Community college students gain global perspectives at Stanford career fair
Keynote speaker Emily Bishko (International Relations, '20)
More than 50 students from community colleges across the country attended an international careers fair hosted by Stanford Global Studies this spring. Over the course of the day, they participated in virtual workshops led by Stanford faculty, students, and staff, who emphasized the value of embracing a global mindset in any career or field of study.
“I registered to attend the 2025 Stanford Fair for Community College Students because I’m deeply committed to finding a career that connects my passion for language, culture, and community with real-world global impact,” said Jeniffer Peralta Jimenez, a Spanish major at City College of San Francisco. “The fair opened my eyes to a world of possibilities I hadn’t fully considered before. It helped me see how my studies in Spanish can intersect with meaningful careers in international work, advocacy, education, and diplomacy. Being in that space—surrounded by students like me and professionals doing the work I dream about—was empowering.”
Emily Bishko, who graduated from Stanford with a degree in international relations (IR) in 2020, opened the event with a keynote about the transformative power of international education. She shared how the knowledge and experiences she gained through her degree program—from interdisciplinary coursework to intensive language study and international internships—helped prepare her for a career as a foreign service officer in the U.S. Department of State.
“In the degree, you are studying the several issues and challenges that the world is facing—from climate change to trade cooperation to human rights,” she shared. “And now, of course, my job is to help solve those issues within a global context.”
Her international relations degree has not only equipped her to tackle complex global challenges but has also nurtured a profound sense of empathy and a deeper appreciation of the interconnectedness of the world. “What I liked about IR is that it teaches you to understand the world. That helps you see the big picture and how different items relate to each other,” she explained. “I also think it helped me become more empathetic because I understand how different communities operate and just how many different people, ideas, and struggles are out there.”
After the keynote, students attended seminars led by Stanford scholars from various disciplines, including Saumitra Jha, Stephen Luby, and Stephen Stedman. They discussed ways to pursue international careers in a variety of sectors, including business, medicine, and international affairs.
Attendees also had the opportunity to attend an interactive workshop on ways to use design thinking to make critical decisions in their personal and professional lives, as well as a panel featuring undergraduate students who transferred from community colleges to four-year institutions in the Bay Area.
The final session featured Ingrid Anderson, director of the transfer advising program at Stanford, who explained the transfer process and fielded questions from the participants.
“I’m leaving the fair not with all the answers, but with a deeper sense of confidence and direction,” added Peralta Jimenez. “I’m thankful for the chance to attend and for the people who shared their stories and insights. It’s one of those experiences that will stick with me as I move forward.”
Read reflections from six of the community college students who attended this year’s fair:
Heba Alazzeh, Computer Science Major, College of San Mateo
I registered for the Stanford Fair for Community College Students because I’m passionate about pursuing research and advanced study in fields that blend technology and social impact. I wanted to learn more about different global career pathways, connect with faculty and students, and explore opportunities that align with my academic goals in computer science and sociology. Attending the fair felt like a unique opportunity to envision my future, one that values interdisciplinary learning and community leadership.
My favorite part of attending the fair was the incredible sense of welcome and encouragement I felt from the Stanford community. Hearing directly from current and past transfer students was especially inspiring - their stories made the transfer path feel tangible and achievable. I particularly enjoyed hearing from different faculty members and learning about their own journeys. Having the opportunity to ask them personal questions in a smaller setting was incredibly meaningful. Both experiences gave me new insight into how deeply Stanford supports students’ academic and personal growth.
Attending the fair also taught me that there are so many different pathways toward building a meaningful global career. I learned that success isn’t a single, linear path - it’s shaped by diverse experiences, interdisciplinary learning, and a willingness to explore new opportunities. Hearing from faculty members and transfer students showed me how deeply Stanford supports students in connecting their academic passions to real-world, global impact. It also made me realize that my non-traditional background as a community college student can be a powerful strength in shaping a career that reaches across borders and fields.
I am incredibly grateful for the chance to attend the fair. It reaffirmed my commitment to pursuing my academic dreams and to giving back to the broader community. Events like this create a powerful sense of belonging and possibility for community college students like me, and I’m excited to continue working hard toward my transfer goals!
Navaneet Baniya, Political Science Major, Berkeley City College
I registered to attend the fair because I saw it as an invaluable opportunity to explore potential career paths, gain practical advice from experienced professionals, and connect with others who share similar aspirations. I wanted to immerse myself in an environment that would not only inform me about the steps ahead but also motivate me to stay focused and intentional about my future goals.
My favorite part of attending the Stanford Fair for Community College Students was participating in the design workshop, which helped me thoughtfully plan out my future. I really enjoyed how the workshop encouraged me to map out my goals step-by-step and envision different pathways to success. It made me feel more confident and strategic about the next stages of my academic and professional journey.
Overall, it was a truly great experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and gain valuable insights that will help shape my future journey.
Maxime Chung, Data Science Major, El Camino College
I registered to attend the fair because I’ve always had a hard time picturing myself working on a global scale—not just as a digital nomad or a study abroad student—but really being part of work that helps people in a global community and unites humans. I wanted to challenge my thoughts by being here and learning from other community college students in different majors about their dreams and goals.
Attending the “Design Your Global Career” workshop was eye-opening. The organizers' thoughtful planning and well-crafted questions made our breakout room experience much more engaging and meaningful. I felt like our three-person group really made the most of it. I’m grateful for the inspiration and practical ideas I can bring back to my own career planning.
I really appreciate how both the alumni and Dr. Ingrid Anderson stayed passionate and patient the whole time. Stanford is such a well-known school and gets all kinds of questions from people with different backgrounds, and I know it’s not easy to answer everything on the spot, especially since they’re not admissions officers. But they truly gave it their all and were as thoughtful, reflective, and supportive as possible.
