International Student Organization

Through fellowship groups, fun events, and mentoring opportunities, the members of Gordon's international community support one another and seek to grow together as a diverse family.

International students gather for monthly events like beach parties, bowling nights, and bake-offs, all organized by the ISO leaders.

Our Mission:
The International Student Organization (ISO) is a community that cares for the spiritual, practical, and emotional needs of the international students by creating opportunities for fellowship and intentional relationship building. ISO also celebrates our different cultures and enhances appreciation for them within the Gordon College community.

MEET THE CURRENT ISO LEADERS:

SAMUEL CHO

Student Director

Places lived: Korea/Philippines
Graduating class: Class of 2021
Major: Psychology and Sociology and Minor in Communication Arts
Contact: Samuel.Cho@gordon.edu

ISO is a family that helps and love one another. We respect every nation's culture and love to learn about every part of the world. We plan events and activities to help international students feel more comfortable, meet new people from different backgrounds, build new friendships, mentorship and have a smooth transition into Gordon. ISO not only handles logistics but it also creates a new home for every person who steps into the community. I personally felt welcomed and loved, and that is why I am having the best time of my life. This community understands and knows what international students are going through, and makes it our goal to relieve the burden and realize that college is not a quest but a journey. Each international student is already shining and precious, but we want to provide opportunities for each student’s light to reach every part of Gordon. It’s not us who make-up ISO, but it is the students who provide the warmth and intimacy that build and develop the new home.

EDMUND AGYEKUM

Student Life and Administration Coordinator

Places lived: Ghana
Graduating class: Class of 2023
Major: Engineering and Physics
Contact: Edmund.Agyekum@gordon.edu

To meet someone new is a good thing. To meet someone new from somewhere you've never been is a great thing. To meet someone new who comes from a place with different cultures, traditions, languages, and even food is just as important to opening your eyes to the world as any book or movie. Whether we like it or not, all 7 to 8 billion people on this planet are not from the same country, do not speak the same language and most importantly, each and every one is different from the other—both inside and out. To live with, respect and value everyone is not easy, but it is necessary and it is definitely worthwhile. As for me, I am the 0.00000001% of the population of this Earth that loves science and math!

BEA ROMERO SANTIAGO

Student Life and Administration Coordinator

Places lived: Venezuela / Brazil / Argentina / USA
Graduating class: Class of 2023
Major: Economics and International Affairs
Contact: Bea.RomeroSantiago@gordon.edu

It can be very hard to transition to a new environment, especially when moving to a different country. Every time I have moved, it has been hard, except when moving to college thanks to ISO. ISO is a community that embraces anyone and everyone from every culture and background possible. All the things that make us different and special are welcomes and we are encouraged to use it for the glory of God. ISO is not only a community of friends, it is a family you can rely on.

GIN YOONG OH

Worship Operations and Administration Coordinator

Places lived: Cambodia / Korea
Graduating class: Class of 2023
Major: Psychology
Contact: Aaron.Oh@gordon.edu

ISO makes me feel like I belong at Gordon and has given me a sense of having a family. It also helped me, who barely had any experience of studying abroad, to make a quick and easy transition into a new environment and a new country. We understand and appreciate each other's culture!

RAQUEL CRUZ AREVALO

Worship Operations and Administration Coordinator

Places Lived: El Salvador
Graduating class: Class of 2022
Major: Music / Business Administration / Christian Ministries
Contact: Raquel.CruzArevalo@gordon.edu

ISO is what heaven will look like/ looks like. Every nation, tongue, race coming together to live as Jesus’s followers on earth. ISO is a community of international students coming together as a family, a home away from home for the next couple of years. ISO helped me connect with others and find new friends that I know for sure I will be keeping a life-long friendship with, no matter the distance or time after we all graduate. It also has helped me to come to know and understand other cultures, other than mine. It is nice to know that as an international student, you don’t have to be on your own, you can rely on ISO as a family and know that we will support each other. Since we’ve all been there before, it makes the transition to a new culture and country easier through mentoring, advising, and emotional and spiritual support.

JESSIE YOU

Team and Public Communications Coordinator

Places lived: China / USA
Graduating class: Class of 2023
Major: English and Secondary Education
Contact: Jessie.You@gordon.edu

ISO is such a welcoming family to me as well as every other student. ISO is a place where we share our joy, happiness, sorrow and most importantly, we share the love of Christ. It provides an opportunity for students to grow and develop into the callings that God has for their lives. I am blessed that I get to serve others in this family and to see the changing of their lives through God’s hand. I hope that ISO can continue to be an influence to everyone through our testimonies.

ANDY NDAYISHIMA BUKURA

Design and Marketing Coordinator

Places Lived: South Africa / Burundi / France / Kenya / Uganda / Rwanda / USA
Graduating Class: Class of 2023
Major: International Affairs
Contact: A.NdayishimaBukura@gordon.edu

ISO is a place I can call my second home.

YEARIM LEE

Records and Logistics Coordinator

Places Lived: Pakistan / Korea
Graduating Class: Class of 2021
Major: Sociology and Minor in Youth Ministries
Contact: Yearim.Lee@gordon.edu

ISO has helped me to reclaim and be proud of my identity. It gives me confidence to love and serve others as I am. ISO is a platform where every culture and background come together in harmony to worship God and live out the Kingdom of God. Through this privilege of experiencing unity and acceptance, ISO prepares people to strive towards creating a beloved community amongst whatever environment they find themselves in.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL GROUPS ON CAMPUS

Multicultural Initiatives Office: MIO exists to care holistically for Gordon's diverse, multicultural student body.

ALANA (Asian, Latino, African, and Native Americans)
- ALANA supports international students by hosting events and promoting diversity awareness on campus.
Afro Hamwe
- A club that focuses on connecting the community of people from African descent on Gordon campus.

Third Culture Kids Group
This group specifically meets the needs of MK/TCKs through fellowship with one another and support for the transition back to life in America. Contact Ingrid Orellana (ingrid.orellana@gordon.edu), International Student Services Coordinator, for more information.

INFO VISIT APPLY

Connect with Gordon

Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984
978 927 2300 | admissions@gordon.edu | info@gordon.edu

Gordon College is one of the nation's premier Christian colleges and located just north of Boston. We offer students extraordinary access to leading-edge opportunities for intellectual, professional, and leadership development to address the increasingly complex challenges of a global society. Gordon stands apart from other outstanding institutions in New England by combining an exceptional education with an informed Christian faith.