Beat Profile on Mandi Work

With a collegiate history that includes Australia, England, Iceland, Italy, and Taiwan, it is easy to see why Amanda Work chose to come to the University of Georgia as an International Education advisor. “I fell in love with the idea of learning from cultural interaction and experiences,” says the Ohio native. Now Mandi, as most call her, is helping students receive the same inter-cultural experience she found so valuable by aiding study abroad hopefuls in finding the program that is right for them.

At first glance it seems hard to imagine that working a string of jobs at the YMCA and Flagstar Bank in Ann Arbor, MI. would lead Work to an advising position in the Office of International Education at UGA. But Work, who graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College with a B.A. in Business and a minor in English, decided she would pursue a career in international education shortly after receiving her undergraduate degree. Work’s extensive undergraduate résumé includes the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, Edge Hill College in Ormskirk, England and a geology field course in Iceland.

“I fell in love with the idea of learning from cultural interaction and experiences. I volunteered with my study abroad office whenever I could be of help,” Work says of her post-study abroad days. Her involvement with the study abroad office opened up opportunities such as speaking to classes, individuals, and parents about the study abroad experience. Work also got to be involved in the integration of international students to American culture. She says of that experience, “It is very fulfilling to help international students in their cultural adjustments, because as an American overseas I had gone through the same thing.”

Work quickly found herself applying to graduate school. She says of her school of choice, Kent State University, “I found a program that allowed me to focus all of my elective and internship credits towards the Internationalization of Higher Education.” She was accepted to the university and attended Kent from 2006 to 2008. Her educational career there included participating in the university’s Italian Higher Education and U.S. Study Abroad programs, located in Florence, Italy. While in Italy, Work interned in the International Admissions and Recruitment Office as well as the Study Abroad Office. And like a true study abroad devotee, Work went on to study in the Language and Culture program at the National Taichung University in Taiwan.When all was said and done Work graduated with a Master of Education and an Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel with an Internationalization of Higher Education Certificate.

Now Work calls the University of Georgia her home. Her job here entails a dizzying list of responsibilities from coordinating visits to UGA from outside programs to assisting in events such as the Study Abroad Fair, the International Photo Contest, Orientation, and International Orientation. But if you asked her what her favorite part of it all is Work would say it is helping with outreach and advising students. Talking about her experience as an advisor she says, “I enjoy speaking with students…I get excited when students start planning their program and it is fun to answer their questions.” Work continues, “My favorite part of my job is knowing that what I do helps people achieve a goal that will hopefully become a highlight in their lifetime experiences. Study Abroad is often cited as a student’s favorite experience while in college and I love that I can help make that happen.”