Shiraz Mohammad, Economics Major, Mission College
I registered to attend the Stanford Fair for Community College Students because I wanted to better understand the transfer process at a top university and gain direct insight into what Stanford looks for in prospective students. I saw the fair as an opportunity to learn how to strengthen my academic and personal story, and to expose myself to the level of thinking and innovation that Stanford values.
My favorite part of the fair was attending the faculty seminar led by Professor Saumitra Jha. I genuinely enjoyed learning about corporate social responsibility (CSR), strategies companies use to align business and ethics, how crypto impacts political economies, shareholder approaches to conflict mitigation, and behavioral design principles. It was an incredible experience hearing a Stanford professor dive so deeply into topics that connect economics, politics, and strategy.
Attending the fair deepened my understanding of what it means to think beyond academics and grades. I learned that top universities are looking for students who combine academic excellence with intellectual curiosity and real-world awareness. The sessions, especially Professor Jha’s seminar, helped me see how interconnected business, economics, and social impact are — and it reinforced my commitment to developing not just as a student, but as a thinker and leader.
I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to attend and learn directly from Stanford’s faculty and admissions team. The fair gave me a lot to think about and reinforced my commitment to keep pushing academically and personally. I’m excited to keep building, stay resilient through setbacks, and hopefully transfer into a program where I can grow even more — whether that’s Stanford or beyond.
Juan Alcala, Mechanical Engineering Major, Mission and West Valley Colleges
I registered for this fair to get an opportunity to discuss and connect with professionals and faculty at Stanford and to better understand how I may go about forming a career in engineering from a globalized and interdisciplinary lens.
I thoroughly enjoyed the faculty seminar with Dr. Stephen Luby. Dr. Luby's seminar on global public health showed to me that global public health initiatives are so broad and important in scope and that having people from all kinds of academic backgrounds is essential in furthering public health outcomes. Even though I knew that engineering could be helpful in health and medicine, that presentation, in combination with Dr. Luby's experiences, solidified the notion that I could potentially make a difference in improving public health, despite my desire to earn an engineering education instead of one in medicine.
The Stanford Life Design Lab's career workshop taught me a bit about design thinking techniques and the Odyssey framework: two life planning tools that I will be applying to my future career and education plans. Another thing that I also learned throughout the fair was that it is important and beneficial to always remain open to radical career options and that making pivots in life is not abnormal by any means.
Jeniffer Peralta Jimenez, Spanish Major, City College of San Francisco
I registered to attend the 2025 Stanford Fair for Community College Students because I’m deeply committed to finding a career that connects my passion for language, culture, and community with real-world global impact. As a Spanish major, I’ve always felt that language is more than communication—it’s a bridge to understanding people, histories, and struggles beyond our borders. The fair opened my eyes to a world of possibilities I hadn’t fully considered before. It helped me see how my studies in Spanish can intersect with meaningful careers in international work, advocacy, education, and diplomacy. Being in that space—surrounded by students like me and professionals doing the work I dream about—was empowering. It reminded me that my voice, my story, and my heritage have a place in global conversations.
One of the most impactful parts of attending the Stanford Fair for Community College Students was the “Design Your Global Career” workshop. It completely shifted my mindset. I had originally come in thinking I needed to narrow down my future to a single, clear-cut path. But the workshop encouraged the opposite—it invited me to dream bigger, to explore how my passion for Spanish, culture, and community could translate into a wide range of global careers. It made me realize that I don’t have to choose between my interests; I can build a career that blends them—whether that’s through international education, advocacy, global health, or diplomacy. The session helped me see that my identity and lived experiences are strengths, not limitations, and that they can guide me toward a meaningful role on a global scale. Another highlight was the “Overview of the Transfer Process” presented by Ingrid Anderson, director of the Transfer Advising Program at Stanford. As a current prospective transfer student, this session was invaluable. Ingrid didn’t just walk us through the application logistics—she made the transfer process feel human. She addressed our fears, answered our questions with honesty, and reminded us that we deserve to take up space in elite academic settings. I left feeling more confident, prepared, and hopeful about what lies ahead in my journey.
The “Student Perspectives: Finding Your Own Path” panel was a really grounding moment for me at the fair. Listening to Kenneth, Hanan, and Ariana share their transfer journeys gave me a sense of clarity I didn’t know I needed. They didn’t sugarcoat their experiences, but they also didn’t make it sound impossible. It was the perfect balance of realness and reassurance. Kenneth’s story, in particular, stuck with me. Coming from Ohlone College, he showed me that transferring isn’t about starting from behind—it’s about moving forward, no matter where you’re starting from. Hearing him talk about how his interests evolved helped me realize it’s okay if mine change along the way too. Hanan’s experience transferring to UC Berkeley and studying anthropology also hit home. She emphasized the importance of embracing who you are and owning your identity, something I’ve been working on myself. It reminded me that transferring isn’t just about fitting in—it’s about bringing your whole self to the table. Ariana’s journey was equally inspiring. She transferred from College of San Mateo to Stanford and now works in fund operations. She made me rethink what’s possible with a Spanish degree—seeing how she applied her studies in international relations to a global career made me realize there’s a wider world of opportunities I hadn’t considered.
Beyond everything I’ve already mentioned, I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am for these workshops. They’ve been so much more than just information—they’ve been a source of real encouragement. It’s easy to feel lost or overwhelmed when you’re trying to figure out the transfer process, but these sessions helped me feel more grounded in my own path. They gave me the clarity I needed to stop second-guessing myself and trust that I’m on the right track. I’m leaving the fair not with all the answers, but with a deeper sense of confidence and direction. I’m thankful for the chance to attend and for the people who shared their stories and insights. It’s one of those experiences that will stick with me as I move forward.