Texas Tech Global Guides
Who are the Global Guides?
Global Guides are current TTU students who volunteer their time to MENTOR new incoming international students.
All new international students will be assigned to a global guide who will help you as you adjust to life at Texas Tech and in Lubbock. Because they have already experienced the ups and downs of living and studying abroad, they are a great first hand resource to students. Global Guides act as peer mentors who volunteer their time to communicate with you and help you ease into life in a new country. Global Guides are available to chat with you at any time, and you are encouraged to reach out to them if you have a question about life on campus.
Who Gets a Global Guide?
At the beginning of each semester new or newly transferred international students are assigned a Global Guide. Your Global Guide is assigned to you based on one or more variables. This could be your major, country or native language. We do our best to pair you with a Global Guide who has something in common with you, but sometimes this is not always the case. Not matter what your global Guide is here to help you adjust to Texas Tech and life in the United States. They were all once in your shoes too and that is why they have volunteered to be part of this program.
Global Guides are screened and interviewed before they are chosen. We then choose 10 Global Guides from all of those interviewed. We pick students we feel will are the most passionate about helping others and who are actively engaged on campus.
When will I hear from my Global Guide?
You will begin to receive emails from your Global Guides TTU email before the start
of the semester. Watch for an email from your Global Guide with helpful information
about life on campus. You will also be invited to meet them in person, hang out, study,
and get to know them once you arrive.
You will already have a friend before you get to the USA!
This Years Team Intro Videos
Watch each Global Guides Short intro Video on our YouTube Channel!
Read Personal Advice from Each Global Guide
If you would like to read advice from our current global guides, visit their advice page.
Global Guide Emails
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Name: Aleksei Proskurin
Country: Russia
Email:aleksei.proskurin@ttu.edu
Languages: Russian, English, German
Major: Grad Student in Psychology
Name
Snehanjana Chatterjee
Country: India
Email:
snchatte@ttu.edu
Languages: English, Bengali (native language), Hindi & Urdu (a bit)
Major: Ph.D. Student in Biology
Name: Ayday Koshmatova
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Email: akoshmat@ttu.edu
Languages: English, Russian, Kyrgyz, Turkish
Major: Graduate in Sociology
Name:
Shivani Satav
Email:ssatav@ttu.edu
Country: India
Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi
Major: Graduate in Sports Management
Name: Harsha Ganta
Country: India
Email:
hganta@ttu.edu
Languages: English, Telugu, Hindi
Major: Graduate in Computer Science
Name: Maria Sotomayor
Country: Peru
Email:Msotomay@ttu.edu
Languages: Spanish, English, and German
Major: Graduate student in Marketing
Name:Dhanalakshmi Meduri
Country: India
Email:dmeduri@ttu.edu
Languages: English Telugu Hindi
Major: Computer Science
UNDERGRADUATES
Name:Shravani Kardekar
Country: India
Email:
skardeka@ttu.edu
Languages: English, Hindi, and Marathi
Major: Computer Science
Name: Bolaji Atinsola
Country: Nigeria
Email:batinsol@ttu.edu
Languages: English and Yoruba
Major: Computer Science
Name: Othon Rios Serna
Country: Mexico
Email:oriosser@ttu.edu
Languages: English and Spanish
Major: Civil Engineering
Name: Atharva Lade
Country: India
Email:
Atharva.Lade@ttu.edu
Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, and can do conversational German!
Major: Computer Science and Mathematics (Dual Degree)
Name: Jessica Kennedy
Country: Namibia/India
Email:jesskenn@ttu.edu
Languages: English and Tamil
Major: Biochemistry
Name: Parth Bhatia
Country: UAE/India
Email: parbhati@ttu.edu
Languages:
English, Hindi, Marathi, and Sindhi
Major: Computer Engineering
Name: Gargi Parthak
Country: India
Email:gapathak@ttu.edu
Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Bangla, Gujarati, Sanskrit
Major: Computer Science
Name: Avi Vyas
Country: India
Email:avvyas@ttu.edu
Languages: English and Hindi
Major: Computer Science
Informational Videos
How to Become a Global Guide
The International Global Guides program connects current Texas Tech University Students with prospective students to promote, share, and support their efforts to attend the university. Global Guides will also provide assistance with student life and retention activities through the Office of International Student Life.
What the Role Looks Like:
The following are expected from all Global Guides.
- Reach out to, teach, befriend and mentor an assigned group of new international students, and potentially be the reason a student chooses TTU
- Attend International Student Orientation, supporting students as a friend, peer, and mentor, and serving on an international student panel
- Communicate with potential new students ahead of arrival, alerting them to what they need to know before they arrive, sharing your Texas Tech experience, and helping them with the immediate transition process once they arrive on campus
- Facilitate the scavenger hunt, which familiarizes new students with the campus
- Attend ISL events and functions, encouraging other new students to do so, and occasionally helping with the setup of such events
- Help recruit new potential international students through social media channels in partnership with OIA's International Undergraduate Admissions team
Benefits of the Global Guide Program
- Gain an in-depth knowledge of TTU resources, history, & traditions.
- Develop leadership, interpersonal communication, and social skills.
- Build significant relationships with fellow Global Guides, new international students, and TTU OIA staff.
- Meals during ISO and other OIA events.
Expectations
If selected as a Global Guide, student(s) will receive a stipend of $200 at the end of the semester for which they have participated based on the following expectations:
- Participation in the program for at least a full academic year is expected
- Must attend all training sessions
- Serve as a mentor for assigned incoming student groups
- Serve as a knowledgeable and friendly representative of TTU and the Office of International Affairs (OIA)
- Attend monthly meetings (required)
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, all Global Guide candidates must:
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 TTU GPA during participation in the program
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with Texas Tech University
- Be a full-time sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate or graduate student by the Fall semester
- Must have spent at least one full academic year at the Texas Tech Lubbock campus, prior to the start of Global Guide obligations.
- Positive attitude and strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
- One recommendation letter from TTU faculty or staff member
Returning Global Guides
If you have previously been a global guide and are returning...
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 TTU GPA during participation with the program
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with Texas Tech University
- You are not required to have a letter of recommendation
- Students can only serve two terms as a global guide.
- Positive attitude and strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
Applications Open: March 20th - April 3rd.
Before completing the application please Note:
April 3rd - Application Form Due
Take your time: Think about your answers and complete them thoughtfully.
Apply Here: Form (applications are now closed)
Referral Form - Due at the same time as the application.
This is a recommendation, so pick someone such as a professor, boss, or mentor. This
form must be filled out by someone at Texas Tech. It cannot be a person from before
you attended TTU.
This years Global Guides 2022-2023
Click images to enlarge
International Affairs
-
Address
601 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409-5004 -
Phone
806.742.3667 -
Email
oia.reception@ttu.edu