GPI - Joanne Farley, director of International Student Services and Study Abroad

By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor What is your academic and professional background? I was a transfer student to Framingham State. It was my third school, and I majored in biology and secondary education. I have a license to teach high school biology. It just wasn't for me. I realized, with all the transferring I went through, I wanted to work in higher ed so I could help students not do what I did, and hopefully, get it right the first time. I started in the undergraduate admissions office at Lasell University, and I was there for about three years, and then I had a crisis: “Do I want to do this forever? I'm not sure.” So, I found a job in a tech office, and I was only there for a couple months before I realized, “No, I want to go back to higher ed.” … That would take me to Curry College, and I had to start over as an administrative assistant in their career services office. And then that office, during the pandemic, joined up with international students and study abroad. That director taught me everything she knew. I was there for a little over five years. What brought you back to FSU? As a Framingham native and FSU alum, I feel like I can relate to the students here because I’ve literally been here. Microbio lab is hard? Been there. Have to run down to Maple Lot after class to drive to work? Been there. Transferred and trying to find your place on campus? Been there, too. But Framingham has always been home for me, so I’m happy to be back! When you were a student, did you study abroad? I did not. I don't know if it existed, but I did do an alternative spring break to New Orleans. That was great. We worked with Habitat for Humanity, and we were able to build the foundation of a house. We worked on two different houses. So my group was on the foundation, and then another group, that wasn't scared of heights, was doing more things on the roof. Why should students study abroad? Aside from the fact that it's just an amazing experience to see the world, it also helps in your later life. Employers want to see that you studied abroad because it gives you more of a cultural competency, as well as more problem-solving skills, and more independence, because, say, if something happens here - you know, something's wrong with your dorm, you might go to ResLife and you say, “Hey, you know there's something wrong here,” or you might have to have your parents or your guardians, whoever is in charge, call in and help. But if you're in Italy, in the middle of the country, and something goes wrong, you need to figure it out on your own. There's the time difference back home, they're not going to be able to help you, and you just have to up your problem solving and your communication, to really level yourself up. Are there any misconceptions about studying abroad? I think the biggest misconception is people think, “Maybe I won't be able to get credit for my classes,” or “it's super expensive.” So the study-abroad programs we have here are pretty affordable. We try to keep them around $10,000 for the tuition and fees, and sometimes, that includes meals, too, and your financial aid is going to go with you. It's not something you have to pay $10,000 out of pocket. You will have help along the way from your financial aid, and you know, not paying us at the same time. What are your hobbies? My favorite thing to do besides travel, because obviously, as a study-abroad, international student person, I do travel, but I also like to bake. Banana bread, I would say, is one of my specialties. Where have you traveled to? I have traveled to Australia, Spain, Poland, Iceland, Ireland, and Italy. And then this summer will be Denmark and Scotland. They were all great. So Australia, Spain, and Poland were all through World Youth Day, which was a program through the Catholic Church. And so I went with a bunch of people from my church, and the Pope was there, and we all got to meet each other and kind of celebrate each other and realize that even though we're from different places, we have something in common. So that was really cool. And then the others were traveling for pleasure with my husband. What advice do you have for students? My advice is always just get involved, because that's how you're going to make friends, and that's how you're going to find your place on campus. So even if going abroad isn't for you, as long as you're involved in a club or an activity, or just you have friends in your dorm - just go out there and do something!