Office of International Services Welcomes Two New Staff Members
The Office of International Services has welcomed two new staff members. Lexi Hyde joins the team as the new International Student and Scholar Advisor, and Kathryn Behling joins as new Intake Specialist.
Meet Lexi Hyde
Lexi was born in Michigan but moved to the Raleigh area in 2008. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in K-12 Spanish Education at Appalachian State University in 2018. There, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Granada, Nicaragua, and Cusco, Peru. Following her undergraduate degree, she spent time teaching English as a foreign language at an elementary school in Madrid, Spain as well as virtually to children living in China. After moving back to North Carolina in 2019, Lexi then pursued her Masters in International Studies from NC State and began working with OIS as a Graduate Assistant.
What are you most excited about in your new role as International Student and Scholar Advisor for the Office of International Services?
“I am excited for the opportunity to continue to learn and grow with the Office of International Services, and for the opportunity to work with such a wonderful and unique student population at NC State!”
What made you choose this field of work as a career? Have you worked in higher education before and/or with international students?
“I’ve always been passionate about education and cultural exchange. When I decided to leave teaching, I knew that I wanted to stay in the field of international education, but I wasn’t sure how to do that outside of the classroom. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the MIS program at NC State which also led me to my Graduate Assistant position with OIS. While I did have some experience working with international students before beginning my work with OIS, it was my experiences working with OIS during graduate school that solidified my interest in international student services.”
Tell us one thing we might be surprised to learn about you.
“I’ve traveled to 12 different countries.”
What do you like to do outside of work?
“I spend most of my free time with my dog! We love to go to the park or explore new hiking locations. I also enjoy having game nights or watching Netflix with friends.”
Meet Kathryn Behling
Growing up, Kathryn lived in a small town in Connecticut that was about 45 minutes from New York City. She attended Gettysburg College for her B.A. degree in Japanese Studies, and met her husband through the fencing club. As part of her undergraduate experience, she spent a semester abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. After graduating, Kathryn lived in the Boston area with her husband and their cat. She graduated with her M.A. degree in International Higher Education from Boston College last May after finishing her thesis on measures taken by sending institutions to support holistic psychological well-being of study abroad students.
What are you most excited about in your new role as Intake Specialist for the Office of International Services?
“It’s hard to choose one thing I’m most excited about, but I am very excited to discover all the things Sunapsis can do and apply its features to help improve the quality and efficiency of the services OIS offers.”
What made you choose this field of work as a career? Have you worked in higher education before and/or with international students?
“I think my story is similar to many others in the field in that it all started with my experience studying abroad. The overall experience was amazing, but I had issues registering for the classes I needed and things didn’t pan out with my host family. Both my home institution and my host institution were incredibly supportive in helping me navigate those issues. I later realized that without that support, I would have been miserable and stressed for most of the semester and wouldn’t have engaged with the local community or other participants to the extent that I did. That realization inspired me to pursue a career in international higher education so I could ensure future students would have the support they needed to have successful international educational experiences. Before coming to NC State I was working at Boston University in the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, the university’s in-house IEP. While there, I worked with incoming international students to finalize their admissions documents and continuing international students who were applying to degree programs.”
Tell us one thing we might be surprised to learn about you.
“I’ve performed choral works in more than 10 languages.”
What do you like to do outside of work?
“I love to bake – French macarons have been my favorite recently, but I’m always looking for new flavors and techniques to try out. Aside from baking, I’ve been involved in choral groups since elementary school and am looking forward to finding a new chorus/choir to sing with once my husband and I have settled into our new home.”