Staff Spotlight: Richard Porter, Ed.D.

Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Richard Porter found his interest in international higher education while working with students from around the world during his master's degree program in California. His professional journey involved postings to several major universities and traveling to many global destinations including Japan where he met his wife. He brought his wealth of experience to Texas Tech eight years ago to head International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). He continues to share his love for different cultures by creating a welcoming environment for international students and increasing internationalization at Texas Tech. 

Tell us about yourself and what brought you to International Affairs at Texas Tech University?
“I have been involved in different aspects of International Education for over 30 years. It began during my master's degree studies in California. At that time, I worked in a volunteer leadership role with a community organization that welcomed international students.  This developed my interest in making international education my career.  

After completing my MA in California, I lived in Japan for six years, serving most of that time as a university English lecturer.  The place where I lived and worked was Kanazawa, a very famous and historically rich city in Japan. It is located along the Japan Sea on the main island of Honshu. It often tops the list of the most desirable vacation destinations among Japanese tourists, even though it is not well-known outside of Japan.  I met my Japanese wife there, who was teaching at the same university. We had our first child in Japan before returning to the US.  Living and working in Kanazawa was an extraordinary experience that prepared me for the next step in my career.

My work in international student and scholar services (ISSS) started at the University of Houston after I returned from Japan. I started as an intern and then became a full-time international student advisor. After that, I worked at the University of Missouri as a Coordinator of Scholar Services and then went on to Sam Houston State University (SHSU), serving as their Director of International Programs. I now have had the privilege of serving as the Director of International Student and Scholar Services in International Affairs at Texas Tech for the past eight years.” 

 What is your favorite aspect about your job in international education? 
“The best part of working in international education is the opportunity to learn and grow through daily interaction with people from all over the world.  I enjoy learning from them about their cultures and I greatly admire their courage and fortitude in coming to the US to pursue a degree in another language. Having lived and worked in other countries, I can fully appreciate their challenges in accomplishing this task.  

It is easy for me to connect with international students and scholars since over the years I have had the privilege of traveling to countries where many of the students are from.  Before moving to Japan, during breaks in my master's programs, I worked on a Greek-operated cruise ship as a video camera operator.  This ship visited over 16 countries traversing Asia and the numerous European and Middle Eastern states along the Mediterranean and Black Sea.  During my master's program, I also studied Spanish and lived in Mexico for one summer.   In addition, I have had the privilege of traveling extensively in my various roles at US universities. I was honored to receive two separate Fulbright awards to attend International Education Administrator Seminars in both Taiwan and Korea.” 

As you think about your accomplishments, what are you most proud of?
“I'm probably most proud of finishing a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education emphasizing international education in 2016.  I started that degree while serving as the Director of International Programs at SHSU and finished it two years after starting my job as the Director of ISSS at TTU. The research I began through my studies for my dissertation, which was published in 2020, continues to this day.  In the spring of this year, the United States-Japan Foundation awarded me a grant to survey international education experts on the motivation factors that influence Japanese students' study abroad decisions.  I used the funds from the grant to travel to Japan in the summer of 2022. I visited 16 different universities and government offices to get advice regarding the research and encourage participation. My goals over this upcoming year are to complete the research in the spring of 2023 and disseminate the results through a session at the Association of International Educators National Conference in Washington, DC. I hope to present this session with one of my collaborators in Japan and a professor at Osaka University. I also hope to publish a manuscript in the fall of next year. 

Starting this next spring, I will be teaching my first course at TTU in the College of Media and Communications, “Communicating in a Global Society.”  Sharing my years of experience gained through interacting with international students and scholars and my extensive travels and research will be rewarding. Even though I have presented many workshops and sessions at conferences for International Educators over the years, I look forward to returning to the classroom.”  

What is the most interesting thing you have learned from working at TTU International Affairs?
“It has been a great blessing and honor to serve TTU over these past nine years as the Director of International Student and Scholar Services.  Directing an ISSS office was my goal when I started working as an international student advisor in my first international office at UH.  I am extremely fortunate to work with a great staff and alongside my excellent colleagues in the other units in International Affairs here at the International Cultural Center.  I appreciate the support this institution provides, which demonstrates the importance TTU and its leadership place on internationalization.  Having worked at a variety of large public universities in different states over the years during my career, I can testify that TTU surpasses a majority of similar institutions around the US in the level of concrete support it provides.

During my remaining time here at TTU, besides my role as ISSS Director and my teaching, I hope to build connections between TTU and Japan.  I hope to use the connections I have made through my work and my research in Japan to serve as a bridge between TTU and Japanese universities.  Through these new partnerships, I hope to open opportunities for students and scholars to participate in active exchanges.  I'm confident that these experiences will make the same kind of difference they have made in my life over the years.”