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A mainstay of BC international education takes her leave
When Adrienne Nussbaum started working at Boston College as an international student advisor, she remembers Kevin Duffy, then the vice president of student affairs, asking if she could make a two-year commitment.
That was 38 years ago. In the time since, Nussbaum has helped thousands of international students call Boston College home and has overseen BC’s transformation into a premier destination for students from abroad, most recently in her role as associate dean and director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Now transitioning into retirement, Nussbaum sees her career at BC as the job she had imagined for herself growing up—or might have imagined, if she had known about the field of international higher education.
Studying languages throughout high school, Nussbaum always planned on studying abroad in Paris in college. And as a French and psychology double major at Tufts University, she did.
“I loved my study-abroad program,” said Nussbaum. “When I graduated college, I really thought I was going to run a study-abroad program. It never occurred to me that there were international students coming to the United States.”
But as she applied for jobs—basically anything with the word “international” in the description—Nussbaum found a job in the International Office at Harvard University and discovered the growing field of international higher education. While working at Harvard, Nussbaum also earned her master’s degree in intercultural relations and international higher education from Lesley University. After graduating, she was recruited to BC for the international advisor position, and the two-year commitment became a career-long home.
Along the way, a lot changed.
Adrienne Nussbaum (Photos by Caitlin Cunningham)
Today, the Office of International Students and Scholars serves more than 2,600 students and scholars with staff and peer advising, intercultural programming, academic support, and more. When Nussbaum started, the office served closer to 300 students and scholars.
“It was just me and a part-time assistant working on the ground level of McElroy Commons as part of Student Affairs, in the Office of the Dean for Student Development,” recalled Nussbaum.
Still, she stayed.
“I was able to grow in my position, and I also found such a community here of good-hearted, good-valued, nice people. Men and women for others really resonated.”
Among Nussbaum’s early goals was increasing global engagement on campus. Although it wasn’t strictly part of her job description, as she pointed out, no one else was doing it. So she brought International Education Week (IEW), a federal initiative to celebrate international education, to BC. Now, IEW has grown so popular at BC that it’s become multiple weeks of celebration and programming, including foreign films, international cuisine pop-ups, speakers, and other activities, noted Nussbaum.
“IEW has grown and flourished. We can’t do it in one week anymore because we usually have around 40 programs, open to the whole University.”
Today, the Office of International Students and Scholars serves more than 2,600 students and scholars with staff and peer advising, intercultural programming, academic support, and more. When Nussbaum started, the office served closer to 300 students and scholars.
And global engagement? It has its own office now, headed by Vice Provost for Global Engagement James F. Keenan, S.J.
“This was my dream for years,” said Nussbaum. “The offices of Global Engagement, International Students and Scholars, and Global Education finally share one house and can centralize events and support for the international and campus community. I’m so happy I got to see that happen.”
Nussbaum has been a model of wisdom and hospitality, particularly in welcoming the thousands of students, administrators, faculty, and staff who came to BC from overseas, said Fr. Keenan.
“She became a stable resource for those who needed to make the right decisions about their visa applications and renewals. Above all, by her insight, kindness, and enduring sense of humor, she was for them the first American professional they met as they settled into life here and the one they most remembered when they returned home.”
“Adrienne’s dedication to Boston College’s international community was unmatched,” said Executive Director for Global Engagement Bryan Fleming. “Having worked with her for decades in a variety of ways, I saw firsthand the expertise and passion she poured into her work. While we’re sad to see her go, we’re also incredibly excited for her next chapter.”
As she considers what comes next, traveling is a given for Nussbaum, with a trip already planned for the spring. After 38 years working with international students, she can go to nearly any country and meet someone she knows.
“I got into this field because I love working with international students. It just makes me really happy. They’re the number one part of my work that brought me joy, and now I’ve met people from all over the world who I’m still in touch with.”
It’s because of that joy that Nussbaum has decided to continue teaching two first-year topic seminars dedicated to helping international students adjust to BC.
“You don’t just leave a place after 38 years,” Nussbaum said. “I’m going to continue doing the things that bring me joy, like teaching. And I’m going to miss the camaraderie and community at Boston College, but I’m excited to continue in friend mode.”