Colorado Mesa University has managed to maintain a growing population of international students. Currently, there are 30 international students at CMU, three of whom are part of the International Student Exchange Program, and six are new students beginning their first semester.
CMU’s international student population encompasses students from 18 different countries, and five different continents. Currently, the majority of the international students come from Latin and South American countries.
Originally from Brazil, freshman Thomas Nielson has not only studied in the United States, but Mexico as well.
“I spent 11 years in Aguascalientes, Mexico, but I’ve always wanted to study in the U.S.,” Nielson said.
Nielson got his wish seven months ago, when he moved to Parker for a foreign exchange program. During his time at Parker, Nielson heard about CMU. He found the application process to be very easy.
“The admissions staff was awesome and they helped me out a lot. Whenever I had a question I just called them and they helped me out right away,” Nielson said.
Before the fall semester begins, each new international student goes through an orientation where they are able to meet other international students.
Nielson and junior Andres Hernandez both think that meeting other international students has been beneficial.
“I’ve got to meet the other international students, and it’s easier to make friends that way,” Nielson said.
Hernandez, a mechanical engineering major from Venezuela started his third year at CMU and has also enjoyed meeting the other international students.
“You relate to a lot of the same stuff,” he said. “It’s good to have someone to share other thoughts with.”
As part of the men’s tennis team, Hernandez has had the opportunity to travel all across the country, and has also played tennis in several different countries in South America.
Hernandez has spent the past four years in the United States, and had always wanted to go to college in the states.
“It was a long process trying to find a school, but CMU offered both tennis and mechanical engineering,” he said.
Hernandez said he misses his family and friends back in Venezuela as well as home cooked meals, but likes all the responsibility and freedom he has at CMU. Coming from a large city in Venezuela, Hernandez has had to adjust to life in Colorado, where there’s a lot less people, and the weather is a lot colder.
“The first time I saw snow I was a little kid,” he said. “I love winter.”
Nielson and Hernandez both credit International Admissions Coordinator Annie Gingerich for help with all of their questions. Gingerich began working as the counselor for international students in July 2010.
Gingerich, who has a Master’s degree in both English and Spanish, has been teaching ESL since 2004. In 2007, she spent two years with her husband in Honduras during her time in the Peace Corps before working at CMU.
Gingerich helps international students through the admissions process, advises new and current students, and makes sure that each student maintains their immigration status.
“I think it’s even more important to have a strong international population at CMU as we continue to grow,” Gingerich said. “International students bring a much needed diversity to the classroom as well as to student life.”
Not only do international students bring diversity to CMU, but so do the participants to the National Student Exchange program, which allows students to attend another college or university for either a semester or an entire academic year.
This year, 11 students have left CMU to attend another school. CMU students can be found in Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, California, New York, Guam and Hawaii. CMU is also expecting to gain four students from across the country for this academic year. For more information on the NSE program, visit www.coloradomesa.edu/nse/index.html or contact Jared Meier at 248-1613.

acastro@mavs.coloradomesa.edu