International student director brings world to Fresno State

By Jillian Yalung
The Collegian

International students offer an opportunity for Fresno State students to learn about the world without leaving home, said Lucia B. Hammar, the new director of International Student Services and Programs.

Hammar assumed the position on Feb. 15 and oversees a staff which assists, guides and advises international students through their academic journey at Fresno State.

With 20 years of experience in international programs and studies, she has gained the most of her knowledge from traveling to numerous countries. Germany, Spain, Chile, Korea, Japan and Taiwan are just a few countries where Hammar has lived, studied and worked.

“I have the chance to advocate for international students here at Fresno, and to tell students in other countries about the educational opportunities our campus offers,” Hammar said in a press a release.

Hammar received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Earlham College in Indiana and a master’s and doctorate in Linguistics from Indiana University.

Before coming to Fresno State, Hammar worked at Stanford University, where she was an academic program officer for the Overseas Studies Program. She has also taught English as a second language at University of California, Berkeley and the American School in Hamburg, Germany.

Since 2001, Hammar has held the positions of both assistant director and director of international programs at Fresno State.

Hammar is also as a member of the International Programs Advisory Board, which hopes to encourage foreign students to study and research on campus. The program also offers experiences abroad to aid in global understanding.

On campus, the International Coffee Hour provides an opportunity for international and local students to interact. Hammar believes the weekly event will bring the world to Fresno. This coffee hour takes place on Tuesday afternoons in the University Student Union.

This semester Hammar will be tending to 600 international students.

“They come here from all over the world to study, prepare for careers, explore America, and make new friends,” Hammar said.

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