Photo by Jessica D'Avanza

Stuart Parker spent many of his earlier years traveling the globe and meeting many faces from far off places. Now the International Faculty and Staff Advisor for the Office of International Students and Scholars, Stuart finds the slower pace of Durham a nice change from his earlier lifestyle.

"I've spent most of my life in large cities," Stuart says. Now raising two kids, he enjoys the short commute and less traffic to work, a position which he finds manageable.

Stuart was a Russian and East European Studies major in college, and then he completed a Master's degree in Chinese Studies. With an ear for languages, Stuart worked sixteen years for the government. He spent three years in Washington D.C. working for the Department of Education. He learned how to speak Bulgarian for his next position at the U.S. Department of State, working overseas as a Foreign Service Officer at the American embassies in Bulgaria and Moscow. After eight years he moved to the Voice of America, a government radio service in Washington D.C. which broadcasts in 45 different languages. Three years later, he moved again to Munich where he worked three more years at Radio Free Europe, before settling down in Peterborough, NH, but not for long. He taught International Relations, Economics and Political Science at Franklin Pierce College and then began an international advising position at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Now, Stuart puts all of this past experience to the test in his position as an advisor to international scholars. Stuart serves as the interface between the University and the Government. Stuart notes that since 9/11 there have been many stricter policies in his line of work which he must adhere to and advise his scholars to do also. The scholars are here for employment as full time teachers, researchers, support staff, or on sabbaticals from foreign universities. One new change in the government's dealing with foreigners is "SEVIS," which stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

"This has been in effect for a year now and puts new requirements on us and on them," Stuart says. "It has changed the relationship between us and our clients." Now, instead of just advising, Stuart and others in his position must monitor international scholars more closely to help them avoid running afoul of more strict government requirements.

Along with the legal work that Stuart must help his clients with are the cultural differences. He says that it is often hard for many of them to adjust to language, manners and social expressions that may mean something different to them in their culture. Students must pass tests in English to come here to study, but scholars do not, occasionally resulting in a more challenging adjustment to life in the U.S. Most of the scholars bring their families. Finding people here from their own country to spend time with helps them to overcome the feeling of isolation.

Stuart likes being able to give the scholars individual attention which greatly helps their transition to a new culture. Stuart says that many of the scholars choose to come to the U.S. for the opportunities that await them. Many also decide to make a permanent change to have a professional life here.

"These are highly qualified and adventurous people to make that big of a change in their life," Stuart says.

Stuart spends his leisure time traveling, and singing in the Rockingham Choral Society.