Westcliff University

Lead the Department of International Affairs to meet strategic objectives at the institutional level while also managing the day-to-day operations with the primary goals of retention and student satisfaction. Identify, facilitate, and pursue cross-departmental collaboration opportunities and sustain a comprehensive, up-to-date working knowledge of international student regulations and guidance and translate into actionable steps for institutional leaders.

Associate Director of International Affairs

Responsible for preparing course materials and teaching classes to undergraduate students via on-campus, online, and hybrid modalities. Subjects taught include Introduction to Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Human Development.

Assistant Professor

As the International Affairs Manager I lead the day-to-day operations of the International Affairs Department with a focus on regulatory compliance, staff support, and student engagement. Provide relevant, accurate guidance to prospective and current international students and acts as a resource to international advisors to support their students. Proactively identify international student issues based on SEVP guidance and memos as well as current events related to international student regulations. Conduct timely outreach through multiple channels as needed, and troubleshoot and/or provide resources to help international students resolve the issue(s) to maintain active student status. Provide support to all advisors of the department, collaborate with departmental leadership, and work cross-departmentally with staff and faculty outside the department. Proactively and enthusiastically contribute to the desired university culture of inclusion, supportiveness, and championing success, and the position provides support to the Dean of Student Affairs with projects, student support, and advising matters as assigned.

International Affairs Manager, DSO

Ask A DSO

The team of professional Designated School Officials (DSOs) at Ask a DSO serve current & prospective international students that have needs beyond what their university is able to provide. This company was born out of my extensive experience working with international students and seeing firsthand the complex nature of F-1 regulations, as well as how quickly these regulations or the guidance that surround them can change. Whatever your situation as an international student, Ask A DSO can provide helpful information and guidance. We'd love to hear from you! info@askadso.com or askadso.com

Founder & CEO

Varsity Tutors, a Nerdy Company

I worked with families of all academic backgrounds, from those with students struggling to high achievers looking for that extra boost to maintain their GPA or get into their school of choice. Assist families in the onboarding process and throughout their time with Varsity Tutors. Responsible for managing and maintaining family accounts and providing phone and email support for families and tutors.

City Wide Director of Tutoring

ICDC College - Corporate Office

Work with faculty, instructors & students to provide the best possible learning environment in each of our classrooms. Lead ongoing faculty training, monitor live classes, and assist in the supervision, support, and evaluation of online faculty for teaching effectiveness and compliance with campus policy.

Associate Department Chair, Homeland Security & Investigations

Lead the Homeland Security Training team in the planning, organization and implementation of student hands-on training in order to equip students with the training and licenses necessary to gain employment in their state of residence.

Homeland Security Training Supervisor

Helping International Students Live Their American Dream

I help international students live their American Dream by providing on-demand guidance, consulting, and online education on the issues that matter most- getting a U.S. visa, working in the United States, options for staying in the U.S. beyond graduation, and much more.

Learn more at www.askadso.com/services or shoot me a DM.

Dissertation Update!

Just got my license agreement to use my preferred survey instrument for data collection.

Another step in the journey of a thousand.

This is a big one.

There’s still a long way to go.

But as Morpheus said:

I feel truthfully unafraid, not because of the path that lies before me, but because of the path that lies behind me.

Josh Schoonover

Shoot your shot.

Apply for the job.

Move to a different country.

The only one who has to believe in you… is you.

I took my first Psychology course in 2003.

Two decades later, I get to conduct my first research study. 

There’s a lot of work to be done, but this is a really cool moment for me.

I’d say that I can’t wait to share the results with everyone, but truth be told, I’m going to enjoy this process.

(Yes, I’m a nerd. Now you know.)

20 years ago I never would’ve thought that I’d be doing this today.

But I kept moving, hit setbacks, got low, then picked myself up and kept moving again.

Wherever you are in your path, keep going.

How to get a U.S. student visa:

1. Apply to a U.S. school
2. Get accepted to a U.S. school
3. Schedule a visa interview with the U.S. embassy
4. Pass the visa interview
5. Plan your start date

People make it a lot more complicated but that’s basically it.

5 simple steps to change your life.

I'm very blessed.

I get to help international students from all over the world.

I get to learn as an entrepreneur every day.

And I get to work for a university that truly values staff growth & development. 

How can I be so sure?

Because, not only were they completely understanding when I launched askadso.com...

They also rewarded my contributions and years of service by recently promoting me to Director of International Affairs and Principal Designated Official (PDSO).

I couldn't be more excited.

I get to continue growing and developing in the university setting.

And continue exploring ways to help international students in the private market as well.

