Global Scholars, Local Struggles: Navigating the Social Work Doctoral Journey as International Students

Moderator(s)

Erick da Luz Scherf, MSW (he/him/his)

Ph.D. Candidate
The University of Alabama, School of Social Work

Panelist(s)

Joana Okine, MPhil (she/her/hers)

Ph.D. Candidate
The University of Alabama
Mitra Naseh, PhD

Assistant Professor
Washington University in St. Louis
Mohit Prodhan, MSW (he/him/his)

Doctoral Candidate
Stephen F. Austin State University (The University of Texas System)
Sangwon Lee, PhD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
University of Oklahoma

This panel will explore the unique challenges faced by international students in U.S. social work doctoral programs. Panelists will discuss navigating visa restrictions, cultural adaptation, financial pressures, and systemic inequities. The session aims to foster dialogue, share strategies for resilience, and advocate for institutional support to promote equity and inclusion.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Challenges Unique to International Social Work PhD Students: Participants will gain an understanding of the systemic barriers, including visa restrictions, credential recognition, financial pressures, and exclusionary hiring practices, faced by international students in U.S. social work doctoral programs.
Intersections of Immigration Policy and Social Work Education: Participants will learn how restrictive immigration policies and anti-immigrant sentiment impact professional and academic opportunities in the social work field.
Lived Experiences and Strategies for Resilience: Attendees will be exposed to first-hand accounts from current and former international students, including strategies to navigate cultural adaptation, institutional inequities, and career barriers.