Meet Andrea Le (she/her), Associate Director for Community Building and International Student Support in the Office of Student Affairs and an HDE ’23 alum. From pre-arrival webinars to on-campus and virtual community-building, Andrea shares how HGSE supports international students at every stage and why global perspectives are essential to our mission to Learn to Change the World.

Andrea Le (she/her) – Associate Director for Community Building and International Student Support

Could you describe the resources & support that you (and HGSE as a whole) provide for international students/applicants?

Here at HGSE we recognize that graduate education, particularly for our international students, is highly rewarding and also can come with some unique challenges and opportunities.

Many of our international students are leaving families and careers and traveling to the US for the first time to complete their studies. In addition, a growing number of our students are joining us virtually in one of our online programs from all corners of the world.

No matter how you choose to join us, the staff here at HGSE and Harvard are committed to supporting our international community from the time you apply to HGSE to the time you walk across the stage at commencement and beyond.

In my role this looks like hosting pre-arrival webinars, hosting a virtual and in-person welcomes and social events for our students, connecting students with helpful resources and opportunities, and being a friendly face and point of contact to help students navigate challenges and make the most of their experience at HGSE.

What is your favorite part of supporting international students at HGSE?

Getting to know the students! I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to meet exceptionally passionate and driven educators and change makers who are doing amazing work all over the world to improve education. Every class and every student is unique and I have learned so much from our students over the years.

Why should international students utilize you & your office?

Our faculty and staff are genuinely committed to the success and well-being of our students. Harvard has an incredible amount of opportunities and supports available to students but it can be hard to know where to start sometimes. The goal of me and my colleagues in the office of student affairs is to help students navigate the opportunities and supports at Harvard so that they can reach their goals and thrive as students.

What makes you excited about the future of HGSE?

The unlimited potential of this community continues to make me excited about the future of HGSE. This is without a doubt one of the most welcoming and supportive communities I have ever been a part of. Our students come from all over the world with incredibly diverse experiences and backgrounds. They come here with genuine desire to learn from our amazing faculty and each other. It’s a privilege to watch them build community and support each other in their goals at HGSE and beyond. This collaborative spirit is needed now more than ever and is something we really try to foster and support here at HGSE.

I would also say our expanding opportunities for online study have enabled students to join this community in ways that were previously not possible. I’m very excited for HGSE’s efforts to continue to be accessible to students no matter where they are located in the world.

Any advice for international students & applicants to HGSE?

I encourage you to apply! International students are an essential part of our community at HGSE. We cannot fulfill our mission of Learn to Change the World without you. I promise you there is a warm and welcoming community waiting for you here at HGSE to support you and help you reach your dreams.