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The CIP Welcomes New Staff Members

The Center for International Programs is pleased to welcome two new staff members, Danica Rockwood and Charva Edwards. 


Danica Rockwood joined the University of Dayton Center for International Programs in December 2018. As the Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Danica helps drive awareness towards intercultural engagement and global learning initiatives at UD. Danica shares how her experience as a digital marketer helps inform her work at UD:

Before coming to University of Dayton, you worked predominantly in digital marketing. How did this experience help prepare you for your role at the Center for International Programs?

Digital marketing is a field where budgets, techniques, and practices can change on a dime. It can be overwhelmingly fast-paced, but it taught me the invaluable lesson of being adaptable. You don’t know how creative you can be until someone forces your hand, like when the industry standard changes overnight. In this ever-evolving environment, I learned how to be motivated by change instead of defeated by it.

This experience helps me navigate around new challenges in my current role at CIP. Here, I’m working in an environment with multiple audiences and new mediums, both of which have complexities to them. Being flexible has helped me better prepare for intricate challenges, and motivates me to develop new solutions when a linear path to success isn’t possible.

As the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the CIP, what does a day in the life look for you?

I work on short- and long-track communications projects focused on driving awareness towards CIP initiatives. Broadly, my goal is to optimize CIP marketing and communication efforts so that these efforts are more impactful. No two days have been alike, but on any given day I’m collaborating with colleagues on new campaigns, developing marketing materials, or facilitating updates to existing materials.

What do you like most about working at the Center for International Programs?

Working at the CIP has given me an opportunity to challenge myself to think beyond just marketing. The scope of the projects here are both broader and deeper than single-channel marketing strategy, which requires me to think more holistically about how each of our marketing messages work together.

I also like that I get to support the CIP in encouraging intercultural engagement at UD. My work at the CIP helps promote programming that can impact the perspectives of students, faculty, and staff— and challenges my own perspective along the way. I appreciate being able to work in an environment that encourages its community to be intellectually curious.

In your spare time, you volunteer at an animal shelter here in Dayton. Do you have any advice that you could give to someone who’s considering volunteering for the first time?

It can be daunting to make the commitment to start volunteering, so my advice would be to pick a task you know will be fun for you and work your way up to the more challenging jobs. You’ll be more confident in yourself doing something you enjoy, which will make it easier to go back and volunteer again.

Who is someone who professionally inspires you?

One of my professional inspirations is Dr. Brene Brown. Her work in promoting empathy especially has inspired me to work towards being more compassionate and intentional in my interactions with people. I also appreciate her research deconstructing negative emotions and how she uses vulnerability as a tool for positive reflection and action. I think it’s powerful to be able to reflect with an open mind and without judgment, and I appreciate her mission to promote more discussions on the benefits of openness and inclusivity.


Charva Edwards joined the University of Dayton Center for International Programs in November 2018. She currently serves as the Administrative Associate at the Intensive English Program. Charva shares how her experiences in international education helped shape her career journey:

Prior to working at UD, you served at the ELS Educational Services as the International Student Advisor at the Chicago language center. Can you tell us a little bit about what you did as an International Student Advisor?

ELS is an intensive English program which operates in 4 week sessions, so it was very fast paced and I ended up meeting a lot of students, from many places, for varying lengths of time.

As the International Student Advisor, my main duties aligned with non-academic advising. I counseled students about ELS, the partner university campus, healthcare, housing and community resources. Additionally, I provided immigration counseling as a DSO (Designated School Official), led and facilitated programs, helped with admissions and enrollment, and finally connected to the students to help provide them with a memorable and fun experience through weekend excursions around the cities of River Forest, Oak Park, and Chicago, Illinois

How did your experience as a International Student Advisor help shape your perspective and career journey?

This was my first job as a young professional in international education, so I was very excited to finally to get my “foot in the door.” Learning and having some experience in different areas of international education really helps tie empathy and compassion about what people or other colleagues experience on a daily basis.

You currently work as an Administrative Associate at the Intensive English Program. What does a day in the life for you look like?

As the Administrative Associate, I provide administrative support by maintaining and tracking the IEP budget, personnel information and processes, I assist with special programming,  and supervise and train the IEP World Associates. I am also responsible for departmental technology and facilities management. I help to plan and coordinate new student intake and placement testing. I also represent the IEP at department meetings or CIP committees.

What do you like the most about working in the Intensive English Program?

Working with the Intensive English Program (in general) is an area that I enjoy because I think it's an incredible process watching students grow and achieve their goals and helping them acclimate to this process of being an international student in the US.

I’m excited to be a part of the IEP at the University of Dayton because this will serve as my first higher education experience in the field and it's an opportunity to work with new people in a new place. Although this position is a little more behind the scenes than I’m used to, it's definitely still a position that leads back to working with others who share a similar passion in providing the best support and learning environment for our international students. 

You’re currently in pursuit of your Master’s Degree in International Education, Administration and Leadership. Do you have any advice for someone who may be considering continuing their education in international education?

My advice is that when you want something, there’s no excuse not to try for it.  It seems impossible at first when you decide to take something on like furthering your education, especially as we fall into the norms of work, school, family, friends, or other life events. But, if we can make time for all of these important things, we can make time for self-improvement.

Who is someone who professionally inspires you?

Michelle Obama is one of my professional inspirations. She’s a phenomenal woman. She came from humble beginnings and worked hard for everything she’s achieved. She inspires me because of her unwavering passion for the betterment of women, minorities, children, education, and living a healthy lifestyle. There is a very unique sense of self awareness and hope for the future when I see a woman who looks like me in such an influential position.

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