Wang was nominated for the award by Office of International Affairs Director Francisco Javier Lopez and Trista Wdziekonski, executive director of graduate enrollment management. In addition, there were letters of support from UM-Dearborn faculty, students and alums. Lopez says international students make up about 10% of UM-Dearborn’s overall enrollment and, during their academic careers, Wang — through processing paperwork, locating scholarships and helping students find jobs, health care and more — is actively engaged in assisting them all at some point. “Her tireless work has had an overarching, transformative impact on the lives of countless students and scholars worldwide,” Lopez says. “She has also contributed significantly to expanding global and intercultural opportunities for all students across the university.”
Wang, who grew up in Taiwan and moved to the U.S. in her early 20s, says she recalls the challenges in college and the workplaces during her early years in the country. She says a professor looked out for international students at the first U.S. college she attended in Missouri. She says students found a safe space with that educator in a world that otherwise felt a bit uncertain.
“It was very difficult for me. I didn’t unpack for a month because I kept thinking I needed to go home, even though I wanted a U.S. education. I remember my parents’ being so proud of their friends’ children going to the U.S. for an education and I wanted to do that too. But the world around me was so different,” she says.
“At the time, my English wasn’t good, so I thought I’d do computer programming because I was pretty good at it and I could succeed without having strong English,” she continues. “But I had a computer science professor tell me I was a woman, so I didn’t have the right background for the major. It destroyed me. Unfortunately, these things happen and they can alter your life. I’m grateful I had a professor in my life that encouraged me and gave me a safe space. I try to pay that forward today.”
Shortly afterwards, Wang transferred her credits to Eastern Michigan University, and received her first U.S. degree in 1994: A bachelor’s degree in accounting. She then moved to Dearborn Heights and sought out what to do next. That’s when something like fate stepped in.“I was driving around and saw a large group of beautiful trees, so I followed them right onto UM-Dearborn’s campus,” Wang explains. “I didn’t realize there was a Dearborn campus at that time. It was so peaceful and I wanted to work here. I checked job openings and there was a financial clerk position open in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters. It was a perfect match with my degree. I applied and got it.”
Wang s had much to learn about U.S. work culture. She says long-time UM-Dearborn employee Leah Long — who was a founder of UM-Dearborn’s Staff Senate — looked out for Wang during that time and served as a mentor and friend, as well as a colleague. As Wang got more acclimated, a financial role opened up in UM-Ann Arbor, where she worked for two years. But she missed her UM-Dearborn family.
When an internship coordinator spot opened up in the CASL Humanities and History Internship Program, Wang applied and returned to UM-Dearborn. She says that role was her step into working with international students. The CASL dean at that time, Paul Wong, wanted to start an exchange program through the CASL Honors Program with students from Hong Kong — and Wang could speak multiple languages that are spoken in the major global city. Wang’s work in CASL later evolved when UM-Dearborn looked to establish a centralized office for international education.
“It was shortly after 9/11 and we looked at how we could best support international students while also handling the new federal government monitoring requirements. During that time, I was pretty naive and didn’t know what to do, other than to keep doing my best and what was right for our students,” she says. “I’m so thankful for (former provost) Robert Simpson who established the International Office and put me on this career path to serve international populations at UM-Dearborn, and for the people in Ann Arbor who were tremendously helpful and provided knowledge and training to show us what we needed to do to have a successful new office.”
Twenty-plus years later, Wang says she continues to love her career — even the detailed paperwork, which can make a world of difference for her students — and does everything she can to help students, both domestic and international, make global connections.
Wang travels regularly to see her family in Taiwan, and has realized that you can have multiple places that you consider home. She wants her students to see this too.
“It’s very hard moving to another county, but I am so glad that I eventually unpacked and stayed. In the U.S., I’ve had more opportunities and am able to reach a bigger group of students than if I would have remained in Taiwan. My life would be very different and I love what I do,” Wang says. “It’s a dream to be able to come here and later on be able to help students choose which way to go, depending on their dreams. I’m so proud of my students. They navigate a lot of difficulties to achieve their goals — they are resilient and persistent.”
Students and graduates like Shyaka say they have found their place in the U.S. — and that Wang is the reason. “I was lost when I first came to the U.S. Emily gave me hope. She told me that it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. I now see the results. Even my mom knows who Emily is. She is family,” Shyaka says. “Emily would remind me, ‘as long as you are healthy, that is enough. We can make anything else happen.’ She was right. I am grateful for Emily, UM-Dearborn and the experiences I’ve had that have molded me into who I am today.”
Story by Sarah Tuxbury
