Staff Interview with Lillie de Guzman

What inspired you to work for the International Exchange Office at the American University of Sharjah (IXO)?

I believe that I am a “people person”. I love meeting people, conversing, knowing their differences and similarities. IXO gave me the opportunity to do what I love!

How have your previous experiences of managing the API program and in the Operations Facilities Department at AUS influenced your current work?

Managing the API program was my motivation to join the IXO. With the program, I experienced meeting different students and guiding them while they were here in UAE and the experience gave me excitement. I learned from them and it encouraged me to look further in the same field.

I was an Administrative Assistant in Operations Department for 10 years before joining the IXO. It was a good experience but not as exciting as the work I’m doing now.

Describe a typical day of work for you as the Coordinator of the International Exchange Office.

I would say that there is no typical day at IXO, everyday is a new story!  For example, some days we welcome students, other days we give them a tour, we often welcome delegates from other universities around the world. It is almost everyday we meet new faces, see old friends, and say goodbye as well. In other words, a typical day in the IXO is busy.

Who are the visiting scholars and guests and how do you get in contact with them?

Visiting guests are delegates from other universities around the world. We receive requests from universities globally to visit AUS through emails, referrals from colleagues, or through phone calls.

What role do you play in international delegations at AUS?

I am the main contact for international delegations at AUS. I will be in touch with them initially and then arrange meetings between international guests and AUS representatives. I will prepare the schedule for their visit, develop an agenda, and give the guests a tour around the campus.

You have a lot of international experience, why do you think it is important for others to experience international immersion?

I believe that being able to experience international immersion, especially students at a young age, is a life changing experience. It will broaden their knowledge and deepened their understanding of other cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your travels and international experiences?

When I started traveling, I got exposed to the lives of people living in other countries, which gave me such a great global awareness. I got to know myself better and I grew socially, culturally, and professionally.

How have those experiences influenced you professionally and personally?

My experiences influenced me professionally by improving my communication skills and my ability to work on multicultural teams. Personally, I became more confident, self-aware, and curious to learn.

Is there any advice you would share with someone hoping to spend time abroad?

My advice is for them to go out of their comfort zone, capture every opportunity, and strive to learn something new from every experience. Also, to surround themselves with opportunists and positive people who will help them grow.

What is your hope for the International Exchange Office, now and in the future?

My hope for the office is to grow in giving the opportunity for more AUS students to go abroad and get the experience of a lifetime. Counting study abroad as a requirement towards graduation for programs like international studies would give us more exposure and can set the stage for more partnerships with global universities around the world.

Also, the office is pushing towards more flexibility for courses taken abroad by our students, which would encourage more students to study abroad.