Fight Against Fraud
Karen Webber ’09/’10 combined her roles as a CPA and founder of a software company to combat financial exploitation.
Read the storyFight Against FraudWhen Associate Professor Melissa Waite asked a couple of her international students what they hoped to experience during their time at SUNY Brockport, the answer was simple: “We’d really like to see a Buffalo Bills game.”
“These opportunities expand their understanding of America and American culture.”
Melissa Waite
“That’s when I thought, ‘My back seat is empty,’” Waite said. “In my next class with the international students, I proposed the deal: if they bought the tickets, they could hitch a ride with me to the game. They jumped on it.”
This conversation sparked a series of unforgettable experiences for Waite and the 21 international students enrolled in the School of Business and Management.
The very next day, the School of Business hosted an on-campus lunch for these international students. It was the perfect opportunity for Waite to learn more about the students’ goals and expectations for their time at Brockport. The students were from all over the world including countries such as Germany, Japan, Nepal, the United Kingdom, and more.
International students hike Letchworth with Melissa Waite.
“The Bills game was so easy to make happen,” Waite said. “So, I thought, ‘Why not turn that switch and make opportunities available for our international students that want to see more than the Brockport campus?’”
To maximize future excursions, Waite worked with Elizabeth Gregory, Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety, to secure training and access to the University’s 15-passenger vans. This allowed her to transport as many international students as possible in a single trip.
International students with Melissa Waite on the Maid of the Mist.
“As a visitor, you try to pack as much in as you can,” Waite said. “The students come here with a mindset of ‘This is what I want to experience,’ and it’s great because I can say, ‘Let’s look at the calendar and plan when we can make it happen.’”
Through the remainder of the Fall 2024 semester, Waite led groups of international students on multiple trips to some of New York State’s (NYS) most iconic landmarks and events. These included visits to Letchworth State Park, Niagara Falls for a Maid of the Mist boat tour, a Buffalo Sabres hockey game, and more.
“These opportunities expand their understanding of America and American culture,” Waite said. “At the end of our Niagara Falls trip, one of the international students told me, ‘This is the best day of my life.’”
“There are lessons learned, and memories made that will be with these international students for a lifetime.”
Melissa Waite
After each trip, Waite meets with Darson Rhodes, the Interim Associate Dean for the School of Business and Management to discuss highlights from the trip, gather feedback, and learn any concerns they have about adjusting to life in Brockport.
“There are lessons learned, and memories made that will be with these international students for a lifetime,” said Waite. “I’m so glad that their time at Brockport is a chapter in their life story.”
Related Stories
Treasuring the Experience
Finance student takes on a transformative position as Summer Treasury Intern with New Era Cap.
Read the storyTreasuring the Experience