Anastasiia Romanova
International student from Russia
Graduate 2018 (Bachelors) and 2020 (Masters)

How did you end up at HU?

My main goal of coming to the US was to continue playing tennis while getting an education, after I graduate from high school. I would say there are more opportunities here in the US when it comes to being able to practice and improve; and even to find a place for practice, availability of tennis courts. It was also always my dream to be a part of a team and travel together. And being a student-athlete in the US had that to offer!

I didn’t know anybody who moved to the US and who I could seek advice from. In fact, I was the first one from my high school to go study in USA. Thanks to my family, they were willing to help me with this process. I had a few offers and later on many (people) have asked me: “Why Hampton?!” My answer is: “Why NOT?!” Hampton is a beautiful place, our “Home by the Sea”… And I like being close to the water….especially the ocean that I had never seen before coming here.

What did you like about studying at HU or about the local area?

As I mentioned earlier – I really like the Area. Chesapeake Bay protects us from the storms that come from Atlantic, and when we get storms-they are usually not too bad, compared to other areas that have shores with the ocean. I liked the diversity of the school, as I got to be around a lot of international students. Everything on campus is within a walking distance, as well as a few stores that are close to campus. I used to walk and ride my bike a lot. And of course being a student-athlete was another great thing about my experience at the school.

What advice would you give new students?

Probably, to think about your major, what kind of professions it could lead to, and what needs to be done for that. For example, if you want to be a teacher, there are requirements to get a teaching license that may not be even a part of your curriculum at first. If you want to study Kinesiology to be a Physical Therapist- you most likely going to have to continue your education in Physical Therapy school, which could be costly and time demanding prior you become a physical therapist. Don’t be scared, but understand the reality and requirements to be prepared; everything is in your hands! If you are an international student, try to find out what degrees are popular and most demanding in the US (or any other countries where you consider living in the future).

It is very important to try to get internships whenever possible. Making connections and putting some good bullets on your resume will be a huge key. Look ahead for job listings you might be interested in, and requirements along with preferred experience employers are looking for. Even though you will be told a lot- no pressure, majority of people end up having a career in a different field, and not what they studied in school, etc., please make sure you have some sort of plan prior to graduation. Even if it would be a temporary plan, you’re gonna have to stick with something right after graduation prior to finding what fits you best. It is so much harder for international students/graduates to find a job along with fulfilling all the requirements, so we gotta be on top of it!

Also, this is advice for all the students, not just internationals: when you have a chance to choose an internship/ temporary job-ask yourself whether it would look good on your resume. For example, working in a movie theater vs as a waiter/waitress in a restaurant, which might bring a lot of tips at the time; however, it would not bring as valuable experience and would not look as good as an unpaid job/ volunteering at NASA research center. I do not have anything against any kind of legit work, because we do not always have a choice or available opportunities at the time. Work hard but smart. And ask yourself – which job would you rather put on your resume.

What position and company did you work for during OPT and how did you get the job?

I worked a few off-campus jobs on my OPT’s as well as on-campus. I worked at a Kiddie Kollege Kiddie Kamp as one of the instructors (Hampton University Summer Camp). I also worked in the cafeteria, MEAC Championship, athletics department marketing team… I worked at a sports complex as a recreation professional, international sport marketing company, graduate assistant, and taught at public schools, to name a few. Some jobs I got simply by filling out a resume, and some by being introduced to departments/businesses way before getting the jobs. It is important to meet people and make connections, attend career-fairs, introduce yourself, and present yourself with your best qualities.

Everything is in your hands, be creative, be productive, try to be ahead and on top of the “career game”, and don’t be afraid to try something new!

Debaditya Biswas
International student from India
PhD Physics 2022- (Experimental Nuclear Physics)

How did you end up at HU?

I came to know about HU on the internet. I became interested in HU because some of the physics department faculties were associated with particle physics projects at Jefferson Lab and Fermilab.

What did you like about studying at HU or about the local area?

Quiet nature of the local area, I am not a big fan of the big cities. Physics faculties were very helpful. The Hampton University proximity to Jefferson Lab makes it easier for the students to get involved in Jefferson Lab research from the very early days.

What advice would you give new students?

Try not to be rigid in anything either culturally or academically. When you come to a new country, look at it as a huge opportunity to learn about new people. Try to go out of your comfort zone and explore.

Change yourself positively as you proceed through your journey. More you know people the more you understand, we all are the same regardless of race, color, nationality. All the differences are superficial.

What position and company did you work for during OPT and how did you get the job?

I will be joining Virginia Tech, VA as post-doctoral researcher. My project will be in experimental nuclear / particle physics at Jefferson Lab.

Dongwi Handiipondola
International student from Windhoek, Namibia
PhD Physics 2020 (Experimental Nuclear Physics)

How did you end up at HU?

My initial aim in pursuing a PhD at Hampton University was due to my desire for studying Medical Physics. In essence I was attracted by the HUPTI (Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute), which is the largest Proton Therapy Institute in the world. Since HU has such a broad variety of physics programs, I ended up working on electro-weak physics and conducting experiments for beyond Standard Model (SM) physics, as well as Dark Matter (DM) searches.

What was your major and what is the highest level of study you completed?

I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where I majored in Physics, Mathematics and Biochemistry and a minor in Pre-Engineering. At HU, I completed my PhD in Experimental Nuclear Physics, primarily focusing on Dark Matter signature in K+ decays. My PhD is the highest level of study that I have completed.

What did you like about studying at HU or about the local area?

Firstly, HU is located in such an idyllic place that offers a lot of peace of mind simply by being on campus. There are beautiful trails that allows one to simply take a break and reset. What I enjoyed that the most was how close knit the Physics Department is, and the multifarious opportunities for hands on experimentation inherent therein. Additionally, the multinational diversity offered by the physics department is also refreshing and allows opportunities to forge collaborations with people from all over the world.

What advice would you give new students?

Seize the initiative and explore opportunities for growth both educationally and socially. HU has a very strong international community and this can be source of outside the classroom education as well as cultural appreciation. On the education side, the local area is littered with advanced research institutions, such as Jefferson Lab, HUPTI, the Aerospace Institute as well as various Biology and Chemistry Labs on campus. My advice is be free minded and curious, and then perhaps you will discover something you truly enjoy doing for the long-term.

What position and company did you work for during OPT and how did you get the job?

At the moment I am a research associate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, working on understanding neutron induced fission. My tasks involve data taking, data quality assessment, data analysis and writing physics simulations. I found out about my position from a physics website (https://inspirehep.net/) and submitted my CV and cover letter. This is perhaps a bit unconventional as many people usually use networking and academic advisors as a means of securing post-education employment. I would encourage reaching to your advisor and collaboration colleagues.

Emmanuel Ojukwu
International student from Nigeria
Masters in Biology 2019

How did you end up at HU?

HU was the closest HBCU I had to family in Maryland. I decided to attend Hampton University because I wanted my college experience to be one surrounded by many people with similar backgrounds and cultural experiences.

What was your major and what is the highest level of study you completed?

Biology. Master of Science.

What did you like about studying at HU or about the local area?

HU allows each student to know faculty and staff due to how relatively small the community is. This made me appreciate how invested my teachers were to my success.

What advice would you give new students?

Feed your focus and starve your distractions. It is easy to get carried away.

What position and company are you working for during OPT/STEM OPT and how did you get the job?

I am currently the Central Processing Manager at Tower Health-Reading Hospital. I was sought out by a Tower Health recruiter on LinkedIn.