Intercultural Office at Messiah College

The goal of the Friendship Family Program is to provide mutually beneficial friendships between Messiah College’s international, missionary, and “third culture” students, and families or individuals from the Messiah and surrounding Christian community. Friendship Families Serves as a special support system for international students at Messiah College who are here on an F-1 Student Visa. F-1 Visa Advising International Student Programs The purpose of International Student Programs at Messiah College is to understand and meet the unique needs of international, missionary, and third-culture students by providing services, programs, and guidance leading to personal success and meaningful engagement with the broader campus community. Kevin Villegas, Director To embrace the diversity of the body of Christ by creating and providing safe, transformative learning environments and opportunities for students to engage the world as reconcilers and servant leaders at home and abroad. J-Term and May-Term 3-week, 3-credit, faculty led courses Partnering with on-campus groups to ensure safe international travel opportunities (i.e., Agape Center service teams, Collaboratory site teams, Sports service teams, etc.) International Travel International Programs The purpose of International Programs at Messiah College is to provide students with safe, transformative short-term off-campus learning opportunities that encourage them to deepen their understanding of and appreciation for the world and their place in it. S. Faith Minnich, Director Dr. Erik Lindquist, Faculty Liaison Cross-Cultural Courses Education Abroad The purpose of Education Abroad at Messiah College is to provide students with quality, transformative, semester-long, cultural learning experiences and to assist them in navigating the complexities of becoming global citizens. Wendy Lippert, Director The Amigo mentoring program provides a peer mentorship opportunity to First Year/ Transfer underrepresented students. Amigo Mentoring Every year 10 incoming students are part of a four year program that helps them develop a deeper understanding of reconciliation and includes a first year seminar class, staff and faculty mentors, and leadership development. Martin Scholars Multicultural Programs The purpose of Multicultural Programs at Messiah College is to meet the unique needs of domestic underrepresented students to support them in achieving personal growth and success while providing educational programs, services and resources that promote racially, ethnically, culturally and globally diverse safe and transformative learning environments for all members of the college community. Tatiana Diaz, Director Student Organizations Student organizations whose missions are tied to the work of Multicultural Programs through their focus on racial, ethnic, and cultural celebration and reconciliation (i.e., African Student Union, ISA/Mu Kappa, etc.) Semester-Long Programs Over 40 approved off-campus programs Ranked 15th in the nation for sending students abroad! Intercultural Office at Messiah College One College Avenue Suite 3050 Mechanicsburg PA 17055 USA P: +717.796.1800 x2131 F: +717.691.2383 Intercultural@messiah.edu messiah.edu/intercultural Contact Information Gina Hale, Administrative Assistant for the Intercultural Office Sheryl Ezbiansky, Administrative Assistant for Multicultural Programs Kerrie Taylor, Graduate Assistant for Multicultural Programs Support Staff Shared Goals and Vision Collaboration Why? Collective Strength and Synergy Programming Remains Unchanged Encouraging Intercultural Dialogue and Connectedness What? Shared Focus on Intercultural Competencies