Supporting the Dreams of Our Global Community
UIW Spring 2025 International Graduates
The Incarnate Word family is found beyond its Texas-based campuses. With two UIW campus established in Mexico, one in France and the welcoming of students from various countries, the Nest is comprised of both domestic and international Cardinals. Whether pursuing a Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree, UIW is dedicated to serving its global students as they grow into concerned and enlightened citizens.
“Coming from a small, close-knit community abroad, I was drawn to UIW because of its welcoming environment and strong sense of community,” shared international student Norah Albanyan. “As an international student, I needed a place where I could grow both academically and personally, and I found exactly that here.”
Albanyan is a Saudi Arabian Doctorate students who will be graduating with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the UIW Feik School of Pharmacy (FEIK). At FEIK, she appreciated that faculty treated aspiring pharmacy professionals not just as students, but as future colleagues as they trusted their abilities to succeed. She was able to have hands-on experiences that allowed her to apply her knowledge, build a network of skilled pharmacy professionals and was encouraged to grow into the knowledgeable pharmacist that she has become.
She will now be traveling to Boston, where she will practice medicine during her residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and aspires to possibly enter specialties like critical care or infectious diseases. Longterm, she’d like to take her knowledge back to her home, where she can advance pharmacy practices.
“UIW gave me space to adjust and grow without ever making me feel like I didn’t belong,” said Albanyan. “Whenever I needed help, whether it was figuring out cultural differences, understanding academic requirements or preparing for next steps, there was always someone to point me in the right direction. That kind of support made a big difference … Reaching this point (graduation) reminds me how far I’ve come, and how much I’ve grown both as a clinician and as a person.”
In light of her graduation, Albanyan is not only showing gratitude to herself, but to her family who believed in her every step of the way. In her eyes, this degree is not just hers but theirs.
Oleksandr Karpenko, Ukrainian Master’s student earning his Master’s in Finance, is another of UIW’s remarkable Spring 2025 international graduates.
Karpenko earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from the UIW School of Business Administration, so his decision to continue his studies at the University in pursuit of his Master’s was easy for him. For his additional years spent at the Nest, he enjoyed learning from knowledgeable professors that delivered engaging lessons and that were supportive of students both in the classroom and as they navigated their own personal lives.
“UIW professors are always welcoming to international students, and I've never felt excluded or like an outsider,” shared Karpenko. “Our International Office does a great job of engaging with the students and providing resources for us to get prepared for life in the United States while being a student, and also post-graduation.”
Once he walks the graduation stage with his degree in hand, Karpenko will officially start his job in Data/Business Analytics. He intends to stay in his field for the rest of his career, as it is his passion, expertise and a profession which he believes to be immensely rewarding.
Karpenko feels bittersweet about his departure from UIW because he will miss campus life, but he is happy about his achievements and would be open to returning one day. “Who knows, maybe I will come back one day for my other passion – psychology,” said Karpenko.
Ewa Kostera a Polish undergraduate student is earning her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and also has exciting future plans. After her graduation, she will begin her graduate program to pursue her Masters in either cultural psychology or social psychology in London, England.
“I am super excited to start a new journey in postgraduate studies in Psychology since I plan to work as a psychologist in the future!” exclaimed Kostera, looking forward to what the future has in store.
Congratulations to all of UIW’s Spring 2025 international graduates!