I am truly blessed.

And make no mistake...

I'm just getting started. 

Could you wait 23 years for your dream to come true? 

My Aunt Sue & Uncle Roger did. 

This past weekend, I visited them in Texas and had the pleasure of seeing their home, which they bought in *1998* but wasn't finished until 2021!

Despite facing obstacles like the dot-com bubble and the Great Recession, they persevered. 

Uncle Roger spent over a decade planning the house, even driving up on weekends to clear paths and visualize each room. 

After several rounds of crushing doubt, including one brief period where they agreed to finically sell the property, they went for it and finally started building. 

Their faithfulness and courage were evident as I walked through their stunning home. 

These qualities also impress me about international students I work with. 

Leaving home to start anew takes courage, and I admire their determination. 

Whether it took you years to get here or not, I hope your journey is as rewarding as my aunt and uncle's. 

If you need help, I'm here for you. Check out my comment below for info on how I can help.

Also, stay tuned for my own project, 'dream home' for international students. 

Can't wait to share it with you all!

Every international student I’ve worked with has always had the same first step toward actually getting to the U.S.

Before they were accepted to a U.S. school…

Before they knew how to get a student visa…

Before they had any clue what an I-20 was…

They were able to picture themselves in the U.S.

In order to live big, you need to dream big.

🌏 Sunday Funday Int’l Student Fact 🌍

Although not talked about as often as other countries, Canada sends the 4th most international students to the U.S.

Source: https://lnkd.in/gnZ-XaD3

The best Fridays are when you’ve cranked through all you weekly “have-to’s” and leave all day for the “get-to’s.”

Whatever’s on your plate today.

Make it a Finish Strong Friday 💪

How International Students Can Work Legally in the U.S.

1. On-campus Employment
Book store, cafeteria, teacher aide, etc., many of these positions are 'on-campus' eligible for international students to start at any time.

2. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Many schools (but not all) offer CPT work authorization to students so long as the employment is related to their program of study. 

3. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Similar to CPT above, but this work authorization is approved directly by the U.S. Customs & Immigration Services (USCIS) and is typically done after graduation. 

4. Economic Hardship Authorization
If certain conditions are met, international students may qualify for 12 months of work authorization after applying with USCIS. These positions do *not* need to be related to the student's program of study.

Happy job hunting!

You can coast through your Friday. 

Or you can have a Finish Strong Friday.

The choice is up to you.

But before you decide, remember the wise words of Denis Waitley:

‘Of all the judgments we make through life, none are more important than the estimate we place on ourselves according to our own internal standards.’

Our own internal standards.

That’s the key.

What standards do we hold ourselves to?

If you’re reading this, we’re probably in the same page.

Let’s go get it 💪

The world’s gone a little crazy since 2020.

Ok, a lot crazy.

Unfortunately, students continue to be disproportionately impacted.

Colleges have shifted to remote learning again.

(Because that worked sooo well last time 🙄)

Student support services aren’t available for walk-ins.

Not at every school.

But at too damn many.

Leaving students to the wind.

I can’t help with everything.

But for international students, I can help a lot.

Here are 4 ways:

1. I offer a complete training, with step-by-step guidance, on international student options after graduation. Find it here: https://lnkd.in/gJ-g39BQ

2. Sign up for my weekly newsletter dedicated to international student tips, strategies, and breaking news. It’s free. https://lnkd.in/gtbhxHKv

3. Dive right in and check out my Services page to learn how we can work with each other 1:1 https://lnkd.in/gDfwYari

4. Still not sure? Schedule a free 15-minute call with me here: https://lnkd.in/gnHe-EKc

We can win together 💪

courses.askadso.com • 1 min read

The Complete Post-Graduation Masterclass Series

USCIS recently tweeted a warning about scammers targeting international students.

A common trait among scammers is that they apply aggressive, time-urgent pressure. 

They don’t want you thinking about what they’re asking.

And they want the money NOW.

If you think you might be talking to a scammer, consider the following:

-Is this someone you actually know?
Talking to someone online a couple times is NOT the same as actually knowing them.
-Is there any way you can confirm the information that they’re saying? 
Note that scammers sometimes have incomplete information, so just because they know your name and number does not mean they are legitimate.
-Is there a way for you to contact them?
Legitimate companies will have a way for you to contact them- either by phone, their company website, etc. A scammer will insist that you give them your credit card information right away, or alternatively they’ll give you complex instructions about buying a gift card and mailing it to a specific address. Which, as you can tell now just reading this, is not a normal thing for a company to request.

