In celebration of International Women’s Day, Marshall University’s Women’s Center hosted a discussion panel with international students and faculty Monday, March 9.
The panel took place in the Drinko Library Atrium, focusing on the experiences of international students and faculty from not only Marshall, but from being in the broader Appalachian region as well.
Panelists shared their thoughts and feelings about living in Huntington compared to their home countries. They talked about finding a community in the U.S., adapting to college life and differences in peer relationships.
One of the panelists, Ayah Jammal, shared her experiences in the public school system and how she felt that it did not give her the skills needed to succeed in higher education.
Jammal said she and her brothers experienced discrimination during their earlier schooling in Ohio.
“It wasn’t a good experience, and it often left me not being able to get scholarships or other opportunities just because no one would tell me about them,” she said.
She also mentioned a need at Marshall for better advertising on events having to do with international students as well as more accommodations for different cultures.
“Some religions need food prepared a certain way, like halal, and that’s hard to find on campus,” Jammal said.
The second student panelist was Ina Kikuchi, a student born in China and raised in Japan. Kikuchi came to Marshall at the start of the Spring 2026 Semester and mentioned the different things she has experienced since arriving.
She mentioned an instance of racism and noted some of her other international friends have had trouble with making other friends due to language barriers.
“My one friend speaks Korean; she wants to learn more English but has trouble finding friends, so she can only speak Korean to her roommate, who also speaks that language,” she said.
Kikuchi suggested a sort of buddy system where international transfer students can be connected with a Marshall student to help them explore the Huntington area, ease into campus life and life in the U.S.
After finishing her degree at Marshall, Kikuchi wants to go to graduate school somewhere in Europe then return home to Japan. She said she does like the nature that surrounds Huntington as she grew up in more of a city environment.
The faculty panelist was Johan Botes, piano professor at the School of Music. Botes grew up in South Africa and said he misses the warmer weather that lasts longer than here but also enjoys the nature in Appalachia.
Botes explained finding a community was easy at Marshall, specifically for international faculty.
“In 2014, we used to have an international group,” he said. “The woman who organized it is not here anymore, but we she used to have all these parties in her home with 30 to 40 people from across the world. You just think, ‘What are you doing in Huntington?’”
Alissa Rookard, the program coordinator for the Women’s Center, spoke about the resources the center offers and more events it is hosting for Women’s History Month.
“We provide anything from advocation for sexual violence, discrimination or just access to shampoo and Tylenol,” Rookard said.
The Women’s Center is in Old Main Room 115 and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It also has free access to menstrual products, pregnancy tests, contraceptives and other personal hygiene products.
On March 11, there will be a women’s history themed bingo night in the Brad D. Smith Business Building 116. The event will have prizes and a professional photographer for free photo shoots.
On April 30, the center will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the Women of Marshall Awards, which is accepting nominations of influential women in the Marshall community until March 31.
A full list of events can be found at www.marshall.edu/wcenter/events/.
Davina Snyder can be contacted at [email protected].
