“Students often find a need to adapt to their environment and experience cultural shock and imposter syndrome when they arrive at their institutions of learning. Over my five years in higher education, I’ve worked to guide them through these challenges, helping them access resources, build confidence, and find their place in new and unfamiliar spaces.”
– Lisanny Manzueta Custudio
Associate Director of Graduate Student Support & Diversity
Graduate School
University at Albany, SUNY
Lisanny has dedicated her career to higher education at the University of Albany in her role as Associate Director for Graduate Student Support and Diversity
Her main goal is ensuring to offer support and encouraging diversity to ensure students’ success. Her focus is primarily on advising domestic students. She found that some of the issues that international students have were also being felt by the domestic students. Many of them learn how to adapt to their new environment, experiencing culture shocks and dealing with imposter syndrome. Her role as an advisor is to help and support students in any way she can by guiding them and offering resources to help make these life-altering transitions easier.
Before she joined UAlbany, Lisanny served as an educational opportunity advisor at Cornell University. She got her bachelor’s in American studies at Skidmore College and obtained her master’s in social work from UAlbany.|
Lisanny recently joined iCEP Academy to help her understand the struggles and needs of both domestic and international students alike. She states that “I have found that international students are struggling with some of these same areas and in need of support. I am passionate about supporting students and being a place of comfort and support when they might need it. I would like to utilize my skills and the ones learned/reinforced through this course to further support international students in my everyday work.”
What inspired you to join the iCEP Academy, and how do you hope it will shape your work with international students?
“I interact with international students and am working on building resources that will support our entire graduate population. This course will support those efforts and strengthen my 1-1 interactions with international students.”
How has the iCEP experience so far inspired you or reinforced your passion for supporting international students?
I was grateful to learn more about international students’ visas and some of the challenges they experience when they’re studying in the U.S.
What advice would you give to others thinking about joining the iCEP Academy?
I would say it is worth the time. It is great to get to hear firsthand from students who have experienced cultural changes and challenges. The skills in the course can be utilized in many environments, not just when thinking about career networking and job placement.
Her dedication to her students and peers encouraged her to learn more about how to help and better understand international students. Helping them feel more loved and supported as they navigate their academic journeys
About the Author
Marely Esperanza Pina
Marely is an English Literature major at Lake Forest College and the 2025 Fall Intern at ICAway. She brings a passion for storytelling and analysis to her writing. Marely has also played the flute for more than 12 years, a pursuit that fuels her creativity.
