At the College of Professional Studies, supporting international students goes far beyond academics, it’s about fostering belonging, building confidence, and creating a home away from home.
In this Q&A, we sit down with international student advisor, Caleb Schwarz, from the English Language Institute whose passion for global education and student connection shines through every airport pickup, advising session, and community outing.
Read on to discover how Schwarz is helping students turn Syracuse into a second home and shaping futures one connection at a time.
What’s your current role and what does it involve?
I am an international student advisor with the English Language Institute here at the College of Professional Studies. In that role, I provide support for students in various areas as they learn to adapt to life in the United States.
For example, I am currently undergoing training as a Designated School Official (DSO) for the Institute, which means I work with students on visa issuance and compliance. While I am responsible for several backend administrative tasks, my real passion comes from creating long-lasting, meaningful connections with students. Beyond providing cultural orientation and academic advising for them, I seek opportunities for students to get involved in the community and on campus in hopes that one day they will think of Syracuse as a “home away from home.”
How long have you been with the College, and what’s your journey been like?
I’ve been at the College of Professional Studies since late March of 2025.
My colleagues in the English Language Institute and I have been able to bond over our shared passion for global education and our commitment to making memorable experiences for the students we serve. Programming for new employees coordinated by college leadership has made it easy for me to meet my colleagues in other departments and collaborate on initiatives that create opportunities for students and the College at large. I look forward to what I hope will be a long and rewarding journey here at the College of Professional Studies.
In one sentence, how would you describe your department’s mission?
From my perspective, our mission is to provide a space where students feel comfortable to be themselves, explore their interests, and build their confidence in English to prepare them for a better, brighter future in the world.
Can you share a student interaction that left a lasting impact on you?
One of my favorite parts of the job is picking international students up from the airport when they arrive for their English studies. The first student I picked up by myself was a very memorable experience for me. It was for a student in the International Year One program, a program where students take classes using a hybrid model for their first 30 credit hours from partner institutions and then transition onto main campus for their second academic year.
While taking the student to the dorm, we talked about his life up to that point and how excited he was to be in the United States to study. During his trip to the U.S., he bought jellybeans based on the Harry Potter series with wacky flavors to try. He offered me one and we laughed when I discovered the jellybean I had chosen was rotten-egg-flavored. I remember still how grateful this student was to see a familiar face pick him up at the airport.
Airport pickups are a way for me to welcome the students. Time permitting, I usually take them to department and grocery stores to buy apartment essentials and food after their long flights. It’s time to connect with them and show them that they are not alone during their time with us. They are now a part of the ELI family!
How does your team help students succeed in the real world?
Our student population is incredibly diverse, but there is one thing that all our students have in common—a desire to improve their English.
In today’s world, English is increasingly more important every day. For community members who already live here in Syracuse, they know this all too well. Many find it difficult to carry out normal daily tasks like going to the grocery store or going to the bank without a good foundation in English. We help our students be able to do things that you may think of as routine or ordinary, but for them, the difference means everything.
Just the other day, in fact, I heard a story about one of our students who has lived in the Syracuse community for some time now and was excited that he was able to order coffee in English by himself with confidence thanks to our classes. What our students learn in the classroom truly does go beyond the classroom.
In what ways does your team go above and beyond to serve your students?
I am incredibly lucky to work with a team of caring and highly motivated individuals. It has been a pleasure to get to know them in both a professional and personal capacity.
My colleagues are always looking for ways to do better by our students and make the time they spend with us special. They take the time to get to know each student personally and volunteer their time and money for programming and excursions. It has been extremely refreshing to be able to work somewhere where student interests are taken as a priority and innovation is valued.
My supervisor Kelsey Gillette has also been a great support for me as I transition. Her dedication and commitment to the ELI and our students is truly inspiring and I am extremely grateful to her for being there for me so that I can be there for the students.
What advice would you offer to prospective or current students?
Don’t let your fears get in the way of your own success.
It can feel extremely isolating, and you can feel embarrassed when practicing your English—that’s normal. If you want to improve though, the only way is by practicing. This means putting your ego aside and not being afraid to make mistakes along the way. Don’t forget that what you’re doing is not easy and give yourself grace when things don’t go the way you planned. You can do difficult things.
From your experience, what makes the College of Professional Studies stand out as a leading environment for teaching and learning?
I think that the best part of working at the College of Professional Studies is the incredible team that is here. The people I work with are extremely passionate about what they do and want to create opportunities for non-traditional students to thrive and make a better life for themselves.
As a first-generation college graduate, I understand how important a good education is and the impact it can have on a person’s life. I am proud and inspired to find myself among a group of such dedicated and compassionate individuals and I hope to be doing this kind of work for many years to come.
Learn more about the English Language Institute at eli.syr.edu.
