Pictured above: Nikki Mattson (right, standing) along with IECP students and PSU students interested in the Global Engagement Community.
When IECP students first arrive in the State College, one of the first things they need to figure out is housing. Many students would like to live on campus but don’t know where to begin. As a result, many students live off-campus in apartments, which might not enable much English practice or cultural immersion.
This issue has been a concern for Associate Teaching Professor Nikki Mattson for years. Students often approach her to ask advice on how to live on campus. However, she was not always satisfied with the options available. Because of this, it has been a dream of Mattson’s to develop an international living community at Penn State, which is something that can be found on many other U.S. campuses, often called international houses.
Pictured above: current IECP student Yeeji Seo promoting the opening of the Global Engagement Community in Beaver Hall starting Fall 2019.
Finally, Mattson is making her dream reality. Along with EPPIC and the Penn State housing office and the support of Global Programs, she has worked tirelessly to create Penn State’s first ever Global Engagement Community. This community will allow international students (including IECP students) and domestic students to live together in Beaver Hall while they share social, cultural and learning opportunities. The community will open officially in Fall 2019 but students can sign up now. Applications are live on Penn State’s housing website under special living options, under Global Engagement Community link, or just click here.
You can read more about this in the Collegian newspaper’s article, Global Engagement Community aims to help students experience new cultures, which features an interview with IECP student Miriam Risco.
Congratulations Nikki! We appreciate all your service to the IECP and Penn State’s growing global community!