WELCOMING NEW RESIDENTS!

As Washington, DC continues to strategically open safely, we are also welcoming new residents to join our community of highly motivated scholars from around the world (including the U.S.).

If you know students, interns, or young professionals looking for a short-term or long-term place to call home, we would be pleased to welcome them to the House! We have immediate availability.

LEARN MORE HERE

PIEONEER AWARDS FINALIST

We are delighted to have been selected as a finalist for the PIEoneer Awards 2020 in the category of “Accommodation Provider of the Year”.  

Wish us luck as award recipients will be announced at the virtual awards celebration in October!

LEARN ABOUT THE PIEONEER AWARDS HERE

THANK YOU!
SPRING APPEAL + GIVING TUESDAY NOW

When we began to feel the significant impacts of COVID-19 on International Student House, we knew we needed your help, so we asked - and you answered.

You helped us raise $56,058, exceeding our goal!
You gave $31,058 - the first $25,000 matched by generous Board members.

Join the many alumni and friends who are helping International Student House remain a safe home for students and interns by becoming a sustainable partner. 

GIVE MONTHLY HERE!

We are also grateful to the residents, alumni, and Board members who shared their incredible stories throughout our appeal and #GivingTuesdayNow 

READ THEIR STORIES HERE

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2020 GRADUATES

International Student House had an exceptional group of residents this past spring who completed their studies and earned distinguished degrees in their respective fields.  We were determined to celebrate our graduates, so we held our own commencement. Board President Eric Melby welcomed our residents and guests, followed by a ‘commencement address’ by Ambassador Walter Cutler, a ‘valedictorian address’ by graduate Sofia Liendro from Argentina, and a formal role-call of the graduates by Board member Dr. Sherry Mueller, PhD. It was indeed a celebration!

ASSOCIATION OF BLACK AMERICAN AMBASSADORS

The Association of Black American Ambassadors joined us at International Student House in late January – one of our last in the Great Hall – for a brilliant discussion on their decades of experience in leadership roles representing the United States around the world.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONVERSATION AND OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS HERE

SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS AT U.S. CONGRESS JOIN ISH DINNER PROGRAM

Residents from Argentina, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and the United States joined a distinguished group of senior staff members working in the United States Congress in February.

READ ABOUT THE EVENING HERE

JUNETEENTH AND THE STATE OF DIVERSITY IN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

It was such a pleasure to virtually host Tonija Hope Navas, Director of the Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, and Dr. Donald Collins, writer and lecturer in history and American studies at American University, to discuss the state of diversity in international exchange and learn more about the history and significance of Juneteenth.

WATCH THE PROGRAM HERE
PW: ISHJuneteenth2020!

ALUMNI HAPPY HOURS

Local International Student House alumni had a fun, leisurely evening catching up in the Great Hall in early February - despite the rain and projected floods; and another ‘happy hour’, this time virtually, in April.  Stay tuned for another virtual gathering in the coming weeks!

AMBASSADORIAL DIALOGUE SERIES: SINGAPORE, ICELAND, FRANCE

Our Ambassadorial Dialogue Series remains strong, although transitioned to an online platform for the moment.

We have been delighted to have welcomed His Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore; Her Excellency Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Ambassador of Iceland; and His Excellency Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of France to join us for conversations on this truly unique time in representing their countries to the United States.

READ ABOUT OUR PROGRAM WITH
AMBASSADOR MIRPURI HERE

WATCH OUR PROGRAM WITH
AMBASSADOR ELLERTSDOTTIR HERE

READ ABOUT OUR PROGRAM WITH
AMBASSADOR ÉTIENNE HERE

SPRING GARDEN PARTY… virtually

Almost 100 resident scholars, alumni, Board members, and friends joined us to celebrate International Student House for our annual Spring Garden Party. Missed the evening?

WATCH HERE

READ ABOUT THE NIGHT HERE

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
MARIE ROYCE

We were honored to welcome Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State for a brilliant conversation on her work leading the department and how they have adapted to the current challenges. 

WATCH THE CONVERSATION HERE

HOWARD MARKS, 1967

At 22 years old, International Student House alumnus Howard Marks left his home in Chicago for the first time to spend the final quarter of his graduate studies as part of the Washington journalism program of Northwestern University.   The year was 1967, a volatile time in the history of the United States and Howard wanted to report on the shifting landscape in the nation’s capital. While living at the House, Howard was a student journalist covering such events as Vietnam War demonstrations, Capitol Hill and the White House during the Johnson administration. 

He considered the House a good transition from living at home to living with new friends - engaging students who were interning on Capitol Hill, participating in academic programs, or working in exciting internships. While most residents tend to focus on social sciences or studies inclined toward international relations, many are also talented artists, proven by one friend who drew a portrait of Howard in the Great Hall that was prominently displayed in his family home. Other fond memories include concerts in the Great Hall, engaging speakers, and very important to Howard - a hot breakfast to begin every day.  He also recalled a day traveling to a Board member’s home in Virginia where he and fellow housemates enjoyed hayrides outside of the city.  

Howard moved back to Chicago shortly afterward where he began his career as a reporter, and during the early part of his career wrote for newspapers and magazines in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Chicago, and New York City. He returned to Washington in 1975 as a professional staff member for the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, followed by an appointment during the Reagan administration as Associate Administrator in the Office of International Cooperation and Development at the Department of Agriculture. In this role, he traveled 186,000 miles to 22 countries. “Because of the friends I made at the House, I felt comfortable representing the United States Government in India, Eastern Europe, West Africa, and the Middle East” he said. 

Howard passed on his love of international relations to his children - his son currently lives in Israel, and his daughter is working for the Royal Bank of Canada in New York City. Howard retired from the U.S. federal government in 2018, but continues to run his own consulting firm focused on renewable energy, and joins us at the House often for concerts and programs.

SAMUEL ROMERO, 2008-09

My name is Samuel Romero and I am from Colombia. I lived in the House from fall of 2008 through Spring of 2009.  At the time I was working as an Intern with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 
 
Currently I am a project coordinator for Global Communications at In Touch Ministries, an evangelical ministry that broadcasts television and radio programming worldwide. 
 
What I enjoyed the most about International Student House is the relationships I was able to build. At the time I was away from family and didn't know many people in DC. After a few days at the House, I developed some wonderful relationships with wonderful, talented students from all over the world, many of which I am still in contact today.

Africa Night, 2009

There was a real sense of community and understanding in the House. We weren't focused on race or religion or other often dividing factors, we simply saw each other as human beings and were able to appreciate and learn from different perspectives.  I have very good memories from my time there. If I could turn back the clock, that would definitely be a season I would love to relive. 

Are you an International Student House alumna/us and interested in sharing your story? 

We would love to hear from you! Email Katie at krussell@ishdc.org and we cannot wait to connect.