems, that is your superpower in the classroom, not something to hide. Also, be patient with yourself. The first semester is hard, the homesickness is real, and you will doubt yourself. That’s normal, not a sign you don’t belong. Keep going and lean on your community. You absolutely belong here.”



UWM Lubar College of Business

International graduate spotlight🎓✨: Congratulations to May ‘26 graduate Maurice from Germany, who just earned his master’s degree in economics!🇩🇪

💛”I am most proud of completing my Master’s degree while also working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. It was sometimes challenging to balance coursework, teaching-related responsibilities and living abroad, but it was also very rewarding.”

🖤”I am also proud that I got involved in volunteering; I helped with community service activities such as Milwaukee Riverkeeper and The Gathering of Southeast WI, and I really enjoyed being able to give back to the local community.”

💛”Meeting so many people from different countries and backgrounds has been so memorable. It was very interesting to experience student life in the U.S. and learn from people with different perspectives. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere on campus and the small everyday moments that made UWM feel familiar over time.”



UWM College of Letters and Science

International graduate spotlight🎓✨: Congratulations to May ‘26 graduate Namokar from India, who just earned his master’s degree in information technology management from the UWM Lubar College of Business!🇮🇳

💛”I am proud that I was a part of UWM’s chess club. It pushed me to stay disciplined, think strategically and perform under pressure. The best part was the team environment!”

🖤”Through my coursework I’ve developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and gained more clarity about my interest in data and analytics.”

💛”On a personal level, I have become more independent and confident. Moving to a new environment and managing everything on my own really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I now trust myself more.”

We’re excited to feature more of our incredible recent international graduates over the next few weeks! 👏

UWM’s South Asia Director, Priyal Shah, is always on the move and cultivating relationships — she recently connected with partners in Mumbai and met future Panthers at the Edwise Education Fair. We’re grateful for her dedication across Bangladesh 🇧🇩 , India🇮🇳, Nepal🇳🇵, and Sri Lanka🇱🇰.

Congrats to all Panthers on finishing the semester strong, especially our May 2026 grads! We loved celebrating with you yesterday. 🎉🍕🎓

A Mother’s Day story that spans continents and generations. 🌎💛 See how one family's lives and careers were shaped by UWM, supported by our international community.

Choosing UWM: A full-circle Mother’s Day story Priya Premnath came from India to study in the U.S. and Canada, then landed a job at UWM. It’s the same university where her mother studied as an international student some four decades ago.

CIE’s Director of International Student & Scholar Services Kevin Beisser recently visited South Korea to meet with agent partners and future international Panthers. We love to see UWM’s strong ties more than 6,400 miles from campus!🇰🇷

Please join us for a tasty meal and facilitated dialogue for international students, scholars and immigrants!

Being far from home is more than just missing where you came from. It can mean isolation, culture shock, financial stress and trying to succeed in spaces that were not built with you in mind. Join us to share stories, speak honestly about challenges and brainstorm resources. We look forward to seeing you!

RSVP now: https://tinyurl.com/4e2jkf7d