If you are able to figure out that you’re talking to a scammer, DO NOT engage with them, you don’t even have to stay on the call or reply to their email.

Hang up.

Don’t reply to the email.

Just ignore them.

You can also choose to file a report to help prevent it from happening to someone else.

Finally, if you’re unsure if you’re getting scammed, reach out to someone you trust.

A friend or family member.

The Desigated School Official (DSO) at your college or university.

You can even ask me- DM me and explain the situation and I’d be more than happy to give you some insight.

Because the time where you’re studying in the U.S. should be a wonderful experience.

This isn’t a time to get scammed.

This is a time to Live Your American Dream.

My 4 year old had swim lessons this morning.

I did not go well.

She cried the moment she got in the water.

She wouldn’t listen to her teacher.

She couldn’t settle down.

I tried everything- supporting, bargaining, and after a while maybe even a little tough love.

Finally, with about 6 minutes left in the lesson, she got herself together and did the final few drills.

As she got out of the pool and walked over to me, I could see by the look on her face that she wasn’t sure how her rough performance would be received.

She got to me. I wrapped her in her towel. I got down on one knee.

And told her that she was so tough to stick it out to the end.

And how proud I was of her.

And how brave she was.

You see, the stories we tell ourselves matter.

As a parent, I get to teach my children the stories that they’ll tell themselves.

If I had scolded her for not listening at the beginning of the lesson she would’ve carried that into next week. She’d have a story in her head about how bad she is in swim lessons.

But now she’s encouraged, she’s telling Mommy about how good she did.

I’m not perfect at the stories I tell. I’m certainly guilty of telling myself poor stories.

So this is my reminder to myself today.

Hopefully it’s a good reminder for you too.

I once read an article about a major Hollywood star who hadn’t been on a date in several years.

Not by choice.

But because, during that entire period, not a single person had asked her out.

I was floored.

This person was an A-list star, conventionally beautiful, involved in charity work, the whole package.

How could she go so long without a single date offer?

But then I realized… many of us do this is our own lives.

We have the beautiful dream, the whole package, yet we won’t put ourselves out there to chase it.

To take that chance.

To risk rejection.

Maybe, instead, it’s time to do what the starlette suggested:

‘Someone needs to step up.’

So step up.

I stare up at the sky every day.

Some people say it helps them realize how small their problems are in the grand scheme of things.

And there’s truth to that.

But to me it reminds me how big the world of possibility is out there.

It’s easy to get lost in the same routines, same streets, same sights.

One look to the sky, one real look, and you remember that this world can be as big as you want it to be.

2018 was the toughest year of my life.

I had a major injury 3 weeks after my 2nd baby was born. My poor wife had to care for both of us, plus our 5 year old.

I’m sad to say I didn’t handle that time very well.

But ultimately, it led to a Come to Jesus moment.

I had to decide whether I was going to keep spiraling, or if I was gonna face down all the challenges and obstacles in front of me and get my life back on track.

So I quit drinking.

I lost 30 pounds.

I went back to school.

And a hundred other little things that made me who I am today.

Listen, I’m not special. A thousand people more successful than me will tell you the same thing, probably in a more catchy way.

That’s fine- the message is that important. Wherever you hear it or whoever you hear it from, my prayer for you is that it gives you some hope today.

🌏 Sunday Funday Int’l Student Fact 🌍

Sub-Saharan Africa was the region with the greatest growth in U.S. international student enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year.

Source: https://lnkd.in/gmwVivby

Jocko Willink tells a story about Navy SEAL training.

They’ll have a drill where they have to paddle out into massive, freezing San Diego waves.

And someone will mutter ‘this is gonna suck.’

And then they. Do it. Anyways.

We can’t all be Navy SEALs.

But we can all do hard things.

Even (and especially) if it’s gonna suck.

Have a great Finish Strong Friday everyone.

🌏 Sunday Funday Int’l Student Fact 🌍

The top 3 programs of study for international students in 2032-2023 were 1) Math and computer science (23%), 2) 
Engineering (18%), and 3) Business and management (15%).

Source: https://lnkd.in/gzrpgizU

Taplio

Josh Schoonover's Linkedin Analytics

Josh Schoonover

What is Josh talking about?

Josh Schoonover's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Taplio

.css-1jgreyo{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39,43,72,1) 0%, rgba(33,47,183,1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Josh Schoonover's Linkedin Analytics

Josh Schoonover

What is Josh talking about?

Josh Schoonover's Best Posts .css-qqfgvy{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);}(last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Josh Schoonover's Linkedin Analytics

Josh Schoonover's Best Posts (last 30 days)