International Women’s Day panelists share their experiences in the U.S.

Under the stained glass dedicated to Women’s Week by MSU Extension in 2009 in the Strand Union Building Alumni Legacy Lounge, the Women’s Center hosted its annual International Women’s Day (IWD) Panel. The seminar was in collaboration with the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) and the Office of International Programs. During the panel, five students and faculty shared their experiences in a discussion about what IWD means to them. This year's theme was “Accelerate Action.”

“Accelerate Action is a call to action by all,” said panel moderator and Vice President of the UNA-USA Claudia Duedu. She explained that the theme encourages swift action in closing gender gaps and accelerating progress toward equality. “This we can achieve by listening [to] hear the stories of women around the world. Supporting [by engaging] in actions, from supporting women-owned businesses to advocating for women’s rights in policy. Educating [by sharing] the importance of gender equality with others in your community,” she said.

The panelists — Habiba Elsayed, El-Freda Narh Kugbajor, Paola Torres, Shobita Rajamohan and Marianne Makino — are all from different areas of the world, in different fields and at different stages of life, yet they found multiple moments of commonality with each other.

“In order to travel outside your home country, and decide to spend not just a couple weeks, not just a weekend, but a good chunk of your life — a year, two years, your P.hD — you have to have curiosity, you have to have drive,” said Torres, who is a Spanish education instructor on campus. “It pushes you to go abroad. International women especially have that eagerness to do well, to succeed and reach their goals.”

That drive, according to Torres, is not something that comes without sacrifice or determination. During the panel, she shared a Spanish phrase she often says when facing difficult moments.

“The expression is ponerle ganas. It translates to put a foot on, to have the willingness to do something, to be eager, to put your energy into something,” she said. “Those translations do not really explain that expression, because it is in a moment of hardship or when you're struggling and [it is] one way to empower yourself,” Torres said.

During the panel, the speakers discussed the women in their families or in the media who inspired them to go to university. Rajamohan’s grandmother, ​​Annalakshmi Rajadurai, was a Sri Lankan journalist and author who is widely recognized for her work on Tamil culture.  

“It's mind-blowing how she's part of my family and that's the motivating factor,” Rajamohan said. “She's not the only one — literally every single woman in my family has a difficult path. The women in my family just keep going and that's what the motto has been. We just keep going. We don't necessarily stop when challenges come. Why am I like this? It's because of all the female figures that have been going through hard times and I've seen them navigate the way.”

Rajamohan received her undergraduate degree in 2022 and graduate degree in 2024 from MSU and is currently the business manager for the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship. She shared that her greatest passions are mentoring students and working in entrepreneurship. She is currently working on a recruitment platform that will help students on optional practical training visas (OPT) —  a benefit available to international students in F-1 immigration status who are enrolled in or completing a degree program in the U.S.

“My hope is through research and bringing that recruitment platform to life, I'm able to help students on OPT secure sponsorships and not have to go back home,” she said.

Dean of Global Engagement and International Programs Sally Mudiamu explained that historically, women have faced barriers to education and international opportunities. Today, they make up nearly two-thirds of U.S. study abroad participants — where they gain critical skills in leadership, problem-solving and cross-cultural communication.

“Many influential women, from diplomats to entrepreneurs, credit their international experiences with shaping their careers and advocacy efforts. By recognizing the achievements of women in international education, we honor their contributions to global progress and inspire future generations to embrace the transformative power of study abroad,” she said.

Duedu said that her biggest takeaway from the event was Torres’ mention of the importance of mentorship among women. “I had to emphasize this point by saying, be the mentor you want to have,” Duedu said.

Torres said that international students are not only here to attend university, but to make memories with people. “The true cultural experience comes when international students share their life and their experiences with people here,” she said.