Diving into college as an international student can be intimidating. At Asbury, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to grow in where you feel celebrated and seen. Working with the Office of the President, the Office of Intercultural Affairs led by the Associate Vice President for Intercultural Affairs & Spiritual Development oversees the Office of Intercultural Life.
Asbury’s Office of Intercultural Life is committed to serving and equipping you to engage in your own culture, and others around you, through the lens of a Biblical worldview. Developing awareness, understanding, respect and appreciation for cultural diversity is a necessity in our globalized society, which is why our Office of Intercultural Life offers a variety of cultural programs that can impact your perspective and empathy for others.
Rev. Juan Gonzalez, M.A.Coordinator of Intercultural LifeCoordinator for International, Third Culture and US Ethnic Minority students
Ariadna ZegarraOffice Intern
859-858-5000
admissions@asbury.edu
Intercultural students are encouraged to reach out to our office for mentoring support. If you are in need of support, one of our team members would love to connect with you over coffee.
All intercultural students are invited to this monthly event. The purpose is for students to connect with peers who can relate to their experience, share their personal stories, and enjoy different ethnic cuisines for dinner.
Are you curious about different cultures? Through Intercultural programs and events, the Office of Intercultural Life seeks to showcase different parts of the world and give you opportunities to learn about different cultures, perspectives and languages. These events and activities allow for meaningful dialogues, exchanges of ideas, and cross-cultural friendships. We are committed to preparing you and our campus community to engage and understand the diverse cultures that make up the world we live in today.
The AU student body is invited to join us for the annual Latino festival in the heart of downtown Lexington. This provides an opportunity for students to experience authentic Hispanic and Latino culture. This festival is a celebration, filled with music, dance performances, crafts, and food. There is no cost for students and transportation is provided.
Weekly Spanish Lunches provide a great opportunity to meet people, practice your Spanish skills, and enjoy conversations about Spanish food, clothes, music, and films.
Our annual Embrace Conference is organized and sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Affairs and focuses on racial reconciliation and justice through a Wesleyan theological understanding. This is an institutional initiative in partnership with the Office of Intercultural Life and Student Intercultural Programs for students and faculty alike to develop more cultural understanding. We have been blessed to have many great speakers in our midst such as Dr. Christina Edmondson, author of Faithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change, Bishop Leonard Fairley, author of Who Shall Hear My Voice, Dr. Soon Chan-Rah, author of Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times, Dr. Michael Emerson, author of Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America, Bishop Claude Alexander and Dr. Mac Pier, co-authors of Required: God’s Call to Justice, Mercy, and Humility to Overcome Racial Division. Hospitality, mutuality, redemptive social action, and grace-filled reconciliation are among the themes that are discussed at length.
REGISTER
The Office of Intercultural Life hosts an Intercultural New Student Orientation (INSO) program in the fall for incoming Intercultural Students (i.e. international, third-culture, and U.S. ethnic minority students). This events purpose is to:
This program will be held prior to the start of our standard, broader new student orientation program. Explore the 2024 Schedule
Be sure to register so we can plan for your participation. Our staff is excited to begin this journey with you!
This event allows the AU student body to celebrate the Lunar New Year as many do in other Asian countries.
During the month of February, our student body is invited to join us for an immersive educational experience at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center celebrating Black culture. There is no cost for students and transportation is provided.
The Festival of Nations is an event created to raise cultural awareness and celebrate the cultural diversity of our unique campus community. This year’s festival features cultural booths, musical performances, traditional dance, food sampling, and vendors.
There are several ways that the Office of Intercultural Life provides support for international students during school breaks. International students have an opportunity to explore and shop at Jungle Jim’s International market and enjoy Greek food for lunch.
If you are a Third-culture, African-American, Asian-American/Pacific-Islander, American-Indian/Alaskan-Native, or Latina/o-American student, you enrich the culture of our campus. At Asbury, we’re committed to embracing your unique cultural background and experiences through alliances and leadership opportunities that help you feel a sense of belonging on campus.
Are you interested in representing other international students like you? Ten to twelve students are selected to serve one-year renewable terms to assist the Office of Intercultural Life in offering cultural programs. The intercultural reps lead monthly alliance events that provide group support for intercultural students. In addition, intercultural reps help plan and implement a variety of cultural events for the campus community. Students who demonstrate strong leadership skills and meet the specific requirements for a leadership position will be selected to serve and provide support and opportunities for social interaction between student members of the following alliances: Asian Student Alliance, Black Student Alliance, International Student Alliance, Latino Student Alliance, and MuKappa.
Asian Student Alliance (ASA) is a student organization that seeks to bring awareness and educate students about different Asian cultures. ASA provides support for Asian students and gives them the opportunity to exchange their cultural knowledge and experiences with each other. The Executive Leadership Team Officers plan events and activities on and off campus to both socialize and experience the Asian-American culture in North America.
Black Student Alliance (BSA) is a student organization that explores and shares African culture and history. BSA provides support for Black students and seeks to educate others on Black history and celebrate Black culture. This group creates a multitude of events (e.g. Black History Week) to bring an awareness of black culture and encourage others to celebrate cultural diversity.
International Student Alliance (ISA) is a student organization that represents all international students. ISA works to bring international students together to celebrate and explore the rich backgrounds represented on campus. This group also provides opportunities for students to grow and have fun together through various programs and social activities.
Latino Student Alliance (LSA) is a student organization that welcomes all students who identify themselves with the Latino/Hispanic culture. LSA’s goal is to support our Latino/Hispanic students and create awareness of the Latino/Hispanic world through various campus events. These events provide the Asbury community with the opportunity to experience Latino and Hispanic culture through the lives of Latino and Hispanic students at Asbury.
MuKappa provides a supportive environment for missionary students (MKs) and third culture students (TCKs). This group helps MKs and TCKs adjust to college and embrace their cultural background while learning to integrate into the American community. The Executive Leadership Team Officers assist in this transition by planning social activities for the group and the campus throughout the year.
Meet some of our International students and the rich cultural backgrounds they bring to our campus!